F-unit northbound towards Tacoma/Seattle

[pkrail]

There was an F-unit on a northbound train that passed the Olympia/Lacey railcam at 12:19 today (5/6).

http://www.railcams.com/webcampix/olw1/olwrecent.html

The photos change so catch it while you can. Does anyone know where this is headed?

Thanks,

Peter

[Bob]

> It is the third unit, facing forward, on the PASINB.

Is it part of the power then? Many years ago I rode our NP F unit to Montana for use in filming "Runaway Train". They cut it in right behind the power from Tacoma to Seattle. (and surprised the heck out of a couple railfans at King Street who were jotting down engine numbers...)

However, once I got to Interbay, they put it back in the train. Since it was dead in tow, it had to be at least 5 cars deep, and not more than X, (20?). It couldn't be handled directly behind the power for some reason, something to do with braking and slack action. They also pinned the reverser unit in the control cabinet, lest I decide I wanted to fire it up and help push on the uphill portions...

So I'm surprised to hear this one was part of the power, unless it's in service.

[RailroadJeep]

I still have not seen any of the units that go out of Interbay DIC be put back in the train, they've all been handled on the head end with the power. Units shipped isloated I've seen go out in just about any posistion in the consit.

Dunno if there's anything in the rule books about, since once it's past our derail, it's not my problem anymore.

I'm sure I'll see it in a few hours anyways, I letcha know what I find out for you Peter. I'll call ya if ya dont mind getting a call at 2300....

[RailroadJeep]

Well, why it wasnt set off by the PASINB is unknown to me, but it's going to CEECO for work. Most likely it will go down on Crew 2, but that just a guess, who knows how hot they are to get it down there.

It did come in DIC, and it was going to go out DIC as the trailing unit this morning. But alas there were some issues and it missed the connection for Tacoma. None the less, you guys (and gals) down by Tacoma, keep a lookout. I bet you may see it down in Tacoma sometime Sunday.....

[Trackside]

RRJeep.........,
The access you have - I bet you look at us on the other side of the fence and think, "I pitty the fool!"

[Bob]

Hey, wait a minute... Isn't that the F unit they painted up in WP colors for the Trains Unlimited Tour through the Feather River Canyon?

http://www.trainsunlimitedtours.com/...ia-zephyr.html

Hmm... NRHS convention coming up. Trains Unlimited mentions possible vintage diesel. CEECO is one of the best paint shops around. Anyone else see a connection here?

[RailroadJeep]

Originally Posted by Bob

Hey, wait a minute... Isn't that the F unit they painted up in WP colors for the Trains Unlimited Tour through the Feather River Canyon?

I was thinking of that this morning while looking it over yet again, I noticed some paint had been chipped around the nose door, and underneath the gray was a orangish colored paint....

I wouldn't doubt it getting painted either, I was looking it over pretty good, and I cant really see anything wrong with it. There's some scribbling on it about moving the HEP cable sockets and adding/moving the MU and Train Comm's sockets. Perhaps this is an effort to make it compliant and compatable with Amtrak equipment?

Originally Posted by Trackside

RRJeep.........,
The access you have - I bet you look at us on the other side of the fence and think, "I pitty the fool!"

Naw, I realize thats where my fascination started, and pretty much led me to what I do now. I usually try and wave or something if I see a fellow fan out there. I remember one day I put on a little throttle jocky show for someone taping my move with a MRL SD45....

And trust me, I really do appreciate the access this job has granted me. And I only wish I could persuade management to let me give tours of the shop like they did before. Time will only tell though...

[cp1400]

Originally Posted by Bob

Hey, wait a minute... Isn't that the F unit they painted up in WP colors for the Trains Unlimited Tour through the Feather River Canyon?

http://www.trainsunlimitedtours.com/...ia-zephyr.html

Hmm... NRHS convention coming up. Trains Unlimited mentions possible vintage diesel. CEECO is one of the best paint shops around. Anyone else see a connection here?

This is the same unit that was used for the TU California Zephyr re-creation. Didn't that re-creation run over Donner Pass?

The heritage is...CN 6509 (built 1954) to Via 6509 (sold to Via in 1978) to Via 6304 (after rebuild at Pointe St Charles shops in Montreal in 1984).

This unit was also temporarily renumbered to 1967 for Confederation train service in Canada during our counrty wide centennial celebration in 1967.

The original model designation was FP9A. The 6304 was given the designation FP9Au after a head end power generator was added in 1997.

Photo 1 show the unit at the Southern Railway of BC shops in 2002 during the repainting for PPCX.

Photo 2 show the unit with its temporary silver and orange WP paint before the lettering was added. The unit is on a cut of cars for interchange to BNSF at the start of its journey to California from the SRY shops.


cp1400

[MP36er]

So what is PPCX and what do they use the loco for?

[cp1400]

Originally Posted by MP36er

So what is PPCX and what do they use the loco for?

PPCX is the reporting marks for IFE Leasing of Saugus, California. So far all the 6304 has done is power the Trains Unlimited trip in California. Since then the Montana Rockies Rail Tours stored the engine at Kootenai, Id.

A second engine acquired by IFE Leasing (ex-Via 6311) has been painted in the same black/grey scheme and will be on lease to Rocky Mountaineer Railtours and used for a short push pull excursion with West Coast Railway Association FP7 #4069 from the cruise ship dock in Prince Rupert BC this summer.

Neither the 6304 or 6311 has made it to Saugus, Ca yet.


cp1400