Nostalgia & History > Thundering hooves at Riner!

Just for fun I did a Google search for “Riner, WY” and I actually found a few listings. Although I couldn’t find an official population figure, I did find a site that says there are 60 some-odd homes for sale “in Riner”. But (chuckling) I gotta believe those homes are heavily rural in orientation, probably spread out around a few hundred square miles. The site did go on to say the median price for those homes is $210,000. Okay...

One thing I know for sure is that back in August of 1971 there was at least one brief moment when Riner was populated with 13,200 horses -if I counted the hooves correctly-! And their collective thunder would surely have made even a casual bystander take notice... ;^)

1. UP 6916 & 6935(?) lead a manifest through greater downtown Riner, WY on August 24, 1971.
Original Kodachrome slide by James W. Watson.

Thanks for looking back!
Lance Garrels
santafe199
Remembering the late Jim Watson, aka ‘UP6900’

---

Just as info, Riner is (or was) at MP 700.7 on UP's old Wyoming Division Third Sub, about 18 miles west of Rawlins and 24 miles east of Wamsutter. 

mike woodruff
north platte ne

Hey santafe thanks to you and Mr. Watson we see what used to be.  Enjoy?
Blaine
American Fork

Great image of a burly and speedy UP many fans used to know. Today, not so much...

JG

Yet another wonderful catch of 6900's in action Lance!

After zooming in, and considering how compressed the trailing rolling stock is, it appears to be a 3rd unit (maybe a geep 30?) Behind 2nd Centennial?

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

Super action photo!
Bob

RailRat Wrote: > ... appears to be a 3rd unit (maybe a geep 30?)

I believe you're right. A 30 or maybe a 30B. Amazing what you can't see when you're in P-shop in a high enlargement phase (cleaning dust & dirt specs).
Lemme see... that would raise the hoof count to 15,450...

;^)

Great post, Lance!  You could say they COULD handle it!

texchief1

Great pic....and a wave from the fireman's side to boot.

That's why you didn't see the third unit -- no cab.
Next question: does it have to be a GP30B,
or could it be a GP9B?

What's the sign say?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/24 13:33 by timz.

Smoke 'em if you got em'!  Nice in-your-face shot.  Thanks for sharing.

Kent in CArmel Valley

Wow Lance, I see it and I wish I could hear it and kinda wish I could smell it too. I lost my smeller years ago and a whiff of diesel is something I miss. And lost most of my hearing in my left ear in part from those years setting on the "fire/brakemans" side. That numberboard doesn't get any more home made than that either. Bet it's cardboard! Thanks for another great look back!!

timz Wrote: > … What's the sign say?

“Riner”(it’s the station signboard)

Posted from iPhone

santafe199 Wrote:
> Lemme see... that would raise the hoof count to
> 15,450...
>
> ;^)

Hmm, unless these horses were severely handicapped, shouldn't the hoof count be, say, roughly 4 times the horse count?  

x6924w Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
That numberboard doesn't
> get any more home made than that either. Bet it's
> cardboard! Thanks for another great look back!!

Number board on engineer or fireman side? I didn't even notice till mentioned!

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

santafe199 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RailRat Wrote: > ... appears to be a 3rd unit
> (maybe a geep 30?)
>
> I believe you're right. A 30 or maybe a 30B.
> Amazing what you can't see when you're in P-shop
> in a high enlargement phase (cleaning dust & dirt
> specs).
> Lemme see... that would raise the hoof count to
> 15,450...
>
> ;^)

Just for "kicks" ha ha, 15,450 horses x 4 hooves per horse = 61,800 hooves ( sorry Lance I was going over my budget today and got into a numbers mood) 😀

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

Woof! With a population over 61 K the good folks in Riner might want their own post office… 📫

Posted from iPhone

That is the best Centennial action photo I've ever seen.  That's the old UP hustled and really focused on keeping time schedules for even manifest trains.