Nostalgia & History > JWW on US 30 (vol #1): Richland, NE

My first experience with world-famous US hwy 30 as a full-fledged railfan picture-taker came in 1977. I was tagging along on a business trip with Jim Watson, who shot the 1975 image below. It would the first of a half-dozen or so excursions I would take with Jim in the coming couple of years. As well as being great railfan adventures, for me these trips were also a source of valuable education in the finer points of railfan photography. I was also instructed in the ways of paying close attention to the algebraic balance between aperture & shutter speed for a given film ASA. And how to “cheat” my light meter just a skosh in order to get better color saturation. Because I was a novice full of curiosity I probably drove Jim crazy with a trainload of questions. But he can’t complain: He kept asking me along… :^)

1. UP 407 is eastbound with some serious manifest tonnage in the sticks east of Richland, NE. Not a lot of horsepower is needed on a downgrade such as this. As everyone can plainly see the elevation of the caboose on this outfit is clearly 4½ inches* higher than the engine consist. The biggest worry the hogger might have is how to safely stop his train when his trip across Husker Nation ends with entry into Council Bluffs, IA at the Missouri River.
Photo credit: October 22, 1975 by James W. Watson.

Thanks for looking uphill!
Lance Garrels (santafe199)
Jim Watson (UP6900)

(*Jes’ simmer down there, fella! This is a parody thread, not to be taken seriously. The rear end is really only 1¾ inches higher than the 2 units… ;^)
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/23 23:23 by santafe199.

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First-class, well-thought-out image.
Bob

At least you knew enough not to wander past the 'photo line' ... such as it was ; ^ )

Thanks Lance.  Great photo by Jim.  SD24 and what looks like a GP9B hauling ass down the mainline and in nice light.

Straight to 8 and let 'er rip. Nice shot lance.

Great shot!  The UP follows the Platte River across central Nebraska from North Platte to Omaha.  Except for the slight downgrade that's some of the flatest grond in the state!
 

Now that's my kind of action shot. Four stars , Jim.   Thanks for posting this one,. Lance.   --Kelly

twjurgens Wrote:
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> Great shot!  The UP follows the Platte River
> across central Nebraska from North Platte to
> Omaha.  Except for the slight downgrade that's
> some of the flatest grond in the state!
>  

About a 1800 ft elevation change in what, 300 miles or so? Not much grade!

Very NICE shot of the whole train!

Larry