Five Hours To Railfan Last Saturday

[Anonymous]

Woke up Saturday morning to very foggy skies, I wanted to get out to chase a few trains. Well after a shower, shave and a couple of honey-dos I made it out the door by about 10:30 AM, not knowing if the sun would shine.

Generally, no matter which way I head, I usually start railfanning at Sparks yard here in Northern Nevada, Saturday was no different. Just as I got to Sparks a westbound manifest was pulling out of the yard, no time to do a yard check... I needed gas for the rig, no problem I'll catch that westman in the Truckee River canyon.

After gassing up and getting a breakfast sandwich, I like the sausage, egg, cheese on a biscuit fare, headed west to find that manifest. Passed him between Lawton, NV and Verdi, NV somewhere. The UP "Overland' route's Donner line and I-80 are not in eyeshot of each other through this territory. Knowing that access might be a problem with all the snow on the ground, wanted to get out ahead of him so I'd have plenty of time to find a spot to capture this manifest. Gosh, just love those manifests! Do you?

Was making good time up the Truckee River canyon on I-80 after crossing the Nevada/California stateline, I first slowed and considered the light at Floriston, CA but it wouldn't work - kept trucking westbound. Again considered Boca, California for a shot, exited the highway, too much snow to walk through for the shot I wanted, back on I-80.

Just as soon as I was back on the freeway, slowed just passed the chain up area west of Boca, CA. I pulled off onto the shoulder of the highway, saw a nice opportunity with good light, then thought no deal, didn't want to chance the parking ticket.

Oh, Glenshire Drive popped into my head, a portion of this street was US 40 prior to Interstate 80's construction. So Truckee bound I went. As I was driving towards Truckee and Glenshire Drive, thought about the overpass crossing of UP's "Overland Route" and the Truckee River on Glenshire, that's going to be the spot I make my photo. Made it through the new westside exit for Truckee without heading to Lake Tahoe on the bypass, coming down the hill into Truckee, CA turned onto Glenshire Drive and head back east, as I passed East Truckee MP 208.6 (old station Polaris?) spotted the Truckee Helper.

Heard on the radio that the manifest that was my actor would receive a manned helper set. Access to the signals at East Truckee was plowed out, so I pulled off to check out a place to get a shot of the manned helpers. Found it! The plan was to come back for a helper shot after getting the manifest crossing under Glenshire Drive.

Pulled back onto Glenshire Drive heading east to the overpass. Once there hung a U-turn and then parked. Wanted to stage the car for a fast take off after my photo capture.

I walked to the overpass, waited for about 5 minutes for my actor, the manifest, to come to the stage. Here is the first shot of the day:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=94269

After firing-off the above shot ran to the car, raced back to East Truckee, about 1.4 miles away. Pulled off the road, parked, jumped out and ran to get my next shot. Set, ready and composed the shot - nothing - forgot to turn the camera on...I hate when I do that!

Anyway the next photo is of the manned "Truckee Helper" at East Truckee, MP 208.6 on Union Pacific's Donner line. This two unit helper set was made up of two GEs, UP 5803 and 5758. Interesting to note, ten years ago this 8800 Hours Power boost would have had 4 units. Link to photo below:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=94267

After getting the photo of the helper set, I drove west on Glenshire Drive to Truckee. Once in Truckee I crossed south over the tracks and went back east along a city street which hugs the UP's Truckee yard.

Found the head of my actor, and pulled off of the city street and parked facing the train. Heard DS 74 say that my actor, the manifest with helper now on the rear, would have to wait for Amtrak No. 5 and the AOANP 11. The AOANP (Auto-Oakland-North Platt) was at West Truckee waiting for Amtrak's No 5, the California Zephyr. Amtrak's Five passed, then the AOANP headed east.

The AOANP 11 had UP 4039, UP 4794 and UP 9081 as power, below is a link to the photo I captured of it approaching the waiting manifest.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=94279

This manifest that I'd been stocking had as motive power UP 3759, UP 9591 (former SP C44-9W), UP 2747 (patched SD40M-2) and UP 9856 (former DRGW SD50), not pretty power but interesting. Anyway a photo of this train pulling out to face Donner Pass with its manned "Truckee Helper" set is here:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=94262

Knowing my chased manifest would take some time to get to Soda Springs, CA, a coffee stop was ordered by me, then I headed up the hill from Truckee to Soda Springs on I-80, this day's turn point.

After getting to Soda Springs, CA I found a nice place to park and waited for my actor. In waiting I took photos of the UP "cats" and a nice new UP ATV man-hauler parked at the crossing, this equipment vital to Union Pacific snow fighting, it helped pass the time. Heard on the scanner that AOANPX 11 (Auto-Oakland-North Platt extra) was at the big hole, it had UP 4345, UP 5062 and I assume at least one more unit, waiting on my actor and its helper to clear tunnel 41.

My wait was rewarded after about 45 minutes and was able to get two shots of my actor, the manifest, at Soda Springs. After that headed towards home eastbound on I-80, got to Truckee in time to see the helper set being parked, didn't take the time for photos, because downtown Truckee is a traffic nightmare during the ski season.

On east to Reno on I-80, passed the California Nevada stateline, then by Verdi, got almost to Mogul, NV - the wife calls and gives me a heads-up on AKSBE 09 (Auto-Kansas City - Benicia) train. Just as I take the Mogul exit, here she comes passing the crossing at Mogul. I hate cell phones except when they help me railfan!

Just one more photo...Back under I-80 racing west, thinking, thinking....where to catch this train. If there had been time, the first Truckee River crossing, in the Canyon at about MP 228.9 on the freeway side would have been the place. Not enough time for that...So I take the last Verdi exit and head west down the dirt road to the signal bridge at MP 228.

The plan in my head is to scamper up a big rock outcropping on the north side of the tracks, but there is not enough time, also too much snow. Oh well, here is the last photo of the day of the AKSBE 09 at MP 228 with UP 9540, UP 2179, UP 4038 and NREX 5081:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=94281

BTW - The AKSBE 09 had a single DPU on the rear. I was out and about about 5 hours on Saturday. Also, after dark in about an 8 hour period UP ran about 10 trains by my house. Got to wire up those 20 flood lights!

Jim - Lawton, NV MP 236

[Anonymous]

Nothing new! Can not find server! God that web site realy sucks,(Railpictures).

[nslakediv]

great story, sure would like some pix to back it.

[richardy]

Very nice photos, would like to have seen Amtrak 5.

[Anonymous]

Gotta love those Saturday's with the trains!

BTW, ya that railpictures has it's time when it doesn't work. Must be loading more popups on the page for the next time I'm there!

[PwdOpd]

Don't understand no pictures. Mine came through beautifully. Great shots. Paul

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by PwdOpd

Don't understand no pictures.

Their site was down earlier this morning. Must be up and running now.

[JoeKoh]

UP manifest trains?
I see Up engines lead csx manifests over here all the time. great shots
stay safe
Joe

[espeefoamer]

Great pictures[8D]! The only problem I have with Trainpictures is that the photos are too big to fit on the computer screen. I have to fiddle with the side to side and the up and down to see the entire photo.

[daveklepper]

Your pictures looked terrific on the University computer screen I am using. Great color, enough detail, and you really are an artist at composition and balance. They are not only great train pictures but good art as well. Keep it up. You'll be there with Steinbheimer and Link some day!

[Anonymous]

Yes great shots, and even better was the story to accompany them, very enjoyable.

Thanks for sharing!

[techguy57]

Fantastic pics, Jim!

Need to ask 2 questions:
1.What kind of camera, film etc do you use?
2.Do you know of any good locations near Las Vegas to photo from?
Please feel free to post a follow up or email me direct if you'd like. Once again thanks for some tremendous shots!

Mike Vanlandingham

[Anonymous]

Jim--

Excellent, excellent pics! It's an absolute joy to see well-done train photography from some of my own favorite spots. (Especially Glenshire Drive!) Wish I got up there more often.

--JD

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by richardy

Very nice photos, would like to have seen Amtrak 5.

I was in my car reading, and No. FIVE suprised me, only got a standard roster shot off of the locomotives. Didn't get it grouped with that manifest, which would have been a better framed shot.

Jim - Lawton, NV MP236

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by techguy57

Fantastic pics, Jim!

Need to ask 2 questions:
1.What kind of camera, film etc do you use?
2.Do you know of any good locations near Las Vegas to photo from?
Please feel free to post a follow up or email me direct if you'd like. Once again thanks for some tremendous shots!

Mike Vanlandingham

Mike,

November of last year I purchased a Canon Digital Rebel, of all the camera's I've owned, I'm having the most fun with this one! Sorry, can't help with the LV railfanning, never been to southern Nevada to fan. But, If you like I'll try and put you intouch with a fan that lives in Las Vegas.

Jim - Lawton, NV

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by theNomad

Jim--

Excellent, excellent pics! It's an absolute joy to see well-done train photography from some of my own favorite spots. (Especially Glenshire Drive!) Wish I got up there more often.

--JD

JD,

If and when you next get up here would enjoy meeting you and doing some railfanning.

Jim - Lawton, NV MP 236

[Anonymous]

Jim--

My thought exactly. Can't predict when it will be, but I'll definitly let you know. In fact, I know the people who run the fishing club up there (the well-posted private property) and can get in there pretty much whenever I want. There are some superb railfanning spots in there....

--JD

[oltmannd]

Very cool stuff, Jim!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

Your pictures looked terrific on the University computer screen I am using. Great color, enough detail, and you really are an artist at composition and balance. They are not only great train pictures but good art as well. Keep it up. You'll be there with Steinbheimer and Link some day!

Dave,

Thank you for your compliment. My goal is to be able to make good photos in most situations. I do not view my photos as art, I'll leave that to the artists, I do want to document the slice of railroading that I see with pleasing views.

Jim - Lawton, NV MP236

[daveklepper]

Yes, but you are a natural. It is one thing to frame the locomotive without the front coupler exiting the frame (in a side view). It is a step above that to make a balanced composition, which you seem to invariably do.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by theNomad

Jim--

My thought exactly. Can't predict when it will be, but I'll definitly let you know. In fact, I know the people who run the fishing club up there (the well-posted private property) and can get in there pretty much whenever I want. There are some superb railfanning spots in there....

--JD

Yes, from I-80 I've looked down on the possiblities, and off of Glenshire Drive I've seen the locked gate. Would certain enjoy the opertunity to explore forbidden teritory!

As a side note, and you might already know this, remember the old road, US 40 at Hirschdale. It crossed the Truckee River then crossed over the Donner Pass line then the road was blocked by a gate that protected a tow yard - auto grave yard...

The gate is now open, the junk is gone and access to the tracks is open for all for another couple of miles east. Somehow, I'm thinking the fly fishing lobby had something to do with this new and great access to the tracks!

Jim - Lawton, NV MP236

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JoeKoh

UP manifest trains?
I see Up engines lead csx manifests over here all the time. great shots
stay safe
Joe

Joe,

Once I meet a fellow on TrainOrders.com, invited him up to Reno for some railfanning. He came up this way and we spent two days west of Reno. He just went on and on about the manifests trains running over UP's "Overland Route's" Donner line. It was then that I realized how lucky I am, after all who doesn't love a good mixed consist.

It wouldn't matter if I was back east, the mid-west, or right here at home, a mixed consist of cars in a manifest beats any unit train. At least from my point of view!

Jim - Lawton, NV MP 236

[coborn35]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSF railfan.

Nothing new! Can not find server! God that web site realy sucks,(Railpictures).

Name another web site that has as many pics or contributors. Face it, Railpictures is the best train pic website on the internet. Not trying to start a flame fight or anything though.