I have been interested in trains for years, mostly as a modeler. But, I have become interested in the full size ones for awhile now. While I consider myself a guy who likes trains, I would kinda hold back from saying I was a hardcore "railfan". Well, that changed yesterday.
I got a call from a good freind of mine, who is part of a very hardcore group of railfans, letting me know that UP's 6936, DD40X, is pulling the Officer Speacil over the line and it was expected to pass our favorite spot around 1630 local. Problem was for the last 3 days my wife and I had been fighting a wicked bout of stomach flu. (I will skip the details, but lets just say that even water wasnt staying in.) And Sunday was the first day where water was staying in. And I only had 2 hours notice....
My wife said go for it, "I'll be fine, go!" I grabbed the camera, flew into the gas station, grabbed some juice, water, and crackers and bolted south from Phoenix. I had 60 miles to drive. I flew as fast as my ole Dodge Pick up would go. I hit a major traffic snag going through the town of Maricopa that sucked up 30 minutes. But as luck would have it, time differences or change in plans, or delays, the train was delayed and I had time to get to the spot, hang with my freinds and catch the sight of that bad boy coming through the curves. It was thrilling
I wanted to chase it back into town, which was the way home for me but as my freind pointed out, "By the time you drive out of here and go back to the main road, he will be long gone doing 75." Before I could start swearing, we heard it come over the scanner...
"6936... diverging approach, Main Line." He was stopped less than 2 miles away!
We both hopped in our trucks and flew out of there. We were able to catch it, stopped and got some great photo's. And for the first time, I got to feel the thrill of the chase. I followed it east for 35 miles in Maricopa. Sure enough that bad boy was humming along at 70-80 miles the whole way.
What a trip it was. When I got home, my poor stomach was so upset from the excitement, and the stupid move of running through the desert back to my truck to follow. But it was worth it.
Driveing back into town my freind called me and asked if I had a good time, "Oh yeah! So worth it" and then I went on to rave about it all. The cars, the size of it, the speed, etc.
He just laughed. "And to think you came out with the stomach flu, your a nut!"
Im the train nut?
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
Welcome!
Sounds like you're one of us, all right!
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
I caught it once some time ago, I would Love to catch it again this time, on camcorder if she gets into Arkansas. I dont know about you but they enjoy running that engine FAST. Must be all of those axles in the large trucks and humongus wheelbase or something.
Glad you could get it. And not the stomach flu.
Awsome find!
Got any photos? (hint hint)
I don't have much oppertunity to go railfanning, seeing as I'm not old enough to drive a car and the nearest rail line is easily 5 miles away, plus it only gets like 1 train a day, if that!
Welcome to the passionate world of rail fandom! a.s.
I got some pics up. Unfortunatly, they are not great, but they prove I was there so they are good for that. The first pic is train coming up the grade approaching Shawmut. Right after this picture, I had a beautiful shot lined up where the sun was rigth behind me and that engine looked like it was on fire with setting sun behind me....unforuntaly, I blew it and moved the camera too soon. And with that train doing atleast 50 MPH, I never had a chance for a second shot.
After the dust settled, we heard the call over the radio and we caught it at the top. I had decent light but when I got there, an auto rack train had to pass and blocked it. By the time the train rolled by, light was hard to come by. Man that thing is a monster.
And I grabbed this shot. I know its horrible pic by just about all standards...but it says I was there and I was in the chase and that's all matters!
Congrats on the pic. I have a friend who lives in Maricopa, less than a block from the mainline there.
I have yet to see that beast in person, but I did get a chance to see Daylight 4449 back in the 90s in Phoenix.
canazar wrote: I got some pics up. Unfortunatly, they are not great, but they prove I was there so they are good for that. The first pic is train coming up the grade approaching Shawmut. Right after this picture, I had a beautiful shot lined up where the sun was rigth behind me and that engine looked like it was on fire with setting sun behind me....unforuntaly, I blew it and moved the camera too soon. And with that train doing atleast 50 MPH, I never had a chance for a second shot.After the dust settled, we heard the call over the radio and we caught it at the top. I had decent light but when I got there, an auto rack train had to pass and blocked it. By the time the train rolled by, light was hard to come by. Man that thing is a monster. And I grabbed this shot. I know its horrible pic by just about all standards...but it says I was there and I was in the chase and that's all matters!
Actually I like to be out even when the twilight is more advanced when yours was; the UP engines have this great reflective tape that can be caught from as far as your flash can reach. -a.s.
Nice catch...and welcome to the club! For the "1st time out" you had a very nice target to shoot.
FWIW I really liked the pic where the train is glowing but the desert is dark. Cool shot!
Dan
Are you sure you had the stomach flu? Might have been that railfan bug settling in. Sounds like its gotten you good now.
Cool to hear your story of chasing the DD40. I haven't been on a good chase in maybe 4 or 5 years, but it is pretty fun.
canazar wrote: I have been interested in trains for years, mostly as a modeler. But, I have become interested in the full size ones for awhile now. While I consider myself a guy who likes trains, I would kinda hold back from saying I was a hardcore "railfan". Well, that changed yesterday.I got a call from a good freind of mine, who is part of a very hardcore group of railfans, letting me know that UP's 6936, DD40X, is pulling the Officer Speacil over the line and it was expected to pass our favorite spot around 1630 local. Problem was for the last 3 days my wife and I had been fighting a wicked bout of stomach flu. (I will skip the details, but lets just say that even water wasnt staying in.) And Sunday was the first day where water was staying in. And I only had 2 hours notice....My wife said go for it, "I'll be fine, go!" I grabbed the camera, flew into the gas station, grabbed some juice, water, and crackers and bolted south from Phoenix. I had 60 miles to drive. I flew as fast as my ole Dodge Pick up would go. I hit a major traffic snag going through the town of Maricopa that sucked up 30 minutes. But as luck would have it, time differences or change in plans, or delays, the train was delayed and I had time to get to the spot, hang with my freinds and catch the sight of that bad boy coming through the curves. It was thrillingI wanted to chase it back into town, which was the way home for me but as my freind pointed out, "By the time you drive out of here and go back to the main road, he will be long gone doing 75." Before I could start swearing, we heard it come over the scanner... "6936... diverging approach, Main Line." He was stopped less than 2 miles away!We both hopped in our trucks and flew out of there. We were able to catch it, stopped and got some great photo's. And for the first time, I got to feel the thrill of the chase. I followed it east for 35 miles in Maricopa. Sure enough that bad boy was humming along at 70-80 miles the whole way.What a trip it was. When I got home, my poor stomach was so upset from the excitement, and the stupid move of running through the desert back to my truck to follow. But it was worth it. Driveing back into town my freind called me and asked if I had a good time, "Oh yeah! So worth it" and then I went on to rave about it all. The cars, the size of it, the speed, etc.He just laughed. "And to think you came out with the stomach flu, your a nut!"Im the train nut?
Yes, you're one of us for sure. Sounds like you had the time of your life right there...and who wouldn't with the Centennial? I know exactly how you feel. I finally got to see it last March in Iowa, and after it went through I was dancing around my video camera I was so excited.
I'm sure it's an incredible feeling to remember the first time you really had a ball watching trains. Unfortunately, I don't remember my first time, because I think I was born a railfan...
Thanks for the pix...as I go back and scan the slides I took while playing "Tourist" in the Navy, I was wishing I knew then what I know (or think I know) now about photography...but I still have my SEE! I WAS THERE! photos...and they often bring back lots of warm fuzzy memories, even if they are not magazine quality.
I also have some pictures of a few Santa Fe Diesels taken somewhere in the desert about 30 years ago that I am trying to remember the circumstances behind the photos....I am pretty sure about the location, just dont remember why I was passing by...since I was a very casual rail fan at that point, I am pretty sure it was more a chance passing than a dedicated trip...and as soon as I make up remember the details of the trip, I guess I should write them down somewhere...
But, back to your great pictures....am I the only one that thinks the "Ventilation Channel" in the middle of the DD40 makes it look like they just welded two units together??? Again, cool shots, and thanks for posting them...
....Isn't that just about what they actually did, power train wise....2 units into one....
Whatever it is, I'm glad there is one capable of getting out there and running. {I've never seen any of them in person, that I remember}, but I think it's really neat to have the largest diesel electric motive power unit still in running condition.
Quentin
Nice pics BTW
Have fun with your trains
JSGreen wrote:But, back to your great pictures....am I the only one that thinks the "Ventilation Channel" in the middle of the DD40 makes it look like they just welded two units together??? Again, cool shots, and thanks for posting them...
I was thinking that myself. Imagine what that would look like if they had put a third truck or 'bogey' in the middle to increase articulation and weight distribution. Or would that be technologically unwise (read: stupid)?
CNW 6000 wrote: I was thinking that myself. Imagine what that would look like if they had put a third truck or 'bogey' in the middle to increase articulation and weight distribution. Or would that be technologically unwise (read: stupid)?
Where would the fuel tank go?
The Centepede comes to mind....
Steam Is King wrote:Canazar, just curious...what are you doing in your avatar ?
Ah, yes.. Well, my wife and I made it up to Colorado back in the summer of 05'. It was a long time in the planning ( i.e: saveing money) and one of the places I got to go was to Caboose Hobbies. Freakin HUGE model train store. So, I met my wife coming out and she asks me to pose... first one didnt cut it and she said give me a "real happy pose"....so I busted a quick grove and bingo. I posted the original over on the MR forum and it was such a hit, I made it my avatar.
Thanks for all the nice comments guys. I admit, I am still smiling about it. Oh, I am getting a scanner tommorow.
Not much hope for me now is there?
"Im sawy Captin', I have treed everythin' I gowt, but he's too for gown ta save 'him!"
Nope, stick a fork in you.
You're familiar with the basic layout of the Mesa yard, right? Back in '91-'92, I used to railfan the yard when the SP locals switched in there - the Phoenix Switcher in the day and the Magma Turn at night. At the east end of the yard, and to the west of McDonald Drive, south of the mainline, there's a signal box for the railroad crossing. Behind that is a chain link fence for a small yard on the east end of the grain elevator and I'd hang out right there, against the fence and watch them come and switch, and leave. I loved the sound of those turboed 645 engines (they ran GP40-2s) during switching, and the conductor for the Magma train was a person we'll call "Rocketman". He'd stand at the switch for the east end of Mesa siding (while the brakeman did the work on the ground) and we'd talk about various things.
One night about a month into this, the engineer and Rocketman both invited me up into the cab (I don't think you'd get that now, but back then it was a little more relaxed). Thus began a yearlong event where I'd get cabrides - first around the Mesa yard and across Center street where they would switch out the lumber company (still switches there btw), then down to McQueen and finally all the way down to Magma. Also, we'd occasionally switch on the Chandler branch (switches from the mainline at McQueen and runs south - it's the western track of the two crossings on Baseline Road), down to Serape or Dock. It was a blast. Back then, I knew my future would be railroading and my lifestyle was one that could adapt to the demands of being on call 24/7. The railroads weren't hiring then, though - and later in life I decided this is something I'd probably not want to do so I never applied again. The brakeman had given me a Starlite 222 lantern, which I still have, and taught me all of the hand signals. They'd bring me a fresh battery every night, so I was never without.
Silicon,
That is so cool man. For what it is worth, a couple of years ago the kiddo and I got a short cab ride (about 5 miles ) out of that yard. I am working on writing a story for it, I'll post it here.
All though getting to know a crew... very cool. One these days soon we should meet up at the Mesa yard and watch some trains, maybe grab a bite or something and take it over.
I got my scanner today. Woo hoo.... I am off to learn buttons.
Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub
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