4/16/2009 After working a full day at Jefferson Elementary School, I came home and packed for this trip to Sacramento. Most importantly, I would visit my brother Bruce on Friday night and secondly, I would chase Union Pacific 4-8-4 844 over Donner Pass. My mother drove me to John Wayne Airport and after a quick trip through the security line, I arrived at Gate 1 to wait for my flight to Sacramento. It arrived late and we were delayed in our departure by fifteen minutes. I decided to pass the flight time by taking a few pictures from the plane as Southwest Airlines took me north to Sacramento International Airport.
Views of the interesting sunset and early evening sky. It was a quick flight and we landed only minutes late. Out at the curb, I caught the rental car shuttle and was soon at the Dollar Rental Car counter where I obtained a PT Cruiser then drove east on Interstate 80 to Auburn and checked into Motel 6 for the night.
4/17/2009 I was up before 6:00 AM, checked out and visited MacDonald's for hot cakes and sausage for my breakfast then visited an AM/PM for some supplies before I drove east over Donner Pass on a clear sunny morning. I passed through Truckee and soon arrived at Floriston. After a few minutes, I found my first photo location on a cold morning.
The first photo location at Floriston. Soon my friend Ryan Wilkinson and his young sons joined me and we heard on his scanner that we had a Union Pacific grain train, our special train, Amtrak and then a "Z" train heading west this morning. It was not long until I heard the sound of diesels working and the grain train came into view.
The lead engines of the Union Pacific grain train.
Mid-train helpers.
The rear helper. Now we waited for Union Pacific 844 west to pass through Floriston and soon I saw smoke coming up the canyon then the headlight of Union Pacific 844 pulling its train.
Union Pacific 844 passing through Floriston.
Union Pacific 4-8-4 844 built by American Locomotive Company in 1944.
Union Pacific SD70MAC 1996 in its Southern Pacific Heritage paint scheme.
Union Pacific SD70MAC 1983 in its Western Pacific Heritage paint scheme. The consist of this train was Union Pacific 4-8-4 844, water car, Union Pacific SD70MAC 1996, Union Pacific SD70MAC 1983, Union Pacific express box car 9336, Union Pacific water car 809 "Jim Adams", Union Pacific tool car 6334 "Art Lockman", Union Pacific power car 209 "Howard Fogg" , Union Pacific baggage-recreation car 5714 "Pony Express", Union Pacific concession car 5818 "Sherman Hill", Union Pacific coach 5480 "Sunshine Special", Union Pacific power car 208, Union Pacific deluxe sleeper 413 "Lake Bluff", Union Pacific deluxe sleeper 412 "Lake Forest", Union Pacific crew sleeper 314 "Columbia River", Union Pacific dome-lounge 9005 "Walter Dean", Union Pacific diner-lounge 5011 "City of Denver" and Union Pacific business car 103 "Cheyenne".
I returned to the car and drove west after the train, setting up at Hirschdale Road near Boca for my next set of pictures.
Union Pacific 844 and train passing through Boca. Back onto Interstate 80, at the California Agricultural Checkpoint, two cars ahead told the officer that we were all chasing the steam train and he waved everyone else through. From here, I took the Central Truckee exit and parked by the tracks then walked up and way from them and found Drew Jacksich with his son and friend. A Union Pacific truck blocked our view so walked back up the tracks and set up there. Drew's son and his friend left for another photo location and soon we heard that distinctive steam whistle.
This certainly is a great-looking train that Union Pacific was running in California today. Back in the car, I drove over the summit of Donner Pass and down to Soda Springs then crossed the tracks parking off Soda Springs Road. I first set up with snow in the foreground but when two photographers went in front of our photo line, I walked further east. We all thought that Union Pacific 844 would wait at Norden for Amtrak, but they departed early and finally we heard that fantastic whistle of Union Pacific 4-8-4 844. Soon the train came into view once more.
Another set of great pictures with those snowy mountains in the background. Back in the car again, my next stop would be at Yuba Gap, where I walked around the corner then up a snow bank to a dry spot below a rock so I could overlook the train coming out of the tunnel.
Amtrak 5, the California Zephyr, passing through Yuba Gap. I learned later that it passed the steam train at Shed 10 and would follow him west down the west slope of Donner Pass.
A few minutes later, Union Pacific 844 and train came into my view for this unique picture. I hiked back to my car and drove west, seeing the train pass through Emigrant Gap just before I arrived. I drove first to Alta but did not like the lighting so went to another grade crossing and set up there.
First the westbound California Zephyr passed through.
Later Union Pacific 844 and train passed through Dutch Flat and I was happy with my photo efforts. I ended my chase and drove back to the Sacramento Airport and filled the car as I had used half a tank going east but only a quarter west, which just proves how long the Donner Pass grade is going east. I returned the car to Dollar then took the shuttle bus back to Terminal 1 where I waited for Yolo Bus 43A, which took me to 8th and J Street in Sacramento. I walked over to K Street and at the Light Rail station, called my brother Bruce when I saw the train for Meadowview approaching.
The Meadowview train arrived and I boarded the trolley then twenty minutes later, I stepped off and Bruce was waiting. We drove to his house and I started my visit with him and his family.
4/18/2009 The next morning, Bruce drove me to Lodi where I would board the Thruway Bus to Stockton.
The Lodi Arch.
The former Southern Pacific Lodi station built in 1907.
The fountain in front of the station. I said my goodbyes to Bruce as the Thruway Bus arrived on time and it was a quick twenty-minute trip to the Stockton Amtrak station where I waited for San Joaquin Train 714.
An eastbound BNSF stack train passed through the station.
San Joaquin 714 arrived and I boarded a Pacific Surfliner-style cab car. My trip started as I watched Ronnie James' Dio "Holy Diver Live" and I enjoyed that until almost Fresno, where I put on Guns & Roses "Live to Tokyo", followed by a little of my Queensryche DVD which took me to Wasco. From there I labelled my slides from my last trip on the way to Bakersfield, then I once on the Thruway Bus, continued labelling as the bus took me over the Tejon Pass and down the south side where I finished at Saugus.
I enjoyed the rest of the trip to Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal where I waited for Pacific Surfliner 590. It turned out that this was the last southbound through train tonight due to grade crossing work in San Juan Capistrano. The train made a quick trip south to Santa Ana, where my mother was waiting to take me home. It had been another fantastic adventure and a great Amtrak trip home.
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