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

Entries from March 28, 2010 - April 3, 2010

Tuesday
Mar302010

And You Thought I Was Smart!

Apple iPadAs I reported on my Facebook page yesterday, I received an email shipping notification from Apple stating that my iPad had shipped. As is typically the case with a shipping notification, based on the tracking number, UPS stated it had no notion of the packages location initially but did state it was aware of the shipment. So this morning I checked again.

I expected the package to have originated from the Bay Area of California. Silly me, I was wrong.

Here is the tracking information:

Location

Date

Local Time

Description

 

GUANGZHOU, CN

03/30/2010

9:45 P.M.

EXPORT SCAN

 

03/30/2010

9:42 P.M.

ORIGIN SCAN

SHENZHEN, CN

03/29/2010

4:45 P.M.

ORIGIN SCAN

Tracking results provided by UPS:  03/30/2010 1:33 P.M.  ET

Turns out the iPad is being shipped directly from the country of manufacture, China!

That got me to thinking about the journey my iPads are on:

  • Where the heck is Shenzhen?
  • How far away is it?
  • How long would a direct flight from there to my home take?
  • If my iPad were sound, how long would it take to reach me?
  • Better yet, if my iPad were light traveling in fiber, or even in a vacuum, how long would it take to reach me?

I know, these are the standard questions everyone asks themselves when the are waiting for a package to be delivered.  Sorry if I am boring you…

Where does one turn to glean the answers to the questions that plagued me? Had I any math skills whatsoever, I could probably compute the answers myself, but I have none. (I grew up during the computer revolution.) Instead I have THE INTERNET! The Wizard of Oz can’t even match the internet.

I took to my iPhone an called up one of my dearest and most interesting applications. That application is called Wolfram|Alpha which is a front-end to a unique query/answer engine of the same name that is described by its creators, Wolfram Research, as a “computational knowledge engine.” Now I can’t do the engine, nor its inventors, any justice with a description here. Your best bet is check it out firsthand and walk through some of their demonstration queries to get a glimpse of the stunning and valuable contribution they have made to the web and its users. So, back to my story…

I “asked” Wolfram|Alpha about the distance between Shenzhen, China and Ontario, California, my hometown. Here is the output from my query:

Results from “Ontario, CA to SHENZHEN” query asked through Wolfram|Alpha

Pretty cool, huh?  When my iPad finally reaches me on Saturday it will have traveled over 7,300 miles and nearly 1/3 of the circumference of the earth.
And you thought I was smart!

 

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.

 

 

Monday
Mar292010

A Couple From Metrolink's Upland, CA Station 

I just missed catching the 7:00 AM train to Los Angeles this morning as it arrived, on time, as I was finding a parking spot. Consequently I found myself with the normally bustling station vacated and the glorious morning sun low in the sky. So I took some shots…