Story and photographs copyright 2004
by Richard
Elgenson
Oakdale, California
At least 70 passengers were
disappointed by the theft of a diesel locomotive horn from the Sierra
Railroad locomotive number 42. Even without the recently restored the
Baldwin S-12, the railroad pulled off an enjoyable photographers fan
trip. The approximately 40 mile round trip started nearly 35
minutes late due to other undetermined reasons. The railfans were
huddled around in groups of 3-5 people waiting for the boarding
call. The train consist for the journey was an ex-SP GP-9 #46, a
baggage HEP car, lounge car with booths and a dance floor (ex-Santa Fe
Budd coach), a converted Long Island Railroad coach with 4 and 2 tables
seating (Yosemite Valley car), and Half Dome yet another table
car. These cars are part of the Sierra Railroad Golden Sunset
Dinner Train consist. The dinner train features double deck cars
with kitchens on the lower level. The Sierra has a nicely
designed and built depot which is next to the dinner train
comissary. Once loaded and under way the mood on the train turned
gleeful. Traveling with TrainWeb fellow Chris Guenzler, our table
mates for the day were 3 railroad industry veterans and a Union Pacific
Historical Society member.
First run by above and below.
The above two and below left images
show nearby orchards. The San Joaquin Valley is world renown for
the amount and variety of agriculture. The winter rainstorms have
caused everything to turn green!
Here we were on an outstandingly
beautiful late winter day heading eastbound from Oakdale to
Cooperstown, a distance of slightly less than 20 miles. Shortly
our consist would be due for the first of five photo run by's, two of
which were done twice! Every rider was issued a box lunch with an
excellent tri-tip sandwich with separately packed condiments consisting
of fresh lettuce and thick slices of tomato plus packets of mustard and
mayonaisse, Also included were potato chips, pasta salad, an apple,
candy bar with Sierra Railroad label and bottled water.
Complementary soft drinks were available too. The immediate joke
at our table was that one could not open and enjoy the box lunch until
notified by a central authority which made me feel like I was back in
school being told when to start an exam. Chris and I had
overdosed on a large dinner the previous night during the Winterrail
show in Stockton, CA with fellow Orange County Railway Historical
Society members Steve Donaldson and Gordon Follett. Nearby milepost 7,
the train braked to a stop and all who wanted to exited for the first
run by. The adjacent hill to the south rose about 100 feet or
more, so I scampered to the summit and viewed the train backing away
into the distance. The gently rolling pre-Sierra Nevada foothills
were enhanced by the handsome blue/teal, yellow, and stainless/silver
paint scheme of the dinner train cars proceeding forward.
Above and below, the second stop,
also beneath a hill, was choice due to the
"S" curves in the track around the hilly topography. It was at
this location that the Sierra Railroad decided to give us 2 photo run
by opportunities Between run by stops, the boldest of passengers
broke into and enjoyed their box lunches.
The photographers were mostly
polite to one another, staying out of others photos. Plus, all on
the ground calmly and immediately boarded the train for the next run by
location.
