NW2 at Sims Metal

NW2 1402 stands amid the scrap at Sims Metals in Richmond, Calif. in September 1994.  The unit had previously operated under several different Southern Pacific numbers.  

Modesto & Empire Traction

Modesto & Empire Traction GE 70-tonners 603 and 604 pull freight between Modesto and Empire in September 1994.  This shortline railroad connects Modesto with the former Southern Pacific, now Union Pacific, main line, a distance of about five miles.

Not a Gorge day without Mt. Hood

A trip up the Columbia Gorge would not be complete without at least one shot of Mt. Hood.  It was not the clearest of clouds that I've every seen, but it is visible, somewhat stealing the scene from the westbound grain train passing under Cliffs near John Day Dam.

The whole train

Eastbound covered hoppers run east at Cliffs in the Columbia River Gorge Sunday afternoon, showing the entire BNSF train under the towering cliffs.

Passing at Cooks

Eastbound LVWSPO passes westbound grain train at Cooks in the Columbia River Gorge Sunday morning, March 25.  The waiting grain train crewman stands beside his power watching the eastbound as part of a rollby inspection.

Tidewater Southern

Beside the Stockton Terminal & Eastern engine facility, a old Alco S2, Tidewater Southern 745, was resting in September 1994. It was finally scrapped in 2008. Owned by Western Pacific, Tidewater Southern was a mostly interurban passenger operation during much of its history, operating between Stockton, Modesto and other California points.

Stockton Terminal & Eastern closeup

Stockton Terminal & Eastern 560, an Alco S2, parked in front of the ST&E shops in September 1994.

Stockton Terminal & Eastern

Stockton Terminal & Eastern shows off four of its fleet of Alcos in September of 1994. From the left are 560, a S2; 564, a S4; 505, a S1; and 557, a ex-Western Pacific S4. STE rostered two other Alcos at the time as well.

Foster Farms Alco

Un-numbered Alco owned by Foster Farms rests between switching jobs near Burrell, Calif.  in September 1994.  This is certainly one of the most colorful paint jobs around.

Uphill at Techachapi

Santa Fe 810 leads a train uphill and southward toward Barstow near the summit of Techachpi Loop southeast of Bakersfield, Calif. in September 1994.

Techachapi loop

Southern Pacific train winds itself around and over itself at the famous Tehachapi Loop about 35 miles southest of Bakersfield  in California in September 1994.

In contrast

In stark contrast to the sparkling GP20 and GP30 photographed in Stockton in 1994 as shown in the previous two days" photographs, this is how many current units look.  This C44-9W Heritage 2 paint scheme has a Super Chief air conditioner and a burned set of side panels.  And has had them for a long time.

GP30 Stockton

Santa Fe GP30 2782 rests in Stockon's Mormon Yard in September 1994. 

GP20 Stockton

Yard/transfer power Santa Fe GP20 3023 rests in Stockton, Calif. yard in September 1994.

Bakersfield Sept 1994

Southern Pacific and Wisconsin Central parked in Bakersfield, Calif., in September 1994.

Fields Sept. 94

For years, Fields was a popular railfanning spot east (railroad west) of Oakridge, Ore.  There was a perfect spot under the trees where people had placed large wooden spools for tables and great spots to pitch tents and camp.  Some railfans would camp up there for a week at a time.  Now, the land is off limits to anyone and an attempt to camp there probably would get a rapid response from the railroad police.

B30-7 at Hampton

Another CSX unit, this one a B30-7, pulls a train through Hampton in the Cascades in September 1994.

Vancouver transfer

Two GP40-2s, a Burlington Northern and a HATX (former CSX unit) pull a Lake Yard transfer south through Vancouver Center in September 1994.

Onset of SD70Ms

The first wave of SD70Ms began to show in Brooklyn Yard in the summer of 1974, the first six-axle big power purchased by the Southern Pacific in years.  SP bought 25 of them, all of which still survive as Union Pacific units.

Another former CSX GP40

Former Baltimore & Ohio GP40 visited Brooklyn Yard in 1994.

What?

Whatever is handy gets added to locomotives today as this Super Chief C44-9W received a Heritage 2 side panel.

CSX Albina July 94

Regularly painted CSX units, like this SD40-2 8176 came to Portland as well.  This unit headed a Burlington Northern train in Albina in June 1994. Also in the consist was a GATX lease unit and several BN green SD40-2s.

ex CSX Family Lines SD40-2

Ex Family Lines, Seaboard Coast Lines, CSX unit 8076, an SD40-2, pulls through Oakridge, Ore., as part of a Southern Pacific consist in June 1994.

DRG&W GP30

June 1994 saw this Rio Grande GP30 #3014 pull a train into Brooklyn Yard.

B23-7

Burlington Northern got three ex Metro North Commuter Railroad B23-7s and used them in the Pacific Northwest for a time in 1994.  Eventually, all three were sold to Rick Franklin Corp. near Albany.

Canadian railroading

SD40-2 HLCX joins a Canadian Pacific unit along the Thompson River in British Columbia in this May 1994 photos.

BMLR GP35

Blue Mountain Railroad GP35 784 pulls cars in the Walla Walla yard in May 1994.

Coal loads power

Canadian National 8883, a SD70M-2, lead a northbound coal train through Vancouver March 3 .  Also in the consist was a BNSF SD70MAC, a BNSF ES44AC, and another CN SD70M-2.

1994 Hoyt St.

Hoyt St. in Portland, Ore., was a cornucopia of foreign power on this April 1994 day with an MRL, a CSX, a GATX and a Illinois Central unit waiting for their next assignments.

Even more CSX GP40s

Two GP40s, an ex Chessie, B & O 6636, and a stealth CSX 6595 showed up at Albina Yard in March 1994, both CSX units.

More CSX GP40s



In the early 1990s, Southern Pacific used many CSX and ex-CSX units as lease and horsepower by the hour units.  Included was the 6732, an ex-Seaboard Lines GP40 and CSX8615, an SD50, photographed at Reed near the Brooklyn Yard in 1994.