Nostalgia & History > Amtrak's Desert Wind #36 in Highland Park, CA - 1980

Here's one I posted here about 4 years ago. Since I now have a better scanner (and more training for its operator), I thought the slide deserved a re-scan.

From December, 1980 - Amtrak Desert Wind #36 crosses the Garvanza Viaduct in Highland Park on the LA 2nd District (later Pasadena Subdivision) around mid-day - about to enter South Pasadena city limits. An interesting mix of Heritage, Amfleet, and Superliner equipment behind F40's 289 and 252.

Photo taken by my father, C.R. Sugg, while he was in the midst of a long furlough period on the Southern Pacific. He had made fireman in '79, and was promptly layed off for almost a year starting in 1980 due to the economic recession. He did get called back and was promoted to engineer on the SP, where he worked until he retired from the UP in 2000.

Thanks for climbing up the hill to get this one Dad!

Rich

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That one's pretty cool. Maybe one day the pictures I recently took of Metrolink trains rolling over the 91 Freeway Bridge on the Olive will be just as vintage. I recently posted them and no one even noticed.

Since this shot is-in terms of track distance-only a mile or so from the centerline down Marmion Way, you don't happen to have any shots of THAT section do you?

We noticed, didn't say anything is all.


TCS - sometimes "hmmm" is all one needs to say

Great shot, Rich. I haven't been over that way in years, did they use the old tressle for the Gold Line or did they replace it?-Brian

That bridge remains in place for the pseudo-rail, excuse me....the LRT.

Brian:

I traveled under the viaduct a few months ago, in fading light, looked to be the same as old.

X-2000R: Like "Mr. Smith" said, "People notice".

Take Care, Stay Safe, Have Fun!

Larry

They rebuilt and refurbed the upper deck.

Here is a picture of the bridge taken 20 years earlier...1960. I used my old kodak 620...I remember dropping it a couple of times climbing that hill....it was a tough camera.

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X-2000R Wrote:
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> That one's pretty cool. Maybe one day the pictures
> I recently took of Metrolink trains rolling over
> the 91 Freeway Bridge on the Olive will be just as
> vintage. I recently posted them and no one even
> noticed.
>
> I'll bite. Post the link and I'll go look. Sorry I missed them. And yes, someone will think as much of those as we former Highland Parkers think of this shot and the B/W later in the thread.

We are also grateful for the journey up the hill to get the pictures.

Consist question: Were the Heritage and Amfleet cars in revenue service or were they being transported east for some reason?

289's now in DRGW colors, running the Ski Trains... 252's a NPCU on the Cascades in the PNW. Great photo, clean and sunny!

PasadenaSub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here's one I posted here about 4 years ago. Since
> I now have a better scanner (and more training for
> its operator), I thought the slide deserved a
> re-scan.
<snip>

Definitely better!

Here's the old thread:
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,541922
and direct link to the photo:
http://www.trainorders.com/images2/view.php?118388

Congrats on the new scanner!
-Wes

I rode the Desert Wind just a few years after that en route to Chicago, then took the Southwest Chief back. I particularly remember how smug I felt eating my breakfast in the diner as we rolled down the middle of the 210 freeway during the morning commute. Those poor folks in their cars...

In that Era, the consist was a baggage car, 10-6 sleeper, Amdinette
Hi-level step down coach, and a Superliner coach for ADA seating.
More coaches as necessary. Most of equipment only operated LA-Ogden.