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Category: Trainwatching

Picture of the day
Santa Fe Junction, Kansas City

Picture of the day
Santa Fe Junction, Kansas City

Today we go back in time a little bit. On one hand side this is a picture taken earlier on my tour in Kansas City, MO on July 19th 2016. On the other hand we have two SD 40-2s, still in Santa Fe dress, pulling a local through famous Santa Fe junction. These 35 years old units prove that they’re still able to contribute to operations of BNSF. Thanks a lot to John Rus, a local rail-fan I met down…

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Picture of the day
Railfanning the C&TS

Picture of the day
Railfanning the C&TS

PLEASE OPEN THIS POST FOR A SOUND SAMPLE! After riding the Cumbers & Toltec Scenic Railroad the day before it was time to follow the train on its way up to Cumbers pass. The slow speed as well as close proximity of rails and highway 17 make chasing the train a fun trip. Once reaching Los Pinos with the significant water tank the road and track separate. Meanwhile the daily, monsoon season, storm rolled in and it is time to head…

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Picture of the day
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic R.R.

Picture of the day
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic R.R.

Rail fans and families enjoy a ride in the open car on a train of the Cumbers & Toltec Scenic Railroad. On its 64 miles ( approx. 103 km) journey from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO the train climbs steep mountain passes, clings to canyon walls and travels across the high desert. On a slow but steady pace, it takes the “classic” D&RGW K36 narrow gauge steam engine #489 about 6 1/2 hrs (2 hr. lunch stop included) to get the consist across the line….

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Picture of the day
Railfanning in Colorado

Picture of the day
Railfanning in Colorado

A San Luis and Rio Grande train catches the last sun rays of the day outside Alamosa, CO. The little regional line is known for its multifarious collection of rolling stock. Earlier in the day I met Amtrak train #5, the westbound California Zephyr, while battling the grade up to Moffat tunnel. The line from Denver up the Front Range is a scenic gem but unfortunately, especially since the general decline in coal shipments, traffic is on a record low- in particular on…

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Picture of the day
Heritage steam times two

Picture of the day
Heritage steam times two

Nowadays it is not an every day event to see an operating steam locomotive. Therefore, today I was extremely lucky to witness not just one but two engines pulling trains under their own power. For that reason this post features two pictures of the day. The header for this post shows UP844, one of the largest steam engines operating these days. It had the UP “Rio Grande” heritage unit 1989 as well as the beautiful UP excursion consist in tow. I watched the…

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Railfanning along the
North Easter Corridor-
Boston to Philadelphia

Railfanning along the
North Easter Corridor-
Boston to Philadelphia

The North East Corridor always draw attention to me. This line from Washington DC to Boston is different in many ways. It is mostly passenger traffic- long distance and commuter. The NEC is operated at pretty high speed over more than 100 year old infrastructure. The line features four tracks from Philadelphia to New Haven and is electrified all the way! In a nutshell- heavy electrics pulling high speed passenger trains in an urban and costal setting – a must see! Getting…

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Boston – it’s about history!

Boston – it’s about history!

This city has pretty much everything a tourist can ask for- quite some history, a good share of the look and feel of the “old world” and the driving spirit of a Union that never stops to reinvent itself. By chance, (or careful planning) I happened to come to Boston for the 4th of July. The whole city is dressed up for Independence Day and the fire works is an experience of it’s own. Walking the cradle of Liberty I got…

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Zipping North on the Corridor

Zipping North on the Corridor

This ride aboard Amtrak train 164 along the electrified North East Corridor takes me to Boston, MA. The Northeast Regional travels the  453.3 mi (729.5 km) in roughly eight hours. Sure, the Acela Express would have been quicker but I wanted more time on a train for less. Also, I opted for the chance to ride 1980s Amfleet equipment. Unfortunately I came too late for seeing Amtrak’s AEM7s in operation, or maybe not… The North East Corridor – NEC The NEC is an (the only one) electrified…

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US Train Watching Tour 2016 – Washington DC

US Train Watching Tour 2016 – Washington DC

there is almost no better way to start a tour across the US than to go to the capital. Right on- I had only one day and the intention was to roam two of the numerous museums of the Smithsonian Institution – the Museum of American History as well as the Air and Space Museum. A stroll on the National Mall finished the day. National Museum of American History First order of business was, of course, to check out the…

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