Train of Blinding Lights

(With apologies to the great U2 song)

First, I don't know which is sadder... that it took three months to update this #$@! blog or that I'm doing this post in a La Quinta Inn the night before Winterail. The chief reason: we realized the American dream by becoming homeowners again, buying a house in Monterey County. But before any more time passes, here's a post to get the blog back in action.

The weekend after Christmas, I drove up to the Niles Canyon Railway to check out their annual Train of Lights. It was well worth the time -- what a spectacular sight. It's easy to see why this holiday tradition has become wildly popular over the years. Powering the train was 1956-built SD9 No.5472 in gorgeous Southern Pacific "black widow" colors.

Below are a selection of photos from the impromptu ride -- thanks to Dave Hensarling, Dave Roth, and the rest of the Golden Gate Railroad Museum gang. For more information on the railway, visit the Niles Canyon Railway and GGRM sites. Special steam weekends will take place in March, with more events planned in 2010. Upper left photo: cruising down Niles Canyon from Sunol (click photo to view)

SP "Cadillac" 5472 idles beside the Sunol depot before helping the next train descend the canyon to Niles. (click photos to enlarge)

Families enjoy the festively decorated coaches.

A sight to quicken any SP fan's pulse . . . the red Mars light and number boards of SD9 5472 at twilight.

Dave Hensarling, president of GGRM, poses with the friendly crew of SP No. 2979, the museum's beautifully-restored Art Deco lounge.

A streak of blinding light, the holiday train rolls past the crossing near Brightside yard.


SP 5472 and the immaculate Sunol depot bring the 1950s back to Niles Canyon.

El's Favorite Photos from 2008

Southern Pacific 4-6-2 2472 crosses State Route 84 in Niles Canyon, Cal., on August 31, 2008. (click to enlarge)

Honestly, I've been meaning to do this for over a month. The original plan was to do it January 1. Now I'm just happy to get it done in January! Last year I posted a "Rogue's Gallery" of my favorite photos from 2007, so I thought it would be interesting to see what images topped the list for 2008. Dave Styffe did a top 10 post last December that features some outstanding photos; unlike me, he had the presence of mind to do it before the year ended!

2008 was a watershed year, to say the least, with the completion and release of Route 66 Railway. Ironically, between the book launch events and private sales, I had less time to get out and do much shooting during the final 3 months of the year. So I went through the digital files with a little uncertainty, wondering if there would be enough good material to fill 10 slots.

To my surprise, I ended up with 16. Don't panic -- I'm not including them all! I edited the list down to 11, mostly railroad-related stuff. I may post a follow-up later on (hmm, with my track record that should appear around Memorial Day). :-)

One trend that was immediately obvious was that I'd shot far more steam than usual this past year, more than the past several years combined. Between Santa Fe #3751's LA-San Diego trips, Southern Pacific #2472's Niles Canyon excursions, and the Sierra Railroad's Winterail fantrip with McCloud River #18, it was an amazing year for California steam fans. The SP 2472 images benefit from the all-access pass I enjoyed while working on a Classic Trains article about the Niles Canyon Railway (shameless plug: it's arriving now in the Spring 2009 issue).

But these aren't limited to steam, as you'll see below. With that said, let's get on with the show (click to enlarge):

Former Santa Fe 4-8-4 #3751 steams along the LA River on June 1, bound for San Diego.

Like a scene out of Spielberg's Close Encounters, an eastbound BNSF freight rolls through the ruins of Tunnel 2 in Cajon Pass on March 1. At right is the new third mainline that triggered the daylighting of the Cajon tunnels. This image was one of two that helped score a bronze award by the Center for Rail Photography & Art.

The next morning, tunnel 1 resembles a toy tunnel as the heavens aligned and a Warbonnet helper was positioned perfectly for the morning sunlight.

My favorite neon catch of the year -- Twohey's, Alhambra, Cal., October 24.

Santa Fe survivor: dusk in Hobart Yard, Los Angeles, September 20.

Alco PA engine door, Nickel Plate 190, Portland, Oregon.

A Centennial is always going to make the cut . . .
UP 6936 leads a northbound special up the Coast Line at Harlem, Cal.

In a surreal morning on the Niles Canyon Railway, SP 2472 backs past
the Oakland business car at NCRY's Brightside yard.

Errol Ohlman fires the 2472 up the Niles Canyon grade . . .
my first serious cab ride aboard steam.

It wouldn't be complete without one quirky roadside shot: Highway 138, Littlerock, Cal.

Morning steam, Sierra Railroad, Oakdale, Cal.

Hope you enjoyed them! I'll do my best to keep the blog machine rolling in 2009.

Labor Day Steam in Niles Canyon

If you're a Southern Pacific steam fan, or just dig vintage trains, the Niles Canyon Railway near Fremont is running three days of steam excursions on Labor Day Weekend with 4-6-2 No. 2472, one of the classiest engines in California. Owned and operated by the Golden Gate RR Museum, this handsome Pacific is completely at home in Niles, where she and her sisters used to roam in Espee passenger days. Saturday, August 30 will see a photographer's special with matching Harimann passenger cars, a typical SP consist through the canyon during the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

I was lucky enough to ride the Memorial Day photo train on May 24 (above), and it was a blast. This short canyon is Disneyland for railfans: there are places where the views are unchanged from 100 years ago. An added bonus: the line runs over the original right-of-way of the first transcontinental route, dating back to pre-Central Pacific days . . . some bridge abutments and culverts were completed in 1866 by the first Western Pacific Railroad.

Trains are running Saturday, Sunday and Monday. 2472 will be under steam all three days, but is running on Saturday and Monday only. On Sunday, she'll be on display with a short train next to the Sunol depot while the regular Niles Canyon train operates. For more information or to buy tickets, click HERE.