Western Railroad Discussion > God Speed SP Heritage Unit

Some selected UP 1996 shots form the last two months of chasing the SP Heritage unit around NorCal. I know we might be getting a little overloaded with "speeeeeeeeed" threads but thought I'd throw in a few that stood out in my digital collection. Lots of fun looking back through 20,000+ photos taken so far this year and I've found a good number of others to share too. Just need some more time! Enjoy...


-Ryan aka "espeeboy"
on the ex-WP Oakland Sub MP11.2

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1. 10.12.06 - Up to this past week in a different view. After a host of great Feather River Canyon afternoon shots, the MRORV-10 is stopped at West Oroville as UP 1996's conductor gives a roll-by to an EB stacker. A perfect 5-pack of 53' Pacer containers gives an interesting feel to the shot. After being called into the 'Spatcher as a "suspicious" photographer, the conductor and I here made amends.

2. 08.28.06 - Pacing south of Sacramento we are exactly 33 minutes after offical sunset, UP1996 in that fresh Daylight paint still manages to reflect some rays from the Central Valley skyline. She is seen on her 2nd revenue run SB on the MPDWC through the town of Franklin, CA approaching Lodi. Gotta add that a few slow orders helped nab the shot.

3. 08.24.06 - On her first revenue run, the UP 1996 is reaching the points of last usable light after sunset at West Berg (not Ostrom - DO'H!). Wish I got the nose a little clearer...

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4. 08.24.06 - Going away shot at West Berg with the cantilever signal on the West End. RamosMan, "Super Foamer" Kevin Dorn and Daddy Dorn (Dick) are just out of the photo to the left.

5. 08.24.06 - At the east end of Ostrom after an almost perfect rolling meet was arranged by the RV 'Spatcher. Now we're just about out of light so all speed blurs from here on for the rest of the night.

6. 08.24.06 - How you like dem awful reflective stripes now? A failed flash bulb shot with the Dorns and RamosMan left me with this at Richvale, CA - MOSQUITO CAPITAL OF THE WORLD! Yes this is where I was eaten alive, err I mean bitten two dozen times by mosquitos in 20 seconds resulting in two weeks of strange fevers in whgat I can only perhaps describe as a weak case of West Nile. As per GrayBeard's advice, I carry "OFF!" with me now at all times. No bites on the other three guys standing out there for five minutes...

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7. 08.24.06 - At our last stop on the UP 1996's first revenue run, we find ourselves at Chico. Yup, some flash bulbs would have really come in handy right here.

8. 08.24.06 - Last shot of her first revenue run seen departing Chico pushing digital ISO 1600 with the help of B&W conversion.

9. 08.24.06 - And while stopped at Chico waiting for the NB MRVPT to clear, we noticed a lot of "locals" walking around - well not walking around in this shot in waiting for the train to clear. Forgot that it was the week before Chico State classes start so you guessed it - party night! Wait, even when classes are in full swing at Chico St. every nights a party night right?

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That first shot of the MRORV on the main at Oroville is superb. Wouldn't it be funny if the father of one of those cuties at Chico were a TO member and her phone rang this morning with a request to explain what she was doing out that time of night.

Great photos.

Bob Knoll
Tucson

I really like your photo number 6 as it does interesting and creative things with wide stripes. But all of your photos are good.

Dave

Great pics man. Totally impressed. I really loved that shot from West Oroville.

Great stuff Ryan! I really like the 1st shot in the 1st post and the 1st shot in the 2nd post.

Excellent work--you go, Ryan!! Given the multiple mosquito bites--I always love the others who say they didn't get bit once (ARGGH--they're the same guys who never get poison oak, either!)--and lack of flashbulbs (I have a cache of these that could be had for a fair price BTW) you truly scored with your shots.
I really like the Chico scene where the co-eds are waiting for the train to clear--always good to get some human interest--esp. hot girls. Time for the next generation of "Virgil Staff" shots which IMHO would make for a great calendar, too!

Ryan, I wish you guys would quit hogging the SP Heritage unit to yourselves and allow it to come Southern California.

;-)>

The photos with the cantilever are at Berg and not Ostrom. Great photos.

Post #1, photo #2, says it all - speed, power, and gettin' it done. Nice!

-Jim