Western Railroad Discussion > Friday's Operation Lifesaver Special in Tooele Valley

Union Pacific ran an Operation Lifesaver Special, symbol SSCSC 12 from Salt Lake City along the Lynndyl Subdivision to Faust siding, some 68 miles west of downtown. The train departed the Amtrak station around 1:00 and returned by around 4:00 p.m.

I set up along the pristine, undeveloped foothills near Erda siding, a location that offers panoramic views of the Great Salt Lake, the nearby Oquirrh Mountains, and the Tooele Valley.

1. The 5054 West roars by my location at passenger train speeds through the big curve at milepost 757.75. The Great Salt Lake and Stansbury Island mark the background.

2. Around 90 minutes later, the MWCNP 11 arrived eastbound on the scene having overtaken the SSCSC 12 at Faust. The 109 car manifest had AC4400CW 'coal haulers' on the point and an ES44AC mid train, in 2x1 DPU.

3. Following the manifest by about 12 minutes, the SSCSC 12 blew by on the return to Salt Lake City at Erda.

The Operation Lifesaver had EMD SD70Ms 5054, 5052, 5023, and passenger cars Columbine, Texas Eagle, and Cheyenne. Not a bad horsepower to tonnage ratio, wouldn't you say?

James Belmont
Salt Lake City, UT

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Gorgeous.
JB

Fine work as always, James. A perfect location and good subjects, well captured. Memorable indeed.

Love the contrast of the GSL in the first photo and the snow capped peaks in the second . . . great work as always James!

Craig
mcmrailvideos.com

All three are outstanding. Well done!

Beautiful shots all, James!

Rich

nice now go get the talgo

GrandGold - As usual, James, really terrific.

Paul Brennecke
Golden, CO

dan Wrote:
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> nice now go get the talgo

Check it out:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3047843

James Belmont
Salt Lake City, UT

NIIIICE pics!!!! Thanks for sharing.

Nice work, James! Beautiful trio of images.

— espee4ever