I walked back over to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum where I found Bill and still nothing was happening.
Our Feather River Express train with the Amtrak locomotive looking rather out of place. After twenty minutes we heard the Western Pacific FP7A's horn and saw smoke so we set up for our first pictures.
From around the ballooon track, the Western Pacific F unit set came and coupled onto the four California Zephyr cars that were owned by the museum.
Western Pacific FP7A 805A. I walked over to the Malfunction Junction sign to set up for the next pictures.
While I waited, I talked with Norm Holmes of the museum and captured this eastbound Union Pacific train coming into Portola.
The Western Pacific engines brought out the California Zephyr cars and pulled down to clear the switch so that our Amtrak locomotivee could use that siding during our event.
The engines pulled all the way into the trees on the balloon track. After this picture I walked down the balloon track then climbed the hill to wait for the Ghost of the California Zephyr to pass.
After the Amtrak locoomotive was tucked away, the Western Pacific engines then reversed their train and combined it with ours, creating a seven-car Ghost of the California Zephyr which then proceeded to the balloon track.
Western Pacific FP7A 805A.
Western Pacific F9B 925-C.
Western Pacific F7A 917-D.
Chicago Burlington & Quincy 4720 "Silver Rifle" built by Budd Company in 1948.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Vista Dome Coach 4717 "Silver Lodge" built by Budd Company in 1948. The original California Zephyr ran over the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad from Chicago to Denver, Colorado; the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad between Denver and Salt Lake City, Utah; and the Western Pacific Railroad from Salt Lake City to Oakland, California. Cars owned by different railroads ran together; cars cycled in and out of the consists for service, repairs and varying passenger loads with the seasons. The first train was christened in San Francisco by Eleanor Parker while California Lieutenant Governor Goodwin Knight, Mayor of San Francisco Elmer Robinson, and WP President Harry A. Mitchell looked on. For the inaugural run in 1949, every female passenger on the train was given a corsage of "silver" and orange orchids that were specially flown in from Hilo, Hawaii. The women who worked as car hostesses on this train were known as "Zephyrettes".
California Zephyr Western Pacific Diner 841 "Silver Plate" built by Budd Company in 1948. This the last intact diner remaining from the California Zephyr (Silver Lady) and an important acquisition for our Zephyr Project.
Amtrak sleeper 2444" Magnolia Grove", ex. Amtrak 2697, nee Southern Pacific 10-6 sleeper 9021 built by Budd Company in 1950.
Amtrak 9452, ex. Burlington Northern 4718, nee Chicago, Burlington and Quincy dome-coach 4718 "Silver Lariat" built by Budd Company in 1948. A large dining/lounge area seats 42 passengers (36 at tables) and is equipped with a full ] bar. From this room, passengers can access the Vista Dome above, which provides panoramic views and seating for an additional 24 passengers at tables. A unique feature of this train car is The Pony Express, a restored original mural by Mary Louise Lawser that was commissioned by the Burlington Railroad when the car was built.
Amtrak 10-6 sleeper 2649 1974, ex. Penn Central 4378, nee Pennsylvania Railroad 10-6 sleeper 8449 "Silver Rapids" built by Budd Company in 1948 and was the one 10/6 sleeper built for the Pennsylvania for through-car service to New York City. It served as a transcontinental sleeper car that provided coast-to-coast transportation for almost 20 years. The car was removed from the California Zephyr service in the 1960's when most transcontinental sleepers were discontinued, and changed ownership from the Pennsylvania Railroad to Amtrak, which retired it in 1983 and was sold to David Goodheart then acquired by Bert Hermey and Al Bishop, d.b.a. California Zephyr Railcar Charters, as PPCX 800481.
After extensive restoration work that included interior and mechanical upgrades, "Silver Rapids" is now one of the most versatile sleeper cars in service. The car features eight roomettes that seat two comfortably, and six double bedrooms that open up to form three suites that seat four comfortably.
Amtrak dome-observation 9252 "Silver Solarium", ex. Burlington Northern 377, nee Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 377 built by Budd Company in 1948.
Now we waited for our Ghost Train to pass.
What a great photo runby of the Ghost of the California Zephyr. The train would now reverse.
The Ghost of the California Zephyr reversed past our photo location.
The Amtrak power returned to our respotted trainset.
The museum's California Zephyr cars returning to the track at Malfunction Junction.
The California Zephyr cars were almost back on their track.
Western Pacific F7A 805A.
The Western Pacific locomotives returned around the balloon track to where they began this morning. I walked back to the Pullman House and worked on the story until 4:30 PM when Bill and I walked over to the Jimmy's Roadhouse 70 where I enjoyed a 12 ounce top sirloin steak for dinner then returned to the hotel and continued to work on the stories.
11/1/09 Bill and I checked out of the Pullman House after I had finished Part 1 of this storyand the owner drove us back to the train, where today's trip would be extra special. On November 1, 1909, construction foreman Leonardo di Tomasso drove the Golden Spike on what was known in those days as the Spanish Creek Bridge, which completed the Western Pacific Railroad from Oakland to Salt Lake City. Our train would stop for five minutes at Keddie to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the completion of the Western Pacific Railroad.
At 8:00 AM, with Western Pacific NW2 608 in the consist, we started the first part of our journey out of the Western Pacific Railroad Museum onto the former Western Pacific, now Union Pacific.
The train started moving, passing the cars we used on our Ghost of the California Zephyr train yesterday and proceeded to Malfunction Junction.
Breakfast was French Toast and sausage links.
The train exited the museum grounds and out onto the interchange track with the Union Pacific.
The switcher pulled us back down this track towards the switch onto the mainline, passing Malfunction Junction inside the museum.
I learned that this boxcab had come from a coal mine in Montana.
Kennecott Copper 778 bidding us goodbye.
Our train being pulled out onto the Union Pacific siding.
I will not get hurt, I will not hurt others, I will not allow others to hurt themselves! A Union Pacific Roseville Service Unit safety sign in Portola.
This unique peak overlooking Portola.
The Portola crew change poinn.
The rear of the Pullman House where I stayed the last two nights.
Our train had reached the Union Pacific mainline and then pulled forward so that our switcher could return to the museum.
Western Pacific NW2 608, ex. Stockton, Terminal and Eastern, nee Union Pacific DS 1001, built by Electro-Motive Corporation in 1940 which has the distinction of being the 1000th locomotive produced by the Electro Motive Corporation (later Electro Motive Division of General Motors), as well as being only the second diesel purchased by industry giant Union Pacific.
After fixing a small air leak between "Silver Rapids" and "Silver Solarium", we departed Portola for Oakland.
Crossing the Middle Fork of the Feather River.
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Running along the riverr.
A meadow along our route.
The Middle Fork of the Feather River.
We crossed the river a second time.
The river between crossings.
Our third and final crossing.
The river was rather rocky in this area.
Our train on another beautiful morning.
Entering Tunnel 36 at Milepost 316.0 of the Canyon Subdivision of the Feather River Division.
The Middle Fork of the Feather River.
Rounding a curve.
Crossing the Clio Viaduct.
Our passage of the Clio Viaduct.
Blairsden at Milepost 311.
Views along the river.
Rounding another curve.
The Middle Fork of the Feather River.
There are plenty of curves on the Canyon Subidivision.
We followed the river for quite a way on our westbound journey. I returned to my table right after we exited the Spring Garden Tunnel and started working on the third part of this story. It was then announced that we would make the five minute stop at the Keddie Wye and champagne would be passed out.I was given a Coca-Cola so I could join in the Anniversary of the Completion of the Western Pacific one hundred years ago today.
Our train had reached the yard at Keddie.
This green signal allowed us to go out onto the Keddie Wye.
The Keddie station.
The train made its way out onto the Keddie Wye.
Slowly our engineer moved the train to the stop just short of where the Golden Spike was driven.
We had now reached that spot where 100 years ago today, the Golden Spike was driven, completing the Western Pacific Railroad as a complete route from Oakland to Salt Lake City.
Spanish Creek far below.
Looking west towards the tunnel and the west end of the Keddie Wye.
Looking to the east where a large group of railfans were gathered, including Chris Parker.
The leg of the wye that was completed when the Inside Gateway was completed in 1931.
Looking west towards the west end of the wye.
Railfans along Highway 70.
Spanish Creek. After a toast and five minutes, we continued our trip west.
Views going down the Feather River Canyon as I worked.
I finished the third part of the story and lunch was called, which was chili, but since I do not eat chili, I went back to the "Silver Solarium" and had the car to myself while its passengers ate lunch so decided to ride up in the dome and enjoy the Feather River Canyon.
An interesting dome view.
Rock Creek Bridge.
The Pulga Twin Bridges.
The twin bridge from the rear of the "Silver Solarium" where I rode until we entered Tunnel 9.
Crossing the North Fork bridge.
Next we entered Tunnel 9 at Milepost 236.3 and left the Feather River Canyon behind. I rode the dome all the away to Oroville before my table was free in the "Silver Lariat" and I started to write today's story.
At Stockton, we went off the former Southern Pacific and took the new connection over to the former Western Pacific tracks.
Our train taking the connection to the former Western Pacific.
The Altamont Commuter Express shops at the former Western Pacific Stockton Shops. I caught up with the story as we crossed the Greenville Trestle and I started my dinner of boneless barbeque short ribs which lasted through Niles Canyon and almost to Fremont.
Passengers enjoying their dinner aboard the "Silver Lariat". The entire onboard staff was excellent and always cheerful; the train cars were wonderful to ride aboard and the entire trip had been a most wonderful experience. The railroad was very good to us and the Western Pacific Railroad Museum went far above their call of duty to make this trip excellent. A special thank you to all who planned it and made it such a success.
The train dropped off our Fremont passengers and continued to Oakland. At the junction with the Niles Line, we came to a red signal and sat, learning that someone had tried to steal railroad ties from the track the train runs on and thus we were stopped for twenty minutes until it was safe for us to pass. In my 1,188,000 rail miles, I had never had that happen before. Well, as I always say, "Every trip is an adventure!".
Our special train arrived back in Oakland at 5:53 PM and I detrained a very happy train rider.
Our train at rest at Oakland. I waited and thank God for a late-running Capitol Train 542.
The Trip Home Via Sacramento 11/1/2009I took a seat upstairs in the Surfliner-style café car for my trip to Oakland. I would now relax and let the train take me there as I watched "Western Pacific The Final Years", one of the DVD's that I bought a couple of days ago. It was filmed by Chris Skow, was excellent and lasted all the way to Davis, after which I just relaxed the rest of the way to Sacramento. Once there, I walked over to the Vagabond Inn and checked in for the night then uploaded the three parts of the story I wrote today and received the corrections from my proofreader Winston Walker before calling it a night.
11/2/2009 I checked out of the Vagabond Inn, walked back over to the Amtrak station and boarded San Joaquin 702 for the trip down the valley to Bakersfield. We left on time as I read USA Today and the trip booklet, which I read cover to cover. I then watched the other new DVD "Working the Sperry Car on the Western Pacific" which took me to Merced, followed by "Travelling East with the Daylight" by Joe Harper, which took me south of Corcoran. Music would take me the rest of the way to Bakersfield and from there, it was the Thruway Bus to LAUPT, which arrived at 2:07 PM.
I then took Metrolink 684 home to Santa Ana, where Winston picked me up and drove me home. Thus ends an excellent rail adventure with Trains and Travel which took me on a fantastic trip both ways through the Feather River Canyon.
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