I should have said "are" nice-looking...because I believe most of them (out of 83 built) are still in service, some still on the lines of original buyers. The Amtrak ones were sold to various commuter lines, still in service. Of course, those more knowledgeable may certainly correct me. Doug
I'm enjoying this thread. It is making me look through my archives and re-aquanting myself with my various visits to California. Quite a pleasure and last night I got my AZL Amtrak California F59PHi and coaches out and let it have it the first run it has had in ages (although it looked a bit weird running past the Blast Furnace on my 'Republic Steel' layout) Anyway, it reminded me of 1998 when I was stood at Santa Barbara station when one came in on and was leapt on by a couple of Amtrak guys. I've always called this the Amtrak Pit stop as it was like watching the Ferari F1 pit crew as they changed a set of Brake blocks while the passnegers were boarding Also in April 1998 a real mixed bag appeared on the southbound Coast Starlight at Santa Barbara Dash 9-P42B #115 heads FP40H #378 Same train, I love getting a bit of human interest in my pics more soon
A8, the eastbound Empire Builder, at Gassman Coulee, west of Minot, ND after sunset. Photo from private property, with permission.
Albert Hammond once had a hit with a song called 'It never rains in Southern California'. Oh yes it does FP 40H #220 splashed through Santa Barbara on the San Diego-San Luis Obispo Surfliner Second of May 1998. On the extreme left you can see a spout of water coming off the station building. The U.P freight was waiting for the Amtrak to clear the block.. Ang was sat in the rental Pontiac now convinced I was completely mad standing in the downpour, filming trains!
From 06/13/1997 at Dalies, NM, the eastbound Southwest Chief leaves the Transcon for Albuquerque and Raton.
Dash 8-32BWH #503 heads westbound through Santa Barbara 1994. Never made a note of the trailing loco, Doh! I hadn't taken my UV Filters on this trip to the USA and was too tight to go and buy some hence the blank sky Kev
Thomas and Percy " I was here first" 'No, I was here first' " You back up" 'No, You back up' Fat Controller " Sort this out or you are both on the Naughty Road in the Roundhouse" Kev
The Heartland Flyer on the left facing the northbound Eagle at the Fort Worth station. They each had to back up and switch over to other tracks to depart.
The Fort Worth station is roughly on a north/south axis with long platforms. In order for the Texas Eagle to depart and head east toward Dallas, it has to back down past tower 55 in order to switch over to the east/west line heading to Dallas. The Heartland Flyer has to back up after departing to be wyed in order to head back north to Oklahoma City. They would have to do these maneuvers anyway, even if they were on different tracks not facing each other.
Leaving St. Louis bound for Kansas City hanging on the tail end of the afternoon Missouri River Runner. October 18, 2009.
earlier in the thread I related how I was in Santa Barbara and Goleta when the rains and mudslides hit in 2018 Here is the video of all the videos I've put on youtube I do quite like this one Kev
