Rail-fanning on The OGR Forum 🚂 Welcome: Pictures YOU have taken! • Hope to see you out rail-fanning.

Recently returned from Portugal where I had the pleasure of enjoying some rail travel.    I continue to be in awe of the European rail system for its efficiency, cleanliness, comfort, scheduling and pricing. First class high speed rail round trip Lisbon to/from Porto, Portugal for $45/person (senior pricing). Had several time schedules to choose from to make the 3+ hour journey. Top speed recorded was 221 km/hour (137mph). I counted just three “at grade crossings” for the entire trip and they were encountered during the last 5 km as we entered Porto. Had free WiFi for the entire trip with on time departure and arrival in both directions. PS: We also flew over to Venice, Italy for a few days during our trip: TAP air - $140 for a round trip ticket. It’s about a three-plus hour flight.    For those of you who are discouraged about US gas prices: Lisbon ~ $2,00/liter (about $8/gallon). The USD is currently stronger than the Euro so it’s a good time to cross the pond.   

Waiting for our train at the Lisbon Oriente station - watched several local trains come and go!

On time arrival of our high speed train.     

Comfortable and spacious seating in first class with one single and a double seat in each row. Tourist class have two sets of double seats per row.

Beautiful central station in Porto, very ornate with beautiful tile mosaics. Portugal is noted for the beautiful tile exteriors of buildings. Not only on buildings but bridges, retaining walls and more.   

On our day trip to the wine country in the Douro Valley, we caught a glimpse of Portugal’s most scenic train ride along the Douro Valley from Porto to Pocinho.

Interesting set of "sleepers" (ties) awaiting rail placement.  

Back in Lisbon to experience some full size "Bump-N-Go" trolley time.  

Still suffering a little jet lag but happy to be back home with many wonderful memories!

Cheers, Dave

Dave, thank you for the trip! 😊

I just came back from a trip on the Amtrak California Zephyr, my 29th cross-country trip on the three western trains to California, squeezed in a "Roomette." Of the four Europeans I met in the dining car, all noted the poor quality equipment and trackage, ironic given the incredible scenery. Finances will determine whether it is so; however, I hope I can go again, my favorite being the Empire Builder.

Here's a photo of a GEEP in Burlington, Iowa, just over the drawbridge (orange knob in the background) adjacent to the romantic wastewater treatment plant.  Can you identify this road?

Here's another photo from Burlington, Iowa. These cars have been available from MTH (and, no doubt, Lionel and perhaps Weaver).  Although sometimes the graffiti is rather surprisingly artistic, even humorous, in this case, I find the graffiti objectionable as it ruins beautifully painted cars:

@Golden Prairie Railroad posted:

Here's another photo from Burlington, Iowa. These cars have been available from MTH (and, no doubt, Lionel and perhaps Weaver).  Although sometimes the graffiti is rather surprisingly artistic, even humorous, in this case, I find the graffiti objectionable as it ruins beautifully painted cars:

Saw very little rail car graffiti in Portugal, but it does happen.   This was also true for the subway system in Lisbon - Very clean and well maintained!  

My wife and I also enjoy the Empire Builder and have used it several times for a six day escape to Seattle to enjoy a relaxing ride and some outstanding sea food.   We still have the California Zephyr on our bucket list!  

Cheers, Dave

@Golden Prairie Railroad posted:

I just came back from a trip on the Amtrak California Zephyr, my 29th cross-country trip on the three western trains to California, squeezed in a "Roomette." Of the four Europeans I met in the dining car, all noted the poor quality equipment and trackage, ironic given the incredible scenery. Finances will determine whether it is so; however, I hope I can go again, my favorite being the Empire Builder.

Here's a photo of a GEEP in Burlington, Iowa, just over the drawbridge (orange knob in the background) adjacent to the romantic wastewater treatment plant.  Can you identify this road?

Sorry but that is NOT a "GEEP". The unit in your photo is an SD, note the 3 axle trucks.

Michigan Assembly Plant • Wayne Michigan

October 24, 2022 - We are at the Michigan Final Assembly Plant for the Ford Bronco.

Rail-fanning photography should never be “Plumb Bob & Square”

Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

Just came down off Napavine Hill, south of Centralia, WA and saw a few trains in Winlock:

I then caught the Northbound Amtrak Coast Starlight at Centralia....

@p51, Lee, thank you for posting the beautiful videos, the passenger trains were beautiful, the freight trains amazing, we do not have passenger service in my area, but we do have CSX freight trains. Wow. Here are a couple more pictures my wife is taking in Busan, South Korea. The terminal is so modern. The track work is exceptionally well laid. Happy Railroading Everyone

Well today rail-fans, I have sort of a mystery.  As I was driving through Crawford, Texas on what is normally a BNSF route I spotted a unique train.  I really can't be certain what its function is, but it appeared to be some sort of either inspection or inspection, repair, replace type of operation for the rails.  It was parked in a siding normally used for a small grain facility but that facility is not active during this time of year.  If you know what the function of this train is, I would certainly like to know.

Here is the train as I was able to observe it from the road crossing.  Given the slight smoke at the far end, it seems reasonable to think that this had some sort of power on both ends or what appears to be a locomotive on the near end is just a control unit without any train power.

Here is a close up of the head end unit, note A/C units on roof which indicate some sort of concentration of electronic gear in the cab that needs to stay cool.  I don't know if there is any propulsion power for the train or this unit is just control.  Given the platform and the lights on the roof, I am assuming this is the head end.

Here again is the full train, with a number of different sort of cars in the line after the control car.  You can see some smoke at the far end indicating that perhaps the train locomotive is powering up.  I cannot tell what the various types of cars do except there is no occupancy by people that I can ascertain.  No way to reach the far end, ROW is too narrow and you can't be caught by an on-coming train as there is no where to go .

Well there you go, I hope someone has a better idea of the function of this train.  I have been passing this siding for nearly 15 years and never saw anything like this before.

Best Wishes

Don

Hi Don: Thanks for the posting of these cool rail-fanning photos.

Here is the link to the companies web page and two screenshots.

https://loram.com/maintenance-of-way/

Hope this helps. Gary 🚂

@trainroomgary-  Yes your pictures certainly helped.  By going to the LORAM web site, I can see that the train that I spotted was for rail grinding and it did it in a high speed continuous fashion.  Gary, thanks a lot for the information.

Best Wishes

Don

This guy in north central SD has a yard “ornament” I’d love to have.  Although an Ipswich station sign is on the front, I’d bet on this building being from Miranda, SD.  Guess he got read his “rights” too.

Las Vegas New Mexico on BNSF

@Golden Prairie Railroad posted:

Still, can anyone identify this SD's road: NWP.

Northwestern Pacific, according to what is shown on the side of the locomotive.

Indeed, Northwestern Pacific it is.  I looked it up while on the California Zephyr. It must be in private owner's hands now, and it's a long way from home, but looks to be in great condition.

I took these in the last 36 hours, in Tenino and Chehalis, WA.

Three trains at the Blue Island Diamond during a late afternoon layover in Chicago, featuring a military/veterans heritage unit.

Just took these:
https://youtu.be/C4njPlS63Gs
https://youtu.be/2dbUe2YeVDg

At manufacturer Talbot in Germany, the oldest side unloader wagon. From the 1891 series, made in 1896.

Arne

Lake State Railway • Saginaw Michigan • A day with Train Room Gary!

November 7, 2022 - We are at the Lake State Railway Headquarters. Lake State Railway Company (LSRC) is a Michigan short line railroad that has been providing “Excellence in Transportation” since 1992. LSRC’s approximate 375 operating miles of track run from Plymouth through its headquarters in Saginaw, up to Gaylord and Alpena. Lines also run to Midland, & Bay City.

My day started at the Hartland Smile Makers, to see my Dental Hygienist. After getting my teeth cleaned, I used Google Maps to get to Saginaw. Below are the photos that tell my story at the Lake State Railway.

I finished the day by playing my theme song on the piano, “Deep Purple” by Peter DeRose.

Rail-fanning photography should never be “Plumb Bob & Square”

Thanks for taking a look. Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

Gary, that looks like a really cool short line.  I like the station.  Thank you for including Google Maps snapshots of your routes!

Ohmigosh! Look at that walkway to go over the tracks! What a great place to take in the action and take photos! Do any of you know of any other such walkways so well located of railyards?

"And as long as my heart will beat, sweet lover, we'll always meet/Here in my deep purple dreams."

Hi Mark & Ed: Thanks for checking out these photos from the Lake State Railway. The walkway is for the school children to use for a nearby school.

The last two photos were shot from the walkway. The chainlink fence was in the way. Had to put the lens on the chainlink and shoot between the links.

I was on a mission for this rail-fanning trip. I ordered an uncatalogued Rail-King Lake State Railway MP15 switcher from E-Z Catch Hobbies. I was unable to locate this locomotive.

Hope to see you out rail-fanning. Gary 🚂

A bridge on UP just south of Logan N. Mexico. Later in Dahlhart Tx. Yard there lots of trains in waiting. Is this line ex Rock Island?  Where does it go west?  Only saw 3 trains but they were megas  2 power front, 2 mids, 1 on rear.  Undulating territory.  

Maybe this isn't typical railfanning, but hey, who doesn't like steam? Enjoy this hour-long scenic ride on the pilot of Hocking Valley no. 3, featuring the whistle from Grand Trunk Western no. 4070!

@wb47 posted:

Las Vegas New Mexico on BNSF

wb47, we have each left our footprints on that depot platform.   A few years ago,I was there to catch a private car on the rear end of No.3, but I did not read my ticket carefully and was a day late! 🫢  Yes. Really. A day late (heh).  I did not know that, when my wife shot this photo, but found out when the train pulled in without a private car. 😄

Yesterday at Puyallup, WA after the Kent model railroad show.

Out walking my dogs in Ridgefield WA and snapped this zoom shot on my phone - I see quite a few faded BNSF Warbonnets.

One day Iʻll take my good camera and do some real "rail-fanning".

Freshly repainted GP40PH-2 in NJDOT colors at Port Morris yard, NJ…

To

It was cold, windy & snowy last night on the prairie, so a great occasion for a photo !   This yellow signal announces the crossing ahead in Wolsey, SD where the north-south UP (ex-MILW line) crosses the east-west RCP&E (ex-CNW line) .  Makes me want to put a crossing on my layout to justify having a similar signal.

Rich in SD

Chicago Union Station. Just a few pics from my daily commuting adventures!

I took this video and photos with my iPhone last Sunday, November 13th, on Court Street in Binghamton, NY.  I’m not sure if the four NYS&W (Susquehanna) units were assembling or breaking down their train.  

Note the “patch” paint jobs on the former NS engines.  I sure like the Susquehanna’s classic paint scheme a lot better!

In this week's video, two of Amtrak's specially painted "heritage units" and a P40DC (older style Genesis locomotive) featuring a ham of an engineer.

Dan, your videos are really taking on a professional look!  Bravo!  Where are you standing for the video with downtown Pittsburgh in the background?

Caught this Kyle train near Clayton KS 11-20-22.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Dan, your videos are really taking on a professional look!  Bravo!  Where are you standing for the video with downtown Pittsburgh in the background?

I appreciate the compliment, Mark! For that shot, I was standing behind the Audi dealer on Liberty Avenue, down the street from the station.