With all the uncertainties surrounding Amtrak, there is a possibility that today might be my last chance to catch the Coast Starlight passing through Monterey County. I went out to the Elkhorn Slough and was able to capture these photos.
They were shot at Kirby Park, which is a parking lot and one walking path. As I was getting out of the car, this passed:
I waited about half an hour for the train. Interestingly about 10 minutes before I saw it, I could clearly hear the whistle on the other side of the hills to the east of my position. On the scanner I heard it stop to copy track warrants just two miles north of me. Then just after Noon it came around the bend....
The train had three sleepers at the front, and five coaches at the rear. This is the diner and Pacific Parlor Car:
On the scanner it sounded like there might be some freight traffic coming my way, so I hung around the park for awhile in case something came by. I spent my time scouting other photo angles. But after an hour I had heard nothing more on the radio, so I went home. I left my scanner on in the car, and when I was about 20 minutes away from the tracks I heard a that UP freight passed by Kirby Park and was going into Castroville. Oh well...
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
I thought those were GREAT PHOTOS of the Southbound CS that you took. I really enjoyed them. I was just wondering, were you able to get any "TOOTS" from the engineer as the train went by you? If so, how many?
Mr. Toy Member # 311
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quote:Originally posted by KA6BGJ: I was just wondering, were you able to get any "TOOTS" from the engineer as the train went by you?
I'm glad you liked them. There were a lot of toots, but since I was at an uncontrolled crossing, the engineer would have been tooting whether I was there or not.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
I always enjoy reading your stories and seeing your pictures. Your descriptions are always well written and easy to read.
That pickup truck contraption was interesting.
------------------ Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale) www.geocities.com/evrr
Mr. Toy Member # 311
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Thanks, Konstantin. Stay tuned. I will be posting a travelogue with lots of photos in the next week or two, as I have time.
The pickup is just a regular one with metal wheels on the corners to guide it down the tracks. The headlights are set to flash alternately. This is the second time I've seen one.
Incidentally, the locomotive number on the train above is #114. I photographed the same one in Salem about a week before I shot it here. Both times it was southbound.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
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The pickup truck with the steel wheels is what railroaders call a "hyrail vehical". Obviously the name derives from it being used both on the highway and on the track. These are used to inspect track and larger versions are used by maintenance personel. They operate under the direction of the dispatcher who communicates with the operator by radio. This is much safer, and much, much more confortable than the "speeders" of 40 years ago. They can be put on or taken of the track at road crossings or any location where there is sufficient surface at or neat the top of the rails.
Eric Member # 674
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Thanks for the post, Mr. Toy! Hopefully you'll be able to catch the Starlight by there many more times. When I'm trackside, and I see a hyrail vehicle coming, I always run behind a tree or a boulder, afraid that they'll stop and want to ask me questions about what I'm doing out there. Before Sept. 11th, I usually used to stay and wave, but now they might get mad that I'm standing there, so I stay hidden!
[This message has been edited by Eric (edited 06-28-2002).]
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