Western Railroad Discussion > Aimlessly wandering through the desert...again

Due to a variety of reasons like crappy weather down here in the Inland Empire and my wife being out of town, I decided to make a run out to the Needles Sub last Sunday. My second trip in less than a week was not nearly as productive as last Monday when the NS Pennsy Heritage unit came west, but a six hour late Amtrak and a tip from a friend that some KCS power was possibly headed this way, was reason enough.

1) Hoping for a freight unit, I ran across #3 just west of Newberry Springs with an ordinary consist of locomotives 73, 9 and just 8 cars, hardly worth stopping for.

A couple of friends, Matt(DRGW) and Gary(TheNavigator) had the same idea and soon the three of us wound up at Amboy, all in separate vehicles doing our best to support the oil companies profits. It was real slow due to lots of track work so I continued east hoping for westbounds.

2) A mile or so east of Cadiz I waited at a nice curve where the two mainlines separated slightly and was soon rewarded with a new ES44C4, BNSF 8001.

3) I followed the 8001 back west to Ash Hill where the dispatcher held him for several eastbounds due to single-tracking.

The train with the KCS power eventually showed up but a dirty BNSF was leading. While the train waited in the distance, Gary and Matt chose to wait for it to get on the move, I screwed up and made the mistake to let it go, heading back east searching for more westbounds.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/14 23:08 by oyw.

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4) After a call from Matt, I raced back west for this train. Quite a lash-up, NS 8059/CN 2610/UP 8034 on a short eastbound manifest, I barely made to the old Santa Fe bridge near Klondike.

5) Another shot before the train turned away from the sun at East Siberia. Pool is cool, especially on the BNSF.

6) Just around the curve looking the other way, BNSF 4576 on a z-train with the colorful consist passing in the distance.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/14 23:10 by oyw.

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7) Oh by the way, the military train with the KCS power was at West Daggett getting ready to be picked up by the UP and pulled up to Yermo(I assume) as I passed by on my way home. A crappy shot at best, the sun was minutes away from setting and dust was blowing like crazy.

It was time to end this long day, a lot of miles but I'd probably do it again.

OYW



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/14 23:07 by oyw.

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oyw Wrote:
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> 1) Hoping for a freight unit, I ran across #3 just
> west of Newberry Springs with an ordinary consist
> of locomotives 73, 9 and just 8 cars, hardly worth
> stopping for.


Was it at least doing track speed (90)?

Nice series of shots!

Beautiful work.

FDF

Great series Bob, as always. #4 is my favorite.

Thanks for sharing,
~Ryan

Gotta ask: what make and model camera are you using?

Another great bunch Bob, no wasted time there.
JB

Feel free to help out those oil companies anytime you want to. Great shots all the way around!

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

a horsey, a canuck, and uncle pete... interesting lashup. dave, out.

1939dutchman Wrote:
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> Gotta ask: what make and model camera are you
> using?

It's an old Canon 40D.

oyw Wrote:
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> 1939dutchman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Gotta ask: what make and model camera are you
> > using?
>
> It's an old Canon 40D.


Which proves that an extremely talented photographer can make superb photos with most any piece of equipment. Great images as always Bob. btw, I love your shot of the military train.

Nicely composed shots. Sharp.

GREAT stuff...!!! Thanks for sharing.