I’ve been having dreams about locomotives…
There are too many interesting hobbies…
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@ Frenchy,
Those pics gave me a major flashback! … My dad used to commute between the Trenton Station, NJ and Grand Central Station, NY. I can still smell those PRR Electrics sparking as they rolled into the station. 
Trenton Train Station. Photo for reference only.
—mike
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Man, look at those beautiful cars! 
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This would be a fun little bit to have on your layout, you know, that glorious 10’ X14’ recreation of your favorite rail line that we all fantasize about . . .
. . . ahh the dreams of dreamers 
Cajun 
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Trenton makes - the world takes .
What the world refuses - Trenton uses .
Not my quote - it came from a Glassboro State
( now Rowan University) college chum in the early seventies . She was a Trenton resident.
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@ Richard (RDT1953),
That was one of our favorite sayings growing up! 
And here’s a little neon to go with it…
Sorry, it’s not a railroad bridge.
—mike 
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Yes, I know it’s the Garden State, but…
I met a woman from New Jersey. I asked “Which exit?” Not realizing it was meant as a joke she actually told me.
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I’m at 63 - just north of me has prompted a bumper sticker -
“ Exit 69 - where everybody gets off “
True story
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@agincajun and @srmalloy yes! It would be fun to make a big or small switching yard 
Probably more fun to run than a regular layout! and what a project to build
So, as I went out today, it was south, through the Port of Oakland and to Jack London Square, and it turns out, it was AMTRAK day:
As I found out, they have a yard here. And, for @KoSprueone, I saw this in the yard:
How’s that for an interesting unit? and what a cool scratch build opportunity 
Saw this down the road, just caught it, next:
The ferry boat landing at Jack London Square - I just liked the picture! And now, for something completely different:
First flying dog I’ve ever seen! Just a happy coincidence for the pic 
OK, ok, back to serious business - I could hear the horn, so raced up to the closest intersection, for some more AMTRAK power:
This was as close as I could hustle up to get, just caught it as it passed - and last for AMTRAK, how about a Dash 8??
I noticed this on the way back, as I was passing the yard in the other direction - I wonder if they use it as switcher? or if it is used on the line? I don’t know. And finally, some UP power:
As I’m not a train spotter per se, and instead a cycling opportunist, many of these pics come as I hear horns or see headlamps and race forward to try and meet them. This leads to bad cycling etiquette - racing to non descript, unpredictable places to make a dead stop, and then frantically search for the phone. Oh yes, all the safety and courtesy as a cyclist - lol
OK cheers,
Nick
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Nice catch man! Dig that, a Hercules T4 Trackmobile, in action, well on break time maybe 
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Not so much here…
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I heard passenger trains don’t hurt as much as freight trains.
@Dioramartin that is nuts - I wonder if the images have been sped up to illustrate the point? In any event, a bad idea to try and beat the train!!
OK, not much to share today, just a bit of BNSF color:
through the chained link fence
3 engines waiting to pull something. As I was riding around the Port of Oakland, I came across a BNSF yard I hadn’t seen before, but the pictures were taken along a route I take pretty often - there’s a nice view of SF when you get to middle harbor park:
This is a good ride on the weekend when the Port is quite - you can ride several long stretches without stopping and there’s a nice destination before you turn back. Now, back to model building!
Cheers
Nick
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These are from the last three days - First up, some Amtrak and UP:
I ride through this intersection all the time, usually at the same time - but today two trains. Amtrak in the foreground, and while a bit hard to see/camouflaged, a container train on the tracks to the west - and one more:
A better view of the Amtrak. Then the next morning, less sun, and another long cargo train:
I missed the engines up front, but, while stuck waiting, I heard this coming up, so grabbed the camera and shot this mid train power. And on and on this train went - so long that:
Like the day before, another Amtrak - and a unit I don’t remember seeing before - sorry about the out of frame image - I wasn’t ready for this one - and then, more UP power brining up the rear:
Hmm - I don’t see front, mid and back power on these trains that often.
Then, just hours ago, this AM, back to Point Richmond I rode, and saw this:
While it’s pretty cool to be close to some big iron, in this case, I still laugh at that sign! 
and funnily, enough, this crossing is nowhere near the worst of them - lol -
Cheers
Nick
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Yeah, I’ve never seen that sign. Maybe unique to your area.
Out riding around and today, some BNSF and UP - I know, what a surprise! 
BNSF loading some containers at the Port of Oakland, and then, this:
A UP GP 60 with another UP:
1018 is obviously a GP 38-2… 
no, I can’t see the difference, but according to others who can, that’s what it is! and then as they trundled along:
Cheers
Nick
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As today was sunny and not windy, out I went, and completed my first 30+ mile loop on the bike - so a small victory. While 30 mi doesn’t sound like that much, first, I haven’t done it before, and second I am doing this on my trusty 30 year old GT mountain bike rolling on fat slicks - lol - not exactly the king of the road 
more like rolling along in an early 70’s F250 highboy 4x4 with 4:88 gears and 32" tires - lol, and like that truck, as the gearing is so low, man, it’s a slow ride and workout!
And, riding around remains a good way to see interesting train stuff. This street has regular rail activity, with this being the third or fourth different switcher I’ve seen there:
Nice Pete too!
There’s a short line here, that I’ve posted images of before, same color, but this seems to be a rental - not sure - and a clean unit. And on I went - coming across another shuttle wagon:
This was orbiting between a yard full of auto racks and tank cars, so not sure which is belongs too - but, can say, these seem to be pretty common at the rail yards around here. Down the road, came to this:
While an operational port (there are many auto racks here in particular), this area is apparently also part of the Historic Richmond Shipyard, which includes the Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park, Museum. This area was a major ship building yard during WWII, and as the name suggests, many women were employed in the work. The museum is very interesting - chronicling the wartime efforts, and the origin story, which was in some way initiated by the corporate magnate Henry J Kaiser. The story is remarkable, including shipbuilding, and what was the origin of what is now widely known as Kaiser Hospital - which on the west coast anyway is still a huge medical provider. OK, sorry, sounding like a kid reporting back on a field trip! And on we went, further out onto, and around the peninsula, to see this:
I love old industry! this thing is awesome! a mechanical deck/ramp allowing ships to connect to rail lines! I know the Bay Area had numerous connections for transit/ferry connections, but this appears to be used for heavy rail - but, I don’t know. In any event, it’s a very cool structure! very tempting to try as a dio!
OK gents - back to real work and model building!
Cheers
Nick
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A Santa Fe Alco S2 works the ferry slip at Point Richmond, Calif., on Jan. 1, 1965. Photograph by John Illman, Dick Dorn collection
Here’s another one in better shape :
https://artandarchitecture-sf.com/atsf-car-ferry-slip.html
H.P.
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@Frenchy, HP,
Thank you for providing the additional information on these landings - very interesting! Making me wonder more about the history of the Port and rail activity in the area. I came across this video:
Which coincidentally was only released a few days ago. The focus is primarily on transit service, and it presents quite a good story. Very interesting and as a local, it sheds light on many places I have seen and wondered about.
Thank you again for sharing
Nick
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