Some Stormy So Cal Shots for Christmas

Here are three stormy shots to share in honor of our “Pineapple Express” Christmas season here in LA.

First is of the BNSF City of Hope Train head wb at San Dimas (the engine is on the back and being pulled).

http://freericks.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2346876

Second is of the same train, but this time deadheading west at Azusa and in a very heavy downpour.

http://freericks.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2346874

Third is a couple days later, the Saugus Local hitting CP Saugus at track speed in a very short lived and slightly filtered sucker hole.

http://freericks.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2346873

It was a rainbow weather kind of day, but there was no angle to get a rainbow and train in the same shot anywhere.

Thanks for looking and corrections are welcome.

Charles Freericks

Like the shots. Yes, it was a bit wet out here the past week or so. Amtrak seems to be making it all the way to San Diego again tonight pretty much to schedule, so I guess they got the ballast dumped and tamped out by Torrey Pines and elsewhere.

Can’t see the name Azusa without thinking of that old Jan and Dean song, though…one of those things that never leaves the brain, unlike a lot of other thoughts.

Thanks, Chuck…

Every time I go to Azusa, I hear Mel Blanc in my head, on the Jack Benny Show… “Now leaving for Anaheim, Azusa, and Cucamunga on track five…” and then later, “Doesn’t anyone want to go to Anaheim, Azusa or Cucamunga?”

I’ll never get Cuc-----------------amonga out of my head either.

Gads, I had forgotten the Mel Blanc bit you mention until you mentioned it. The one that stuck with me was see, sue, sign, etc., with the sombrero.

Now I am going to have “Hearts and Flowers” running through my head today.

Hey Hey ! ! What are those first two photos, passenger trains? is that what they look like now? try getting on a passenger train in Boise Idaho, or Wyoming or Freeport Maine or, or, or, or, . . . . . … 99% of the rest of North America. How fortunate you are.

I noticed the use of the phrase “sucker hole” on the third picture. Any chance that you are in aviation? [ap]

No, and have to come clean that in using it, I am just mimicking that which I have heard other railfans call the small little space in the clouds where the sun can suddenly come through in stormy weather.

Being a long time resident of San Dimas I really like the first pic. Any info on the way car on the Saugus train?

I don’t kow anythkng more about it sorry. It is kept in Van Nuys (Gemco Yard), which while not accessible to railfans, is still open enough that you see a lot of trespassers walking through there all the time. My guess is it’s been tagged so badly due to its time out in the open at Gemco in the middle of the night.