2013
Railfan notes from 2013
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I did not do any serious railfan trips until late May this year.
Outings of a day or less in early 2013
Short outings of a day or less!
- Agnews Depot, San Jose, CA - Saturday, January 12, 2013
- The California Central Model Railroad Club in San Jose, CA on January 12, 2013.
- Niles Canyon Rwy, Sunol, CA - Sunday, March 10, 2013
- I stopped in Sunol on way back from Winterail, 2013.
Trip to Tehachapi and Cajon Pass
May 15 - 19, 2013
- Tehachapi mountains, CA - Wednesday, May 15, 2013
- This was a travel day and I did not arrive in the Tehachapi mountains until very late. That night I stayed in Motel 6, east Bakersfield.
- Tehachapi mountains, CA - Thursday, May 16, 2013
- Thursday morning I went to Tunnel 2 where I met Dan. We hiked into Allard, but did not see a train there as there was track work going on. Then, we hiked into Tunnel 1. The work windows opened up in the late afternoon and suddenly there were trains everywhere!
- Cajon Pass, CA - Friday, May 17, 2013
- I spent this day on the BNSF/UP from hill 582 to Barstow. At Hill 582 I met Don E. Toles, the caretaker of this oasis in the desert. Unfortunately it was cold and windy there, not what I expected. In the afternoon a BNSF special came through. I raced to Barstow hoping to catch it. No such luck. I finished the day in Barstow catching action on the BNSF Transcon.
- Barstow & Tehachapi mountains, CA - Saturday, May 18, 2013
- Not many trains this day! My start to this day was delayed by a flat tire. Once I had the spare on I was able to go to the Depot, aka Western America Railroad Museum, to shoot the museum's collection in better morning light. One last time I went to the the Depot and took more photos after the light shifted a bit.
Then I drove to Mojave. BNSF had most of the sidings east of their occupied with shut down trains. Yes, more work windows! - Tehachapi mountains, CA - Sunday, May 19, 2013
- Sunday I shot around Mojave. I had planned to go to Allard, but when I arrived in Bealville I saw they were doing track work even on Sunday. Plus I saw a pile of trains on the way. I thought most of them were eastbounds, so I went back to Cable to catch what I thought would be four trains. It turned out only two of those were eastbounds. So, that was it. About noon I headed home.
San Jose, CA
San Carlos St. Bridge
This bridge is about ten minutes from my office. Unfortunately, it's about the last easy to get to place to take photos in the morning that isn't blocked (yet) by development or fences.
May 22, 2013, Wednesday
- Due to track work on the Tehachapi mountains, there were trains detoured on the coast line. I shot them on my lunch hour.
May 30, 2013, Thursday
- Train 11, the Southbound Coast Starlight was caught approaching the San Carlos St. bridge at 10:10 a.m. on Thursday, May 30, 2013 with AMTK 507 (B32-8WH) and 6 (P42DC).
Trip to Feather River Canyon
June 16-19, 2013
This week Donner was closed and Overland Route trains went via the FRC. June 16 was a travel day, no trains.
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June 17, 2013
- This day we left Oroville and chased trains up to Portola.
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June 18, 2013
- This day we stayed between Portola and Quincy Jct.
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June 19, 2013
- Our final day in the Feather River Canyon. This day we left Portola and chased trains down to James. We followed a UP westbound Grain train (GSHLST?) that I had seen earlier in Portola down the canyon.
Trip to Sand Pass, Nevada
June 21-24, 2013
This week Donner was closed all week and Overland Route frieght trains went mostly via the Feather River Canyon. On the first day I drove up the Feather River Canyon again in the new Mazda (Sue needed the Subaru) to Spring Garden and met Ken Compton there. We had dinner in Portola then I went to his home in Reno. We spent two days on Sand Pass, returning to his home at night. We took Ken's Xterra to Sand Pass. On the last day I drove the Mazda home.
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June 21, 2013
- This day I drove to Reno via the Feather River Canyon. I met Ken at Spring Garden
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June 22, 2013
- This was our first day on Sand Pass, Nevada. We took Ken's Xterra.
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June 23, 2013
- This was our second day on Sand Pass, Nevada. We got out there earlier after figuring a better route. We saw a lot of trains in the morning. But, the Donner detours ended that afternoon and we saw few trains later in the day.
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June 24, 2013
- This day I drove the Mazda home in the rain via Truckee and Roseville. Traffic had returned to Donner that day.
Roseville, CA
J.R. Davis Yard
One late afternoon in Roseville
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May 29, 2013, Sunday
- On this weekend I was in Sacramento for a union meeting. The meeting adjourned for the day early enough for me to go to Roseville and see some trains. It ended up the temperature was hot and so was the train action.
Oakdale, CA
East J St. and South Sierra Ave.
Random train while passing through was first heard from Starbucks.
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July 12, 2013, Friday
- We passed through Oakdale, CA on the way to a friend's cabin.
Santa Clara, CA
Agnews Depot - Cal Central Model RR Club
First run of M640 Model after painting.
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Aug. 3, 2013, Saturday
- HO Model photos taken during a visit to the train club in the historic Agnews Depot. I ran only Canadian Pacific Alco-MLWs on this day.
Watsonville, CA
Watsonville Jct.
Engines in power Pool
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Aug. 8, 2013, Thursday
- These photos were taken on the way to a three day getaway on the coast.
Santa Clara, CA
Agnews Depot
An afternoon at the depot.
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Sept 22, 2013, Sunday
- A photo that was taken while running model trains at the train club.
Two Days Chasing Christmas Trains
The Permanente Local and Christmas Trains
These photos were taken in San Jose and Watsonville, CA.
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December 27, 2013, Friday
- After dropping off a wine fridge for recycling I happened to be at Race St. when a Permanente Local went by. I happened to have my cameras with me as I was on my way to Watsonville to chase Christmas Trains.
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December 28, 2013, Saturday
- This day had better light and a totally different photographic mood.
Special Thanks
Thanks to all the great folks who helped me out with information for these Web pages!
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