Western Railroad Discussion > MRVSJ in the Springtime (California)

MRVSJ is the Union Pacific symbol for the Roseville to San Jose manifest, which runs daily except Saturdays and some holidays. I was informed that UP 9900, the SD59MX with a Tier 4 scrubber was on the train, so I headed east out of the Bay Area last Sunday morning, cautiously optimistic that it might be on the point.

When I overhead the job call itself "UP 5074" while doing a setout at Stockton Yard, I was a little disappointed, but chased the train anyway to take advantage of all the green I saw through Niles Canyon and Altamont Pass.

I have chased the MRVSJ's entire stretch from Roseville to San Jose before, but instead of doing a routine chase, I decided to take more risks, since the UP 9900 wasn't leading and it was running earlier than usual to provide lighting I usually don't get. Here are the locations covered in the video:

- French Camp Rd. overpass along the Oakland Sub (ex-WP).
- West end of Midway, Altamont Pass.
- Shoo-fly west of Altamont siding. Entire 410 axles is shown here with time lapse.
- Clark Dr. crossing just before Niles Jct.
- Alviso, after the setout at Newark Yard. About 60 cars, entire train is shown.

John (jmf1910) joined me at Alviso so he should have a nice wildflower shot of the MRVSJ as it passed by us.

Photo #1: Shoo-fly shot, Altamont Pass.
Photo #2: Clark Dr. crossing, west end of Niles Canyon.

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cchan006 Wrote:
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> MRVSJ is the Union Pacific symbol for the
> Roseville to San Jose manifest, which runs daily
> except Saturdays and some holidays. I was informed
> that UP 9900, the SD59MX with a Tier 4 scrubber
> was on the train, so I headed east out of the Bay
> Area last Sunday morning, cautiously optimistic
> that it might be on the point.
>
> When I overhead the job call itself "UP 5074"
> while doing a setout at Stockton Yard, I was a
> little disappointed, but chased the train anyway
> to take advantage of all the green I saw through
> Niles Canyon and Altamont Pass.
>
> I have chased the MRVSJ's entire stretch from
> Roseville to San Jose before, but instead of doing
> a routine chase, I decided to take more risks,
> since the UP 9900 wasn't leading and it was
> running earlier than usual to provide lighting I
> usually don't get. Here are the locations covered
> in the video:
>
> - French Camp Rd. overpass along the Oakland Sub
> (ex-WP).
> - West end of Midway, Altamont Pass.
> - Shoo-fly west of Altamont siding. Entire 410
> axles is shown here with time lapse.
> - Clark Dr. crossing just before Niles Jct.
> - Alviso, after the setout at Newark Yard. About
> 60 cars, entire train is shown.
>
> John (jmf1910) joined me at Alviso so he should
> have a nice wildflower shot of the MRVSJ as it
> passed by us.
>
> Photo #1: Shoo-fly shot, Altamont Pass.
> Photo #2: Clark Dr. crossing, west end of Niles
> Canyon.

cc,

What time of day were these shots?

J.

Charlie....that's a great shot at the Shoe-fly, the area is still nice and green, it tells a nice story....

'Metal Charles' status in that first image ;-)

Great shots and video, Charles. I love that first image.

~Ryan

Nice shots, Charles. Nice this time of year on Altamont.

Jim B

What's the reason for the shoo fly?

Posted from iPhone

VERY NICE...!!!

Well, I guess it feels like Spring anyway! Great shot.

Looks like Quasimodo...

J.Ferris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cc,
>
> What time of day were these shots?
>
> J.

I was in Altamont Pass between 10:30 am to 11:00 am, and in Niles Canyon just before noon. It was typical afternoon light at Alviso, in the 1 pm hour.

Durmid Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What's the reason for the shoo fly?
>
> Posted from iPhone

See lynnpowell's post in the link below:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,2667870,2667910#2667910

From my angle, you can see the remnants of the sliding hillside.

Cajon92 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 'Metal Charles' status in that first image ;-)
>
> Great shots and video, Charles. I love that first
> image.
>
> ~Ryan

Hehe. I'll have to post another thread to elaborate on the meaning of "Metal Foaming."

Thanks guys for the comments.