Steam & Excursion > UP 4014 Unofficial Chase Guide Wendover to Elko,Nv 7/6/24

Sorry for late posting, my phone was having problems today. I hope this Helps some of you!

The MAP LINKS I provide here, are usable on Android Phone with Google Maps App, not sure if they will work on Apple Phone?
That's why I'll describe directions in text also as best as possible.

From Wendover, Nv. to Pilot Rd. Xing, These are SUGGESTIONS only, and intended for freeway/ highway chasers, with fairly qiuck/easy Stop/Get Photo/Go! access, Based on my own PAST experience back in the early 1990's.

Dont forget time changes to Pacific time in Nevada, you gain an hour heading west from Utah.

Here's link to my previous post a few days ago
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,5883613

Here's link to Pilot xing Google maps:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wnyQhst99SwUWbij6

Pilot is 1st suggested photo stop, it's west of Wendover, You might think they would stop for service in Wendover, but it's not on the posted schedule. Or will they stop there anyway????

From Pilot, head back to I-80 West all the way to Wells/Hwy 93 offramp, turn south on 93, travel about 7 miles to RR xing and this is SUGGESTED Photo stop 2.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JXeoWMwzQri6dtoBA

SIDE NOTES: After Pilot, 4014 will be traveling the tracks South of I-80 for a few miles, westward thru some s-curve cuts in the mountain, then will sharp curve underneath I-80 and travel North, up through Cliffside, clearly visible on right side of I-80 if your heading west.
Anyone would be tempted to at least pull over and witness that for a few minutes, But only if there's plenty of room to pull off the road in a safe manner, Plus don't forget last second Lookie-Loos, 4014 chasers, and even Big Rigs (In low gear climbing up the hill) ahead of you, pulling over all of a sudden, especially if 4014 is putting out some decent smoke??

After that 4014 will climb up and out of view to Arnold, I would SUGGEST heading to Wells, if you haven't already.

SIDE NOTES 2: After Arnold/Silver Zone Pass, tracks will cross back under I-80 and then travel quite a long way off the beaten path to the south and west, before it reaches Hwy 93 xing soth of Wells, giving you plenty of time to get to this Hwy 93 xing? plus they might be traveling at top speed(?) At that xing? Before stopping at Wells for a service stop.
Plus there may be a lot of chase traffic there at Wells offramp too?

Also keep in mind that they can't really work on the roads here in the winter, so don't be surprised if there's any road construction anywhere along your entire chase?
I looked quickly at Google Maps traffic and didn't see any along the way, but that isn't a sure thing.
And that's one reason why I'm going to (SUGGEST) not stopping and lingering too much from point to point.

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA



Edited 10 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/24 03:20 by RailRat.

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PLEASE NOTE 2:40am I'VE EDITED/ADDED SOME STUFF TO POST ABOVE!

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/24 02:41 by RailRat.

After Hwy 93 xing (South of Wells) to Elko I'm suggesting 2 different interesing places that are East of Elko.

RYNDON OR OSINO xings.
The reason 2 different choices is that RYNDON is at the west end of UP Tunnel #4 and probably more popular than Osino?
If you choose this one, you'll probably miss catching 4014 at OSINO, a few miles west, but hey it's a tunnel right?
In 1991 844/3985 crawled out this tunnel at 10mph due to wet conditions (In Summer).

At Osino xing in 1992, I bypassed Ryndon, and caught 3985 rolling by at slower speed for some reason, but due to geology of the ground there, all that were present could really feel the ground rumble under our feet at 3985's passing, plus video camera on tripod jiggle a little, 10 feet away from rails.

Plus from Osino you can you can go directly onto E. IDAHO St.(Old Hwy 40) bypassing I-80 and follow or pace 4014 all way to Elko yard if you want. This was the way I Always took into Elko every week as a railfan back in the day.

IIRC, There was a few hill cuts blocking view of tracks along this old Highway here and there, but there's also a couple of country/ranch xing along this road too, heading to East Elko yard. (No guarantee if any road construction delays there though)
But it's a closer to the tracks and a bit easier and quicker to access Elko Yard as opposed to I-80 Elko offramps.

So with all that said, After 4014 passes Hwy 93 xing, head back to Wells, take I-80 West while 4014 is stopped in Wells, to RYNDON offramp, turn left, head south under Interstate along Scott's Rd,/ South 3rd St. to xing.
Not sure about road that continues past xing and loops back up and over top of tunnel, could be interesting camera angle for the adventurous however??

OPTION 2:
Bypass RYNDON, Take I-80 OSINO offramp instead, turn left under I-80, to Old Hwy 40, then turn left, follow to Charan Ave., then turn right, follow Charin around to 2nd xing, if permitted or not gated off, looks like newer industry track xing is there before you reach Mainline xing.
Wasn't there in 1992.

Disclaimer: Not sure about access to these 2 xing locations nowadays if they are gated, still open, or restricted in any way?

RYNDON Google map link:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QjGrsLERz2g3DEiFA

OSINO Google Maps link:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SHw1bt1Q3zjXzFZG8

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/24 05:59 by RailRat.

UPDATE: After looking on Maps, OSINO doesn't look accessible any more due to newer industry, (picture from Google maps, 5 years ago.) Looks gated off.
I would not waste time here, unless your out there with time to be scouting arond, I'm curious if you can still get there? Instead If I were out there, I would opt for RYNDON, or bypass it, get off I-80 at OSINO, and follow Old 40/East Idaho Street into Elko, there's a few xings between OSINO and Elko you may get some good pics or video of 4014. With the Lovely Ruby Mountains in the background!

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/24 07:25 by RailRat.

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Weather forecast out there Northern Nevada today:
Sunny, Hot 95° ish, with Wind Steady 15mph-20mph gusts.

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/24 07:18 by RailRat.

Red Flag Warnings up for pretty much all of Elko County 11 am-8 pm today for gusty winds and low relative humidity on top of projected heat. No shortage of tall dried grass and other vegetation trackside or on many roads primed and ready to burn.

Yesterday morning westbound trains were going through Elburz crossovers and coming into the yard on the normal eastbound main. They might be having some trouble with one of those tunnels again, been seeing a lot of vehicles parked around portals as of late.

NDOT just wrapped up a major project on 80 west of Wendover, no other major construction on going east of Elko. At least in Nevada.

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

Posted from iPhone

JDLX Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Red Flag Warnings up for pretty much all of Elko
> County 11 am-8 pm today for gusty winds and low
> relative humidity on top of projected heat. No
> shortage of tall dried grass and other vegetation
> trackside or on many roads primed and ready to
> burn.

> Yesterday morning westbound trains were going
> through Elburz crossovers and coming into the yard
> on the normal eastbound main. They might be
> having some trouble with one of those tunnels
> again, been seeing a lot of vehicles parked around
> portals as of late.
>
> NDOT just wrapped up a major project on 80 west of
> Wendover, no other major construction on going
> east of Elko. At least in Nevada.
>
> Jeff Moore
> Elko, NV
>
> Posted from iPhone

Thanks Jeff for local update, there must be a lot of water drainage from the Mountains down to the area where those UP Tunnels are located?

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/24 08:29 by RailRat.

9:10am Mountain time moving at SLC Utah, 8:10am Pacific time. I think they knew they had an hour to play with or in other words adjust to moving into Pacific time zone?

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

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Ok here we go now!

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

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