Some photos of my railfanning around the East Bay 2015

[Itsed65]

It's getting darker earlier, so here are some twilight shots I was just able to sneak in after work.

Westbound stack with a warbonnet at #2

Notice the moon rising over the warbonnet unit

GP60 and GP60M running light back to the yard after dropping off some covered hoppers in the canyon

Same stack train rolling thorugh downtown Pinole iwth the moon a bit higher

Gotta go buy a turkey now!

 

[Bill Anderson]

I am looking forward to seeing the seasons progress in your shots.

 

[Itsed65]

I am looking forward to seeing the seasons progress in your shots.

Yeah, for a while it will be too dark to shoot after work, but as we get more and more rain, Franklin Canyon will turn very green and make for great photos starting around January. I'm also toying with the idea of getting a 7D as a Christmas present to myself for better tracking auto focus and higher FPS. My 40D has about a 70,000 shutter count these days

 

[Bill Anderson]

I use my 7D/100-400L zoom for bird photos and my 5D MkII/24-105L zoom for landscape and sunset shots. I am also trying to take more train photos with it as the wide angle zoom is better for trains.

I don't think you need the fast tracking auto focus of the 7D if you are not going to be tracking anything faster than a train. If you want to get into nature photography, then the 7D/100-400 combo is Canon's best bang for the buck.

 

[Itsed65]

I shoot all kinds of things besides trains, not that you would know it from this board.

I also shoot aircraft, and the 40D is pretty good at that, but I still get a lot of out of focus shots in a group, and I am mainly looking to an upgrade for next years air show season. I use both my bodies for trains and like to have a zoom and a wide with me at the same time trackside, so I usually leave my 16-35 on the 5D and the 100-400 on the 40D for trains. The 24-105 is a great all rounder on the 5D though too, and a lot of the pictures I shoot at the Ozal yard in Martinez are with that combo as my vantage point doesn't really favor a big zoom there.

The other reason for the 7D is that I have started to take a lot of video (not of trains actually) and it would be nice to have that feature on both of my bodies.

In the end though, part of me is whispering to myself to hold off and see what the next version of the 5D might hold, so who knows, I will see what Santa brings this year.

 

[Itsed65]

I've been busy with holiday guests, but still got a chance to get a few hours of train watching in.

Here a short auto train rolls through Hercules. the second unit is the Breast Cancer Awareness unit.

Some guest help leading an easbound container train through Franklin Canyon.

Shift change on the Richmond Pacific

This is only rail related because of the tracks in the picture, but I thought it was pretty cool

And finally I grabbed this one thorugh the windsheild of my van on the way home from Yosemite the day after Thanksgiving. This is near the town of Planada California. A short BNSF local heading south next to CA highway 140.

 

[-chet]

The USS Iowa is being cleaned up to be towed to LA to be put on display.

 

[Itsed65]

I finally caught a heritage unit! I was killing time by the tracks when the westbound California Zephry blared its horn. I almost thought of not picking up the camera, since I have a ton of shots of it at this location. Anyway, I was glad I did as 184 came into view. This is just pulling out of the Martinez depot on the way to its final destination of Emeryville.

 

[Itsed65]

Mixed bag this time around...

NorCal Rail Systems, using a leased BNSF genset, seen working the Point Potrero Marine Terminal at Richmond California on a wet Friday afternoon.

A nice way to break in my new 7D, I was drving along the road up in Fairfield and caught a short intermodal being led by a shiny SD70ACe

Looks like "Thing" from the Adams family is at the controls

Corridor pulling into Jack London

Jack London Station

Double leased units pulling a local into Ozal yard in Martinez

Magic hour at the Port of Richmond

Moon rising over the Richmond Pacific

 

[Eastern Railfan]

Corridor pulling into Jack London

I absolutely LOVE the composition here. Outstanding shot!

Moon rising over the Richmond Pacific

That paint scheme is sharp looking. Nice catch with the caboose in there too.

 

[NM_RailNut]

And, it's still a caboose, instead of being a former caboose cum "shoving platform" that's been prettied up. All the windows are still in place (no plating anywhere that I've noticed) and there's even a "firecracker" antenna on the cupola! Definitely a rare bird in this day and age...

 

[Bill Anderson]

I think your fine feathered friend is a female northern harrier.

 

[Itsed65]

I've been busy and haven't had much time to post, so I catching up with some shots taken before the new year.

Just as it was about too dark to shoot anymore, an MOW train led by a HLCX Geep came into
HLCX in the Lead by lennycarl08, on Flickrview across the bay


Evening MOW train at Hercules by lennycarl08, on Flickr

It stopped right in front of me, where the track gang had assembled in Hercules for some night work.

Approach with catuion by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Friday Night Track Work at Hercules by lennycarl08, on Flickr

The Zephyr was on time and giving the last remaining passengers a nice view of the bay as it sped toward Emeryville and the final stop.

Zephyr by the Bay by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Some guest help at Bay Point

Colorful trio at Bay Point by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Oakland bound at Bay Point by lennycarl08, on Flickr

A clean GE at Martinez

UP ES44AC 7977 at Ozal by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Nostalgia

Heritage Parked at Riverbank Yard by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Ready for the next job at Riverbank California

Ready at Riverbank by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I took the long way home from the Merced NWR along the old Santa Fe Road. Outside of Empire California, I caught the Merced & Empire Traction company at work, now using Gensets.

Modesto&Empire Traction Company 2002 by lennycarl08, on Flickr


M&ET 2002 at Empire yard by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I've been shooting a lot, but as usual, I am way behind on processing them. I've been playing with new gear lately and trying to figure it all out, but having fun doing so.

As always, more to come!

 

[Bill Anderson]

Thanks, Lenny. Great shots as always.

 

[Itsed65]

It's been a remarkably busy winter for me, I haven't had much time to photograph much less post, but I am trying to catch up.
These are all still from November and December.

Fun with a zoom. Capital Corridor passing through my home town of Pinole


CDTX 2010 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Same area, but this time a Dash 8 pushing back toward Sacramento

Pushing through Pinole by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Thanksgiving Day was no holiday for the UP. An eastbound container train passes Point Pinole

Out of the soup by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Hazy Day Freight Train by lennycarl08, on Flickr

We have pretty much daily coal trains these days, coming in loaded from Colorado

Westbound Coal by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Prime lens goodness here

UP 7861 West by lennycarl08, on Flickr

We got our hopes up with a couple of weeks of good solid rain, but haven't seen any since.

7668 Round the Bend by lennycarl08, on Flickr



BNSF 7668 West at the Farm by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Z train in the rain by lennycarl08, on Flickr


BNSF 8092 East at Christie by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Eastbound UPS train by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Just before Christmas, I picked up the new Canon 100-400mm MK II zoom. The IS and image quality on this is amazing.
I am selling my 300f4 and 400f5.6 primes. I was just about to go home as it was getting dark quickly when I heard the horn of this east bound empty oil train.

BNSF 4429 at Christie East by lennycarl08, on Flickr


BNSF 4429 East by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Then a quick switch to the other camera with the 24-105 on it

Sunday Night Oil Train by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Lastly, a couple of the California Zephry at Pinole, just a few minutes away from its final stop at Emeryville.


Zephyr on the Water by lennycarl08, on Flickr


California Zephyr at Pinole by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

A trio of six axle power running light out of Richmond yard, here entering Collier siding west. Probably heading to Pittsburgh/Antioch to pick up a train.

Warbonnet Sandwhich by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Another beautiful December morning when it should have been raining saw CDTX 2011 leading the Capital Corridor at Point Pinole

CDTX 2011 at Point Pinole by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Some magic hour light on the Zephyr

Winter Zephyr by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Coal drag rolling through Pinole on a foggy morning

Coal Drag by lennycarl08, on Flickr


UP Coal Train at Pinole by lennycarl08, on Flickr

6490 looks like it is coal fired!

Powering UP by lennycarl08, on Flickr

A few days later, an outgoing stack train at the same location. This spot where I am sitting is actually more of a birding spot, that happens to be near the tracks, but it works for both, so I bring two cameras with me.

Short westbound at Hercules by lennycarl08, on Flickr

This kite was hovering right behind me when I shot the coal train

Lethal Raptor by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I hadn't been to the Emeryville depot in a while, and the day I showed up, I got treated to BNSF running on trackage rights from the port of Oakland on the old SP Cal P, now the UP Martinez Sub.

Waiting by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Leaving Emeryville by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Burning Oil by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Passing Through by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Exiting Oakland by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Heading East by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Heading toward Richmond and BNSF's own main track. They are actually buidling a brand new interchange track east of Richmond yard at Point Pinole which will greatly reduce BNSF tying up city traffic as it does right now crawling through urban Richmond where it currently interchanges.

Taking the Main by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Bill Anderson]

Good shots. I know what you mean by joint birding/railfan spots. Sunset Ave. and the Edmonds marsh are mine. Now that my son has developed an interest in photography, I let him take the train shots with the 7D + wider angle lenses while I "focus" on the birds with the big white telephoto lenses.

 

[brad_in_omaha]

Wow, more great photos! Nice Work!

 

[Itsed65]

Thanks Brad. More in the way. I'm driving over Donner Pass next week.

 

[Itsed65]

This time of year I like to get up to Solano county and check out the Western Railway museum, which mainly deals with California's electric traction past.

Running on the origianl Sacramento Northern right of way

Sacramento Northern at Shilo Rd by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Interesting mix of old and new

Time Travel by lennycarl08, on Flickr

This car was built in San Francisco over 100 years ago

Crossing Shilo Road by lennycarl08, on Flickr

This shot could be timeless without KC-10 flying across the frame, although before long it will also be considered an antique.

Antiques by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I went to Reno the other week, and got skunked on Donner pass on the way over, but did catch some action east of town.

A westbound Z train just east of Sparks

Westbound Z at Speed by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Z Train in the Desert by lennycarl08, on Flickr

A mix of GE and EMD

Z Power by lennycarl08, on Flickr

#4 still showing off its ESPEE heritage on this eastbound manifest near Fallon NV
Fast Freight by lennycarl08, on Flickr

A bit earlier, here it's hazy in the distance as it approaches a bridge I staked out over the Truckee river. Even the best zoom can't make up for a hot hazy day.

Distorted View by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Good timing here as it crosses the Truckee River. That's I-80 that the truck is traveling in the right of the shot. This is the same bridge as the first shot in this series.

Crossing the Truckee by lennycarl08, on Flickr

This is right off of 4th street in Reno. This empty coal drag from my area in Richmond is now approaching the Reno trench that will take it under downtown.

Approaching the Reno Trench by lennycarl08, on Flickr

The next day I caught an east bound empty oil worm and followed it on the same route.
Oil Worm Crossing the River by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Empty Cans Going East by lennycarl08, on Flickr


UP 4591 East by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Big Snake by lennycarl08, on Flickr


Oil Cans Heading Back East by lennycarl08, on Flickr

I came home via the Feather River route, but just my luck, they were doing track work and nothing was moving through the canyon. It was still a nice drive in my new rail photography pursuit vehicle…

20150420-DSCF0851 by itsed65, on Flickr

I'm going back up there in two weeks, so I hope they are done by then. Thanks for looking.