Some photos of my railfanning around the East Bay 2013

[Trainfanne54]

Awesome shots Itsed65!! I really like the clouds in the background.

 

[Itsed65]

Thanks guys! Wow, coming up on 75,000 views. Nice.

A few more from Hercules


20130902-AQ4E8853 by lennycarl08, on Flickr


UP 7979 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

This was with the Canon L glass 16-35 2.8 on my 5DII

UP along the water by lennycarl08, on Flickr

My last trip over to the central valley was a bit of a bust. They were doing track maintenance at Escalon, but I did head over to French Camp and catch a bit of UP switching action.

UP 1488 (GP40M-2) working French Camp by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I am a sucker for grain elevators

Switching boxes at French Camp California by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Summer day in French Camp California by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Back to my territory, it's getting more fall like, but still light enough to get out to Christie in Franklin Canyon.
Lots and lots of power on this one.

BNSF 7061 at Christie by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Seven pulling through the canyon by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Whole Lotta Horsepower by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Rumble by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I think this guy was miffed at all the noise

Red Tail over Franklin Canyon by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Back to our usual cloudless sky and 78 degrees…sigh.

20130915-IMG_9588 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Lastly, I think 2013 could use a new paint job

Amtrak tired 2013 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Bill Anderson]

Your home layout is coming along nicely, but I think those 18 inch radius curves may be a bit too tight for the 90 foot flat cars.

 

[Trainfanne54]

Awesome shots Itsed65!

 

[Itsed65]

Amtrak 66 is still working the corridor trains, I was finally able to get it pulling instead of pushing

Amtrak 66 at Eckley by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Amtrak 66 leaving Hercules by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Amtrak 66 at Pinole California by lennycarl08, on Flickr

This guy came out along with me after the rain to go hunting. Me for trains, him for tasty rodents.

The rain stopped, now it's time to eat! by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Ethanol train heading east with UP 6680(AC44CW) at the lead.

20130921-_MG_9545 by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Tanks rolling through Pinole by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Shot right into the sun

Union Pacific heading east through Pinole by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Short westbound vehicle train with an SD70 pulling

Late afternoon vehicle train by lennycarl08, on Flickr


UP 4490 (SD70M) at the lead of west bound auto train by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Speaking of SD70's, here one of the AC variety is giving a hand to the California Zephyr. Kind of embarrassing, I was in the bathroom when I heard this one coming and couldn't make it back across the tracks in enough time to get on the right side for the sun. Ah well…

UP 8367 leading California Zephyr at Eckley California by lennycarl08, on Flickr


UP helping the Zephyr by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Fall is here, but this is pretty much fall colors in the bay area...

Z train coming through by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Fall colors, East Bay style by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Late Summer UPS train in Franklin Canyon by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Well I may be getting furloughed this week, so on the bright side, I might be able to get out and chase trains a lot more!

 

[jkinzel]

Your hanging with a rough crowd, the talons on your friend in picture 4 look lethal. As always a spectacular set of photos. Thank you.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Well I may be getting furloughed this week, so on the bright side, I might be able to get out and chase trains a lot more!

Run up to Truckee and check out the fall colors on Donner Pass.

 

[Itsed65]

Your hanging with a rough crowd, the talons on your friend in picture 4 look lethal. As always a spectacular set of photos. Thank you.

Thanks! Glad you enjoy the pics. And you aint kidding about being lethal, as this mouse found out the hard way!

Success by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Run up to Truckee and check out the fall colors on Donner Pass.

Bill I am going to Reno next week, and plan to head down the eastern sierras on the way home weather permitting. Hope to get some good stuff.

For now I will be content with the pumpkins in the canyon

Swoosh by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Bill Anderson]

Bill I am going to Reno next week, and plan to head down the eastern sierras on the way home weather permitting. Hope to get some good stuff.

For now I will be content with the pumpkins in the canyon

Swoosh by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Those are nice autumn colors.

 

[Trainfanne54]

Awesome shots Itsed65!!!

 

[Itsed65]

I was out raptor hunting but came away with an SD70 instead.


20130926-AQ4E9347 by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Union Pacific 4432 on an autumn afternoon by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Another case of guest help on Amtrak

UP SD70 Leading the Zephyr through Pinole California by lennycarl08, on Flickr


EMD at the front of the California Zephyr by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Zephyr crossing Tennent Ave with UP at the lead by lennycarl08, on Flickr

5 GE's running light through the canyon

5 Running light approaching tunnel 3 by lennycarl08, on Flickr


5 Light heading east by lennycarl08, on Flickr


The economy seems to be doing better as I see a lot more vehicle trains on both railroads lately



BNSF 4652 east through Franklin Canyon by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Pumpkins for October by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Auto rack train passing Christie siding by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Got a wave!

4652 doing the wave by lennycarl08, on Flickr

A very bright GP60 idling at North Bay

A really really orange GP60M by lennycarl08, on Flickr

The Zephyr under its own power

Amtrak 147 leading the Zephyr by lennycarl08, on Flickr

And finally, a race between a tanker and the Capital Corridor! Ok, they were going in opposite directions, but I still like the composition of this one.

Amtrak and Tanker at Carquinez Straight by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Bill Anderson]

I was out raptor hunting but came away with an SD70 instead.


20130926-AQ4E9347 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

But it did have wings none-the-less.

A very bright GP60 idling at North Bay

A really really orange GP60M by lennycarl08, on Flickr

The super detailing and weathering on your HO GP60M is amazing. I love the hand-crafted chain link fence as well.

 

[Trainfanne54]

Great shots Itsed65!

 

[Itsed65]

Sunday morning at Point Pinole I saw caught an eastbound train of empties. That large hill in the background is Angel Island in the bay. If you look carefully you can see a tower of the GG bridge in these shots.

East bound on a hazy morning by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Different camera:

UP train of empty wells at Point Pinole by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Same spot a bit later the Sunday light power run came by, sporting mostly leased power this week:

Lots of leased power running through Richmond California by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Ex NS Ex CR GP38-2 leading the light power run by lennycarl08, on Flickr

From the trail into the park:

Afternoon commuter by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Sacramento Bound by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Out of the woods by lennycarl08, on Flickr


UP Double Stack at Point Pinole by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Oakland bound by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Out in the canyon, I caught some guest help on an Oakland bound intermodal.


Guest help in Franklin Canyon by lennycarl08, on Flickr


A Little CSX on the Stockton Sub by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Westbound out of the tunnel by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Guest help in Franklin Canyon 2 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Lastly this week, an eastbound vehicle train running along San Pablo Bay:

UP 5608 at Pinole by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Autos going east by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Eastbound vehicle train at Hercules by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Passing train at Pinole Shores Regional Park by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Click on this one for the best effect. The train is just about a mile long:

A mile long train along San Pablo Bay by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Thanks for looking! I just picked up a new 5D3, so I will be out trackside testing it out soon

 

[Bill Anderson]

You are going to love your new 5D MkIII.

 

[Itsed65]

You are going to love your new 5D MkIII.

I already do



Northern Harrier by lennycarl08, on Flickr


6661 Head On by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Trainfanne54]

Great shots Itsed65!!

 

[Itsed65]

Great shots Itsed65!!

Thank you as always!

I'm a bit behind in posting. Along with overtime at work, it is also the raptor migration season here in California, so I have been trying to get out and go birding every chance I get. That doesn’t' mean I haven't shot any trains, I just have a ton of files of all kinds piling up in Lightroom! This past weekend, I rented a 500mm f4 supertele from lensrentals.com. If you ever want to check out some spicy equipment that would normally be out of your price range, I highly recommend giving them a try. Very painless, and I had a lot of fun with a lens I could never afford to buy. Cheers!

On my way back from a wildlife reserve, I caught the California Northern at work in Williams California. They have switched most of their fleet (maybe all) to Gensets.

CFNR Genset working near Williams CA by lennycarl08, on Flickr


California Northern Genset by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Late afternoon work on the California Norhtern by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Back along Chrisite Road, the eastbound UPS trains seem to be leaving later in the day lately.

UPS train heading toward tunnel 3 by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Eastbound in Franklin Canyon by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Here the Z train holds at the siding for an eastbound vehicle train. Looks like #3 could use some paint.

Z Pano by lennycarl08, on Flickr

It didn't wait more than a few minutes in the siding…

New Hondas heading to market by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Passing each other

BNSF west passing east at Hercules by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Bill will like the numbers on this one, and a rare visit from the north at #3

CP with the assist at Christie by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Late October afternoon in the canyon by lennycarl08, on Flickr


BNSF 6661 at the Farm by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I was heading toward Martinez when I looked over and saw this eastbound intermodal running along the freeway (Highway 4).

East at the carbon plant by lennycarl08, on Flickr

A little monochrome for fun

November freight by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I got off just passed the golf course to get a few more shots

BNSF 917 by lennycarl08, on Flickr


917 Up Close by lennycarl08, on Flickr

A location I don't usually use, I was heading out to the canyon when I saw this crossing the freeway bridge, so I pulled off and quickly went into a transit park and ride lot, and got this from its driveway, along Willow avenue in Hercules.

Z train at Willow Avenue by lennycarl08, on Flickr


BNSF along Willow Avenue, Hercules California by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Lastly for this week, Amtrak California (Caltrans really) has aqquired some new/old equipment for the San Joaquin corridor trains. They have some unpowered cab/baggage units - old F40PH's and some single level coaches they are now running on that train.

Amtrak 2001 leading the new San Joaquin cars by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I will try to get some better pictures of the equipment soon.

All Aboard by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Bill Anderson]

Someone here said that BNSF is leasing the CP units. I hope #8888 is in the bunch, as that would be the luckiest engine in the fleet.

 

[NM_RailNut]

Repaint that cabbage and those Comet cars in Phase III Amtrak colors (and ditch the F59) and you'd have a scene from 1995.