California Zephyr Ride-Along! Lincoln to Salt Lake City.

[Mark Watson]

There is one big downside to sitting center car, the leg room of an airliner. Actually, this is a newer Superliner and I can definitely tell the seats don't recline as far as the older car I rode last week.  I wonder if they added a row to this build. 

Ok, next stop, Elko, NV. I plan to snooze right through that one. Matter of fact Im initiating the sleep command right after this post. 

G'nite all. :)

[Mark Watson]

Now in winnemucc , NV. (5:37)

 

[Mark Watson]

Now in Reno.  

[Mark Watson]

Mark Watson

There is one big downside to sitting center car, the leg room of an airliner. Actually, this is a newer Superliner and I can definitely tell the seats don't recline as far as the older car I rode last week.  I wonder if they added a row to this build. 

Ok, next stop, Elko, NV. I plan to snooze right through that one. Matter of fact Im initiating the sleep command right after this post. 

G'nite all. :)

Now in Reno with daylight, I look around and realize that my seat is the only one with short leg room! D:  

I did a quick switcheroo before the Reno folks boarded.  Now I have the clean picture window, mid-car ride and the space to stretch out. :) 

[Mark Watson]

Now entering the Snowy Mountains.  It's another perfectly clear day so I should get some great views. 

Theres an old trestle I've always spotted, but never been able to photograph. Perhaps today will be the day. :) 

[Mark Watson]

And we're now in California traveling alongside the Truckee river. 

[Mark Watson]

Stopped in Truckee. As always the 44 tonner, old sp rotary snow plow and a yellow unlettered heavyweight sit on the tracks beyond the reverse loop. 

[Mark Watson]

And we're rolling again. 

Here is the Truckee Railroad Museum. The large building behind is Sierra Tavern. 

[Mark Watson]

And we've entered the Coalstream Valley, about to make the daylight horseshoe turn, then the tunnel horseshoe turn and exit over Donner lake. (9:44)

Donner Lake (9:51)

Enter Tunnel 41 "The Big Hole" (9:59)

Exit tunnel. (10:03)

[Mark Watson]

Norden snow shed. (10:08)

Getting close to Emigrant Gap I believe. 

[Mark Watson]

Tunnel. (10:29)

Tunnel (10:29)

Cisco ghost town (10:29)

Cisco fire lookout atop Red Mountain (10:31) (Id love to hike up there one day for some ultimate railfanning!)

Snowshed (10:33)

(That snowshoes exits onto a trestle. )

Tunnel. (10:36)

Tunnel. (10:37)

Tunnel. (10:38)

Yerba Gap (10:40)

Lake Spaulding (10:42)

Approaching Emigrant Gap. 

Overlooking Bear Valley (10:45)

Passing under I-80 at Emigrant Gap. Elevation 1 mile. (10:47)

Passing an eastbound intermodal. (10:49)

[Mark Watson]

Snow equipment reverse loop. (10:52)

Entering Blue Canyon cutbacks. (10:56)(2.42% grade, steepest of the Sierras) (hmm, this canyon might make a cool mini diorama layout!)

Tunnel #1 (11:00am) (The first tunnel completed by the Central Pacific)

Sandwich time! (11:00)

(my goodness 2 bucks for a 12 oz soda now! And it's not even chilled! I'm kind of upset about this. Thank goodness I brought my own sandwich.)

Now running alongside the American River on the left. (11:11) (the water level is about 2,000ft below the tracks)

UP Ballast train on the left. (11:26)

Each car has a small two pane solar panel facing upward on the top corner. Anybody know what they power? 

[Mark Watson]

More views along the American River off to the left. (11:38)

I bet you didnt know the California Zephyr goes around Cape Horn. Well It's true, we're rounding the small town of Cape Horn now! :p (11:41)

Tunnel (11:43)

Tunnel (11:43)(this one was longer)

Probably my favorite bridges in the Sierras.  The double mainline is split onto a pair of single track trestles to cross I-80 just outside of Colfax. (11:46)

Wheel stop in Colfax. (11:50). 

Weird, the caboose on display at the Colfax station is covered in tarps. 

[Victrola1]

Only made the trip once. Went to Salt Lake City and thence to Portland. Yes, that was a year , or two ago. The scenery was unmatched.

The train went through western Nebraska at night. It is the only time I have crossed western Nebraska.

Did I miss anything?

[Mark Watson]

Ha! Somebody set out a recliner on a small patch of concrete off in a field a bit, pointing toward the rails. 

I guess when you have ROW front property, that's how you railfan! :p (10:59)

We've met back up with the eastbound tracks. (12:13)

Well we just sat for a half hour to let the Eastbound Zephyr pass. And there they go. (12:45)

We're still sitting though... (12:51) :/

[Mookie]

Victrola1

The train went through western Nebraska at night. It is the only time I have crossed western Nebraska.

Did I miss anything?

peace & quiet 24/7

[Mark Watson]

Now departing Roseville.  I usually take a nap around now until almost the end of the line. We'll see how it goes today. Almost there!  

[Mark Watson]

Departing Sacramento.  

[Mark Watson]

Must not be tired today, or else really anxious to get home. 

Now stopped at Davis. An now departing. 

[Mark Watson]

Well, I suppose as this ride-along wraps up I'll take a break to ask; What was YOUR favorite part about following me across the Western United States?

Though it was during the road trip, meeting back up with UP 1989 has to be the highlight for me. :)

[Mark Watson]

Just passed the Navy Ship graveyard and now crossing the Benicia-Martinez bridge. (2:50pm) (Longest steel bridge west of the Mississippi)

[Mark Watson]

Started to depart Martinez and two guys forgot to get off.  Lucky for them the crewman was able to stop the train again. 

[Mark Watson]

Just passed through the ConocoPhillips refinery and now were rolling along the Pinole shoreline. 

[Mark Watson]

And in the distance I see home! The towers of the Golden Gate, Sutro Tower, Angel Island, can't quite see downtown yet, but soon. :D

[Mark Watson]

And we're now pulling into the final stop at Emeryville. From here it's a short bus ride then a little walk and I'm home. :D

[Mark Watson]

And the bus is moving.  Dare I say I'll be home within the hour? :)

[SteamDonkey74]

Thanks for the continued ride-along, Mark!

 

[Mark Watson]

My pleasure Adam.  I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)  I hope others did as well.

I've been home for a few hours now.  Went to the bank, turned utilities back on, found my mailbox STUFFED (apparently USPS forgot to apply the 6 week mailhold!), but I was able to pry February's Trains Magazine out of it, Dad's Christmas present to me :)

Tomorrow its back to the real world.  Have to do laundry, grocery shop, then turn the job hunt on full strength! And in between job seeking I'll also be working on some new products and updating the website for CGNscale if anyone happens to model in N and is looking for some unique products. (I've got some very exciting projects in the works, but that's for another place) :)

I'll also try and post any photos/videos I took and was unable to post on the go.  I have hundreds to sort through on my DSLR.  Hopefully I can sift through those in these next few days as well.

 

 

 

[Kevin C. Smith]

     I thoroughly enjoyed your trip! Am looking forward to the next chance I get to do likewise and spend a few days in the city. Do you get any chance to ride the Caltrains, ACE and/or Capitol Corridor trains (I keep mulling over a SF-Sac round trip via San Jose)? A virtual fantrip on any of those would also be fun-please keep us in mind if you do!

[Hytec]

Mark, I've thoroughly enjoyed riding with you, albeit vicariously.  I'm looking forward to your photos with as much anticipation as I enjoyed your CZ videos from a few years ago.  I hope they were your videos.  If not, please accept credit for them, as I enjoyed them regardless.