4-8-4 # 844 began the Western Heritage Tour yesterday. You can track via GPS at this page of the UP website. Anybody out there rail fanning this one? Lets see your pictures/videos here if you are. I plan to be in Oakland for her arrival on the 20th as well as the 22nd for her departure.
Initially I figured I would just go to Oakland and await the arrival. Now I'm thinking head to Richmond and get a run-by, then stop at Oakland on the way back home for some still photos. Does anyone know of a good place to set up for this? Perhaps somewhere I can get a view of her rounding Pinole?
Bay area meet up Tomorrow 844 makes her move from Roseville to Oakland. I'm going to head out early and try to catch it as it rounds Pinole from this small peninsula if it is accessible (hopefully it is, I've never been there). From that spot, if weather is nice, I should be able to get a great video of a long run along the bay. Will anyone else be out and about to catch this event? I'll also be stopping in Oakland for some pictures, hopefully not too long after 844 arrives there itself. I would love to meet anyone else who plans to be there.
I had such an exciting day I just cant wait for all the video and pictures to upload, so while they do I'll share the rundown. The alarm went off at 7:30 am and I practically jumped out of bed. Got everything together, went out the door and got on the BART train at 8:20. The BART arrived at de Norte around 9am, 10 minutes behind schedule. No sweat, I gave myself plenty of time. Next up was the WESTcat J bus. Time began to sprint. I sat on that bus for over an hour instead of just 20minutes the schedule said it would take. The bus driver was the slowest human being I've ever witnessed. She must have been color blind as we would wait through half of a green light before we started through the intersection! Then at one stop, which just so happened to be the stop right before mine, we waited 10 minutes (yes, I timed it) while the driver had a gossip session with a pedestrian. I was loosing my cool. That horror ride finally ended and I made my way through an abandoned park adjacent to the tracks. It was now 10:25 and according to the schedule 844 was to be in Oakland at 11, meaning she would have had to pass through Pinole about 5 minutes ago. Up ahead near the tracks I spot a man with a camera in hand. Hope remained. I get up to him and ask if he's here for 844 and he says yes and that it has not passed by yet. Whew! Unfortunatly I still have 3/4ths of a mile to walk until I'm at the spot I scoped out on google earth. I wish the man luck and speed on. As I make my way to the spot, two California Amtrak commuter trains pass me by. I don't hesitate as I've been looking forward to getting 844 from what looks like an amazing vantage point for weeks. Its now to the point that every second that goes by I half expect to see 844 rounding the bend just before I reach my spot. 200 more feet. 100 more. 50. SAFE! I make it. No more than 10 seconds after I put my backpack on the ground to get out my camera the faint echo of that beautiful sound we all know and love reaches my ears. Skies were blank and the weather perfect with 100% visibility. The next 10 minutes were pure bliss as I follow 844 from a tiny speck 3 miles out to a roaring giant 25 feet away and back to a tiny speck dissapearing in the trees 2 miles behind. What a great day.
Mark, I wait in great anticipation to see your photos and videos! Too many people are tough on UP, but they have a great steam program...:tb-biggrin:
Mark, I haven't even seen the vid yet, and I'm drooling with anticipation! Your descriptiion of your afternoon was priceless! And Riveting!
Mark, Nicely done! I lived and worked in that area most of my life and you found about the best spot for long sequence like that. Love the wild sound as well. Sean
out standing video.I agree we need more like that,that old girl was up on the stack.steam for ever JIM
I sure wish it would come back south (hint- ex-MKT thru Muskogee) sometime in the future.........have fun chasing her down, you guys!
I found a short vireo of 844 leaving Cheyenne on the start of this trip- it's on railvideos. net at this link: http://www.rail-videos.net/video/view.php?id=5459
She has some sort of SD unit behind her at the start. Anyone notice the Genset behind her in my video? Question: Why do they run a diesel behind her when they go west. Every time I see a steam going east of Cheyenne they don't have the diesel.
At the last minute I decided I'm going to head out again tomorrow morning and set up in San Leandro for one last run-by before she's out of my territory. Wish me luck.
