The train remained stationary in
Fullerton
for
approximately an hour while the various law enforcement agencies
tallied up the citation results. This gave me an opportunity to
photograph the train from the pedestrian bridge over the tracks and
from the south side of the station. For the first time, Amtrak
contributed a General Electric Genesis locomotive to the Operation
Lifesaver train. These locomotives are usually used on Amtrak's
long
distance passenger trains such as the Coast Starlight and Southwest
Chief. Very rarely are the Genesis locomotives used on Surfliner
trains. It seems fitting, two GE locomotives on one end of the
Operation Lifesaver train and two Electro Motive locomotives on the
other end.
While the Operation Lifesaver train
was at Fullerton Station other train traffic passed by. Below is
an eastbound BNSF intermodal train.
The eastbound BNSF train was lengthy
and heavy enough to have two locomotives on the rear pushing.
Soon thereafter, the train was
run
back towards Los Angeles. Along the way, one can see BNSF is at
work
on their railroad. It appears that in certain locations, they are
installing a third main track. Some bridges are ready to receive
an
additional track and in other places, the ground is leveled and ready
to have track built on to it. Below left is at the Gilbert Street
overcrossing and several switches are built and ready to be
incorporated into the track structure. Below right is west of
Beach Boulevard with more switches visible. At this location, a
new signal bridge has been built and the old signal base is still
visible sticking out of the ground.
Below, at Santa Fe Springs, the
Operation Lifesaver train met an eastbound Metrolink train, most likely
a 91 line train.
Below left, an old E-8 passenger
locomotive is barely visible to the left of the track. This
locomtive made an appearance at Fullerton Railroad Days in 2003.
Below right, a motorist is sitting on the wrong side of the grade
crossing gates.
Operation
Lifesaver Fullerton Page 5