I'm taking a vacation to California for a week, leaving on May 20th. We'll be flying out to Oakland, then driving up to Reno, NV, then going to Yosemite then back to San Francisco. I'm definitely stopping in Sacramento to pay my respects to the last Cab Forward. I would also like to do a little railfanning around Donner Pass/Truckee, but I don't know any specific locations. Any other must sees for a Southern Pacific fan? Hobby shops? Steam locos in the park? I also enjoy modern railroading, so I'm looking forward to long slow trains battling up the mountain grades. And should I really prepare for cold weather? It's in the 90s around here and it's hard for me to get my arms around snow in May. Thanks for any help!
I've had snow in June and August above 6000ft (though not normal). In May, anything can happen. Yosemite Valley should be mild, but if you go up to any of the elevations, you will need warm clothing (the forecast for tonight is actually snow above about 3000' even here in the Bay Area). Difficult to miss the trains in Truckee, they bisect the town! There's (or was) a nice train store right near the station (on north west side). Besides the museum in Sacto, if you are in the Tahoe area, go to the Nevada State RR museum in Carson City (and, if you really have time, also go to the old US mint building, a great museum). You can also drive out to Virginia City - but don't know what your time availability is. Around Emigrant Gap and Cisco Grove are some good rail-fanning spots.
In the Oakland area, may want to look at the Niles Canyon Railway in near Fremont. http://www.ncry.org/ Hit Portola!!! A little off the direct path to Reno from Oakland but half way from Truckee to Reno. The WP museum is a great place to visit. http://www.wplives.org/ Lots to see and the UP main is right off the back fence. Matter of fact there is an observation platform to watch from. The Sparks Yard is next to the Nugget and has a lot of traffic all day. Couple good parking lots just up the street fairly unobstructed view of the main.
Ditto Niles Canyon. The PLA has SP Pacific 2472 resident there. Not sure if it will be running other than on Memorial Day weekend. Search for their websites. :tb-biggrin:
You see, living in the Fremont / Newark / Union City tri-city area, I never even think of Niles Canyon! It's just here. Yes, come down here if possible! The ride through the canyon is great, the old depots in Centerville and Niles can be seen, and the railway.
I'll second Portola. If I recall correctly, it's only about an hour from Reno. I think there's a former SP Alco there and a Kodachrome GP9.
No way, me, Gordon bliss, Kirk Reddie, Rich Businger, Mike Businger, Jeff Clodfelter and chuck feather-river trains and a group of guys are going to Sacramento on the 20. We leave that Sunday tho!
If you have time, Embarcadero/Jack London Square in Oakland has fair bit of daytime street-running traffic. Unfortunately, there are no restaurants there that give you a good enough view of the tracks. PM me for the location of a good photo spot if interested. And no, you're not gonna get killed there. There are still SP traces along the CalTrain line (former SP ROW) running from SF to San Jose including the tunnels and some stations, ruins of the Bayshore roundhouse. That SF store, well, uh . . . Better that you hit the shop in Roseville outside of Sacramento (with SP steam engine 2252 on display close by), Bruce's in Sacramento, and/or Just Trains in Concord east of Oakland. Weather this year in NorCal has been colder than normal. If you layer up with a jacket on top, you should be good to go, rather than bringing a snowsuit and galoshes. That said, it is snowing up in Truckee but expected to be in the 60s there by the end of next week. So it should be clear driving through Donner Pass then. Just keep an eye on the weather when you're here, especially before going over the Sierras.
Jerry, If you are going to Yosemite, here are a few things that are worth the time. Glacier Point. View the entire valley from the edge of the canyon rim at eye level with Half Dome. Depending on the weather during May, it may / may not be open. http://www.yosemitefun.com/glacier_point.htm Map to Glacier Point Mariposa Groves of Sequoia trees. This is a once in a life-time site to see the largest living things on earth. The grove is only 30-40 min out of the valley trough the tunnel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariposa_Grove Map to Mariposa Groves Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. Five min south of the Mariposa Grove where you can ride excursion trains pulled by narrow gauge shays. http://www.ymsprr.com Map of Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
Thanks everybody for all your suggestions. It's kinda funny that when I travel, the family wants to see boring things like nature and museums and resturants, and I want to see trains and train shops! superturbine, as many times as I've run into you and Gordon, I'm sure we'll see each other next weekend somewhere by the trains.
Depending on your route to Yosemite, Railtown 1987 is a good family stop. Lots of rail history relative to movies. Lots of filming done there. It's in Jamestown, a mile from Sonora.
