Western Railroad Discussion > UP Special on the Sunset

Having run down the coast line yesterday, and well-covered by many TO posters, the UP passenger special spent last night in West Colton before embarking on today's trip east to Tucson.  Due to mechanical problems with the lead unit, 8266, the train was delayed in departing from West Colton until just before 8:00, but now with SD70 ACe 8701 as the leader ahead of 8266 and 2524.  Athough not as spotless as 8266, it was still good to see an ACe leading.

The later departure time also allowed for a few early-morning shots along the Sunset Route in San Timoteo Canyon.  The 18-car consist was 2066, Willie James, Omaha, Columbia River, St. Louis, Green River, Powder River, Council Bluffs, 208, Portola, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Little Rock, Pacific Limited, Harriman, Overland, Sun Valley, and Fox River.  Thanks go to a fellow TO member and RSD5 for the heads up.

Thanks for looking,
GK

1.  Approaching the grade crossing at "Doctor's Crossing" on the east side of San Tim, at about 8:15AM.

2.  Just west of Hinda.

3.  Rounding "the big curve" at Beaumont.          

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Looking good!!!

Great stuff!  Well done.

Outstanding Gary! 

KC

NIIIIIICE....!!

Schwing!!!!

Awesome trio!!! The change out of the concrete ties in #3 looks strange.

Sweet lighting and photos. Oh yeah, and a good looking train! Fantastic

PQM

I know many of us badmouth UP for a variety of reasons, but I think it's undisputed that they've done a tremendous job in upgrading the former SP Sunset Route.  Looking at the condition of the track in those photos is "Exhibit A'"

And that train certainly looks nice, too!  

Three cracking photos, train looks excellent. Chris UK.

Great pictures but I gotta know what those little silver squares on posts on the lead engine are for. I only see them when a unit is pulling a passenger special. Thank you. 

Outstanding photos. Congratulations on IOTD.

Ronda Thomas

Great looking photos, Gary.  I love them all.

George Cataulin
San Diego, CA
Left Coast Rail Videos

Excellent photos, Gary. Your 3rd image of the the train rounding the big curve west of Beaumont is awesome, the 18 car train fills out that curve perfectly, well deserved IOTD.

~Ryan 

Cajon92 Wrote:
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> Excellent photos, Gary. Your 3rd image of the the
> train rounding the big curve west of Beaumont is
> awesome, the 18 car train fills out that curve
> perfectly, well deserved IOTD.
>
> ~Ryan 

Yes. perfect location fo the train, a little elevation and the wrap around is great combination.

Bob

I agree, excellent.  IOTD quite nice, good work.

gandydancer4 Wrote:
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> Great pictures but I gotta know what those little
> silver squares on posts on the lead engine are
> for. I only see them when a unit is pulling a
> passenger special. Thank you. 

Yeah - I'm waiting on an answer as well !

Plowhandle Wrote:
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> gandydancer4 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Great pictures but I gotta know what those
> little
> > silver squares on posts on the lead engine are
> > for. I only see them when a unit is pulling a
> > passenger special. Thank you. 
>
> Yeah - I'm waiting on an answer as well !

I was wondering the same thing.  A little Googling reveals they are antennas for transmitting video from the cab back to the passenger cars.
GK

Great set of photos, Gary in perfect light for the special.

Rich

SP8595 Wrote:
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> Awesome trio!!! The change out of the concrete
> ties in #3 looks strange.

That appears to be the same thing that I posted about on the western board on the 11th titled "Concrete tie program in Omaha".  One of the responses said there was a bad batch of concrete ties delivered to UP and following litigation with the manufacturer the ties are being replaced.  JB



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/16 12:41 by Copy19.