Nostalgia & History > Western Pacific, 05 January 1982

Thirty years ago found me railfanning on the Western Pacific in January 1982...and finally in some snow!

1. In fog and snow flurries a 52-car freight headed east over the Keddie Wye at 0740, 05 January 1982.

2. Same train, approaching Williams Loop at 0930.

3. Snow, fog, and a morning winter sun combined for a strange effect as GP40 #3504 passed through Spring Garden at 0940.

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4. #3504, eastbound at Two Rivers. 1015, 05 January.

5. At 1110 a 34-car TOF headed east out of Portola behind Union Pacific power.

6. TOF, Beckwourth Pass. 1215, 05 January.

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Shot #2 I vote for Photo of the Day. Wow!!

7. UP SD40-2 #3773 with eastbound TOF slows for a meet at Doyle. 1315, 05 January 1982.

8. With meet affected, UP SD40-2 #3757 brings westbound tonnage through Doyle at 1330.

9. Westbound approaches Reno Junction, with two GP35s waiting to take interchange traffic to Reno. 1345, 05 January 1982.

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10. With cut of cars from westbound in tow, the Reno Local works its way south. 1430, 05 January.

11. At 1515 another westbound behind UP power headed across the Sierra Valley.

12. Beneath scudding clouds GP40 #3504, the locomotive I had first seen in the morning crossing the Keddie Wye, headed east across the Sierra Valley at 1600. All together, a good day, and in all my years shooting on WP, the only serious snow I ever encountered.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/12 11:53 by captrr.

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A fine set of images, sir!

Excellent set of shots. Thanks for posting those.

Z

Nice photo's Rick.

It was very common to see a group of wb's between Portola and Flanigan, NV in the mid to late afternoon.

3504 East is probably either the WPE or a GGM/WPE combo, UP3757 West looks to be the MDX and the UP3508 West most likely the WPF with Sacramento TOFC on the front.

The first four months of 1982 weren't too bad traffic wise but from May through August it was a real downer...



Allen



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/12 14:17 by bradleymckay.

#2 is spectacular.

And over on Donner, the rotaries were running

All good. Photo #2 would win a Winterail award.

OUTSTANDING series Rick! I have to agree, #2 is the winner, but #'s 8 and 11 are close. I love in #11 your timing on the sun angle splitting the nose of the 3508. Btw, looks like corn snow in that same photo. Thanks for sharing...GREAT JOB

Kent in Carmel Valley

AWESOME!!!

bradleymckay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice photo's Rick.
>
> It was very common to see a group of wb's between
> Portola and Flanigan, NV in the mid to late
> afternoon.
>
> 3504 East is probably either the WPE or a GGM/WPE
> combo, UP3757 West looks to be the MDX and the
> UP3508 West most likely the WPF with Sacramento
> TOFC on the front.
>
> The first four months of 1982 weren't too bad
> traffic wise but from May through August it was a
> real downer...
>
>
>
> Allen


Allen, I don't know if is the MDX. I remember reading the BAF was a secondary piggyback/carload train. Piggyback traffic was set out at Reno Junction.
The TOF is actually the OME (Overland Mail East). OME almost always had pooled UP power; where as the TOF had mixed WP/UP or WP power.
In addition, Rick thank you for shooting the pick-up at Reno Junction. Within 6 months WP #3014 was wrecked (Not destroyed) in Reno, NV on July 27, 1982.
One more thing; U23B's were still running. Most U30B's were stored in Stockton during January 1982.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/12 10:57 by ClipX.