Western Railroad Discussion > Two Eastbound Z's on the Yuma Sub (SoCal)

I visited Coachella Valley again during President's Day weekend, and wandered around to hunt some trains. I knew from experience and past TO member posts that there'd be at least 2 morning eastbound Z's on the Yuma Sub.

After breakfast, I was driving west on I-10 and spotted the first eastbound Z through the tamarisk trees protecting the ROW. I didn't quite see the lead unit, AND I just missed a freeway exit to turn around. That cost me  ~6 miles. What did I miss?

With the Z getting all greens and sustaining track speed, it took me almost 60 miles to catch up. That included lucky breaks on several stop lights on Hwy 86, where I got greens or very short red lights. I obviously kept my driving speed reasonable.

So here I was on the eastern shore of Salton Sea. Fortunately, Dash 9 --> C44ACM converted UP 9787 was on the point. Because the paint wasn't brand new, it's what I call a "Medium Value Target."

"High Value Target" can be heritage units, pool power, brand new units or paint jobs, Specials, and things rare and unique. Military trains, MOW, detoured trains can sometimes be high value targets. If UP 9787 had kept the original C&NW paint job, this would have been a high value target for sure, even if the paint was ratty.

- UP 9787 leading a ZLAMQ-ish train.
- Video of the entire 5x2x0 monster Z.

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Since that first Z dragged me out to Salton Sea, I decided to stay in the area and explore some angles to get the Salton Sea in the background in semi-neutral light - there were high clouds smothering the sun that morning.

I didn't document the 2 westbounds that ran by me while I was scouting as those were "Low Value Targets." I was absolutely confident that the next eastbound Z would show up with only a short wait.

This Z was ZCIG4-ish, another 5x2x0 monster. I got a "Medium Value Target" again, a SD70AH-T4 leading. It would have been high value, had it been or looked new. Some folks who have a difficult time catching a SD70AH-T4 leader might still consider one high value, regardless of "newness." I've caught my share several times already.

- UP 3055 leading a ZCIG4-ish intermodal.
- Video of entire 5x2x0 Z with Salton Sea in the background.

That's it for the wordy, but quick report.

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Excellent pics and videos, plus it was a real fun read!

oyw Wrote:
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> Excellent pics and videos, plus it was a real fun
> read!
Yes, as Bob said very good write up felt like I was there!

Another good report.

I personally find any Z or manifest "high value", and the ocean box trains or bulkers (grain, coal, ethanol, military) somewhat less so. That said I do enjoy the aesthetics and majesty of a heavy loaded bulker on the move.

Different strokes, I guess I care about the more operationally interesting trains than I do about the power (other than power-to-weight or power distribution decisions, which are again operational). Although we would agree that a heritage paint scheme (or a patched oldie) is VERY high value.

Having driven the route you took many times, and occasionally with the primary intent of chasing trains, I had to chuckle at the combination of "obviously" and "reasonable" on the traffic signal festooned stretch of CA-86. Were you intentionally trying to match the light timing?

pbouzide Wrote:
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> I personally find any Z or manifest "high value",
> and the ocean box trains or bulkers (grain, coal,
> ethanol, military) somewhat less so.

In the PSR era, manifests are tougher to video-document here on TO, but I still enjoy looking at the variety of cars on them. Haulers like the El Centro haulers (MWCEC, MECWC) are often short enough that it's not painful to watch the entire train at slower speeds.

I had a conversation with SCUfoamer many years ago that if you can chase a Z, you can chase anything. That's why I keep chasing Z's to make sure my chase instincts stay sharp. It helps when a high value leader (UP 1943) shows up pulling manifest trains - 65-70 mph vs. 40-50 mph makes a big difference. But interesting conversations here on TO about the intermodal business has enchanced my enjoyment of chasing Z trains.

> Different strokes, I guess I care about the more
> operationally interesting trains than I do about
> the power (other than power-to-weight or power
> distribution decisions, which are again
> operational). 

And the different strokes makes this a very fun hobby.

> Having driven the route you took many times, and
> occasionally with the primary intent of chasing
> trains, I had to chuckle at the combination of
> "obviously" and "reasonable" on the traffic signal
> festooned stretch of CA-86. Were you intentionally
> trying to match the light timing?

Subconsciously might be a better word than intentionally. I learned in grade school about timed signal sequences riding a school bus on a field trip to the Exploratorium in San Francisco along 19th Ave (Hwy 1). A teacher and the bus driver explained that if you drive close to the speed limit, then you'll hit most of the green lights. After I got my driver's license, I tried to do the same, and learned that I hit the few red lights when 19th Ave. intersects with major thoroughfares (Sloat, Taraval, Lincoln Way, others). MUNI L line travels on Taraval.

One has to ask questions and seek answers, instead of jumping to conclusions to make oneself "look good" in the age of knowledge poisoning called the Information Age, where college education doesn't get you much anymore - my unsolicited ranting. :-)

Anyway, it's easier to understand why timed signal sequences are implemented, to better manage traffic flow... until "bad drivers" ruin it with irratic driving behavior - passing traffic "BMW style (personal slalom)" which in the end doesn't gain much. But that causes chain reactions behind it, where everyone has to react, brake, and ruin the traffic flow.
 

Fine report as always, and glad the chase worked out!
GK