Video #10 - 6.5 miles North of Tobar, NV to Ocala Siding [video=youtube;DVZeXcSQskU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVZeXcSQskU[/video] YouTube - Amtrak #10 Duration: 9:58 Minutes Better if viewed using the HQ version It's DAY#2 and we wake up to snow caps mountains just outside of Tobat, NV. At this pont, the RR Mileposts are either gone or on another system is in place. The first MP marker I spot out the window is 729 and even if these are not true RR markers they are found to be extremely useful in knowing where I'm at. You will hear me in the video calling out these numbers as I see them and I then used them in Google Earth to determine my location. As I spot various bridges I will also attempt to give approximte MP values to help better define where I'm at along the route. We will also pass through a few long tunnels in this section as well; Ryndon @ 4,000 ft and Osion @ 3,000 ft. By the time we reach Elko, NV I now show us as being about 4 hours behind schdule so it looks like we lost another 2 hours during the night. I will take a break from video taping when we have breakfest and we will pass through a few towns during that hour. With the meal done, I spot a MP 500 to figure out where I'm at again. We pull into Winnemucca, NV and we have made up some time but still over 3 hours behind schedule. In this section we are now working our way around freight rahter than coal trains. Our first major stop today is at Humboldt Siding for a freight train. We coutinue around Humbolt sink and reach Ocala Siding at MP 322.
Weso, NV While we were sitting outside of Weso, NV waiting on a UP Freight train to pass so we can pull into Winnemucca, NV, I took a few still photographs. The train is being power up front by UP engines #5283 and #4546 and with helpers on the rear of #7840 and #8395. In the distance is a "W" on the side of a mountain that is visable on Google Earth to help also pin point our location. [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] -[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] -[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]
Video #11 - Ocala Siding to Donner Pass / Summit Tunnel [video=youtube;q45PAuEZ_fo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q45PAuEZ_fo[/video] YouTube - Amtrak #11 Duration: 9:36 Minutes Better if using the HQ viewer In this section, we will complete our passage through the Nevada Desert. I will catch a few interesting places along this route as well as the "Mustang Ranch" before we pull into Reno. We will catch Lunch on the train at this point. Soon afterward, we start into the Sierra and reach Truckee (Schedule 10:37AM / Actual 2:29PM), so we are still running 4 hours behind schedule. I will catch the front and rear of the train turning around Horseshoe Bend so you can see that our car is roughly in the middle of the train. We will pass through Twin Tunnels, the Snowshed, and into Summit Tunnel (10,322 feet long) as we head over Donner Pass.
Oops, forgot to post these shots from Winnemucca, NV [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]
Sparks, NV When we stopped at Sparks, NV I was not able to get off the train but did get these two shots out of the window catching the depot. -
Thanks for taking us along with you on your trip. I have found it interesting to see my railfanning areas from the passenger train perspective. You happened to catch some of the peak flow in the Colorado River too. Ben
Reno, NV When we got to Reno, we again had a chance to get out of the train; but, not long enough to get to street level to get shots of the station. So, here is what I could get from down below. In the end, the best angle was actually from are cabin out the window... - - -
Glad to hear it! It's been fun for me tell these stories and also see your topic with photographs from outside the train too from many of these same areas... :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool:
... and here is a few cars in our train as well. [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]
Truckee, CA When we stopped at Truckee, there was no time to get out so besides what I captured in the video, this is all I could get using my still... [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
Video #12 - Donner Pass / Summit Tunnel to Emigrant, CA In this segment we finally exit Summit Tunnel over Donner Pass where we meet Train #6 coming the other way before we pass through Norden and Soda Springs. For those interested in mountain routes, we will pass through more Snowsheds and Tunnels in this section of the route as well as a few bridges. I will also catch parts of the old Transcontinental Route of days gone by. We will wait for a UP freight at Cisco, CA... [video=youtube;AdtvoPV1gw8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdtvoPV1gw8[/video] YouTube - Amtrak #12 Duration 9:55 Minutes Better if viewed using the HQ version
Video #13 - Putman Valley / Lake Putt to Colfax, CA Tonight I've uploaded the next section of the trip where we are now in the Putman Valley area near Lake Putt; old logging operations. In those days, the trains would stop to let passengers enjoy the view of the America River Canyon; the north folk is about 2,00 feet below track line. From there we get into Gold Rush and pass through Tunnels #34 and #33 before crossing over Long Ravine Trestle. We finally reach Colfax, CA about 4 hours still behind schedule. See what parts of RR history I catch as we pass through town... [video=youtube;hDoMWCYaSHI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDoMWCYaSHI[/video] YouTube - Amtrak #5 - Part 13 Duration: 9:15 Minutes Better if you use the HQ viewer
Video #14 - Pinecroft, CA to Suisun / Fairfield, CA In this section we find ourselves at Pinecroft, CA where the East and West bound track takes different routes. South of Heather Glen, I will catch a tunnel below us that is the other track being crossed over. On this west bound route, we will pass through Bloomer Cut which is 800 feet long and 63 feet deep. We will pass through Tunnel #18 near Newcastle. We will also travel along side the original Continental Highway. In Loomis, I will find it's depot sitting up on stilts; I wonder what that is all about... We will now start see all sorts of engines as we reach Rocklin and I will start an old SP Steam engine (#2252) as we pull into Roseville where I will also catch some SP Snowplows sitting in the yard. Yes, we are still running about 4+ hours behind schedule. Then out of the blue, my eyes caught sight of something that I didn't exspect too see; a D&H Covered Hopper!!!!!!! We will pull into Sarramento arounf 6:30PM. I will catch several MOW cars at Davis, CA. Near the end of the clip we will pass by Vacaville Junction before passing the Suisun / Fairfield Station. [video=youtube;Y6HSVrT30fw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6HSVrT30fw[/video] YouTube - Amtrak #5 - Part 14 Duration 9:22 Minutes Better if you use the HQ Viewer
Sacramento, CA Here is a few shots I took while we stopped in[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] Sacramento... [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] - [/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]
Also while the train was stopped, I took this shot in the Diner Car while not in use... [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
Davis, CA When we stopped at Davis, I was only able to grab this quick shot out the door... [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica][/FONT]
Video #15 - Near Jacksnipe, CA to Emeryville, CA In Part #15 we will first pass by a large Wind Farm near Jacksnipe. I will then catch the Mothball Fleet in Susian Bay near Port Chicago as we pass by a large Automobile Distribution Center. We will then cross over the Benicia-Martinez Bridge where we will reach the Martinez Station. I will catch the Chockett Station which Train #5 does not stop at before we pass under the Carquinez Bridges. There is one more Tunnel on the route that nearly caught me by surprise. We are late enough that the sun is starting to set on San Pablo Bay. Next is several Comuter Trains in a yard in Richmond, CA. Albany, CA will fly by next as we are now just about 10 miles from our final stop; Emeryville, CA. We will depart the train and I will take several still shots before we go to the hotel to get checked in and our room very nicely overlooks the tracks. I will catch from our hotel room a Amtrak California train pulling out of the station before Train #5 pulls out to get serviced for the return trip back across the route. [video=youtube;9qkYVZ7-svg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qkYVZ7-svg[/video] YouTube - Amtrak #5 - Part 15 Duration: 9:10 Minutes Better if you use the HQ viewer
