Bill Compton and I decided to chase Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 4014 as it came into Southern California and chose the day it ran from Yermo to West Colton. Chris Parker decided to join us so Bill reserved the Chris's a motel room in Barstow and one for him. Chris would take Metrolink 312 from Los Angeles Union Station to the Rancho Cucamonga station and I came up with a plan of five excellent photo locations all in hopefully fantastic morning-to-mid- afternoon lighting.
I worked the morning before the trip then Bill and his daughter Maryann picked me up and we drove to his home in Huntington Beach to drop off Maryann. We drove Interstate 405 to Interstate 605, which we took to Interstate 10, exiting at Milliken Avenue where Chris Parker was waiting for us. We then drove Interstate 15 to Devore, then Cajon Boulevard and California 138 to Summit Valley Road and the Frost flyover to check to see if we could still take pictures there. After that, we drove to Barstow and checked into Motel 6 where I watched "NCIS" while Bill and Chris had dinner then called it an early night.
10/9/2019 We arose and drove to the Barstow station McDonald's where I had hot cakes and sausages then drove out to Daggett and made our way to the Mojave River bridge to set up for pictures.
The photo scene.
Union Pacific 9051 East at Daggett.
Union Pacific 4014 West crossing the Mojave River. We drove back a different way to a paved road, going back through Daggett to Interstate 40.
Three pacing shots by Nebo as overtook the train. We drove through Hodge and went to the grade crossing at Indian Trail Road.
Union Pacific 8543 West.
BNSF 7720 East.
BNSF 7243 West.
Union Pacific 4014 West.
Three pacing pictures north of Oro Grande. We overtook the train again as it stopped in Victorville then made our way through Victorville to the overlook of the Frost flyover.
BNSF 5459 West with KCS ES44AC 4872 in its consist at Frost.
Union Pacific 8020 East.
Union Pacific 4014 West. We then managed to get ahead of the train again, taking Rancho Parkway to Interstate 15 to California 138 and turned onto the road at Canyon Siding and parked. We all walked up the hill to the old mining area and set up.
I spotted Union Pacific 4014 West above the freeway.
Next right below the freeway.
Union Pacific 4014 West at Davis Ranch.
BNSF 5459 West as it came in view.
Next Union Pacific 4014 West came into view.
BNSF 5459 West came first.
Union Pacific 4014 West passed by Mormon Rocks and proceeded east through Canyon siding. Next we drove to Palm Avenue for the final photo location of the trip.
A photo line at our last location.
Union Pacific 4014 West came by Palm Avenue and headed to West Colton Yard. We dropped Chris off at the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink station before Bill drove me home to Santa Ana. This ends our coverage of Union Pacific 4014 West for this day.
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