So my husband gave me and our daughter an epic Christmas present - tickets on Amtrak's Coast Starlight train from Portland, Oregon down to Los Angeles. Here's what to expect if you want to try it, in my latest for the Perceptive Travel Blog:
Some #railfan YouTuber ought to make a video essay on Zierke’s Shasta Route. Make a 5 hour long video and get to the nitty gritty details. When’s the last time you heard a YouTuber say “superelevation” or “previous FRA regulations”?
The sleekest, sexiest train ever! Wandering through the historic Pioneer Zephyr is a highlight of any visit to MSI Chicago. The futuristic design is only part of what you'll see . . .
Ha, it was better to be on the Southwest Chief this morning than on the I-40, Amtrak sailed on through Flagstaff without any issues, while truckers are stuck on the I-40 still. #AZwx#Arizona#Amtrak
Omg omg the construction fences have been removed!
Combine that with the test trains, this means the train will be done soon? I'm so excited, I love the train 🚂😍
The sleekest, sexiest train ever! Wandering through the historic Pioneer Zephyr is a highlight of any visit to MSI Chicago. The futuristic design is only part of what you'll see . . .
Have been extremely annoyed with #YouTube and their anti-ad block efforts. 🤬 I really hate getting ads shoved down my throat.
Replaced existing ad blockers with uBlock Origin. They can by-pass the anti-ad block until YouTube makes a change. uBlock counters. I manual update. YouTube makes a change. Repeat...
So it's been a game of whack-a-mole against YouTube. Kudos to #uBlock volunteers for doing the good fight. 👍
Been trying out #FreeTube, an ad free private (anti-data mining) YouTube client. So far OK. No ads, of course. You can't comment or participate in the chat. That's OK. Have set up multiple profiles to organize the channel I watch. Like a #Geology profile, a general profile, a #Railfan profile, etc.
My only real negative on FreeTube is that you can't scroll backward on live streams, like the ones from TinyKittens HQ. 🙁 But no ads, so it's OK.
I found this photo digging through my old photography stuff and thought I'd share! Here we see NSSR's 193 in DMIR livery as it returns from its excursion from Two Harbors(?)...
Today's feature is another weird entry in railroad history, the Burlington Northern Boxhopper, or bopper! BN created these prototype cars in order to maximize the use of their rolling stock fleet. Normally, cars are sent out loaded, and returned empty. The aim of these was they could handle boxcar freight one way, and hopper...
What you see here is one of three DD35 sample units that the espee ordered. Espee didn't order any others so I imagine these beasts were a rare sight in espee livery. These B-units (no control cab) came first, and the DD35A's were made later at UP's request. Like the A's none of these B units survived the scrapper's torch
The DDA35 is a cab unit version of the DD35, built exclusively for the Union Pacific railroad. Only fifteen of these beasts were built between May and July of 1965, numbered 70 (pictured) through 84. Powered by twin 567D prime movers, these locomotives were good for 5000 horsepower each. Unfortunately, these locomotives suffered...
I can't say for certain, as I'm terrible at identifying locomotives! But I'm pretty sure this is an MLW RS-10. Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) was a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company (Alco), and produced locomotives primarily for the Canadian market. MLW operated from 1883 to 1985, before being sold to Bombadier...
The DT-6-6-2000 was Baldwin's offering for a diesel electric transfer switcher, initially powered by dual 606SC prime movers. This locomotive was mostly used by the EJ&E with them purchasing 27 of the 46 total built. These locomotives endured various rebuilds throughout their life with most being repowered with 567C prime...
Hi Everyone! Sorry for not contributing anything this week, my life has been a little hectic so I haven't been able to post very much. BUT that's changing soon! I've just received some fresh slides in the mail and all I have to do is scan them in! So keep your eyes peeled, you'll be seeing some cool stuff very soon....
WDTX 1401 leads #Amtrak train 518 northbound near Sumner, WA in April 2023. This Siemens SC-44 Charger locomotive wears the Washington State DOT logo while assigned to Amtrak Cascades service in the Pacific Northwest. This and more #trains in a new video coming soon on #tilvids!
Sidetracked!
I found this photo digging through my old photography stuff and thought I'd share! Here we see NSSR's 193 in DMIR livery as it returns from its excursion from Two Harbors(?)...
Burlington Northern Combination Boxcars/Hoppers, Sept. 19 1992, M. J. Budo Photo
Today's feature is another weird entry in railroad history, the Burlington Northern Boxhopper, or bopper! BN created these prototype cars in order to maximize the use of their rolling stock fleet. Normally, cars are sent out loaded, and returned empty. The aim of these was they could handle boxcar freight one way, and hopper...
Follow-up to the DDA35 post, the DD35
What you see here is one of three DD35 sample units that the espee ordered. Espee didn't order any others so I imagine these beasts were a rare sight in espee livery. These B-units (no control cab) came first, and the DD35A's were made later at UP's request. Like the A's none of these B units survived the scrapper's torch
Something special for 60 subscribers! A hulking monstrosity of Union Pacific Power, the DDA35
The DDA35 is a cab unit version of the DD35, built exclusively for the Union Pacific railroad. Only fifteen of these beasts were built between May and July of 1965, numbered 70 (pictured) through 84. Powered by twin 567D prime movers, these locomotives were good for 5000 horsepower each. Unfortunately, these locomotives suffered...
CP Rail 8558, an MLW RS-10 (?) gets turned around on a chilly morning, 1966.
I can't say for certain, as I'm terrible at identifying locomotives! But I'm pretty sure this is an MLW RS-10. Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) was a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company (Alco), and produced locomotives primarily for the Canadian market. MLW operated from 1883 to 1985, before being sold to Bombadier...
EJ&E 704 (BLW DT-6-6-2000) sits alongside SD9 602 on an unknown evening, 1966
The DT-6-6-2000 was Baldwin's offering for a diesel electric transfer switcher, initially powered by dual 606SC prime movers. This locomotive was mostly used by the EJ&E with them purchasing 27 of the 46 total built. These locomotives endured various rebuilds throughout their life with most being repowered with 567C prime...
More photos coming soon! (i.imgur.com)
Hi Everyone! Sorry for not contributing anything this week, my life has been a little hectic so I haven't been able to post very much. BUT that's changing soon! I've just received some fresh slides in the mail and all I have to do is scan them in! So keep your eyes peeled, you'll be seeing some cool stuff very soon....
Holy cow, we're at 35 subscribers! To celebrate, have a friendly Rock Island engineer!