Passenger Trains > SW Chief with new paint leader and Patrick Henry cars

Last Saturday (9/26), I ventured out to catch 6 ½ hour late Amtrak #3. Of particular interest was Phase VII painted lead unit 167 and 3 Patrick Henry private cars bringing up the rear. When I heard the train request to go down Main 2 from Summit, I had plenty of time to set up at the south switch of Canyon on the UP, near Sullivan’s Curve.

1) At 11:33, I took aim as #3 came around the curve. The train consisted of P42’s 167, 198 and 12 cars.

2) This was my first time seeing sleeper ‘Santa Fe’.

3) And the “going away” shot. Along with the ‘Santa Fe’, sleeper ‘Evelyn Henry and dome/observation car ‘Warren R. Henry’.

I was fortunate they used this route, instead of the normal, less scenic south track.

OYW
 

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Nice catch in a familiar place.
—Mac

Hey, I was there two weeks ago.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/26 04:10 by mbrotzman.

The Patrick Henry cars are beautiful. I was fortunate enough a few years ao to ride in these cars.  The host Patrick Harding was a class act and a true railroad affection-ado. A bucket list item was filled!

A fine set of photos , thank you !

Very nice!  Is that a regular thing, the engineer requesting to use the track he wants?  All the times I've rode over Cajon we used track 3 in both directions.

Andy

Very nice!

Great catch and photos, Bob - with a splash of colors we don't usually see in Cajon Pass.

Those GE units look great in these new, bold paint schemes--much, much better!

AndyBrown Wrote:
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> Very nice!  Is that a regular thing, the engineer
> requesting to use the track he wants?  All the
> times I've rode over Cajon we used track 3 in both
> directions.
>
> Andy

If you ask far enough in advance yes you can ask....doesn't mean wishes can be granted though....but whenver I have wanted a particular track and asked for it I got it. 

Cool catch!
GK

AndyBrown Wrote:
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> Very nice!  Is that a regular thing, the engineer
> requesting to use the track he wants?  All the
> times I've rode over Cajon we used track 3 in both
> directions.
>
> Andy

Can't say for sure Andy. 12 cars is longer than usual and being that late, there may have been earlier braking or mechanical issues necessitating the lesser downhill grade. I don't recall much traffic ahead, he did cross back over to track 3 at Cajon.

Posted from Android

i was hoping the engr knows the smoothest track

Great catch!

BB

Killer Amtrak shot!

What a shame that open deck riding is now banned by Amtrak. I was lucky enough to ride these cars on a family charter from LA-Seattle-San Jose many years ago and spent most of my time on the back deck. What an experience. Mr. Henry is a class act with some of the nicest varnish in the nation. 

Thanks guys for the followup on the track request!

AB

Bill, thanks for the kind words. You are welcome to ride anytime. 

amtrakbill Wrote:
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> The Patrick Henry cars are beautiful. I was
> fortunate enough a few years ao to ride in these
> cars.  The host Patrick Harding was a class act
> and a true railroad affection-ado. A bucket list
> item was filled

Your host was Patrick Henry. The cars are named for his parents and the railroad his father worked for. Patrick's a great guy.

Posted from Android