Power you've seen around town

[Stickframe]

Hello railroad fans,

A few months ago I began riding my bike around. I had a few reasons for doing this, but some key reasons stand out: 1) to get back into decent shape; 2) to lower blood pressure and heart rate; 3) it’s fun; and, 4) I get to see interesting stuff I usually don’t see. So far, so good, I have indeed begun to get into better shape, and as it turns out there is a lot of interesting railroading near me and along my bike riding routes.

A while back I began posting pictures of the trains I’ve seen while riding around, and it occurred to me that I could start a thread open to all, where people might also post what they see around, so here we are!

This is open to anyone, and seeing trains while riding on a bike is not a requirement - just showing what trains you might see running around!

I’ll backtrack a bit and start with some images I’ve already posted elsewhere and add some new stuff:

Well, this sign is clear enough! be careful if you’re riding across the tracks! This was taken in Point Richmond CA, where there is a big BNSF yard, and a shortline:

Above is the BNSF yard, it’s due north of Highway 580. And on the local streets, plenty of rail activity:

The images above are taken around the Port of Richmond, while below, in the Port of Oakland:

There is a lot of UP service and a big yard, and AMTRAK in the area too, but I haven’t been around at the right time, or thought about taking photos, but, I’ll keep an eye out. Trains run fairly frequently, so I’m sure I’ll eventually see them while I’m out -

This morning I came across these:

This is apparently called a “Shuttle Wagon”, which serves an industry in the Port of Richmond, and below, a couple more of BNSF service, just outside of Point Richmond:

And, nice sky too! You know I couldn’t have shot that if I had tried!

The engine above is a GE B40-8W which caught my eye because when I had a model RR, the Dash 8 was the biggest power unit I could run! as it has BB trucks - they work on tighter radii, which I had on my layout.

So, on we go! I’ll keep posting as I see things, and hopefully you will too!

Cheers
Nick

[Gary_Kato]

There is a big train yard in Milpitas. I crossed over it on the Calavares boulevard overpass on my way to the monthly meeting of the Silicon Valley Scale Modelers. If you’re ever by there, it might be worth a visit.

[18bravo]

Every time we ride, my wife and I see BNSF locos, but sometime I go out of my way to get FWWR motive power. They’re concentrated in three different area. Speaking of cool skies, my wife took this one a few years ago:

Couldn’t pass that one up since our carzy ass dog is named Molly, but I’ve got almost everything on thier roster, save their newly acquired GP60s, which I’ll get soon. They’re up to number 2043 now/

[Namabiiru]

The Ome line to Okutama Village in the western mountains of Tokyo. There might be beer at the end of this line

[Damraska]

I am also located in the San Francisco Bay Area. There is a train bridge that crosses over the Carquinez Straights within a few miles of my house. I can hear the trains running at night on the other side of the water. I could air up the tires on my own bike and poke around.

[18bravo]

The results of today’s hour long ride to have Mexican for lunch:

I have a soft spot for older GP and SD units, especially high short hood units, which are rare these days. There were some nice leased switchers on the way out, but they were unfortunately too far out on the way back.
Probably more tomorrow. Weather is good, bike is running like a Swiss watch.

[phil2015]

Pictures like these tempt me to model railroading…

Sadly, the only line near me is entirely commuter rail I think. I used to see freights on it, rarely, but it’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen one.

[18bravo]

From today’s ride. Too nice to be modelng:

A GP60 recently out of the paint shop:

An SD40-2 in need of a visit to the paint shop:

[Stickframe]

@18bravo seems your locals are there to be seen! I’m partial to GP’s too, but I think they’re mostly reserved for yard work around here, but see them now and then. I very rarely see any Sd’s - but don’t know why? Looks like you have had some really nice days there for riding -

@Gary_Kato, thanks for the tip on Milpitas. I’m not exactly a rail fan, so generally only see what is running relatively nearby - but, who knows? maybe there are some good trails around Milpitas worth going to visit?

@Namabiiru ha! always worth it for a good beer! we’ve got two breweries nearby, both also pretty close to the track - every now and then on the way back from a bike ride I drop by!

@Damraska yes, I know where you mean. As I understand it, there are two train routes near the Carquinez straights, one close to the shoreline, and another in the hills, with one used by UP and AMTRAK, and the othter for BNSF. Who knows? might be a fun ride - to see what’s out there!

@phil2015, well, commuter’s are trains too! I seem to see about 50/50 commuter/freight, as there are two ports nearby, and an AMTRAK station about three blocks from here -

Speaking of the AMTRAK station, while it was too windy for me to go for a bike ride, I did go for a walk through the AMTRAK station. There is a pedestrian bridge over the tracks, and from there I saw this - a very short train! two EMD SD59MX engines, and three oil tankers:

A few months ago, the City worked out a deal with the railroads so the trains no longer blast their horns - which is pretty nice, especially late at night, but, if you happen to be interested in seeing trains roll by, it seems you need a bit more luck, or must be willing to sit by the tracks waiting, which well, I’m not that interested in doing -

Cheers
Nick

[phil2015]

@stickframe - thanks. Well, our commuter trains are really boring (Chicago suburbs). If our trains had some elegance, like the trains in Japan posted above, I would be more interested in them.

My niece lives near a Canadian Pacific line in Iowa and there are some really beautiful trains running on that line. Those red engines are eye-catching.

[18bravo]

@Stickframe

it seems you need a bit more luck, or must be willing to sit by the tracks waiting

You waited on an overpass and were rewarded with some Union Pacific motive power.
It happens.

Big Boy Locomotive

[Frenchy]

@Stickframe

This is apparently called a “Shuttle Wagon”, which serves an industry in the Port of Richmond,

Extensive walkaround :
https://eu.ironplanet.com/for-sale/Rail-Equipment-Shuttlewagon-NVX5025-Rail-Car-Mover-Minnesota/11471408?iprefoh=www.ironplanet.com

H.P.

[MoramarthT]

@phil2015

If our trains had some elegance, like the trains in Japan

M

[BlackWidow]

Great idea to start this thread, Nick!

May I join in? Would like to add some photos to the previous post of Tom. Not where I live and not from recent days.
I made these photos in December 2014 at Helsinki Central Station. It was bitter cold there but I love snow and frost
First the little mole on a train to Rovaniemi …

and this on a Pendolino. VR stands for Valtion Rautatiet (Finnish Railways)

[KoSprueone]

3Ds ago?? How the heck did I miss this thread?? Awesome shots in here. Yeah, great thread idea.

[Stickframe]

Hello guys,

Glad to see you jumping in with some pictures, of trains, and related!

@Frenchy, yes! Iron Planet! That is one of my go-to spots for walkarounds it’s a very useful site for scratch building and otherwise.

Some of those passenger paint schemes are pretty wild - “Hello Kitty Shinkansen”? no idea what it means, but who cares? nice looking unit!

And, @18bravo yes, being on the right bridge at the right time - so far you’re having better luck than me.

As there was no rain and only light wind this morning, out on the bike I went. I was trying out a new back tire that rolls faster than the last one, some new grips on my bullhorns, and cycling pants that actually fit - what do you know? a much better ride/experience than last time - there you go. And, saw what I thought would be two old GP60s:

If they made kits of these in 1/35 or 1/24 I’d love to make one and match the colors and weathering, and from above, on a ped/bike crossing:

Nice! and to my surprise, this train snuck up on me - remember, in City Limit, no horns:

UP 7762 up front, a GE AC45CCTE and as it passed by:

Seems this might have been something of a light power move, as it was a local with oil tanks, some boxes, car racks, and some low gondolas (usually scrap metal), and three engines.

Cheers
Nick

[18bravo]

@Stickframe

If they made kits of these in 1/35 or 1/24 I’d love to make one

How about something right in between?

Reindeer Pass Railroad

That said, if you could get someone to 3D print the trucks, it seems to me it would be ridiculously easy to scratchbuilt one - lots of right angles. And there’s treadplate in 1/35 for the walkways.

@Stickframe

so far you’re having better luck than me.

I made my own luck.

[phil2015]

In the following pic (not mine) there is a little red engine - what is it?

poet factory siding

All these pics have made me contemplate doing an HO layout. My niece lives in Western Iowa and there is a POET factory near her - with lines of tanker cars for ethanol outbound and lines of hopper cars with corn inbound, next to a mainline with trains with mixed loads.
All of these are pulled by large bright red Canadian Pacific engines.
So looking around at pictures and thinking about that led me to this pic.

[Buckeye]

Not sure but could very well be a product of this company

Tractive Power Corporation | Switcher Locomotive Technology

[Frenchy]

Here’s an enlarged view

The 2-part hand rails may be an ID clue…

H.P.