I had anticipated National Train Day
this year because the fabled 3751
steam engine was emabarking on a fund raising trip from Los Angeles
Union Station to San Bernardino, California. This would be the
3751's
second outing in as many weeks. I was too busy with 4 guests on
my
sailboat on May 1st to catch her on the way through Orange County to
San Diego and on May 2nd, I wandered over to Fullerton Amtrak Station
only to find out they were 2 hours behind schedule. Trader Joes
and
other shopping called my name, so I left. This day, I left home
early
enough to view the 3751 train and board the 354 Metrolink train to San
Bernardino to then watch the 3751 train arrive at San Berdoo.
It was a picture perfect sunnny day
for train riding and photography in
Southern California. Early morning shadows do affect photography
at
Los Angeles Union Station. Only the 3751 was in the shadow.
Here she
is and the rest of the train, including Metrolink engine 892, the Pony
Express party car, the recently refurbished Silver Splendor CZ dome
car, the Overland Trail (hi Bill and Debbie) and the Tioga Pass.
I have only wondered at this moment why a rail car would be named Tioga
Pass? There has never been, nor will there ever be a railroad
over
Tioga Pass. My earliest traverse over the real Tioga Pass outside
Yosemite National Park was during the reconstruction of the road
from Lee Vining, CA to the pass summit to the west when I was about 10
years old. It is quite a road through beautiful California
scenery.
Maybe the owner of Tioga Pass rail car will hear about this question
and then I can tell everyone. After taking the above photographs
of the train, I boarded Metrolink 354 and
proceeded to San Bernardino. I had never ridden this whole route
before, so it was of interest to view. A few other interested
parties were
on
board the train heading to San Berdoo to see the 3751 arrive in style.
All along the railroad right-of-way were photographers waiting for the
3751 and practicing photography on our train. At one point, I
descended to the lower level of the cab/coach at the rear end of the
train
and spoke to the Los Angeles Sheriff Department deputies riding the
train. One Sheriff's deputy asked if I was a "foamer" to which I
replied that this
term was
derogatory. He then asked if I was a railfan? I admitted
to that
and again encountered more derision with the question if I had model
trains? I replied that I might have some model trains
stashed at
my parent's house
and have not seen them in about 30 years. I stated that my
favorite
toy was my Catalina 27 sailboat. For the record, I was not even
wearing any garment which was railfan identifiable. I needled
both deputies that it
appeared their
duty
was rather easy work, and they agreed. I witnessed some
interesting
things along the way including an old Ford Model T. The several
hundred rail fans were young and old, many wearing the rail fan colors
of choice. Were you out there?
