Railfanning Around Northern California

[Bill Anderson]

Nice shot. Was the Siskiyou Summit tunnel ever reopened and rail service restored between Weed and Medford, OR.

 

[mkstarks]

Nice shot. Was the Siskiyoo Summit tunnel ever reopened and rail service restored between Weed and Medford, OR.

With the help of a federal Tiger grant as well as county monies and private funds, the Siskiyou line reopened last Wednesday. CORP has begun to run trains over the line again after a 7 year closure.

http://registerguard.com/rg/busines...fornia-re-opens-after-7-year-closure.html.csp

 

[Bill Anderson]

With the help of a federal Tiger grant as well as county monies and private funds, the Siskiyou line reopened last Wednesday. CORP has begun to run trains over the line again after a 7 year closure.

http://registerguard.com/rg/busines...fornia-re-opens-after-7-year-closure.html.csp

Good news. It will create some really great photo ops. Is the Yreka Western still in operation?

 

[mkstarks]

Is the Yreka Western still in operation?

As far as I know, it unfortunately is not at this present time.

Monday was day one of a two day adventure (CORP shot was day 2). We made our way through my home turf of the FRC, unfortunately the previous days rain had triggered many minor slides that needed to be cleaned up and traffic was at a hault. After discovering that there was nothing running, we jumped on CA 89 and headed for Truckee.

UP 5293 leads a Z train over the summit and out of the big hole as the last light sets on the day. The cold and wet stuff on the ground I am told is called snow, I think I remember it from my childhood but I'm not sure since it's been so long since CA has seen any of it.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Is that Sugar Bowl in the background? I used to ski there in the mid 70's when I lived in Sacramento. The parking lot was on the old highway and you rode a chairlift over the two mainline tracks to the lodge. I always hoped a train would pass under me while I was on the lift. The original line that ran through the snow sheds alongside the cliff was still used as the westbound main.

 

[mkstarks]

It is indeed, all the wires over the train are from the chair lifts and power lines that lead to it.

 

[Damon Hill]

What's the status of the California Northern, up to Willits? Seems like they were having a hard time getting the line open that far north. I think they've given up going any further north--too many major washouts.
Does the line still operate out of Ft. Bragg on the coast?

 

[mkstarks]

What's the status of the California Northern, up to Willits? Seems like they were having a hard time getting the line open that far north. I think they've given up going any further north--too many major washouts.

As far as I know, they have put that project off as there just isn't enough business to sustain the operations and upkeep if they were to open it.

Does the line still operate out of Ft. Bragg on the coast?

If you're referring to the Skunk Train, unfortunately there's been some damage to the line and operations are currently suspended.

 

[mkstarks]

UP 6612 leads the MRORVW 22 westbound at Emigrant Gap yesterday as I-80 is completely devoid of vehicles as the snow begins to fall again.

UP 7238 leads the westbound AGBMI 21 as it works its way over the pass.

 

[CGW101c]

Beautiful snow pics. Looks like it might have been a strenuous climb for both you and the train. What time of day were you there? TZ

 

[mkstarks]

We were up on the hill all day, those two shots were taken between 2-330pm. There's a certain serenity in being up there and all you hear before the train is silence.

 

[brad_in_omaha]

More great photo additions to this thread!

 

[mkstarks]

Amtrak's California Zephyr is eastbound as it comes into Benicia, CA from Martinez.

A westbound Capitol train heads past the C and H Sugar Cane plant at Crockett, CA.

Operating with UP power, California Northern's Suisun local heads west.

 

[brad_in_omaha]

Nice B&W on the bridge!

 

[mkstarks]

Thanks Brad!

My friends and I have continued our snowbound shenanigans, with 4 storms lined up, a weekend on Donner was required.

UP 602 is westbound with a flanger yesterday as it passes through Yuba Gap on Donner Pass. Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays to all.

 

[Bill Anderson]

You guys are brave to go up to Donner during a storm. I recall from my days of skiing Sugar Bowl back in the 70's that no one in California has snow tires or knows how to drive in the snow. Maybe things are different now that FWD vehicles are popular.

Has the Roseville rotary made an appearance yet?

 

[brad_in_omaha]

Great photo in the snow!

 

[mkstarks]

Thanks guys!

No, no appearance by the rotary in years. They have yet to run the spreaders in continuous service yet.

Amtrak's California Zephyr heads westbound.

The AGBMI actually ran in front of the flanger set, 4 units (3x1) and 8200' of racks in the snow. The DS had the common sense to treat this as the hottest train on the railroad and not stop them even commenting that there's no way he was gonna let this monster get a hose on the hill in these conditions.

Last light of the day as UP 8849 leads the MRVNP.

 

[brad_in_omaha]

I sure do miss the snow. Due to an upcoming photo shoot, I hope we don't get any, but normally I love a good fresh snowfally. With El Nino this year, we just keep getting more and more rain.

 

[Bill Anderson]

I sure do miss the snow. Due to an upcoming photo shoot, I hope we don't get any, but normally I love a good fresh snowfally. With El Nino this year, we just keep getting more and more rain.

Welcome to the club.