Western Railroad Discussion > More bike chasing in Oakland

I went out on my usual bike ride on Fri 11/7 and caught a couple UP freights in addition to the usual passenger train activity.  On the way to JLS, I noticed a northbound freight waiting in the hole in the East Oakland Yard, so I suspected there would be multiple freight trains rolling. 

1)  First was a San Joaquin (er....Gold Runner!?!) coming into Oakland Jack London station.  This train had been pacing a UP freight heading south down the Embarcadero.  You can see the headlight from the UP freight just past the back of the train.  I'm wishing I had had a better telephoto with me to grab a shot of the 2 trains pacing!
2)  Moments later the IOANP (Intermodal Oakland-North Platte) rolled by.  Time was 1122am, which is earlier than the IOANP used to get out of Oakland.  But I've been hearing lately that the crew is being called earlier now than they used to, so earlier departure makes sense.  
3)  After the IOANP went by, the freight waiting down at East Oakland turned on his headlight and came north.  Looks like this was the MOAOA, which is a daily turn from Oakland to Milpitas and back with a mix of cars.   Note the KIng Tide in the estuary, with the water lapping the side of the UP bridge.  Might have to raise this mainline soon!
 

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Awesome, thank you!  B

Neat shots!

My old stomping grounds--did all my rowing there right across from the last photo on the Oakland estuary.  That empty RR bridge once had tracks, and I used to watch SP SW-1500's use that little side bridge all the time as they switched several local industries off that lead---now all gone.  Kaiser Cement, a food warehouse, 9th Ave. pier, and then more businesses down by the Park St. bridge.  SP was busy back then, with lots of switchers running around.

And just up the little waterway in the 3rd photo was the WP mainline and bridge, with lots of action, too.  And those beautiful WP M-5 horns serenading their echoes off the many buildings....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/09/25 12:40 by coach.