Your favorite railfanning moment

[coborn35]

Pardon if this is on another thread.

I want this to be a place where people can share favorite railroading or railfanning memories.

Mine would have to be when an empty passenger train pulled by a DMIR SD18 blew by me in notch 8.[wow] Makes you appreciate the power of diesels more[:D]

[fuzzybroken]

First, I'll give you my favorite railfanning DOH!!!!!!!!!!!

A group of people had gathered in Duplainville, WI (part of Pewaukee, a suburb? of Milwaukeesha -- that's Milwaukee and Waukesha) to watch, videotape, and photograph the CP 4-6-4 2816 going by. As it approached, so did Amtrak #8, the Empire Builder! Everyone's view of 2816 was blocked by #8, and I think we all said a collective "Awwwww ...."

Fortunately, I caught up with the train at Portage, and got more good pictures than I could have imagined. Pics are at:
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken/TC3-CP2816.html

One of my favorite railfanning moments was just a few weeks ago. I decided to take a ride down to Janesville, WI to see what I could find in Wisconsin & Southern's yard. As I was shooting a picture of a couple engines by the roundhouse, the JH (Janesville-Horicon) train popped out of the yard. I headed north a couple streets and got some pictures of the train, then headed north of town and waited, getting several more excellent pictures, then chased it to Milton Jct., and got more pictures. But the best was yet to come, as I waited on the east side of Milton, where I got to see the two SD40-2s switching the industrial park! Those big engines sure squealed around the tight curve leading into the park (which is currently just one industry, but it's cool nonetheless).

Anyways, back to J-ville, where I caught UP's local switching an industry on the south side of town, with an old CNW caboose! It was the perfect end to an awesome day.

And one of these days I'll get pics of it on my site as well.

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

[chad thomas]

I have quite a few, but here are some off the top of my head.

Seeing UP Challenger 3985 in the desert west of Gerlach,Nv. at speed with a full train in tow. One of the best things about this was there was nobody else there. Just me (and my dad). I've chased steam trains before. The hords of people that usualy follow are a big turn off for me. That time it was just me, the desert, and the train.

Another time also involved the 3985. I was east of Cajon Summit about 4 Miles. This was to be a typical trainwaching day, or so I thought. I stared in shock down the track as 3985 came into view heading twards me. I had no idea it was even comming out west. Unbelievably it came to a stop right in front of me!!!!!!!!!!!! Then unloaded passengers for a photo run by. Right in front of me !!!!!!!!!! I tore up 2 rolls of film on that one. Way Awsome.

Another one would be when I got to take a cab ride over Tehachappi. Unfortunatly it was at night so I didn't get any pictures. I don't know what symbol it was but it was a very hot train. almost every siding was full and we never stopped once. It wasn't till after I got off (they stopped just to drop me off) that I realized how long it was. It must have been 7500-8500 ft. long. and lead by 4 8100 series C44-9Ws. I rode in 8179 (SP).

There was also the time I got a personal tour of Lorams rail grinder RG-8. I spent several hours on Tehachappi railfanning and talking to this guy. I had no idea who he was. As he was leaving he told me he was the boss on the railgrinder crew and invited me to meet him later and take a tour. You bet I would. I still have the Loram hat he gave me.

[CShaveRR]

Most of my favorite railfanning "moments" take a few hours to unfold--like days I remember at Blue Island, Dolton, or Calumet Park where we'd go for hours on end without a break in the action, with moving trains in sight at all times.

If you want a "moment", though, it's hard to narrow down. How about any time a freight blows by you at track speed with mixed power--you hear the steady sound of EMDs coming at you, and the chugging of GEs going away.

Or, something that's thrilling and frustrating at the same time--when the railroad decides to demonstrate in front of me why it does need all three of those tracks in its main line (and the train I'm watching for neat equipment is never the nearest one).

I'm hoping that my most thrilling moments are yet to come--when I can show some of this to visiting Forum friends (such as Nora, who's already been here), or inoculate my granddaughter (who's now too young) with the train-watching bug and watch those bright blue eyes open wide!

[TheS.P.caboose]

In my case it happened before the SP/UP merger. I was railfanning with some friends at the west switch at Sylmar. Early in the afternoon the 1JRCIP2-10 (first section of the James River to City of Industry on the Saugas Line on the 10th of the month) was heading east towards Los Angeles. He had 8 units on the point of this lumber train with 70-80 cars. Two thirds of the way back he had a 9 unit set of helpers to cut out at Sylmar, CA. Talking to the helper crew, this train had something like 15,000 tons. Impressive. For sure a favorite moment.

[Overmod]

CShaveRR -- just how young is "too young"?

My daughter, just under age 2, opens her eyes very wide and solemnly imitates 611's whistle (as heard via RealAudio) while looking intently at pictures of 611. Gets very excited, and recognizes locomotives and trains, both on screen and when in the car. We had a fun time in Germantown, TN a week or so ago watching intermodals on the ex-Southern main.

Memorable moments include:

A meet on the EL's Northern Branch between a C424 and a U-boat, both in EL colors

A night near Culpeper, Virginia... half the sky spangled with stars, the other half filled with lightning and thunderheads, the field I was standing in alive with fireflies. Southern Railway at high speed.

Watching the last two MP54s I ever saw running heading south from Princeton Junction after being replaced by a Silverliner -- sunlight hitting their sides, and their gears singing, running faster than I would have believed they could go -- you don't miss them as much when they leave with such panache.

3985 and train stopped a few miles north of Bernie, MO on the way down the Cotton Belt -- with the setting sun spotlighting the train at low angle.

Riding the rear cab of the UA Turbotrain from New Haven back into NYP

Riding the "cab" of assorted Metroliners between New York and Philadelphia -- who needs a reserved seat??? Especially fun with R.J.Russell telling stories about running PRR steam and classic diesels...

4800 'rivets', in Bicentennial paint, pulling Reading MU cars (with pans up!) during the SEPTA strike

[JoeKoh]

lets see
seeing the 611-J in continental ohio
matts 3rd birthday as the 2816 came into and stopped in defiance
or yesterday when matt put on his boots and says daddy gotta go see trains!!!
more good times to come!
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

So far, seeing the 3985 in New Braunfels, Texas years ago before I really knew anything about the 3985, or even thought about being a railfan or knew what one was.

But...My favorite moment will be when my son finally brings my 5 month old grandson over and we all three get to go railfanning together!

mike

[Bob-Fryml]

MOST NOSTALGIC. Mom, Dad, sis and I were riding southwards along 5th St. in Milwaukee one warm Saturday evening in June 1962. A light spring shower was falling from the sky, but my window of the nearly 40-year old Jewett, Cincinnati, or Pullman-built motor was wide open. People were sitting on the front steps of their two-flats drinking Schlitz, Pabst, Blatz, Miller (or what have you) and having a nice family get together. My birthday dinner enjoyed at Karl Ratzsch's was digesting nicely, the trolley wire was sparking overhead from time-to-time, and I knew at that moment that I'd be a traction phreaque for life. An Electroliner would have never seared that memory as well as the old coaches, rain, and people outside did.

AWESOME & SCARY. One Saturday during the summer of 1971 I had to deadhead a Santa Fe company truck from Barstow, Calif. to division headquarters in San Bernardino. After turning the truck in, I caught a quick trip home riding the head end of "The Super C," then the world's fastest regularly scheduled freight train. Riding the lead motor, ATSF 5942 (now preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum), this FP45 painted in the classic red/yellow/silver Warbonnet scheme and her three sister units (mixed FP45s and F45s - all equipped with passenger geared trucks) had no trouble at all lifting the 1400-tons we had up the ramparts of Cajon Pass. At 10-horsepower per trailing ton, the train roared up-grade at speeds approaching 55-mph.

As The Super C topped out at Summit, Calif., a Form 19 train order that the crew had really cut in. It read, "Trains nos 99 and 100 assume passenger train speed not to exceed 79mph." Well, given the fact that we had "No. 1" on the engineer's seniority roster in charge of the throttle that day, we were given to high spotting in a few places. Now here's the scary part: as we slammed through Victorville on a slight downhill grade with horns blaring, right-of-way dust flying everywhere, and a speed recorder needle pinned on 82-mph, a loaded cement truck pulled right across the tracks in front of us. The lead motor d@mn near kissed that truckers rear bumper. At that moment I had the biggest lump in my throat that I can remember, but the hoghead wasn't the least bit perturbed. "Happens all the time around here, kid!" he said nonchalantly.

CLASSIEST. In 1971 I must have ridden "The Super Chief" at least two dozen times - not coast-to-coast, mind you; but enough to enjoy at least one dinner each time.

HAPPIEST. Riding the CTA's "Evanston Express," 1967 to 1972. Imagine its a blistering hot summer evening and you're aboard the finest passenger train equipment ever built: a brace of mid-1920s built "Cincinnati Heavyweights," equipment that could delight the senses for hours on end. Thankfully berift of air conditioning, all of the train's windows are wide open. Your sitting directly above the traction motor equipped truck of the last car watching the the three cars ahead of you as they make their way southwards towards downtown Chicago. As your train pulls out of Howard St. station, the low, basso-profundo groans of the traction motors slowly give way to alto melodies, then tenor, and finally a lilting coloratura soprano as the train reaches a break neck speed of 40-mph. Rocking along on jointed rail, the noise, the foul smell of traction motor grease, a faint scent of sweet ozone, an occasional whiff of acrid creosote, and your just overwhelmed by the magnificence of it all. The train makes its way past the abandoned North Shore Line platform at Wilson Ave. and suddenly the reason you paid 40-cents for the best ride in America becomes clear: the train is on the ancient steel trestle of the Northwestern Elevated Railroad Company whose sharp, hairpin turns bring numerous squealing flanges and even louder melodies while views of this homely, yet aesthetically pleasing train go in and out of sight. After taking on the first load of homeward-bound rush hour passengers at Chicago's Merchandise Mart, the train accelerates briefly, drifts ever so nicely on top of the Wells St. bridge spanning the Chicago River, and then pounds across the diamonds at Lake-Wells junction like some dowager empress making the grand entrance a top a sweeping staircase at a royal soireee of old. Mixed with the hoi-poloi of "Green Hornets," and soulless new equipment, nothing may never have - nor certainly ever will - make its commanding presence known throughout Chicago's Union Loop like the "Evanston Express" of old. After 45 to 50 years of service, the Cincinattis were just comfortably broken in. Why the CTA retired them is beyond any norm of rational comprehension.

THE GOD-YOU-CAN-TAKE-ME-NOW MOMENT. The time: March 1981. The place: Union Pacific's Greeley Subdivision. The locomotive: an Alco warbaby built in 1943. The engineer: the late "Papa" Frank Accord, Chief Mechanical Officer of the Union Pacific Railroad. District Foreman gentleman Jim Duncan was firing the coal burner. And as we made our way up the descending grade from Carr, Colorado to Speer, Wyoming with about a dozen cars in tow (including Trains editor David P. Morgan bringing up the markers), the reverser was set far too forward, Papa Frank yanked way back on the throttle, the engine was barking at an ear splitting pace, and the train roared up the grade at a comfortable 50-mph. Overcome with the magnificence of it all and with the bright sun shining on my face, I threw my arms up towards the sky and yelled outside the fireman's window at the top of my lungs, "God, you can take me now!"

THE FOAMITE MOMENT: Burning three rolls of Kodachrome on a pair of Rhaetische Bahn crokodiles one day in the Swiss Alps, and I still didn't get the Christmas card shot I was looking for!

[CShaveRR]

Overmod--Katelyn is only two months old; I think that might be a little early (two years should not be a problem, based on her mother's experiences!).

(You only need four more posts for that fourth star--get busy!)

[locomutt]

I think my favorite moments,would have been when I saw
2101 pulling the Chessie Steam Special;and also being
able to see 614 running.

[spbed]

I have many like the UPRR bullet team flying by in notch 8 but my favorite was at Daggett CA one early morning a UPRR WB military train was entering the BNSF, on the middle track came flying by WB Amtrak & on the south track a EB BNSF TOFC train also doing speed came thru. The end results was for some seconds all 3 tracks at Daggett where I stood were occupied with moving trains. It was quite a thrill. [:o)]

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

Pardon if this is on another thread.

I want this to be a place where people can share favorite railroading or railfanning memories.

Mine would have to be when an empty passenger train pulled by a DMIR SD18 blew by me in notch 8.[wow] Makes you appreciate the power of diesels more[:D]

[Anonymous]

The most memorable railfan moment for me was when I was13 and hung out at the local depot in my hometown in Connecticut. I was a pest there, but for some reason the station master tolerated my presence. I had already been given a green notebook sized time table for the New York, New Haven, and Hartford railroad, and right after school I would ride my bike down to the station.

The New Haven was a sorry excuse for a railroad and was about to be consumed by the Penn Central, but it was the only game in town for me. Around 3:30 PM (and it was a big "around") I would go out onto the ground level station platform and sit with my back to the wall of the station. The main line for the New Haven- westbound- was maybe ten feet away, and there was a faded yellow line beyond which passengers were not supposed to step.

You would hear the Yankee Clipper long before you saw it. The rails would begin to hum and jingle. If you looked east, you would catch the headlight coming. As the train approached, you would notice an odd sideways rocking; at that time, the roadbed has not been worked on for a long time, and some tie plates had an enigmatic "36" on them. Then the train would boil by at probably 40 miles an hour. The noise was deafening and you braced yourself against the feeling that the train was trying to suck you into the trucks. A few seconds of watching silver flute sided cars and older green cars flash by... and then it was gone.

I did this dozens of times, and I now realize it was probably not the safest thing to do. But in 1968, there wasn't the fear of liability issues (my father was also a railfan and heartily approved of my activities) and it was OK to hang around the local depot.

When I look back at 30 plus years of hanging around trains and their people, the noise and smell of the Yankee Clipper- and the rocking of the red, white, and black NH locomotive- stands out in my mind.

Erik

[AntonioFP45]

Have several that are equal on my "Super Cool" scale:

During the late 70s-early 80s-------

Cab ride on a Seaboard Coast Line U18B.
Cab ride on a SCL GP7.
Cab ride on an Amtrak SDP40f.
Cab ride on a GP38-2 during an Operation Lifesaver special in 1981. I was a member of the NRHS, Tampa Bay Chapter. Enginner took photos of me at the controls while the train was stopped.

Amazing what good manners and a camera can help get you access to!

I've said it so many times that nearly all SCL employees I met were so cool and down to earth. I was saddened to find out that when CSX was formed in 1986, many of these guys were given incentives to "hurry up" and retire early. SCL was indeed gone.

Man! Back then I remember modelers and fans alike complaining that things were declining for railfans! Too bad we couldn't see the future and realize that we actually had it made back as many of us could still just walk on to most yards, chat with railroaders and shoot photos.

[dealemeout]

Well, since I've always had a great interest in the early days of railroading, I suppose my most memorable railfanning moment was back in Sept. 1981 when I got to ride behind Camden and Amboy's "John Bull" in an original coach from the 1830's, (1836 if I remember correctly). It was during the 150th anniversary of the Bull's first steaming in America that was celebrated by the Smithsonian Institute on the B&O's Georgetown Branch in Wash., DC. I'd originally intended to just go for the ceremony and observe but I got there quite early and was able to ride on one of the "test" runs along the branch. It was pretty much a "you wanna ride along?" type situation so I took full advantage of it. I won't say I felt like I was in the 1830's but it was close with the wood burning, saturated engine pulling us and a coach whose amenities could best be described as BASIC. Of course I stuck around for the ceremonies and, after quite a few successful runs along the branch, have the engine break down, (throttle stuck because of scale deposits), just as the news cameras were rolling. I'm glad Murphy waited until after I'd had my ride.

[spbed]

Well if cab rides are considered rail fanning then my cab ride that the DHRR gave me on there sharks from Newark NJ to Philly via the Reading mainline has to go down as another thrill.

[oltmannd]

Oh, boy. Too many to think about.

In no particular order:

"foamer events"

- watching 759 flash by Tobyhanna PA at speed (60+mph) as the sun was setting
-steam cab ride at Steamtown when I was about 9 yrs old
-camping out at MP 241 on HSC
-Metroclub trip to NYC on 7/20/69 to see the Yankees play
-Seattle to Phila Amtrak trip in 1973
-Watervliet to Plattsburg Adirondak trip behind PAs

"work related"

-90 mph FL9 test
-overtaking move (at 10 mph over track speed) on Buffalo line
-ride quality testing on CR8 and CR9's maiden voyages, including 90 mph on Harrisburg line jointed rail
-sleeping in CR20 on the Boston Line
-E60 cab ride on NEC
-multiple Sekirk to Cleveland intermodal train cab rides (ride quality tests)

I can't pick which is the best - you're asking too much!

[gabe]

The IC use to go through my hometown of Mt. Olive, Illinois. I was born in 1975 and the line was not pulled out until 1982. However, the line had not been used--in favor of the former GM&O/Alton Chicago-St. Louis line--since my ability to remember.

Anyway, in 1980 or 1981, I was coming home from church with my Dad, and there was a train on the line. First and only, I had ever seen (other than the wrecking trains). It was haunting, like seeing something alive that wasn't supposed to be alive.

The NS, ex-Wabash line is right next to it, and recieves plenty of traffic. But seeing that IC (actually ICG) was like watching Babe Ruth come out of retirement to hit one last home run so the next generation of baseball fans would have something to remember him by.

Gabe

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed

Well if cab rides are considered rail fanning then my cab ride that the DHRR gave me on there sharks from Newark NJ to Philly via the Reading mainline has to go down as another thrill.

A Baldwin Shark?! Wow! Now that's an "E Ticket" experience! [4:-)][tup]
I heard years back that there is one D&H Shark still in existence. I hope this is true!

[Modelcar]

....Experience was a real railroad trip but due to my extreme interest in raliroading at an early age, it has to be my experience passing through...{changing from Pennsylvania RR to Long Island RR in {the great late Pennsylvania RR Station in NYC}, and having a bit of layover time gave time to take in the awesome presence of that mightty structure and filled with people, {many military}, as it was during WWII....From my eyes as a youngster it was an awesome experience that is still fresh in my memory...Even the part of stepping outside briefly and getting a view of the Empire State Building.

[METRO]

My favorite WOW moment was seeing an RS-3, running caboose-light racing a thunderstom. I was sitting with my grandfather (who spent most of his life working at Alco,) he saw the the RS-3 come rushing by, smiled and said "yep, I remember putting that one together."

My most stupid railroad moment ever was when I was a photography student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD.) I was on a shoot of the trains comming in and out of Milwaukee Station and was walking back along the aproach line east of the station when I heard a train comming into the station, my photo partner and I walked to the southboud track and got ready to shoot some film. About five seconds later, around the bend comes the Hawatha running WRONG MAIN! My buddy and I had the good mind to move down onto the ballast beside the track but still had only about 4 feet of between us and the train as it flew by.

Another wow moment down at MIAD thoug was seeing a CNW FM switcher working the industries (now all condos) in the Thrid Ward. The open mouthed look of amazement on my face prompted the engineer to laugh and tell me to get my pictures now as the switcher was going to be retired at the end of the summer.

~METRO

[spbed]

Yes there were 2 sharks married back to back & they mounted a seat for me in the lead engine as the excursion was a perk for me for supporting them. Today I do not know if they still have both or discarded one. They also took me to there car barn outside Albany where they have stored a wooden parlor car that is over 100 years old. That was also a trip to be inside something that historic. They told me they used it for there BOD meetings in olden days. I was also in there HQs in Albany as well. Yes maybe some engineer can tell you what his fears are but while it was a once in a lifetime experience it is somewhat scary to me doing 60+ looking at the rails ahead & wondering what would happen if at that speed the rails buckled & we derailed. My wife took many days getting over me doing it as she equated that trip to riding a motorcycle. For me it was just a thrill that when I thick of it today it still gives me goosebumps. To bad it was before camcorders as that would have made a great video[:o)][8D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed

Well if cab rides are considered rail fanning then my cab ride that the DHRR gave me on there sharks from Newark NJ to Philly via the Reading mainline has to go down as another thrill.

A Baldwin Shark?! Wow! Now that's an "E Ticket" experience! [4:-)][tup]
I heard years back that there is one D&H Shark still in existence. I hope this is true!

[Anonymous]

My Favorite was when I was very young when I use to live in Omaha when I would walk all the way down to the 16th Street overpass and watch the Big Huge MKT Grain Trains from Kansas City to Council Bluffs with there Massive 4 Big EMD SD40-2's pulling their very long string of Grain in tow[:)].....But the number one thing that made my day was on the rear......That Big Green&Yellow Caboose. Those where the days[:(],Now it'sall a but a memorie now. It's just too sad just thinking about it.
And that was the time when at the same time when the CNW was still a Railroad.
At the same location watching those New CNW SD50&SD60's on Coal Trains.
Good Years lost........Good Years lost forver!
I even liked the time when the Mo-Pac was still around. Standing around the RR crossing up in north Omaha watching the Trains with the very nice Crews at the time,they would throw out me a bottle of water every time they saw me Track side.
It's amaizing that I can still remember all of this When at the time when there "WHERE" Railroads. Those days are surley GONE!
BNSFrailfan.

[Anonymous]

The first loco i can recal is a an English Electric Deltic at full pelt. It was the last months of thier lives and to see one wide open doing nearly 100mph both 18 cyl engens screaming away, i knew railroad ing was special.

[espeefoamer]

In June 1975,the 4449 traveled from Portland to Chicago,for storage,waiting to take over the Freedom Train.It was pulling the tool car and three passenger cars. A friend and I had chased it from south of Dunsmuir,then over Donner.Some fans had been getting short rides,simply for the asking.I inquired about this and got to ride from Trukee to Sparks.I was high for three days[:p]! This weekend was the first time I had seen a steam engine[:D].

[CSXrules4eva]

This is a tough question of me I have many favorit railfaning experiences. I'm going to have to say my favorit railfaning experience happened recently. I saw my first GEVO ES40CW thundering by me at 50mph on NS double track mainline in Wesr Conshohocken, PA.

[SP9811]

I have many favorite SP fannin moments, but I think the best was when a SP conductor gave me a tour of SP SD70M 9824. Unfortunately my camera just got done rewinding, and I had no film with me, it was in my car. I asked him how long they would be, and he said not very long, as the van was coming to get them. He said he would leave 9824's front door unlocked, and that I could come in and take pictures. I didn't go back in fearing someone (nonrailroad) would see me and call the cops. So those images of her cab are in my memory forever. As are the friendly SP crews.
Thom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SP9811

I have many favorite SP fannin moments, but I think the best was when a SP conductor gave me a tour of SP SD70M 9824. Unfortunately my camera just got done rewinding, and I had no film with me, it was in my car. I asked him how long they would be, and he said not very long, as the van was coming to get them. He said he would leave 9824's front door unlocked, and that I could come in and take pictures. I didn't go back in fearing someone (nonrailroad) would see me and call the cops. So those images of her cab are in my memory forever. As are the friendly SP crews.
Thom

I know that feeling!
That's like me taking my S-VHS Camcorder to go Railfanning and right when you get all set up you then just relize that there is no Tape in the Deck[:(!]. You talk about STUPID!
BNSFrailfan.

[moelarrycurly4]

seeing the 3985 coming thru my hometown south of Houston.

[DPD1]

Waiting for the mysterious late night #21 to come through on the EJ&E, on it's way North each night in the late 70's/early 80's. Back then, it was somehow better when you didn't have a radio to let you know what was going on, or the Internet, or anything... It was just the train, and your imagination did the rest.

Dave

-DPD Productions - Home of the TrainTenna RR Monitoring Antenna-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/