When it was announced the Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751 would be going out to San Bernardino Railroad Days I decided to ride westbound this time in the Pony Express again on Sunday. Bob Riskie had decided to come down from Oregon for this event so he asked Chris Parker and I if we wanted to chase the train eastbound on Saturday. We both agreed and would meet Bob on the platform near the train after 9:00 AM the morning of the trip.
4/16/2011 I got up early and prepared myself for the day. I drove down to the Santa Ana Train Station then walked over to Track 1. The train Surfliner 763 came into Santa Ana early and other than crossing over to Track 2 at CP Maple and doing Anaheim on the wrong track we recrossed back to Track 1 at CP La Palma, it was just another quick trip to LAUPT. A phone call told me where Chris Parker was over on the Track 12 platform who was already at LAUPT. After the Los Angeles River Flyover, I wanted to try to get a picture of the Santa Fe 3751 in the 8th Street Coach Yard so I went downstairs in the Superliner Coach and waited for my chance.
Santa Fe 3751 waiting down at the 8th Street Coach Yard. The train arrived early into LAUPT. I walked over to Track 12 found Chris and we walked down to the end of the platform to wait for a sign of our train coming. A few minutes later I saw smoke moving from over along the Los Angeles River and we then set up for our pictures of the Santa Fe 3751 and train backing into LAUPT.
The rear car was the Tioga Pass.
Amfleet Coach 82727 subbing for the Amber Trail which was cut out of the train last night at midnight.
The SP Lounge Overland Trail.
Burlington Dome Silver Splendor.
Pacific Railroad Society Pullman National Forum.
Amtrak Great Dome 10031 Ocean View.
Canadian Pacific Horse Car Pony Express.
Metrolink 877 for head end power for the train.
Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751.
Three more views of the Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751.
A low headlight view of the Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751.
A cast of characters on the front of the Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751. Chris and I found Bob who was with his friend John and we walked to the other end of the train after we visited with many people on the platform at LAUPT.
Bob and Norm on the rear platform of the Tioga Pass. From here we walked about six blocks to where Bob had parked the rental car. From here we drove over to Mission Road where we got onto the old bridge into the former SP Piggyback Yard and set up for the first set of pictures.
We saw the Coast Starlight backing into LAUPT late this morning as the Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751 came out by Mission Tower crossed the Los Angeles River and started towards us.
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The Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751 put on a great show of steam and sound as it ran below us here. We got back to the car and headed for the Interstate 10 freeway but something caught my eye on the way to that road.
A National Train Day Billboard. Our plan was to pace the train down the 10 Freeway .
The view across the road.
The engine crew of the Santa Fe 3751.
A view of this beautiful engine at track speed.
Two more views of the engine crew of the Santa Fe 3751.
Two views as we left the Santa Fe 3751 in the middle of Interstate 10. We got off at Valley Blvd and headed over to the Metrolink Flyover of the former Southern Pacific Sunset Route.
That was a great runby. I was almost back to the car when I tripped and hit my left ribs, left knee and left index finger hard into the sidewalk. I was in great pain and I called out "help" and Chris Parker helped me get back up and into the car. It hurt to breathe but I didn't feel any out of place on my ribs. I knew I must have a bone bruise and would have to take it easy for a couple of weeks. Once back on Interstate 10 I finally called Lets Talk Trains as we drove out to the Etiwanda Avenue grade crossing to set up for our next set of pictures. There we met more friends. After about thirty minutes a headlight was spotted coming our way.
Santa Fe 3751 put on a great show at Etiwanda Avenue. We headed to Arrow Highway which we took to Beech Ave which we took a right on to Ceres Avenue which we made a left onto and a left on Catawanba Avenue which we took to the end of the road at the Metrolink Tracks. The Santa Fe 3751 had stopped for Metrolink 359.
The Santa Fe 3751 at Catawanba Avenue in Fontana. From here we headed to San Bernardino and parked the rental car in the new parking structure at the Metrolink Station. From here we walked over to the San Bernardino Railroad Days.
The BNSF 6662 was open up for tours.
The BNSF 1300 was open up for tours.
The actors were still doing their play.
Metrolink new Guardian Cab Car 656 was open up for tours.
Two views of the Santa Fe 3751.
Down in the nose of Guardian Cab Car 656 you can see the collision protection device in this picture.
Metrolink 878.
The rear of Guardian Cab Car 656.
Another view of the Santa Fe 3751.
There was a covered area with tables where a band was performing. I got a plate of Tri Tip which seemed to take forever to get to me on this very hot mid April day.
The Old Blue Bus 5876.
Next I toured the train then checked out the inside of the new BNSF engines.
It was possible to get a clear shot of the Santa Fe 3751 at San Bernardino Railroad Days. We all found each other then Bob wanted to see the inside of the new Metrolink Guardian Cab Car.
Bob Riskie exiting the new Metrolink Guardian Cab Car. From here we drove to Pasadena to go to the Whistle Stop Train Store where I got issues of Passenger Train Journal. Bob then drove us back to LAUPT where a very sore Chris boarded the Surfliner 582 home to Santa Ana. I watched the Kings and Sharks as I wrote this. Tomorrow I ride back to LAUPT from San Bernardino behind Santa Fe 3751.
