John Oram's photos with the keyword: Union Pacific

There was a lot of activity going on around Amtrak GE P42DC no. 69 at Fort Worth Central Station on the morning of 11 February 2020. Part of the forward bogie was chocked and various personnel with radios were coming and going. Union Pacific GE AC44CW no. 6436 was coupled up. TZ70_P1010841

There was a lot of activity going on around Amtrak GE P42DC no. 69 at Fort Worth Central Station on the morning of 11 February 2020. Part of the forward bogie was chocked and various personnel with radios were coming and going. Union Pacific GE AC44CW no. 6436 was coupled up. TZ70_P1010843CE

I had to give some thought about whether this shot was worth posting. This Union Pacific hauled mixed consist had a long wait at Cabazon even after it had been passed by the double-stack documented earlier in my photostream. So long, in fact, that I thought the better of standing for longer than I already had in the October sun. In a very long shot, the train is nearly lost in the haze but the composition does give some idea of the setting. 200_2_P1140253CM_F

I had to give some thought about whether this shot was worth posting. This Union Pacific hauled mixed consist had a long wait at Cabazon even after it had been passed by the double-stack documented earlier in my photostream. So long, in fact, that I thought the better of standing for longer than I already had in the October sun. In a very long shot, the train is nearly lost in the haze but the composition does give some idea of the setting. 200_2_P1140253C

I am not an unqualified fan of the US rail scene and I find the locomotive designations hard to grapple with especially when 'road numbers' are re-used. However, I like to add a few pictures to my collection as the combination of subjects and scenery can be hard to resist. Here, the double-stack train seen in my earlier picture makes good speed eastbound through Cabazon as it approaches the Apache Trail at grade crossing. The long consist is led by GE ET44AC no. 2614 with EMD SD70AH no. 8971, GE AC4400CW no. 5768 and EMD SD70M no. 40x3 (in all the furore, I missed whether it was 4003 or 4033). 200_2_P1140248C

I was waiting at Apache Trail, Cabazon for the train on the right in this picture to pass. It had already held for some time when it was passed by a long double-stack train led by four locomotives headed by Union Pacific GE ET44AC no. 2614. 200_2_P1140246E

Union Pacific 6353, 2578 and 3514(*) crossing Peninsula Avenue from San Mateo into Burlingame CA at the head of a long consist including HPJX, WSGX and AEX wagons. I have spent half an hour trying to correctly identify the locomotive types. The text accompanying various pictures on the internet is contradictory and a credible fleet list is hard to find. To make things worse, I think I might, in my haste, have transposed digits on the third locomotive, which might have been (*)5314. Sigh. TZ30_P1030729E

Union Pacific mixed power in the form of GE AC44CWCTE # 5941 with EMD SD60M # 2412 approaches the Hargrave Street crossing as they head an eastbound train through Banning. 200_2_P1080018C

Union Pacific EMD SD70M # 4595 stands at Indio with a mixed rake of wagons and tanks. 200_2_P1070754

Union Pacific EMD SD70M # 4595 stands at Indio with a mixed rake of wagons and tanks. 200_2_P1070751

Union Pacific MofW Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 4x4 # 43699 at Indio. 200_2_P1070757

If you have not seen a double-stack train in motion and you have any interest in North American railways, then you have a treat in store for your first time. If you have not seen such a train at speed then I suggest you book your plane ticket now. I have frequently seen these formations further west in the Coachella Valley and beyond (in particular between Cabazon and Palm Springs) where they are usually moving much more slowly or even stationary at signal checks. On a visit to Indio, CA I was photographing stationary stock when this eastbound train, led by Union Pacific GE ES44AC 7397, approached at considerable speed. You can only just see the beginning of the extremely long consist but I was able to release the shutter just as 7397 was framed by an overbridge. It was a long but happy wait for the next photograph (in this photostream) which could hardly be more different and still rail-related. 200_2_P1070756