Well I suppose I am showing my age, but my rarest catch was a UP Aerotrain going from Las Vegas to Los Angeles back in about 1957. I was 6 years old and we were camping at Afton Canyon. I remember thinking it looked just like the locomotive on the train ride at Disneyland, which I later learned was modeled after it. Both are long since gone.
Some of my best/rarest catches have been railfanning the Amtrak's eastbound California Zephyr (#6) between Roseville, CA and Reno, NV on the Donner Pass route.
During June 2015, I got some excellent shots of the California Zephyr Silver Solarium dome observation car tacked onto the end of the eastbound number 6 train. Starting at Colfax, I headed east and followed the train. I stopped for photos at Casa Loma, Yuba Gap, Soda Springs and Truckee. One of the photos I took that day was recently used for Trains Magazine September 2016 issue.
A few weeks ago while up at Yuba Gap (again, just waiting for the eastbound train number 6) I had another rare sight, which was three observation passenger cars tacked together on to the end of the train! One of them was a heavyweight Santa Fe observation car-really cool. Needless to say, after Yuba Gap I followed that train east, again taking photos at Soda Springs and again at Truckee.
Regards,
Jeff B
Clinchfield #1 on what was then the SCL in Henderson NC. Was sitting in my office about 2 blocks from the track when I heard a steam whistle. Someone asked what the heck was that, but I know though at that point had no idea what was making it. I tore out of the office, jumped into the car and headed north where I knew the road and track Came together and got there just ahead of #1 and the B unit that used to accompany it. It was sure a surprise and a highlight. This was in 1975. Wow has it really been that long ago!
Back in about 1990 in DeKalb, IL a CNW manifest train went by with a flat loaded up with fishing boats.
Wasn't railfanning, just driving on U.S. 84 next to CSX's "Bow Line" between Waycross and Thomasville, GA. Must have been 30 years ago or more, but it was a rare sighting even then. Saw a boxcar in New York Central jade green that still had the Central's logo on the side. That was my only sighting of a car in Central paint and logo.
Saw this CPR Heritage Business Train going south through the Fraser Canyon last October.
RAY HEROLDThe rarest and best catch while railfanning was pulling into Whitehall, N.Y. on a Monday morning and finding the Delaware and Hudson's 2 RF-16 Sharknoses and all 4 Alco PA's there at the same time. As a matter of fact I was allowed into one of the Sharks and took some pictures out the front window. Definitely a bonus. To end the day, I chased a freight with 3 Alco C-628's s/b out of Whitehall toward Colony. N.Y.
Yow! D&H in the 70s? Check! Nothing more to see....
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
My rarest catch was probably last summer on a Sunday afternoon. I saw a BNSF train go by and it had EIGHT engines leading the way. A lot of the cars following the engines looked like they had seen better days so I'm assuming it was put together load just to get cars from point A to point B.
Tow of my other great catches was seeing the SP U25B painted in bicentennial colors in 1976 on the fueling tracks at the Santa Clara yard and for years starting early 1972 seeing the wood outside braced WP caboose down at the small WP yard at the south end of San Jose. It was used for the WP local that served the local industries. You did not see many wood caboosed in revenue service at that late date.
sigengr The first thing to come to mind was a South Shore Little Joe doing a dutch drop.
The first thing to come to mind was a South Shore Little Joe doing a dutch drop.
Now that you mention it, I remember seeing the C&O doing one in Milford in the early 1960's. I'm pretty sure it one of the "flatland" GP7's or GP9's, but at that point in my life, such distinctions were of no import.
In fact, one day the local was in the selfsame siding. Looking back, they were in the hole, waiting for a through freight headed north on what is now the CSX Saginaw Sub. One of the crew members invited me on the locomotive and opened a few doors for me, so I could marvel at the prime mover.
When the northbound came through, I asked if the locomotives were the same - the answer was that they were bigger. SD's maybe?
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Maybe I should add another one.Cp 2816 rolled into Defiance.It was Matt's birthday.Don't know when that engine will come back through.
stay safe
Joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
I can think of a number of rare catches while railfanning, but one in particular sticks out. I live in Ohio and on one trip Union City, OH/IN, I had the good fortune to catch a westbound on CSX (former NYC) a BNSF GP60B #346 as the 2nd unit in the consist. A BQ23-7 #3003B, still in the Family Lines paint, going through Troy, OH, was another great. Both were around 2002-2006 when photographed.
Outside Livingstone, Zambia in 1994, approaching an old rail crossing in the car, when a long, steam-drawn passenger train pulled up and stopped, not sure why. I was astonished, as if I'd gone back in time.
It turned out to be one of Rohan Vos's early Rovos excursion trains. We got out of the car to take some pictures of the train, and my brother talked to Mr Vos. Years later I took three very enjoyable trips on his trains.
As I mulled this over, several surprises came to mind:
Two years ago we were in Rockland Maine to go on a 4 day Schooner trip (J&J Riggins) which in itself was pretty amazing...a 100 year old tall ship.
We were staying at my wife's brother (who owns and operates the ship with his captain/wife) and would leave the next morning. I had to take care of some work related business...a customer was going to call at 2pm, so I left their house and drove to a spot where I wouldnt disturb folks with boring business chatter.
I parked next to the tracks and soon I heard a horn which I deemed unusual for a Sunday afternoon on a branchline in Maine. I jumped out of hte car with camera and around the curve came an F unit and a passenger train. Totally unexpected in 2014. The train runs on weekends to Rockland and returns.
I also found out the railroad runs a short (5 mile) freight movement from a quarry south of Rockland to a transload facility for a barge which moves the rock to NY/NJ area. I didnt see that train, but the F units was enough.
The next day we set sail on an incredible voyage off the Maine coast which featured not only great scenery but great meals.
Ed
Last year on the evening of the Fostoria (Ohio) Rail Festival, a couple rail grinders pulled in at the park and stopped for a while before heading east. Having never seen one in real life, it was a treat to see them. Granted, had they been grinding, I wouldn't have been that close.
watch?v=kc0nH wfujw
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
IanMP As of now, i aleardy saw plenty of things on the railroads, i saw cabooses, work trains, and even a transCAER training tanker, but i think my best catch was CN's inspection RDC, since they are quitte rare on my line, my second best catch would probably be a long Herzog ballast train with 2 engines on the lead and 2 engines helping on the rear (DPUs are a very rare thing where i live) and my third best catch is probably that training tank car. What about you?
As of now, i aleardy saw plenty of things on the railroads, i saw cabooses, work trains, and even a transCAER training tanker, but i think my best catch was CN's inspection RDC, since they are quitte rare on my line, my second best catch would probably be a long Herzog ballast train with 2 engines on the lead and 2 engines helping on the rear (DPUs are a very rare thing where i live) and my third best catch is probably that training tank car. What about you?
This has to be rare to see two 4-8-4's working over Cajon.
RR
Probably on a trip in southern Ohio in the mid-1970's - a young couple in what the late Herb Sullivan once gleefully described as "complete and total embrace" on a creek bank a few yards downstream from a trestle on the DT&I. No, I didn't take the picture.
Hmm rarest catch Locomotive? The SP 4449 in Owosso Michigan in 2009 at Steamfest.Car? would have to say an articulated algoma central wood car on q 501 as it went through Defiance.So many more memories I could share.You never know what's coming next.
Mine was spending a couple of days in Memphis, Tn. watching the UPRR Steam Crew work on the 3985. The location was at what had been the site of the former NC&STL Lenox (St) Station. The last switch on the UPRR before the CSX trackage started. THe 3985 lost its smoke box (air pressure nozzle?). a small casting in the bottom of the smoke box. The train was left in Sargent Yard(nee: MoPac), and the 3985, with water tenders, and the steam generator car and machine shop car, were stopped just before entering CSX territory.
The 3985 had to be cooled down so the smoke box could be entered (overnight). The next day they opened the smoke box, and the mechanics entered, to replace the small casting. Then 3985 had to be refired, when they had steam, a tanker truck refueled it. the engine then had to be pulled forward (on to CSXtrack) to reach the closest fire hydrant.
That required a CSX employee to call Jacksonville, and request permission to open the swithch and for 3985 to occupy their track. The CSX dispatch asked him, if the move was 'protected'. He answered in the afirmative !
I personally,knew several IC managers, and shop persone from Johnston Yard Roundhouse. A few assorted BNRR supervisors. and several CSX supervisors, The UPRR Steam Crew guys, and some other personnel....The one time the railroaders outnumbered the railfans....The area was awash in all kinds of railroad transportaion. The highlight was watching them (Steve Lee, eng.) use 3985 as a switch engine to sort the cars (to their normal order)!
Yep, I did have some pictures but where? several moves have disappeared them,but still have some memories...
Well, that certainly qualifies as the best catch they got while you were railfanning! Kudos for assisting them!
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)
Well.. I was railfanning in Milton, ON one evening along side CP's double track mainline. I was the only one in the little park adjoining the track that warm summer evening, and comfortably reclined on a park bench.. when suddenly.. all hell broke loose. An SUV tore into the parking area and two men jumped out and ran into the bush. About 20 seconds later a police car tears in, lights and siren on. Two policemen jump out and walk briskly towards me.. "YOU THE GUY WE'RE LOOKING FOR?" the younger officer shouts. I told them I was not, and that the two men they were after had run into the bush. As the police officers went in the direction I pointed to the older officer followed behind, and his reaction was priceless.. he rolled his eyes at me and mouthed the words "he's a dummy" as he discreetly pointed to the other officer who had gone ahead. They soon returned with two men, cuffed them, and away they went. And oh yeah.. just as all this was going on a west bound freight came by..
Just a few off the cuff...
I caught an experimental BN EMD with a 3 axle front truck and a 4 axle rear truck on a gravel pit local working the ex GN highline south of Klamath Falls in the mid 80's. (sorry Balt, no pix)
Was hanging out at martinez spur up on Cajon pass one day when not only did the 3985 show up, but it did a photo run by right there!!!
Caught an Amtrak MEET!!! at Caliente, Ca. (Amtrak had only detoured over Tehachappi 4-5 times since it's inception in 71').
But to me the rarest was seeing a derailment happen in Mojave around 06'. A westbound split a switch after 2/3 of the train went by, a rare event in it's own right) and piled up about a dozen cars. It was the same weekend as a SoCalRailfan.net gathering at caliente (on Tehachappi). By mid-day the place was a riot of UP and Hulcher people mixed it with a bazillion railfans and locals all lined up and down hwy 14.
This. American Freedom Train on it's way to its first stop. March 29, 1975. Spent the day railfanning the corridor. Had no idea this was coming.
A magnetic four wheel self propelled crane from Sullivan Steel in Holyoke on the Pan Am Railroad in Holyoke, Ma not far from Easthampton, Ma town line that was picking up steel somewhere.The yard this crane normally works at is at least five miles south in the Center of Holyoke where they load scrap steel into large hopper cars. Quite a ways for hotdog lunch unless he was picking up scap from the Pan Am. Track was bad at the time. Twenty mph for the freights. Many spike heads at least a half or more inch high at the time.
A hotdog stand called the Smoking Caboose parks right next to the mainline. At one time. loco crews would stop for quick lunch and maybe a crew change. No more crew change that I know of as Amtrak is now running through this area though it is still double rail in the area up into Northampton. I bike on a rail trail nearby.No idea what I did with the picture.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I recently went to see the NYC t motor and s motor sitting, rusting, in a Huston River floodplain, in Glenmont NY. I had read about them and watched the youtube video but part of me could not believe such historic locomotives lay abandoned.
When I saw them poking through the summer overgrowth, I went through a series of emotions. I believe they deserve better than this.
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