A Few for The Chief

Since The Chief mentioned BNSF in his Katy thread, here's a few for him.

All were taken at Hobart Tower in Vernon CA back in late November 2006.

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ohhh I love the sante fe engine in the 2nd picture...

RadAL wrote in post #4769993
ohhh I love the sante fe engine in the 2nd picture...

Classic Warbonnet...the Blue/Yellow version of that scheme is good too.

They're pointed in two different directions. I can't tell if they're coming or going.
Nice shots.

Love the 3rd shot of the series. Nice colors and bright.

Jeez, Carl. Those are nice.

I sure wish I lived closer tot he BNSF.

belmondo wrote in post #4777620
Jeez, Karl. Those are nice.

I sure wish I lived closer to the BNSF.

Thanks, Tom. It was the usual crummy morning overcast that day.

Next time you're driving west on the 10 through Colton, stop by the old Colton Junction. You'll see a lot of BNSF there.

Too bad the tower is long gone...

Nice double stackers amigo...love finding the occasional warbonnet floating around...

F/M Bill wrote in post #4774355
They're pointed in two different directions. I can't tell if they're coming or going.
Nice shots.

tesarver wrote in post #4774428
Love the 3rd shot of the series. Nice colors and bright.

Thanks

Woolburr wrote in post #4840873
Nice double stackers amigo...love finding the occasional warbonnet floating around...

Thanks. Growing up, I was an Espee fan and didn't get too excited about the Santa Fe (even 25 years ago, I was anti-UP). I'm kicking myself now for having lost my Espee shots from then and not taking more, along with more Santa Fe.

I see today's stacker stuff as boring; it all looks the same. Guess that makes me an old-school guy who enjoys a junk train (manifest) any day of the week.

Sure miss cabooses too...

Karl C wrote in post #4841527
Sure miss cabooses too...

Yep, a freight train just isn't right without a caboose.

BobOh wrote in post #4841618
Yep, a freight train just isn't right without a caboose.

Actually, some of those old caboose shots were among my favorites. There was something wistful about watching them fade into the distance after all the commotion of the lcomotives and freight cars. Whatever romance there might have been sure doesn't exist with a Flashing Rear End Device (FRED). A little box with a flashing light? What's with that?

I used to hang out at the local train station, which was on the SP Coast and Valley Lines. Many times, the caboose crew of southbounds, going into the yard, would go by and give me their copies of train orders. Yellow tissue paper orders typed on manual typewriters. I also used to hang out at the now-gone Burbank Junction "tower" (more of an oversized metal shed under Burbank Blvd). The first trick operator was a really nice guy and would chat with those who used to hang around. I can't remember his name right now but he'd been with the company a long time.

Today, you can't even access that area - it's fenced off, courtesy of Metrolink.

Here's a few links that show Burbank Junction, one before the overpass was built and one showing the old tower post-overpass construction.

Burbank Junction from the south looking north to the tower

Tower after overpass construction

Los Angeles River Railroads

Being a railfan back then was fun. You could actually get close to the trains and train crews. I remember one time getting a cab ride in a Santa Fe switch engine. Back in those days, such things were possible. Now, there's a good chance you might end up having to explain to railroad police why you're taking pictures of their trains. It's happened to me a few times in just the last couple years.

Did I tell you? I hate the Union Pacific.

Karl C wrote in post #4841527
Thanks

Thanks. Growing up, I was an Espee fan and didn't get too excited about the Santa Fe (even 25 years ago, I was anti-UP). I'm kicking myself now for having lost my Espee shots from then and not taking more, along with more Santa Fe.

I see today's stacker stuff as boring; it all looks the same. Guess that makes me an old-school guy who enjoys a junk train (manifest) any day of the week.

Sure miss cabooses too...

Double stacks are only interesting to me because they are something I never see at my usual haunts...in fact, there is no intermodal service at all around home. I have to settle for boxcars, hoppers and coil cars.

belmondo wrote in post #4842304
Being a railfan back then was fun. You could actually get close to the trains and train crews. I remember one time getting a cab ride in a Santa Fe switch engine. Back in those days, such things were possible. Now, there's a good chance you might end up having to explain to railroad police why you're taking pictures of their trains. It's happened to me a few times in just the last couple years.

Exactly. It's too bad today's railfan (mostly younger generation) didn't get to witness the earlier times of railroading while standing trackside.

belmondo wrote in post #4842304
Did I tell you? I hate the Union Pacific.

I don't read railfan mags but did hear there's potential merger talks between UP and the Canadian Pacific.