While the folks down in San Diego had some great sunny skies for the AAPRCO special yesterday, those of us up here in LA saw the train leave in some pretty dark and dreary conditions. Here we see the entire train climbing over the LA River onto the Redondo Juction Flyover.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=251852
Thanks for looking and corrections are welcome.
Charles Freericks
Santa Fe 3751 on the point I see. Can’t see the number but publicity about this trip says 3751.
VERY impressive consist!
I was wondering if the owners draw straws to see which open platform “office” car gets the end of the train.
Did they really need that many P42’s? Maybe for HEP?
AAPRCO is a close knit group who annually have a Convention trip, as well as smaller trips during the year. They have a protocol that establishes who get the end of the train so that none of the member/car owners feel slighted.
May have been dark and dreary in the Smogopolis, but down here, the local paper had a better view on the local page this morning.
Also, the trip was apparently run a little better than the June excursion, as the train hit its destination of Old Town Station shortly after 11:30 am. They didn’t go on down to Santa Fe station because of the length of the train.
Also, one of the riders I talked to passed on a rumor that 3751 will be relocating to New Mexico from Berdoo. I don’t know whether that is true or not.
Not a very informed rider… 3751 moved from San Bernardino to LA many years ago.
Got a chuckle out of the one comment posted by a reader of the paper who got stuck at a crossing. (Paraphrasing) “Who are they? Why are they here? What does it cost?” And implied- “Why are they blocking my crossing” LOL.
I went to see the trainset go by at the Orange/Olive junction near the Orange station. What an impressive sight overcast or not. The sound of her chugging toward was incredible and man that whistle sure sounds good. Great to see an actual San Diegan steam engine on home rails. I missed her June trip down the line since I was in Colorado at the time.
Also noticed the Caritas was in the consist. I was lucky enough to travel aboard this car in 1986 on the back of the California Zephyr.
I haven’t heard anything about a move to ABQ, but it is possible since there have been plans to fix up the old Santa Fe shops there into a vast museum. Interestingly, 3751’s last major overhauls by the Santa Fe were done in ABQ back in the early 1950s. So it would be appropriate if she does end up there. And if she does make the move to ABQ, she’ll most likely be taking the BNSF transcon to get there. If so, I’ll be ready at my usual spot near Yorba Linda CA to see her go by one last time.
My bad, not the rider’s. I keep thinking Berdoo because of the SBRHS being the “keeper” of the beast and I hadn’t been on their great website since June to remind me where the dragon’s lair really is.
I missed the whistle on the inbound trip because I took my shot about a mile north of Old Town from a convenient parking lot (place for my wife to shop while I was waiting) that was nowhere near a grade crossing. After grabbing lunch, we drove over to Old Town transit center as they were shoving the train back up to the siding at CP Morena or so, which was an awesome sound performance. At speed, there is very little to hear, but when it’s just starting up the power is fantastic. Of course, there was some great whistle action at Old Town at the beginning of two separate shoves. Very stirring.
Given that there was no advance mention in the local media that I was aware of, there were still a lot of people out to watch the show.
Sounds like you San Diego guys got the sun and the crowds.
There were maybe ten of us at Olympic Bridge, and maybe another ten at Santa Ana. A friend at Anaheim said he counted six.
But the few of us that were there did see that same show… wow is she something to hear and watch. Brings back memories for me of seeing Nickel Plate #759 come through New Jersey on excursions when I was a kid. Nothing quite like seeing a mainline steam engine strut her stuff. It’s intoxicating.