We had just crossed Deer Creek heading to Latrobe.
The train headed through this rock cut.
We then took the next curve on this railroad.
Going through the forest as we climbe higher; our grade has been 1.2 percent for most of the trip.
There is another curve.
We took this curve and went by this large tree.
Latrobe Road was to our east.
We would pass another large tree.
Running between the trees.
Heading down another section of straight track.
These culverts were replaced so if a bicycle trail was ever built along the railroad, it could be. A little ballast is also needed here.
Another large oak tree is off to our right.
The area has cut trees that have fallen onto the rails over the years.
Heading through the next cut.
Taking another of the curves on this railroad.
We are passing many oak trees along our route this morning.
Taking another curve. I like the lone tree on the left.
Heading to the next curve and cut.
That tree to the left has a severe lean to it.
Taking a slight curve.
Through the cut and into the curve we go!
Another curve and between the trees we went.
Another curve yields many more trees.
Up the straight track we went.
A slight curve to the left.
Many pine cones were along the tracks at this location.
Another slight curve.
Another slight curve and a little cut.
Up the track we rolled.
A ranch house as we neared Latrobe.
The whistle post for Latrobe Road.
Heading to Latrobe Road.
The van would take any passengers who could not walk down the hill at Latrobe.
We had reached Latrobe.
Our conductor flagged us across Latrobe Road.
One more curve to take before we arrived in Latrobe.
Our stopping point would be by that sign.
Future railroad for me to ride someday? Here we detrained.
Everyone was helped down the hill and we would walk to the pancake breakfast.
On the way there we passed this 100 year old tractor.
All the passengers then enjoyed a pancake breakfast, after which I walked back to where the train was parked.
The view from my walk in Latrobe.
My train waiting for the crew to return. They did and we boarded the train before the rain really started.
Views on the return trip all the way back in the rain.
Soon we had returned to the Hampton Station which ended our ride. It had been a great trip over the new rails for me on the Placerville & Sacramento Valley. We thanked our crew and departed Folsom.
I decided to avoid Sacramento on the way home so took Placerville Road to Whiterock Road west to Grant Line Road, that took us to California Highway 99 which saved us about 40 miles. I called Winston Walker for a weather report and he said we had rain until Merced. We stopped in Turlock for some petrol at $2.49 then escaped the storm at Merced. Chris started checking the computer for traffic and Interstate 5 over the Grapevine was nothing but red.
We stopped in Madera for an early dinner before heading to Bakersfield where we stopped at Taco Bell for a break. Chris had checked the route via Mojave and it was all green, so instead of sitting in traffic for two hours, we went over to Mojave on California Highway 58 to California Highway 14, stopping at Mojave for a coffee for Chris and he bought us Ding Dongs to enjoy. We cruised down California Highway 14, back to Interstate 5 to LAUPT where I dropped Chris Parker off before I drove home to Santa Ana, ending another great trip.
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