Western Railroad Discussion > Some Las Vegas locals

Las Vegas is still home to SD40 derivatives (by over 40 years), and there's a few interesting places to catch them in action. Here's a few random screencaps from videos I've shot in and around the valley. I've selected some uncommonly shot locations, but nothing special. Please pardon the quality- these were recorded with a pre-smartphone era videocamera.
1. On a hazy 106-degree afternoon, Local 48 crosses Sunset Rd on the BMI Branch, with McCarran Airport in the background. Unfortunately, like everything in Las Vegas, the flashers operate in strobe fashion: 8 pulses per light. Most SD40Ns out here are snoot-nosed; today we have an exception.
2. Access to the Las Vegas Review-Journal requires running through their entire parking lot. Here the LUM-42 is pushing some boxcars, an autorack, and a mill gondola out. The time of day and year didn't provide ideal lighting conditions.
3. What I believe was the 44 ducks under I-15 with some empties from AmeriGas Propane. This lead is healthy but not easy to shoot without looking suspicious.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/17 03:38 by loopy7764.

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4. The Mead Lake Turn (LUM-55) services Simplot Silica Products biweekly. Here the train prepares to wye into the plant, which is south of Overton. *Fun fact: around this time they were recruiting a new mine superintendent on Craigslist.
5. The train slowly emerges from the Muddy River canyon with the Weiser Ridge in the background.
6. After switching the silos at Arrowhead, the train returns to the Valley Yard in North Town. Here it passes Garnet at track speed.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/17 03:40 by loopy7764.

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Great views of these UP locals! Looks like there is a homeless population in #3 and I see a Western Pacific hopper in the background in #4!

Mead Lake...no train just RofW from 1976.

They were using GP20's in 1976.

Jay

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SP8595 Wrote:
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> Great views of these UP locals! Looks like there
> is a homeless population in #3 and I see a Western
> Pacific hopper in the background in #4!

Indeed there is an WP hopper, I was wondering if anyone would catch that. Built by FMC 37 years ago.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/16/17 09:37 by loopy7764.

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lamta_jay Wrote:
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> Mead Lake...no train just RofW from 1976.

Surprisingly this area looks fairly unchanged today.

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.5184587,-114.4271844,3a,81.6y,168.83h,85.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssrv4begtn3PGsnW7tN3IGg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Nice work the 48 seems to be my home town local now and the mainline seems far away.

Sure bet the crews appreciate the new rebuilds with working air-conditioners!!
A lot better than the air-conditioner-less good ol'days!

Peter Arnold

SP8595 Wrote:
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> Great views of these UP locals! Looks like there
> is a homeless population in #3 and I see a Weern
> Pacific hopper in the background in #4!

I was thinking the same thing about the homeless population with all of the trash along the tracks. Couldn't imagine being homeless out there in all of that heat and dirt.

Great looking standard cab units. Enjoyed your coverage.
Brian Stevens

loopy7764 Wrote:
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> 3. What I believe was the 44 ducks under I-15 with
> some empties from AmeriGas Propane. This lead is
> healthy but not easy to shoot without looking
> suspicious.

Dress like a hobo. It looks like you will fit in.