random thoughts on railroad photography, railfanning, technology, and such

Entries in Twitter (4)

Friday
Apr022010

Tracking a Legend on Her Journey and Kudos to UP!

Now that the Union Pacific’s Valley Heritage Tour is underway, you can follow the train’s progress and current location on a map that is updated every 5 minutes thanks to the generosity and talents of the Union Pacific Railroad!  Here is what the application looks like with an overview of the route highlighted:

Union Pacific’s Steam Locomotive Tracking Application - Overiew Map

And here is a view of the map zoomed in:

Union Pacific’s Steam Locomotive Tracking Application - Detailed View

You can also follow the train, and Union Pacific, on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest updates. There is even an RSS feed of their “tweets” available as shown below:

RSS Feed Showing UP_Steam’s Tweets

I would like to tip my hat to the Union Pacific Railroad for extending these services out to the public. It is a very good use of technology that allows us to follow the train’s journey while I am a mere 900 miles away and still feel like I am there.  Thank you Union Pacific.  Your Public Relations and Information Technology groups are doing a great job!  Keep it “up.”  (Get it?, UP - oh nevermind…)

Now if we could only stream live in cab video…!

RSS Feed of UP_Steam's Tweets

Tuesday
Mar302010

Union Pacific's Valley Eagle Tour Update

As a follow-up to the “A Union Pacific Living Legend Stretches Her Legs On an Eight State Tour” post, here is the latest schedule for the The Valley Eagle Heritage Tour with No. 844 on the point compliments of the Union Pacific Railroad:

The Valley Eagle Schedule

Valley Eagle Heritage Tour 

All schedule days and times are subject to change. No. 844 can run ahead of schedule.

(Follow No. 844 on the map, and stay current with GPS updates.)

FRIDAY, APRIL 2

Depart

 8:00 a.m. MT

Cheyenne, Wyo.

 

Arrive
Depart

 11:00 a.m.
 11:30 a.m. MDT

Lodgepole, Neb.

Service Locomotive
Downtown -  just west of McBride St.

Arrive

4:00 p.m. CT

North Platte, Neb.

Front St.
Between Chestnut and Poplar

SATURDAY, APRIL 3

Depart

8:00 a.m. CT

North Platte, Neb. 

Front St.
Between Chestnut and Poplar

Arrive
Depart

11:00 a.m.
11:30 a.m.

Kearney, Neb.

Service Locomotive
UP Office - 110 W. Railroad St.

Arrive

 3:00 p.m.

Marysville, Kan.

UP Rail Yard
Jenkins St. and 1st St.

SUNDAY, APRIL 4

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Marysville, Kan. 

UP Rail Yard
Jenkins St. and 1st St.

Arrive
Depart

10:00 a.m.
10:30 a.m.

Topeka, Kan.

Service Locomotive
The Great Overland Station
701 N. Kansas Ave.

Arrive

 1:00 p.m.

Kansas City, Mo.

Union Station
30 W. Pershing Road

MONDAY, APRIL 5
LAYOVER AND DISPLAY

On Display:  8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Kansas City, Mo.

Union Station
30 W. Pershing Road

TUESDAY, APRIL 6

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Kansas City, Mo. 

Union Station
30 W. Pershing Road

Arrive
Depart

11:00 a.m.
11:30 p.m.

Dunlay, Kan.

Service Locomotive
at the W. 1600 St. crossing.

Arrive

 2:00 p.m.

Parsons, Kan.

Union Pacific Office
2015 Crawford St.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7
LAYOVER AND DISPLAY

On Display:  8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Parsons, Kan.

Union Pacific Office
2015 Crawford St.

THURSDAY, APRIL 8

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Parsons, Kan. 

Union Pacific Office
2015 Crawford St.

Arrive
Depart

10:30 a.m.
 Noon

Muskogee, Okla.

Service Locomotive
Union Pacific Office
5 W. Martin Luther King St.

Arrive

 2:00 p.m.

McAlester, Okla.

Union Pacific Office
1 East Krebs St.

FRIDAY, APRIL 9

Depart

8:00 a.m.

McAlester, Okla.

Union Pacific Office
1 East Krebs St.

Arrive
Depart

10:30 a.m.
11:30 a.m.

Denison, Texas

Service Locomotive
West end of UP Rail Yard
Under Hwy. 75 Overpass and Ray Dr.

Arrive
Depart

 1:00 p.m.
 1:30 p.m.

Denton, Texas

Whistlestop

Arrive

 4:00 p.m.

Ft. Worth, Texas

Mopac Rd. and Rogers Rd.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Ft. Worth, Texas

Mopac Rd. and Rogers Rd.

Arrive
Depart

10:00 a.m.
10:15 a.m.

Ennis, Texas

Whistlestop

Arrive
Depart

 11:00 a.m.
 11:30 a.m.

Corsicana, Texas

Service Locomotive
201 East 7th St.

Arrive

 1:30 p.m.

Hearne, Texas

3rd and Market Sts.

SUNDAY, APRIL 11

Depart

 8:00 a.m.

Hearne, Texas

3rd and Market Sts.

Arrive
Depart

10:00 a.m.
10:15 a.m.

Navasota, Texas

Whistlestop

Arrive
Depart

11:00 a.m.
11:15 a.m.

Magnolia, Texas

Whistlestop

Arrive
Depart

Noon
12:15 p.m.

Old Town Spring, Texas

Whistlestop

Arrive

2:30 p.m.

Houston, Texas

Amtrak Station
902 Washington Ave.

MONDAY, APRIL 12
LAYOVER AND DISPLAY

On Display:  8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Houston, Texas

Amtrak Station
902 Washington Ave.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Houston, Texas

Amtrak Station
902 Washington Ave.

Arrive
Depart

 11:30 a.m.
 12:01 p.m.

Bay City, Texas

Service Locomotive
2620 Avenue G

Arrive

 2:00 p.m.

Bloomington, Texas

101 East 1st St.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Bloomington, Texas

101 East 1st St..

Arrive
Depart

 10:00 a.m.
 10:30 a.m.

Kingsville, Texas

Service Locomotive
5th and W. Kleburg Sts.

Arrive

 12:30 p.m.

Harlingen, Texas

UP Rail Yard
825 N. Commerce St.
(Commerce and Fair Park)

THURSDAY, APRIL 15

Depart

9:45 a.m.

Harlingen, Texas

UP Rail Yard
825 N. Commerce St.
(Commerce and Fair Park)

AFTERNOON LAYOVER AND DISPLAY
HARLINGEN CENTENNIAL PARK

Arrive
Depart

10:00 a.m.
  3:00 p.m.

Harlingen Centennial Park

101 Southwest St.
Between Jackson and Harrison Sts.

Arrive

  3:30 p.m.

Olmito, Texas

UP Olmito Yard
6105 Old Alice Rd.

FRIDAY, APRIL 16

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Olmito, Texas

UP Olmito Yard
6105 Old Alice Rd.

Arrive
Depart

10:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.

Kingsville, Texas

Service Locomotive
5th and W. Kleburg Sts.

Arrive

 1:00 p.m.

Bloomington, Texas

101 East 1st St.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17

Depart

 8:00 a.m.

Bloomington, Texas

101 East 1st St.

Arrive
Depart

10:00 a.m.
10:30 a.m.

Bay City, Texas

Service Locomotive
2620 Avenue G

Arrive

 1:00 p.m.

Houston, Texas

No Public Access or Display on arrival.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18

No Public Access or Display.

Houston, Texas

 

MONDAY, APRIL 19

Depart

 8:00 a.m.

Houston, Texas

 

Arrive
Depart

8:45 a.m.
9:00 a.m.

Old Town Spring, Texas

Whistlestop

Arrive
Depart

Noon
12:30 p.m.

Hearne, Texas

Service Locomotive
3rd and Market Sts.

Arrive

 3:00 p.m.

Palestine, Texas

111 South Magnolia St.

TUESDAY, APRIL 20

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Palestine, Texas

111 South Magnolia St.

Arrive

 11:30 a.m.

Longview, Texas

 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Longview, Texas

 

Arrive
Depart

 10:00 a.m.
 10:30 a.m.

Texarkana, Texas

Service Locomotive
East of the Amtrak Station
at E. Front and Wood Sts.

Arrive
Depart

12:01 p.m.
12:15 p.m.

Gurdon, Ark.

Whistlestop

Arrive
Depart

 2:00 p.m.
 2:15 p.m.

Little Rock, Ark.

Whistlestop
Amtrak Station

Arrive

 4:30 p.m.

N. Little Rock, Ark.

1000 W. 4th St.
Behind UP Office Building

THURSDAY, APRIL 22
LAYOVER AND DISPLAY

On Display:  8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

N. Little Rock, Ark.

1000 W. 4th St.
Behind UP Office Building

FRIDAY, APRIL 23

Depart

8:00 a.m.

N. Little Rock, Ark.

1000 W. 4th St.
Behind UP Office Building

Arrive
Depart

 10:30 a.m.
 11:00 a.m.

Russellville, Ark.

Service Locomotive
Old UP Depot on Denver St.

Arrive

 1:00 p.m.

Van Buren, Ark.

S. 2nd St. and Drennen Sts.

SATURDAY, APRIL 24

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Van Buren, Ark.

S. 2nd St. and Drennen Sts.

Arrive
Depart

 10:30 a.m.
 11:00 a.m.

Wagoner, Okla.

Service Locomotive
Old Depot – 302 S. Main St.

Arrive

 1:30 p.m.

Coffeyville, Kansas

Atlantic St.

SUNDAY, APRIL 25

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Coffeyville, Kansas

Atlantic St.

Arrive
Depart

10:00 a.m.
10:30 a.m.

Yates Center/Durand, Kansas

Service Locomotive
UP Rail Yard –  1178 Otter Rd.

Arrive
Depart

Noon
12:15 p.m.

Paola, Kansas

Whistlestop

Arrive

 2:30 p.m.

Kansas City, Mo.

Union Station
30 W. Pershing Rd.

MONDAY, APRIL 26
LAYOVER AND DISPLAY

On Display:  8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Kansas City, Mo.

Union Station
30 W. Pershing Rd.

TUESDAY, APRIL 27

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Kansas City, Mo.

Union Station
30 W. Pershing Rd.

Arrive
Depart

 10:00 a.m.
 10:30 a.m.

Topeka, Kansas

Service Locomotive
The Great Overland Station
701 N. Kansas Ave.

Arrive

 1:30 p.m.

Marysville, Kansas

UP Rail Yard
Jenkins and 1st Sts.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28

Depart

8:00 a.m.

Marysville, Kansas

UP Rail Yard
Jenkins and 1st Sts.

Arrive
Depart

 10:45 a.m.
 11:15 a.m.

Gibbon, Neb.

Service Locomotive

Arrive

 2:30 p.m.

North Platte, Neb.

Front St. between Chestnut and Poplar

THURSDAY, APRIL 29

Depart

9:00 a.m. CT

North Platte, Neb.

Front St. between Chestnut and Poplar

Arrive
Depart

 10:30 a.m. MT
 11:00 a.m. MT

Sidney, Neb.

Service Locomotive
UP Depot  – 9th and Grant Sts.

Arrive

 2:30 p.m. MT

Cheyenne, Wyo.

 

 

Friday
Mar262010

Some of My Recent iPhone Art

I was creating a few new icons for use on our Facebook page and as our Twitter avatar while I was commuting yesterday and thought I would share a couple with you.  Please let me know what you think of them.

 

Terminal Slide #8076

ChasingSteel Locomotive 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a shot that I like from downtown LA. The tallest building is the U.S. Bank building, formerly known as the Library Towers building:

Downtown LA