Nostalgia & History > OT, but beautiful! (on a RR chase)

One of my best, and most enjoyable railfan excursions was in 1985 with my late KS Gang bro, John Arbuckle. John & I set out to chase a C&NW business car train from the UP Transcon up into the Wyoming coal fields ( Toto Tuesday: JAA 'n me (finale) Getting nosy with the CNW (trainorders.com) ). Overall I ended up coming home with 7-8 rolls of truly inspired K-64 slides!

But I’m going to stray a bit off-topic with the images below. What railfan photographer hasn’t taken a few “scenery” shots while on an extended chase... :^)

1. 2. & 3. Three “grab shot” views of the Scotts Bluff National Monument. As seen from the ‘Old Oregon Trail’, aka old Hwy 92 west of Gering, NE.

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One more. For the sake of comedic posterity:

4. Just before John & I ventured forth through the magnificent scenery, I had to take this shot of some local décor. This is the world-famous(??) Rompus Room at 10th & M Sts in greater downtown Gering, NE. No further explanation can be offered by this photographer. Alas, in the current Google Maps street view, this fine establishment appears to have been razed... :^(
Four photos taken October 15, 1985.

Thanks for looking back!
Lance Garrels
santafe199
Remembering the late John Arbuckle, aka ‘The Chief Way’

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The Rompus Room still exists, having moved to a slightly different location:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8199998,-103.6603039,3a,75y,303.05h,86.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxZebRtZ-FYMHyMLjZyOD5A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?coh=205409&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

So does the UP depot, or at least it did in July during my most recent visit to Gering.  These photos were taken in January 2019, but little has changed.

mike woodruff
north platte ne

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I can see I have to plan another Nebraska trip. I didn’t make it to the Rompus Room last time there and it looks like a not-to-be-missed spot!

Posted from iPhone

swaool Wrote: > ... Rompus Room still exists, having moved to a slightly different location ...

Hey Mike (chuckling loudly) thanks for the news. However, at my age that's a looong way to go for a beer. And it's an even loooooooonger walk back home if I have too many...

;^)

Lance,
That is an odd twist from your regular rail outings! You haven't fallen into the shooting of wildlife, insects or other flora and fauna! Always a favorite of many railfans bored to tears while waiting for "the train".
A dearly departed friend would often send me photos of bumble bees, butterflies and 4 legged railfans that were trespassing on the ROW.
Gonut
 

Gonut1 Wrote: > ... odd twist from your regular rail outings!

You mean odd twist from my regular railfan postings... In over 4 decades in this great hobby I shot plenty of extraneous non-RR images. I was even known to shoot some pretty extraneous bull in my time... ;^)

Lance

Even more OT. Route 92 is a contiguous road through four different states. Heading west it starts at Mendota, IL and passes through the Quad Cities, across Iowa to Omaha, and then across all of Nebraska and apparently ends at or near Torrington, Wyoming.

Tom



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/24 14:06 by UP3806.

Cool pics Lance!
IL Rte. 92 does more than pass ‘by’ the Quad Cities. It goes through Rock Island and Moline which are the Illinois partners with Davenport and Bettendorf being the Iowa part of the Quad Cities.
Rail-related, it closely follows the BNSF and Iowa Interstate from Rock Island through Moline to East Moline where the IAIS splits from the BNSF and continues to Silvis.

Posted from iPhone

Congrats on getting shots of the Scotsbluff Monument.  The last time I was there, my atempt was foiled by thick morning fog, so I somewhat envy your success.  

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/02/24 18:36 by ntharalson.