There have been times when I wondered about the effort just to catch a few moments. Afterwards, I was always happy to have done it. Good luck! Boxcab E50
Another great day for the rail fan. Woke up at 6:15 before my alarm even went off. Not wanting to go through what I did on Monday with the bus cutting time too close for comfort, I headed out at 7am and arrived on the scene at 8, one hour before 844 was to depart. I was set up about 9 miles southeast of where she sat in Oakland. An hour goes by, its now 9am, and I expect 844 through here any minute...except, it's really just me? Not another person in sight. Surely at least one other person would have shown up, especially to this area. 9:30 rolls by and no action. I get that gut feeling I made a mistake and scoped out and set up on the wrong line. 9:35 an intermodal train rolls by heading northeast. As it heads off into the distance, I notice a gathering of people at the crossing, with cameras. Assuming they know something I dont, I get ready for the freight to clear the tracks, thinking 844 must have been waiting for it to get out of the way. Ten minutes go by and I see headlights. Full of excitement, I hit record and look through the view finder of my camcorder, only to recognize ditch lights. Chute, that's not 844 either, its an Amtrak, which I think might have been the Coastal Starlight or just a really long commuter. Finally, 844 comes into view about 5 minutes after the Amtrak disappears. I recorded her from just under 2 miles out to a few hundred yards behind until she disappeared around a curve. I also got some good whistle action as the spot I picked had 3 crossings within a quarter mile. I could probably go into a lot more detail, but we all know pictures are worth a thousand words, so that means video is worth a book. Here is the first video from San Leandro: Union Pacific 4-8-4 #844 at San Leandro, California April 22nd 2009 on Vimeo Enjoy!
Mark, great stories! If I had been on the bus, I would have become a problem for that driver. I'll check out the video when I get home.
UP 844 stockton to Roseville which track does anyone know which track the 844 will use to get from Stockton to Sac? there is one that runs along I-5 and another on 99.
Take a look at this site within UP http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/excurs/trace.cfm?extLat=0.5&cLat=37.9906586419&cLon=-121.365732901
Verify for yourself with the link above, but It looks to be taking the route along 99. Here's another video of the Amtrak and a UP intermodal caught while waiting for 844: Amtrak and Union Pacific Intermodal on Vimeo
Dang !!! I went to Oslo for Zmod and missed my own backyard ! Now I have the UP link so hopefully won't miss this stuff again. We're all going up to Cal State RR museum in 2 weeks for the 140th Anniversary of the Transcontinental RR. Now how do I get a job on that train ??? .
Can anyone tell me where that curve track leads? Is it a southbound track to SJ or does it lead to the Dunbarton Bridge? Thanks, Robert Modeling Tweezer Trains on the Left Coast
Can't say I know, but here is the link in Google maps. The curve is right where it says south stonehurst, should be dead center on the link. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=san+leandro,+ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.490703,79.101563&ie=UTF8&ll=37.734272,-122.179384&spn=0.04867,0.077248&t=h&z=14
