To Shiny Rails

Just happened to go by the SLO Amtrak Station…

January 18, 2012… A train of DODX flats with tanks. Looked like a unit train.

January 13, 2012… A Union Pacific Special.

The Santa Maria Valley Railroad hosted hazmat training by TRANSCAER at its Betteravia yard (SMVRR headquarters). Photos include the UP 1983 heritage Western Pacific locomotive that brought the train to Guadalupe. http://SMVRR.com/111018.html

This was quite a trip. Went to KC to visit family a little and get caught up on Dad’s backyard railroad. Then on to Omaha for the “main event”, Union Pacific’s Short Line Workshop. The first day (Sunday) was all fun stuff, a train ride on eight of UP’s heritage fleet cars followed by a reception at the Joslyn Art Museum. Monday and Tuesday morning were the workshop itself. And did I mention that I took the Pacific Surfliner SLO-Burbank in order to catch Southwest flights?… Lots of photos: http://jf2.com/110826/110828.html

At last night’s Friends of the SMVRR monthly program meeting, we showed slides and talked about the annual Fall train ride meeting of the California Short Line Railroad Association. Most of the photos are here: http://www.cslra.org/101111-CSLRA-Reno.html

Union Pacific’s Great Excursion Adventure! Vote for your hometown to be on the next steam route, and win a chance to ride in the cab or other related prizes. Go here: http://x.up.com/433

On the ocassion of his retirement as UP’s Vice Chairman of Operations, Dennis Duffy enjoyed a one-last special train ride. We caught the train as it went through San Luis Obispo earlier this afternoon. All the photos: http://jf2.com/100905