An Afternoon at Palm Springs Amtrak Station

[belmondo]

I spent an hour or so at the Amtrak Station and happened to catch the Texas Eagle just a couple hours out of Los Angeles. (it was already late)

Pulling in
http://www.pbase.com/image/94614614/original.jpg

stopped
http://www.pbase.com/image/94614615.jpg

Just pulling out
http://www.pbase.com/image/94614648/original.jpg

Just clear of the station
http://www.pbase.com/image/94614688/original.jpg

and clearing the Indian Ave. bridge, the engineer pours it on and makes a little smoke.
http://www.pbase.com/image/94614775.jpg

Earlier, this very sad-looking GP40-2 came through. We're seeing fewer and fewer of these older units. At least it's mostly not yellow.

http://www.pbase.com/image/94614593/original.jpg

This is a picture of nothing....just my car parked. Please note the license plate, courtesy CS3.

http://www.pbase.com/image/94614819/original.jpg

[nghtrydr23]

nice pictures, id prolly get my ass thrown in jail doing that at the union station in downtown LA.

nice parking job by the way. we call that the asian parking job in the san gabriel valley haha

[<AkulA>]

Even better license plate!

[Maureen Souza]

Thans for reminding me that I am supposed to take Aaron on the Amtrak to Sacramento when I get back from Italy, Boss :)

[belmondo]

nice parking job by the way. we call that the asian parking job in the san gabriel valley haha

I was the only car in sight. That's a special lot for oversized vehicles, and nobody parks there. In fact, anybody with half a brain doesn't park there at all, especially overnight. It's very secluded.

[Chandler.]

Nice parking job. Good shots too. The first one is the best IMO.

[Woolburr]

Hey....a bloody nose SP....and some neat looking Amtrak cars...don't see any double level cars here.

[belmondo]

Nice parking job. Good shots too. The first one is the best IMO.

Thanks.

The parking job is not what it seems. This is a special lot, removed from the station, and it's intended for oversized vehicles. Mine was the only vehicle there, and I pulled in that way so I wouldn't have to back up when leaving.

It worked.;)

[Swiss Toni]

Jesus, that Amtrak is moohassive, what wonderful shots.

By the way I don't see a problem with your parking, it's between the lines isn't it! :D

[PhotosGuy]

This is a picture of nothing....just my car parked. Please note the license plate, courtesy CS3. GREAT plate! I especially admire the tasteful placement of the pole growing out of the car as it fits nicely into the "Rule of Thirds"!
http://photo.klein-jensen.dk/smilies/rotfl2.gif

[belmondo]

GREAT plate! I especially admire the tasteful placement of the pole growing out of the car as it fits nicely into the "Rule of Thirds"!
http://photo.klein-jensen.dk/smilies/rotfl2.gif

That is no pole. That is my custom hood ornament.

[belmondo]

Okay. For those who don't appreciate my parking skills or the composition of the last shot, I've tweaked it for you.

Before

http://www.pbase.com/image/94614819/original.jpg

After

http://www.pbase.com/image/94633969/original.jpg

[timbernet]

Okay. For those who don't appreciate my parking skills or the composition of the last shot, I've tweaked it for you.

Before



After




Nice! Good PS work :-D

[EOSAddict]

What's different Tom ;) ?

[belmondo]

Nice! Good PS work :-D

Thanks, Scott.

What's different Tom ;) ?

Darned if I can remember.:o;)

[Darsk47]

Maybe you should put it back - that lot looks like it's out of the way. It'd be pretty dark walking to your car a night without any lot lighting. :lol:

[ibdb]

Love the first shot, Chief (the one pulling into the station -- not talking about the parking lot ;) ).

Okay. For those who don't appreciate my parking skills or the composition of the last shot, I've tweaked it for you.

Before

http://www.pbase.com/image/94614819/original.jpg

After

http://www.pbase.com/image/94633969/original.jpg
:lol::lol::lol:

There's a very active set of tracks just down the hill from where I live, right in the middle of town, that I really out to go shoot some time. Anything from commuter rail, passenger rail, to heavy freight comes through. There's no way I'm going to get a background like yours, though. Every time you post your shots I think I really ought to get it in gear and go down there some day. It's quite possible that I'll actually do it, eventually. . .

[Karl C]

Earlier, this very sad-looking GP40-2 came through. We're seeing fewer and fewer of these older units. At least it's mostly not yellow.

http://www.pbase.com/image/94614593/original.jpg



Bit of history...

Look closely at the side sill on the unit - it says "SSW"; it's a former Cotton Belt unit. IIRC, the SP assigned the GP40-2's mostly on the Sunset Route rails between LA and El Paso. Loco info (http://utahrails.net/all-time/all-time-28.php#gp40-2-1441).

Nice to see the Bloody Nose scheme - too bad it's got the speed lettering on it. I prefer the old lettering better. ;)

Thanks for sharing, Tom.

[belmondo]

Bit of history...

Look closely at the side sill on the unit - it says "SSW"; it's a former Cotton Belt unit. IIRC, the SP assigned the GP40-2's mostly on the Sunset Route rails between LA and El Paso. Loco info (http://utahrails.net/all-time/all-time-28.php#gp40-2-1441).

Nice to see the Bloody Nose scheme - too bad it's got the speed lettering on it. I prefer the old lettering better. ;)

Thanks for sharing, Tom.

Thanks for the link, Karl. A bloody nose unit without speed lettering would really be rare.

I'm still holding out for the return of the Black Widow paint scheme.

[evorgsumaf]

Nice ones, I know I have said it before, but I need to head over that way and see what you see.

Brandon

[marie]

they are wonderful train shots :D
what massive locomotives over there , but then the space is bigger too:razz:
thanks Tom
and thanks for the :cool: POTN special

watch out for hitch- hikers with canons
:eek::lol:

[PhotosGuy]

MODSQUAD!

[belmondo]

We could have a 'Modify Belmondo's License' thread.ROTFL

[PiRho]

We could have a 'Modify Belmondo's License' thread.ROTFL

Personally I liked the POTN plate the best. I am sure that there are a lot of people that would love to give you a different one though! Good Idea :)