Rare Railroad Photo and Family Opportunity in Southern California

One very special event is coming to southern California and presents a rare opportunity for many, railfans and the general public alike.

On May 1, 2010 a former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway steam locomotive will make a run, complete with a passenger train set, from Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal to San Diego, California and make a return trip the following day.

The locomotive, known as Santa Fe #3751, was delivered to the Santa Fe Railway in May, 1927.  It is known as a 4-8-4 type locomotive; four leading wheels, eight driving wheels and four trailing wheels. The locomotive and tender weigh nearly 875,000 pounds when loaded with water and fuel.  The 3751 was retired from service in 1957 and donated to the city of San Bernardino.

The San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society (SBRHS) acquired the 3751 from San Bernardino for $1 in 1985 and began extensive restoration efforts.  The SBHRS finished restoring the 3751 in 1991 and she has been making occasional runs ever since.

This particular run of the 3751 is called the San Diego Steam Special II and is a joint effort of Central Coast Railway Club and the Pacific Locomotive Association.  You can purchase tickets to ride the train, if you wish.  The current schedule calls for the train to leave Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal mid-morning on May 1, 2010 and arriving in San Diego, California in the mid-afternoon.  A return trip is planned for the next day with the train leaving San Diego mid-morning and arriving at Union Station in Los Angeles mid-afternoon.

This is a rather rare opportunity for you and your family to see a steam locomotive at speed hauling a train set.  It might even be something that your younger kids have not seen before.  It really is a very thrilling site to behold.  A glimpse of days gone-by and one that shouldn’t be missed.  Find a scenic and SAFE spot near the tracks and make an event of it.  I’ll be trackside! 

Check out this video from YouTube showing a previous run of the 3751 and some of the folks stopped to see the majestic locomotive blow by.

FREE Railroad Maps Complements of the Federal Railroad Administration

While researching a blog post regarding grade crossings in the Cajon Pass area of southern California, I came across a very cool tool that most railfans and rail photographers would find useful.

If you are in search of some railroad or railfanning maps then point your browser to the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) website.  The FRA was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 and, according to the website, its purpose is to:

Promulgate and enforce rail safety regulations

Administer railroad assistance programs

Conduct research and development in support of improved railroad safety and national rail transportation policy

Provide for the rehabilitation of Northeast Corridor rail passenger service

Consolidate government support of rail transportation activities

The FRA is a gold mine for those interested in the railroad industry at any level.  One particular nugget I found while researching the closure of some grade crossings in Cajon Pass is called the FRA’s GIS Application.  The URL (web address) for the map is http://fragis.frasafety.net/GISFRASafety/default.aspx.

The map and its interface should be rather easy to use.  Simply select the various levels of information that you are interested in in the left-most pane and use the tools pallete at the top edge of the map to move around and zoom the map in or out.

Below is a screenshot of the map zoomed in to an area  in California’s Cajon Pass called Sullivan’s Curve.  Notice the level of rail-centric detail: milepost markers, station names, and even subdivision names.  Not shown on this map, but available for you, are a vast array of other features including showing all of the grade crossing locations.  Pretty slick.  Our hard-earned tax dollars at work.  Thank you FRA, a job well done.

Screenshot of FRA’s GIS Application

VIDEO PREMIERE - TRACKSIDE with ChasingSteel.com

I am pleased to announce the release of a new series of rail-related media, TRACKSIDE with ChasingSteel.com!

In the TRACKSIDE video series you will stand next to me as we witness a passing train, or trains, as I shoot some photos of the train.  I’ll give you the location information and as much train information as I know, where possible.  Within the video you will hear the camera shutter fire at the points that I took some photos and at the end of the video I show you some of the photos taken of that train.  This is a virtual railfanning trip for the uninitiated or those who prefer to let me do the dirty work.  Don’t worry, I am happy to do it! 

If you click on the video link in the menu bar above you will be taken to my YouTube channel where the current and any subsequent videos can be viewed. 

Any always, your feedback is appreciated.