Some photos of my railfanning around the East Bay 2017

[Itsed65]

Heading up Santa Fe Road(that is the actual street name) near Atwater California on New Year's Eve, I was lucky to catch this perfectly framed train, 8 locos strong blasting down the central valley.

Hi-Ball through Hughson by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[brad_in_omaha]

Nice! I really like that one!

 

[papio]

Agree, very nicely done!

 

[Itsed65]

Nice! I really like that one!

Agree, very nicely done!

Thanks guys! It was a case of right place right time. I was heading home from a wildlife refuge and had 4 cameras on the front seat when I spotted the ditch lights in the distance. Just a demonstration here, the difference between 220mm on a crop camera (7D2 above) and a full frame at 32mm (5D3 below). Taken from the exact same spot a few seconds apart. I like the different effects equally.

South onSanta Fe Avenue by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Bill Anderson]

Thanks guys! It was a case of right place right time. I was heading home from a wildlife refuge and had 4 cameras on the front seat when I spotted the ditch lights in the distance. Just a demonstration here, the difference between 220mm on a crop camera (7D2 above) and a full frame at 32mm (5D3 below). Taken from the exact same spot a few seconds apart. I like the different effects equally.

You can never have too many cameras with you. Otherwise, you never get quite the right camera + lens combo for grab shots.

 

[Itsed65]

You can never have too many cameras with you. Otherwise, you never get quite the right camera + lens combo for grab shots.

So True!

Working on Christmas Eve by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

We are finally having a wet year here in northern California, which is great for everything but photography! I love the light I can get in cloudy weather, but when it is really coming down, it becomes challenging. Franklin Canyon will be bright green soon.

Getting Wet by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[papio]

Nicely done.

 

[Bill Anderson]

You folks in NorCal are getting slammed by big storms and overflowing rivers. I imagine rotary plows and washed out rail lines will soon be in the news.

 

[brad_in_omaha]

You folks in NorCal are getting slammed by big storms and overflowing rivers. I imagine rotary plows and washed out rail lines will soon be in the news.

Has there been any news of the rotary plows in action yet?

 

[Itsed65]

Has there been any news of the rotary plows in action yet?

Actually, the latest storm, while very wet, was also very warm, due to it be channeled from Hawaii via the "Pineapple Express" created by to pressure ridges. They got a bunch of snow over the weekend that immediately began melting and running off due to rain at high elevations. No rotaries yet.

 

[Itsed65]

More short-line action on a foggy morning.

CFNR 1569 at Work by lennycarl08, on Flickr

Cars dropped off and running light back to Corning

Going Solo by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[brad_in_omaha]

Actually, the latest storm, while very wet, was also very warm, due to it be channeled from Hawaii via the "Pineapple Express" created by to pressure ridges. They got a bunch of snow over the weekend that immediately began melting and running off due to rain at high elevations. No rotaries yet.

Wonder if this will get them out:

 

[Bill Anderson]

Wonder if this will get them out:

Shades of 1952.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYa51nRB344

 

[CGW101c]

If I read the roster correctly, here is the 1570 when it was young.

 

[Itsed65]

If I read the roster correctly, here is the 1570 when it was young.

That it is! EMD #757142-25 built in July of 76. Over 40 years old and going strong (now with added air conditioning for the crew to handle the Sacramento Valley summers!).

California Northern GP15-1 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

Very wet winter here for a welcome change. Plenty of snow for the rotaries to attack on the passes as well, but haven't heard anything definite.

Comets in the Rain by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

Still seeing regular coal trains to Richmond for export

Westbound Coal at Pinole by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

I have heard that MP 1 on the old SP Cal P was somewhere in the bay, as the original MP O for the SP was at the 3rd and Townsend HQ in San Francisco, and of course they used to ferry the trains across the bay to Oakland. I have no idea if UP realigned anything when they took over, but Hercules, where this shot was taken, is about 17 miles from Oakland, the train's final stop (Emeryville really),so it could be true.

California Zephyr at Mile Post 21 by lennycarl08, on Flickr

 

[Itsed65]

Our very wet winter continues...Here a red-tailed hawk faces off with a short stack train running along Christie siding in Franklin Canyon

Face Off by lennycarl08, on Flickr