Some photos of my railfanning around the East Bay

[Itsed65]

I spend a lot of time up at the Sacramento NWR this time of year, which lies right on the old SP West Valley Line, now used by the California Northern. Fun to see old geeps running long hood forward on the local freights

Arrival at Cortina by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Southbound Arrival by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

Closer to home...oil cans on the bay

UP 5278 West at Hercules by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

Wider shot

A Train of Two Cities by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

I was actually waiting for the Z train coming west when the horns sounded behind me

Long Train Coming by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I had some company while waiting, but he caught a mouse and flew off

White-tailed Kite #105 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

The new PCT signals are a lot brighter than the old SP triples

Through the Crossover at Hercules by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

Traffic was backed up this past Sunday with 5 trains waiting at Collier and Christie for the Z to clear the main at North Bay

North Bay Arrival by lennycarl08, on Flickr

2nd train in line at Collier

Waiting with the Cows by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Another kite was hunting nearby.

White-tailed Kite #109 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

A rare EMD at the lead of the third in line. SD70ACe

ACE in Charge by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Bill Anderson]

Good shots of the like. We don't have them up here.

I read/heard somewhere that train crews do not like the new EMD's, which is why they are seldom lead units. Does anyone have more info?

 

[brad_in_omaha]

Nice work as always. Great seeing some photos with green trees in them!

 

[Itsed65]

Nice work as always. Great seeing some photos with green trees in them!

Thanks Brad. We get about four months of that here

 

[Itsed65]

Container train passing Gately, the last siding before North Bay, only used for storing tables and wells, just as Chrisite is used.

8049 at Gately by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[brad_in_omaha]

Have you heard anything about UP sending the rotary plows up over Donner this winter?

 

[Itsed65]

I read that they had positioned them up in Colfax a couple of weeks ago, but didn't hear anything further.

 

[Itsed65]

We are continuing to have a good rainy season for a change

Vehicle Train on a Rainy Day by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

Vehicle train in Franklin Canyon

MP 1175 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Grungy SD70ACe

ACe in the Rain by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

An SD40-2 in the consist

SD40-2 on the Road by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

We had a very wet February, which meant lots of snow in the Sierra as well. Cal Zephyr got cancelled at Reno after a UP freight got derailed by an avalanche on Donner. No such dramatic weather here, but massive flooding up in the Russian River area. Sunday freight during a break in the clouds.

West over Refugio Creek by lennycarl08, on Flickr

6252 Helping Build America by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[brad_in_omaha]

For some reason the BNSF paint schemes don't look good on the SD40-2. Both the BN Green or the SF Yellow and Blue look way better and I have never figured out why.

 

[Itsed65]

For some reason the BNSF paint schemes don't look good on the SD40-2. Both the BN Green or the SF Yellow and Blue look way better and I have never figured out why.

I agree. Same goes for the GP60M. The classic Warbonnet looked way better than this:

Heading to North Bay by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

Speaking of GP60's...an old SP unit working Ozal Yard in Martinez

Working Ozal by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

Powering up at North Bay

Direct Current by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

Interesting trio of locos

3 Odd Fellows by lennycarl08, on Flickr