How dirt moves (a photo essay).

Over the scanners, I heard the crackling voices that crews have filled up the South S.F. yard with the "dirty dirt" special and the train needs to clear out before the evening rush of commuter trains.  I decided to seize the moment, be a little crazy and drive 40 minutes  - risking getting stuck in traffic on the way back.   A potential run down the peninsula during daylight hours is a rare bird, but seeing a freight train being made up is rarer for me.  Normally, this train has been a nocturnal only operation.  So for your enjoyment, this is 'how dirt moves' on 30th of August from the old U.S. Naval Hunters Point Ship Yard to South City and then onward to a hazard landfill site somewhere east hopefully not near you in another state.

 

Eighty-four hundred horsepower (or about 6300 KW for my metrics friends) being applied by EMD SD-70M 3876 and GE C44AC 6553 pushing hard to bring the loaded train out from the yard trackage over to the main track, and then clearing the crossover switch point.  

Quickly, UP Extra 6553 East gets the go ahead and 53 loads of dirty dirt departs on Caltrain's main track no. 1. What's surprising for me?  The locomotives starting up were quiet soft in contrast to the days of second generation diesel locomotives such as the roar from the SD45s.  Last picture is one of S.F. State Belt's ancient ALCo S-2 used at the Hunters Point dirt loading operations taken a couple of years back.  Enjoy.  Happy Labor Day!

The old shall be really new . . .

With lots of elbow grease, love and care these really old icons of the past have a bright future and one day be running again. . . in fact some are already.

SP 9010 Krauss Maffei ML4000 (SP class DF-801) diesel-hydraulic locomotive currently under restoration.

SP EMD F7 currently under restoration at Golden Gate Railroad Museum.

SF Muni "Baby Ten" PCC 1040 - the last batch of  PCC streetcar built.  Here is the car before it was restored.  A restored shot is at http://www.streetcar.org/blog/2011/12/car-1040-newest-all-over-again.html

SF Muni "Double End" PCC 1008 is now restored and running in full Muni Rwy. green & cream livery.  Here is a the before shot. . . and a really early shot when it was in revenue service. http://www.railpictures.net/photo/223967/

More Icon of the Past

One of my all time favorite icon along the S.F. Peninsula is the former Southern Pacific Burlingame train station built in 1894. It's a beautiful Mission Revival style architecture building that makes it inviting to stay, rest and watch the trains go by.  If it were a person, it has seen the parade of steam and diesel hauled trains. Next chapter: electrified fleet of trains.  As history marches on, we hope to capture that sense of timelessness in our trains and vehicles to help you enliven your model train layout and diarama modules.  In the meantime, be sure to enjoy our pictures.

Last of this familiar icon

Familiar to Chicagoland travelers since 1904 will soon fade into the past. The Santa Fe Building, also known as the Railway Exchanged Building, a landmark along Michigan Boulevard in Chicago will soon be renamed to Motorola and the old "Santa Fe" sign will be history.

Preview of something really really cool.

Wheels of Time is excited to announce the N-Scale 50-ft Pacific Car & Foundry Insulated Loader-Equipped Box Cars.  They were primarily used serving the food industry keeping things cool . . .  insulated from the extremes of heat.  This is the first time this model will be made.  It will have above average detailing, giving you the full flavor of these modern workhorses; Perfect for your model railroading adventures from the mid-60s to now.  Further information including features, railroad paint schemes, reservations, and release date to be announced shortly.