Western Trip pics

[rswinnerton]

A couple weeks ago, Sean (GonzoCRfan) and I had the opportunity to head out west for some goonery. We started in Phoenix, AZ and ended up in Los Angeles. Here are some pics from that trip.....

Our trip really started in Winslow, AZ. Here's a night shot of the west end of the yard there.


Beside the local tourism office, we found this 40' relic in good shape


Just east of that was a trackside park with this and a couple cabooses. This is the prototype for the HO scale Bachmann model


Here we are just west of town. Sean wanted elevation and as we got the $8 insurance, wasted no time using our rented Suburban.

[rswinnerton]

Here we are on the Transcon between Winslow and Williams, AZ






This is south of Williams on the line to Phoenix


We spent a lot of time on Rt 66 as it parallels the Transcon most of the way.

[rswinnerton]

This is the east end of Crozier Canyon. We camped here one night.


It's amazing how much Warbonnet painted stuff was still around.


Again along Rt 66 just west of Crozier. The Santa Fe bridges made such a great photo prop


This is probably one of my favorite shots.


A little east of Topock, AZ along I-40

[rswinnerton]

Here's the bridge at Topock crossing into California


Near Goffs, CA


At Barstow, we found this. This is a Santa Fe Fuel Foiler container. It's one of the great granddadies of containerization. Didn't work so well though due to all the useless space


The head end of a train passes the DPUs of another at Mojave, CA


Rounding the great Tehachapi Loop at WALong siding.

[Dave V]

I remember a family vacation to Arizona in 1979 and still seeing AT&SF cabooses on trains.  Western railroading is very different than back East, but also in a good way.  Back East you are impressed by the railroad infrastructure whereas out West you are impressed by the sense of distance and power.

When I was stationed in Nebraska I could railfan UP or BNSF, and I thought BNSF was always more impressive. 

[wes_sutton]

Thanks for this. I really need to take advantage of one of those cheap deals I'm seeing advertised all the time between Sydney and LA.

[jagged ben]

Wow, that experimental Santa Fe container is a find.  Surprised that still exists.

For pictures of those from long ago...
http://pfe_coi.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3358574
And a few more in the same album:
http://pfe_coi.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=87909&Page=2

[C855B]

At Barstow, we found this. This is a Santa Fe Fuel Foiler container. It's one of the great granddadies of containerization. Didn't work so well though due to all the useless space

Ohmygosh, it's the Aerotrain of intermodal! 

[GaryHinshaw]

Here we are on the Transcon between Winslow and Williams, AZ

Very nice.  I need to get to the AZ highlands some time.  I have a real soft spot for Ponderosa Pine forests, even though live oak savanna is my 'primal landscape.'

Glad you made it to the Loop.  How about Cajon?

[Scottl]

I lived two months in Flagstaff and it was (almost) overwhelming to see the endless parade of BNSF trains.   Sometimes there were would be three trains at once in the crossings downtown.  The trees and San Francisco were a great backdrop, especially with some snow.

[rswinnerton]

Oh yeah. We hit Cajon....

This is 'Big Cut' at the top of Cajon.


This is lower down Cajon near Sullivan's Curve. This train is heading up the pass.


Just before Mormon Rocks


A BNSF train drifts down the lower track with Mormon Rocks in the background.


More stacks....

[rswinnerton]

Riverside, CA... A UP stack train flys by a parked Metrolink train


Another shot framed by the Riverside Station crosswalk.


We also got this local with a pair of Santa Fe GP60Ms in sweet Warbonnet paint.


This is the end of the day in Commerce, CA


Here's the sun about to set over Commerce, CA


Sea cans whiz by Commerce station in the fading light.

[rswinnerton]

Perhaps next spring some Railwire folks come with us?

[Dave V]

Next Spring come to Colorado and do the narrow gauge, the Rio Grande, and the Joint Line.  I'll have room and a model railroad waiting for you in the Springs.  I'll be running Conrail when you guys make it out!

[C855B]

Perhaps next spring some Railwire folks come with us?

What? And go back home? I left for a reason!

Thanks for the nostalgia, Russ. While I envy you the Arizona parts of your trip, you've pretty much covered the stomping grounds of my youth. Granted, toaster parades sort of pale in the memories of SD's and DD's thundering through Cajon and kicking-up dust over the desert, but, still, railroading there is awesome to experience. You were in Riverside - spend any time on the UP through San Timoteo Canyon? Another example of rugged SoCal railroading, one that tends to be overlooked by visitors.

BTW, love the GP60's. Since when does 11,000HP constitute power for "a local"? (My edu-guess would be an SDX - San Diego Turn. Round trip Barstow to San Diego.)