Trip Reports

First let me state that I'm not promoting trespassing, however I may have a different view than many on this subject. I do believe absolutely in asking permission to enter property when a clear and present opportunity to ask is available. This might be someones backyard or an active industrial complex. On most if not all but once or twice, this has worked out spectacularly and I've been able to get into places most don't, just by asking. I've had fantastic luck and thank all those who have let me ...

A couple years back I stood on the supposed Towle right-of-way overlooking both Drum Forebay Rd and Interstate 80. I was trying to figure out how the Towle Bros line had gotten to this point from Towle. Supposedly they had come up Canyon Creek right where the freeway sits currently. Well, looking at it from where I was standing, I didn't like it and still don't. Its just the height differences and change of direction. The freeway didn't cut that much away! Well if one looks directly across I-80 ...

With our hike rained out this past Sunday, my gal and I went shortline hunting instead.

First up, I was curious about whether Cal Northern GP15-1 #113 had been relettered back for CFNR after its return from the Mare Island Rail Service so Davis was first on the list. Sure enough, #113 was there along with #502 and #504 gensets. Also sure enough, she (113) has been relettered so a photo shoot ensued. Bingo right from the get go this trip is starting well.

The Western ...

My "new", it's been almost 9 months, girlfriend doesn't know the area much but loves to explore and hike. She even digs exploring old railroads with me. So over the last few months, we've been out and about checking out local trails and historical spots. Her enthusiasm and my need for exercise due to a recent diebetes diagnosis has led us on all sorts of adventures. On several of these I've spotted new "backyard" railcars or railcar bridges in the area and have added several ...

Whew! 2012 has been a busy railfanning year. I havn't even gotten to blog much except a few news articles.

Well lets see what I've been up to. First, most of the year was taken up with the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Mountain Quarries Railroad here in Auburn,CA. I was very fortunate to be asked to join the committee planning out events for this celebration as well as keep track of the schedule and post updates for my Foothill Rails site.

During this planning, ...

And a short and quick blog...

With my buddy Jeff in town for the week from Colorado, there were a few shortline locos we wanted to hunt down.

First up we drove by the Sacramento Valley at McClellan Park and noticed the ex Rarus GP9s were gone. Later research would turn up that they left earlier this month to LTEX.

A quick stop in Davis found us two Cal Northern gensets.

Our first main goal was the NWP units at Schellville. Upon arrival we found ...

A recent text I recieved asked for directions to Pino Grande. This inspired today's trip though the idea had been on the back burner for some time.

With the nearest access point approximately a two mile hike in from the road, an idea hit me. My mountain bike is just sitting in the closet and part of this summer's goal was to get back on it after years of disuse. Why not combine the two? I loaded up and headed for the woods.

Upon arrival at the gate on Mosquito Rd, I jumped ...

Apparently my recent trip to Southern California didn't satisfy my road trip sweet tooth so a drive to Felton took place yesterday. This idea has actually been floating around in my head for awhile now but I was just waiting for a few things to settle into place before making it a reality.

Though I left at the crack of dawn, I decided to cut out several stops as the day progressed. These included Woodland, Mare Island, SP steam displays in San Jose, Monterey, Salinas and Tracy, and ...

Though last nights chili from Wendy's and 9 hours of sleep has helped Jeff feel a little better, we hop him up on DayQuil and Tylenol before we head out on today's hunt.

We were just down the street from Gemco Yard so that had to be the first stop. Very quickly we caught some action as a pair of GPs, one UP the other GMTX, did some flat switching. With these exposed to some extra electrons, we headed out for more quarry.

Travel Town was busier than expected on a Wednesday ...

With a hack, cough and several other noises, Jeff awakes with a chest cold. By breakfast we learn that he's lost his sense of taste and smell, appetite and energy level. Oh goooood. This will make the rest of the trip fun. We immediately cancel any disc golf planned for the day. The rest of the show must go on though!

The return to the OERM found us the only visitors this morning. This proves to be an advantage, not only for peopleless photos but a docent was apparently bored. He offered ...

Though many trains were heard through the night, we awoke to find nothing running nearby and only two UP SD70ACes in the yard that were photographable. These quickly fell to our camera and we headed over to the industrial park near the airport. Here we caught ex-Appalachicola Northern #711 but now she was painted red.

A quick breakfast and we headed towards Barstow. Along the way we saw no traffic but did manage to catch the plant unit at Boron. This was not the GN painted switcher ...

This year Jeff Black and I decided to tackle a big chunk of Southern California for our annual week long adventure. This is a territory I've spent little to no time in and Jeff had just a bit of experience. We both wanted to catch some of the shortlines plus I had several shots I wanted for my Foothill Rails website. Everything else is just bonus material!

As per usual, I'm the navigator and trip planner so I had plotted as much as I could think of or research to shoot. Day 1 ...

My Saturday plans were to visit my friend in Reno. Her schedule kept her at work till 3pm so what was I to do? Can you say train trip?

Left Auburn bright and early and headed over Donner. First stop up was Truckee for fuel and to check out the little collection over at the balloon track. Nothing new of note so north I headed to Quincy.

I had three main goals for the trip and upon arrival in Quincy, my first one was out waiting for me. QRR #5. The last one I needed ...

Mike Lynch, supervising ranger of the Auburn SRA and I have heard rumors for years of a lost locomotive from the Mountain Quarries RR in Auburn. On occasion, this topic still arises but neither of us had ever seen it. From all the research, all the locomotives from this line are accounted for and no stories of derailments have been found. So what is this persistent story? One of our goals is ...

I never really know from month to month what the updates to Foothill Rails will consist of. Sometimes an email comes in with info or photos, sometimes it is purchases made at a show or online, and sometimes it is just good old in the field train hunting or perhaps a combo of all of these. Sure keeps things interesting.

First up is the developement near Placerville that Bev Cola is selling off her private collection of narrow guage equipment. Recently her ex West Side Lumber Plymouth ...