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The Coldest Winterail Ever! 3/10-12/2006

It was time for another Winterail and this year Chris Parker would be joining me for his first experience at this fantastic event. He decided he would drive and to make it easier for him, since he lives Torrance, I would meet him that Friday morning in Burbank via Metrolink from Santa Ana. A major winter storm was bearing down onto Southern California so we had to keep an eye on the weather until departure time. The storm was finally scheduled to arrive Friday night and thus our plan for an early Friday morning was on.

I was up early at 3:25 AM and prepared for the trip north then drove to the station and purchased my Metrolink ticket to Burbank. Metrolink 681 arrived on time and I boarded the lower level of cab car 603. The train rolled through the pre-dawn darkness to Orange, Anaheim, Fullerton and Norwalk, arriving at Los Angeles Union Station at 5:22 AM on Track 8, with my soon-to-arrive Metrolink 901 on Track 6. I enjoyed the very cool morning air before my train pulled in and we departed at 5:48 AM en route to Glendale and Burbank, which was the last stop for this train.

Train 901 before I spotted Chris across the parking lot. He had rented a Ford Crown Victoria, which is the same type of car that many police departments use. We drove north on Interstate 5 and listened to CDs that I brought. As we neared Gorman, we encountered snow flurries and were very happy to be just going through. Over the Summit and as far as Fort Tejon, the flurries continued then we dropped down the grade to Grapevine, where we paused to get some snacks before continuing north on Interstate 5 to California Highway 43, which we took north to Shafter.

The Santa Fe Shafter station built in 1917 and closed in 1978.

A wig-wag crossing signal. We next drove to Wasco.

Savage Rail GP7 8611, ex. Santa Fe 2156, nee Santa Fe 2797 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1952. We had a green signal as we drove towards Corcoran where we visited the station where some historical pictures are on display. On the way out of town we found our first train in the siding.

BNSF 4548 East.

Stopping was BNSF 4631 West at Corcoran.

BNSF ES44DC 7639, built by General Electric in 2005. Next we drove to the south side of Hanford hoping to photograph all three locomotives.

At Nutrena Fees, only Cargill GP7 2014, ex. Santa Fe 2014, nee Santa Fe 2835 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1952, otherwise known as "Mighty Cow" was in a spot where we could get a picture. The sky turned black and it poured as we resumed our journey north to Burris Park to photograph Southern Pacific 0-6-0 1215, which we learned had been moved some years before we arrived.

Here is Southern Pacific 1215 now on display at Portola, which I had photographed during the Trains Unlimited Tours Domes to the Feather River Railroad Days in 2005. We then drove into Kingsburg.

The Southern Pacific Kingsburg station, built in 1903, under restoration. We drove to Selma for petrol and Carl's Jr. for lunch.

The Southern Pacific Selma station in Pioneer Park built in 1888. Then it was back onto California Highway 99 into Fresno.

In Roeding Park was freshly-painted Southern Pacific 0-6-0 1238 built by Baldwin in 1918. We continued north to Avenue 20 where we exited to follow the BNSF along Santa Fe Road towards Le Grand.

At Le Grand we found the former Santa Fe station built in 1896. From there it was on into Merced, passing through after another downpour and we took J7 north along the BNSF. North of Denair, we found our first northbound BNSF in the siding waiting for an eastbound.

BNSF 4631 West.

About fifteen minutes later, BNSF 4565 East passed by our location. Back in the car, we drove on to Empire.

Here we found BNSF 4762 West.

The Modesto, Empire and Traction Railroad switching. From here we drove to the Amtrak station in Modesto.

Amtrak San Joaquin 713 arrived at Modesto. Ken Ruben was aboard and we tried to get him off by having the conductor announce his name and that his party was meeting him here to take him to Stockton. However, he did not show and later we learned Ken had slept through the announcement. We drove through Riverbank and a few miles north we saw a headlight.

BNSF 4781 East came flying around a corner. Back in the car, we made our way west out of Escalon and into another heavy rain shower then continued to California Highway 99 north to Waterloo Road in Stockton, where we drove to the Best Western. At check-in, we found Ken and after we received our room, walked over to KFC for dinner then later, the three of us went over to the Scottish Rite Masonic Center.

This year, the party was held at the same place as Winterail, which made it easier. I had received an e-mail informing me that if the programs ran long, the last two slide presentations, including mine, might not be shown. We all met outside and after paying my fare, renewed many old friendships.

The show started at 6:00 PM with Drew Jacksich showing "Southern Pacific Railroading on Donner Pass". Richard Barnes next gave us a tour during his "Railfanning the Pacific Northwest". Robert Scott then had an excellent presentation called "Rails in the Heartland". Marty Peterson shared his program "Railroading on the Central Oregon and Pacific", which was followed by a fantastic program by Tom Moungovan entitled "Steam on the Modoc". A friend of mine, Aaron Hockley, then presented the "North Slope of Hood".

The editor of Railfan and Road Magazine, Steve Barry, showed "Steve's Steamy Shorts", a great collection of recent steam events. Ken Storey provided us with "Great Railfan Trips 2005" then a very good friend of mine, Barry Christensen, showed "Gateways to the South". Nate Muhlethaler gave us "Central Mexican Railroads", Marc Balkin showed a future Mark 1 Video program called "West Coast Railroading in the 1950's on Video". With that they were out of time so Keith Ardinger's "Short Lines of the Northwest", my Santa Fe/BNSF Needles Subdivision" and Mike Pechner's show on "4449, The Early Years" were not shown, much to the disappointment of many in the audience. I really wanted to see Mike's show. We returned to the Best Western and had a good laugh when a CD became stuck for several seconds and then a radio show with great jokes. Back at the hotel, we all had a good night's sleep.

3/11/2006 Chris and I arose, walked across the street to Perkos for breakfast and after that great meal, drove to the Stockton Terminal and Eastern shops for some pictures of old Alcos.

Tidewater Southern S-2 745:2, nee Western Pacific 552 built by American Locomotive Company in 1943.

Group shots of Stockton, Terminal and Eastern S-1s.

Stockton, Terminal and Eastern S-1 505, nee Western Pacific 505 built by American Locomotive Company in 1942.

Central California Traction GP18 1790, nee Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific 1343 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1960 at the old engine house. Once we had our fill, we returned to the Best Western to pick up Ken to drive to Winterail 2006.

We arrived at Winterail at 9:00 AM but had to return to the hotel after dropping Ken off as I had forgotten my Photo Contest picture. Soon I was at the swap meet with everyone else at this great event.

You can tell it was a very busy affair. I purchased several public railroad timetables as I enjoy seeing all the routes I could have ridden had I been born at an earlier time. Ken called Let's Talk Trains, that Internet Radio Show and had Vic Neves, the Producer of Winterail, give a report on this year's event. Chris was off enjoying the swap meet so I held a place in line to enter the main hall for the Winterail programs.

At 11:30 AM, the doors opened and I chose three seats halfway up. Chris found me and later we showed Ken where we were sitting.

The video projection area as all shows this year were digital for the first time.

This year's show started at noon with the pre-show announcements. The first program was "Wheat Country" by Bob Clarke, Ruth Hills and Mark Perry. Following a ten minute break, Tim Tonge provided us with "Roll on Santa Fe, Abo Canyon", then "Last Years of the Pickering" by Tom Moungovan. "Santa Fe Kite Shaped Route" by Glen Icanberry gave an interesting view of Southern California and "Suburban Symphony" by George Hiotis showed a stunning glimpse of daily New Jersey Transit commuter train operations.

Following that was "Growing up in the Bay Area's Southern Pacific during the 50's" by John Harder then a preview of a future PBS program called "Dome Car Magic" by Richard Luckin. Next was the Three Favorite Slides and as always, a few good laughs were had by all in attendance. Once that was over, we broke for dinner and the three of us had made a reservation at the Black Angus and enjoyed a fine dinner.

I did not place in the photo contest but this was the picture I submitted. After the winners were announced, the Winterail Hall of Fame Award was presented to Dick Dorn. Next, the National Railway Historical Society Special Achievement Award was given to Richard and Shirley Steinheimer. The programs then continued with "Warren McGee'ss Northern Pacific" and the final long program was by Jeff Bass who provided us with the "Tones, Textures, Colors, Faces. Railroading". For the first time, "The Shorts" were at the end of the programs, which consisted of "11th Hour" by Mike Johannessen, "3751" by Steve Crise, "While you Lay sleeping" by Kit Courter and "Cold Enough to Snow" by Mike Danneman. With that last short program, Winterail 2006 came to an end and the three of us returned to the Best Western for the night.

We arose at 6:15 AM and loaded the car then Ken found us and I returned the keys to the office before we drove south. I did not want Ken to wait in Stockton, so suggested we drive him to Merced, which we did.

South of Merced during a light rain shower, we found Union Pacific 3878 West.

Further south was Union Pacific 5692 West. Continuing on the road south of Madera, we saw the first "Interstate 5 Closed Over Tejon Pass" sign and both wondered how California 58 over Tehachapi Pass was. We stopped for petrol just north of Fresno and acquired the phone number for road conditions. California Highway 58 was closed from 12 miles east of Bakersfield to Mojave. If it and Interstate 5 stayed closed all day, we would have to go home via Santa Maria, something both of us really did not want to do. We continued south and the next road condition sign was off but just south of Selma, the next sign was on.

Here is the sign just south of Traver.

Almost to Bakersfield, we stopped for a pair of pictures of the snowy mountains ahead then called the road conditions line again and the California Highway Patrol was now escorting cars on Calfornia Highway 58, but Interstate 5 was still closed. We drove into Bakersfield to look for another Southern Pacific steam engine.

We parked in front of the Kern County Museum.

Southern Pacific 4-8-0 2914, nee Southern Pacific 2024, built by Schenectady Locomotive Works in 1898. The re-numbering occurred when it was converted from coal to oil. It worked on the San Joaquin Division until it was retired in 1955, hauling freight as well as working as a helper over the Tehachapi Mountains, served on the McKittrick, Sunset and Oil City Branches of the SP and as a switcher in the SP's East Bakersfield yard. The Southern Pacific donated 2914 to Kern County in 1955.

Amtrak coach 7515 1972, nee Southern Pacific coach 2439 built by Pullman-Standard in 1939. The car was put in service on the Morning Daylight route between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 1940. Amtrak used it for passenger service until 1976. The Sandstone Brick Company used the car as a restaurant for many years prior to the Kern County Superintendent of Schools acquiring it in 1999. The Superintendent of Schools donated it to the museum in 2008.

When made our way east towards the Tehachapi Mountains then at Kern Junction, we were stopped by a westbound BNSF freight. On the move again after passing the Union Pacific Yard, we saw a headlight out of the east.

BNSF 4712 West arriving at Bakersfield. We continued east on the Edison Highway and past Sand Cut. As we descended towards Bena, we spotted an eastbound train ahead of us and knowing we could get to Tunnel 2 well before him, we took our time and arrived there before the train.

Union Pacific 5742 East climbed up and through Tunnel 2. We decided to go to the loop but spotted a westbound descending through Bealville so returned to Tunnel 2.

BNSF 5480 West exiting Tunnel 2 and descending down the grade. We tried again to get to the loop, but this time, spotted a westbound sitting at Cliff so drove to Bealville and I led Chris to near Tunnel 3.

BNSF 4678 West was slowed by a red-over-red signal that finally turned to red-over-yellow.

The power for our train at Tunnel 3. We drove up California Highway 58, spotting our eastbound Union Pacific again just before we pulled off at Keene. As we drove up the road towards the loop, we encountered a snowstorm so Chris parked near the Loop Monument and I led the way on a path on the hill that overlooks the loop as the snow continued to fall.

Union Pacific 5742 East made its way around the Tehachapi Loop. We decided to travel east and once we returned to California Highway CA 58 and reached Cable, we caught up to our Union Pacific freight again. We made our way to the highway bridge coming into Tehachapi.

One last view of Union Pacific 5742 East. Chris knew of a good restaurant in town so we went there for lunch.

We ate at the Apple Shed, where I had a tri-tip sandwich.

After lunch, the Tehachapi station before we stopped at Trains, Inc. Hobby Shop where I bought the 2006 Tourist Train Guide. On the road again, we took California Highway 58 east to Mojave and south of there, took Sierra Highway through Rosamond, Lancaster, Palmdale then through Soledad Canyon.

Here we saw the Vasquez Rocks. At the west end of the canyon, we drove California 14 in a rainshower to Interstate 5, which we took back to Santa Ana. We dropped my luggage at the house before Chris drove me to the Santa Ana station where I picked up my car, ending an excellent and truly unique Winterail weekend.

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