5001 on empty reefer westbound at Truckee. Air compressor failure today.
Eastbound reefer train.
Interesting, unit 580 has an icicle breaker on top of the cab. SP installed them on locomotives that went over the pass, but this the first time I have seen a UP unit with one.
Does anyone know of any other units that have iclcle breakers installed?
I think you’ll find that 580 is an SP unit - look at the nose. You can see where the traditional SP light array was installed at one time.
Note that 580 and it’s partner have a flanger in tow.
The 580 and 600 are GP38-2 prior SP snow fighting diesels used on the flangers. They have retained the ice breakers to be used in the tunnels to clear the way. I believe all of the units are now in UP colors.
CZ
This is the 600 again with the ice beakers in the up position.
Soda Springs looking east.
Either that - [:-,] or UP is starting a ‘stealth’ electrification project over Donner Summit with a new variation on the traditional pantograph designs . . .
Notice also on both the 600 above and the 580 in the 1st sequence the rotating windshield wipers on the narrow cab windows - same as are used on the rotary snowplows, the grates over the main front window, and the added shields/ plating on top of the cab. That one photo of the 580 against the cloudy sky was as good an illustration of the ‘ice breaker’ bars as any I’ve ever seen. The difficulty of getting them to stand out from a cluttered background can be seen in the other photos . . .
Any photos of the flanger ?
Paul
This is just west of switch 9 off of Interstate 80. Most of the mountain is UP crew friendly to us and usually give an extra horn or two when they see you for the second time or so on the Hill. This is a crossing but it is private. Switch 9 (milepost 171.2) is the point that is double track going to single track when SP removed the second track just before they sold the railroad.
I always pay attention to safety and avoid getting crews upset. We had one crew member come over to us at Truckee and told us we could get closer to the train for pictures that was stopped and he talked to us for 20 minutes or so while waiting.
A good location is Soda Springs also. It is the one of the areas that you can stand at the crossing and watch trains without any problems. Gold Run and Alta are excellent areas but are below the snow at this time. Truckee is really easy for access also since it is a town with crossings.
We got to view 18 different trains on Saturday and a portion of Sunday so it was a great time. The sun played hid and seek on Saturday but it was mostly sunny on Sunday. Go figure! We are told there will be more snow this week so it might be even better next weekend. The skiers were out in force at most of the locations and families were playing in the snow at most every exit along the freeway on Sunday.
CZ
This is at the Soda Springs crossing looking west.
Flanger in tow but not plowing at this spot.
[IMG]http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy345/Trainsforyou/Roseville%20Sub/IMG_
Two other food spots where you can get good pictures without any problems are Emigrant Gap, right off of I-80 and Colfax,since the tracks run right though the middle of town.
Great shots CZ, seems like I remember some of those trains… : ) It was a great day up on Donner for sure.
Cajon
UP 8654 working as a DPU at Soda Springs-
UP 580 pulling into Truckee-
Eastbound refers passing the westbound refers-
UP 7728 pulling it’s stack train through Soda Springs-
Here are some from Sunday. The sun treated CZ and I to many UP westbounds in some beautiful light.
Cajon
UP 600 & Flanger west of Switch 9-
AMTK #5-
UPP 203 tacked onto the rear of #5-
After waiting for 3 westbounds, UP 7725 east starts it’s train back up the hill-
Perfect timing at Soda Springs-
One last shot, west of Switch 9-
CAZEPHYR and Cajon 92 - Thanks much for the responses, the information on all those locations, and the additional photos, esp. the flanger. [tup]
That’s an interesting/ different view of UP 203, the theater-seating observation/ track inspection car - with the protective covering down over the window. And the last photo has a ballast regulator hiding in the left corner. Glad you’re on good terms with the UP crews, too - your conversation with the crew member while waiting at Truckee is a good example of how observing safely - and ‘‘safety’’ - can have other benefits, too.
Thanks again for sharing. Looking forward to more photos from your next trip !
- Paul North.
Paul
We had planned this trip for some time and just hoped the snow and traffic would be good. It turned out very well and we had a great time on the Hill both days, but Sunday the sun was out and the picutures came out much better. There was actually four of us and that always makes for fun.
That track inspection car was being moved to Oakland by Amtrak and was not manned.
CZ
I spend a lot of time around Colfax since the eastbounds are good for the morning light and you are right. There are many spots on the Hill where pictures can be taken without causing any problems for the UP. It is a great place to take pictures.
CZ
This is below the snow level this weekend, but still a nice place to take pictures at Gold Run.
These two shots were at Bowman recently when the snow level was down to Auburn.
This one in the light rain gave reflections.
Snow always looks good in a scene.
Here are a few more of my shots from our Donner snow trip. BTW great shots CZ, I like the reflection on the autoracks.
Cajon
Truckee-
Truckee-
Soda Springs-
Cajon
Thanks for the reflection picture comment. Next time, I will use a tripod early in the morning.
One more picture west of switch 9.
Going away and meeting a eastbound stack train. This is just one of several meets we got to see on Saturday.
Thanks for the photos, guys. Having grown up around Donner Pass during the ‘glory’ days of the forties and 'fifties, it’s nice to know that the Summit has again become a great place to watch trains. Especially one of my favorite mountain towns: Truckee.
Things are definitely looking up over Donner again!
Tom
Tom
The Hill is a great place to watch trains again since the double stacks started running the line and the snow was just the touch we needed for the scenes.
Thanks for the comment Glad you enjoyed the pictures.
CZ