It's been many decades since I've had the fortitude to endure a fantrip chase, but if I were to do so again, I'd find a remote trackside spot away from the "daisy-pickers", take my picture and go home. It's crazy out there, both trackside and on the highway and I have no interest in competing for position.
While working on one of our passenger cars at Cedar Park, Texas, a visitor showed up to scavenge any leftover lunches left unattended. Not your average railyard dog.
It does not look to be much underfed. The fur coat seems healthy, unlike the lean versions I have seen in my region, through the many decades.
Is it typical for the Builder to have three units? Is this a typical train length? I'd expected a much longer train on this route, not that I know anything about it.
Boxcab, This was weds morning. Hardcoaler, It is not typical. Normal is 2, but I didn't know about the consist before I went out to catch it. Road failures have had freight units called to pinch hit, apparently this is a preemptive strike to avoid delays. The 7 and 8 have seen significant delays in recent weeks. Either broken rails due to extreme cold, or road failures of the passenger engines.
This last Saturday, the Austin Steam Train's Hill Country Flyer has finished loading its passengers and is backing up to take the right leg of the wye to then pull out on the main track and head to Burnett. The former NYC Rippling Stream carries the drum head.
Tacoma Rail MP15AC's 1521 and 1524 switching along Milwaukee Way, (yes named for the former railroad!), Tacoma Wa. Never realized the tree got the best of the shot till after I left!
Back when the Brazos River bridge in Richmond, Texas was being rebuilt after the flood in June of 2016, Amtrak had to reroute the Sunset Limited south to Alvin in order to get into Houston. Rare milage so I rode from San Antonio for the fun of it. Here is the view from the "back door" while on the BNSF Galveston Sub heading toward Alvin. Freight train in the hole as we rolled by.
I know I have published this here in the past, but converted it to black and white for fun. Taken obviously at Portland Union Station on the night before we left for Minnesota back in 2009. My railfanning is from memory these days.
Fitz, Were it not for the modern Amtrak unit on the far left, you'd be hard pressed to date this photo in the 2000s. I chased the westbound trip thru Montana. What a memorable chase! Bison West, high atop Marias Pass' east slope: Tunnel 3.7, east of Belton (West Glacier), MT:
