p&sr
OBS Chief
And so we made it through the Feather River Canyon into Nevada. I should have mentioned that the day was sunny and clear once we left the coastal hills, and that our train was pulling the "Tioga Pass" private car. During the night we passed through the remote town of Gerlach, and saw some geothermal plants out in the Desert. After a final portion of Chicken Cup-o-Noodles in the Snack Bar, at 10:45 PM we pulled into Winnemucca (U.P.Yards) for our first smoke break since Sacramento. I had pointed out to some other passengers that since they had spent the whole day going through withdrawal, they might as well just quit rather than start up again now. After all, why waste all that effort? U.P. enforces a strict No Smoking policy, so all the smokers had to wander well away from the Train to be off of RailRoad Property.
Most of the Railfans on board got off here, with Taxi connections into town. They could stay at some comfortable Hotel, then catch the Train back to California next morning around 7 AM (later if delayed, of course). Others were going on to Salt Lake City, where we would probably arrive around daybreak, perhaps to fly home from there. For myself, I had selected a turnaround at Elko, Nevada. This way I could travel the entire route of the Detour (which re-joined the regular route just east of Winnemucca), and catch the next Westbound Zephyr without needing a hotel. In fact, the stop was expected to be short enough that a hotel would clearly not be worthwhile.
We arrived at Elko 12:50 AM, only modestly beyond the two-hour delay we were told to expect because of the Detour. The Crew called a Taxi for me (good thing I knew the number), and I got a ride to the popular Red Lion Inn & Casino. As the largest Casino in town, and probably the most "family friendly", it seemed a good place to pass the time until departure. In their pleasant all-night Restaurant and Coffee Shop, right next to the Slot Machine floor, I enjoyed a 3 AM ham & cheese omelette with hash browns and chorizo sausage, then a long slow cup of coffee, then a very long, very slow glass of ice water. Things were pretty peaceful, except for the flashing lights and electronic music from all of the gambling machines. Other than a late-night game of Poker (with one woman winning hand after hand), there was very little going on. Amtrak was scheduled to arrive at 3:46 AM, but Julie said more like 4:42 AM. Finally I was able to confirm the Zephyr had left Salt Lake City at 1:14 AM, so they could not get to Elko before 5:14 AM at the earliest. Even so, they insisted that arrival would really be 5:07 AM. So I returned by Taxi to the little bus-stop-type Station by 4:30 to avoid any chance of being left behind. Two other Railfans from the Feather River Trip were there, and a couple of locals taking the Train for the first time. We watched a long double-stack Freight Train pull through eastbound, then one of the locals decided to drive instead of waiting for the Train (when she realized she could never make Reno by the time of her appointment otherwise). At 5:37 we boarded Train #5 to California, just as first daylight was bringing the Desert into view.
We had the same consist as the previous day: two engines, baggage car, three sleepers, diner, lounge, and three coaches. No private cars this time. As before, the third Coach was closed (until we got to Reno). The trip back to Winnemucca was very scenic, following the Humboldt River as it winds its way among the Desert Mountains. Past Carlin we went through a long Canyon with Basalt Palisades. We saw the cross-over of the former S.P track and the former W.P track (following the S.P track, as is usual for the Westbound Zephyr), and the town of Battle Mountain with nearby mines and a large power plant.
We stopped at Winnemucca to pick up the remaining Westbound passengers (including returning Railfans), and enjoyed a brief walk in the cool desert morning. We departed at 8:05 AM, just one hour behind schedule. Travelling south of there I had an early lunch (my usual hot dog and pepsi), enjoying the scenery from the Lounge Car... some historic ruins near I-80, some sand dunes, some rugged land near a reservoir that looked like ancient lost cities covered with salt, and the little town of Lovelock. We passed an eastbound Freight Train (all automobile carriers), and noticed the triple-trailer trucks on the highway (not found in California). In the area of Humboldt Sink we saw volcanic formations alongside the Salt Flats, and then some desert wetlands. At Fernley, the Canyon of the Truckee River was beautiful, with colorful rocks and hills, and abundant water. When the Track followed at the base of a cliff, we saw wire fences that operate as Rockslide detectors... if a falling rock breaks a wire, that will register for the Dispatchers and they would know to check the Tracks for damage.
After a red light right outside town, we pulled into Sparks (with the station inside the Freight Yards), seeing a small lake and a water-slide park along the way. Approaching Reno we saw a jetplane coming in to the Airport there to remind us that we were now returning to Civilization. We passed a steel works with a crane suspended from elevated rails... a small example of an industrial "wide gauge" rail system. We spent ten minutes at the Station (inside the new Downtown Trench), then departed Reno at 11:05 AM, again just one hour behind schedule.
At Verdi we began climbing the Truckee Canyon into the Sierras. We saw the old water flumes alongside the track, and the California Boundary Marker both on the Highway and by the Track. At Floriston we had to wait till 12:30 for permission to procede. There were some interesting Pinnacles on the cliffs above the Train, and an area of Basalt Pillars across the River. At Boca we crossed the Little Truckee River and saw some Aspen growing. The forest was Ponderosa Pines, but on the ground there was still lots of Sagebrush in full bloom with bright yellow flowers (as also at Portola the day before).
Above the Town of Truckee, we had a long wait on the Stanford Curve (from 1:30 to 2:50 PM) because of Freight congestion and Track Work ahead. Some of the Aspen here were already turning to gold for Autumn. As we continued climbing, we could see another Freight Train following us, and some small lakes in the forest below. After the first Tunnel, we got outstanding views of Donner Lake and the whole Donner Pass area with plenty of high country and exposed Granite. About this time I had my early dinner, another Hot Dog & Pepsi from the Snack Bar. After another long wait, we got permission to proceed at 3:45 PM and passed through the Summit Tunnel. From there on, it was smooth travelling, with only a brief wait for the eastbound Zephyr at Cisco. There was evidence of ongoing Track Work all along the route from the State Line, but especially at Yuba Gap, where we saw lots of heavy equipment, and floodlights to allow the work to continue overnight.
Once we left Donner Lake, the Crew gave good estimates for arrival times into California, with appropriate connections arranged for everybody (by train, by bus, or by taxi as necessary). The fine scenery continued with the deep Canyon of the American River far below, and colorful towns of Gold Country (including Alta and Dutch Flat). Just before Colfax we crossed the twin Trestle Bridge at Long Ravine (over I-80), then saw a Farmers' Market in the old Town Center. From here on, it was a familiar descent through the forested foothills. At Auburn we took the southernmost track (just south of the town proper), as is usual for the Westbound Trains. Approaching Roseville, we saw the Detour where we had headed North the previous day. At the former McClellan Air Force Base, we saw the Circus Train parked on a long siding. Coming in to Sacramento, we saw the Light Rail Yards, then crossed the beautiful American River and saw sunset on the final approach to Downtown.
On general principles, I was ticketed to return to Martinez on the Capitol Corridor Train, scheduled to depart Sacramento at 7:40 PM. I figured the flexibility might come in handy. As it happened, they said we would get into Sacramento just in time for that train, holding it if necessary. I would then HAVE to transfer in order to catch my Amtrak Bus from Martinez to the North Bay, as they would NOT hold the Bus for the Zephyr (which was expected to arrive a little later). Of course I was just glad we would be able to make the connection at all, as I was prepared to spend the night in Sacramento if necessary.
Waiting on board the Capitol Corridor Train, I had my evening snack of Chicken Cup-o-Noodle. They did have an outstanding menu of gourmet items to be served on board, but when I inquired they said that that was the menu for the San Joaquin Trains, not for the Capitol Corridor. Funny they would deliberately display the wrong menus.
The trip back to Martinez was uneventful. Because the train is brightly lit, it was hard to see anything outside except for the views from the bridge at Benicia... city lights of Martinez, and lights on the oil tankers below and the refineries nearby. Once back at Martinez, I saw a couple more trains go through... westbound from Bakersfield, and eastbound to Sacramento. Then the Bus (connecting with all of these trains) was ready to depart. After a sleepy trip through Napa, we returned to the North Bay, where I found my Moonlight Express waiting to drive me home. A smooth, successful trip from Start to Finish!
Most of the Railfans on board got off here, with Taxi connections into town. They could stay at some comfortable Hotel, then catch the Train back to California next morning around 7 AM (later if delayed, of course). Others were going on to Salt Lake City, where we would probably arrive around daybreak, perhaps to fly home from there. For myself, I had selected a turnaround at Elko, Nevada. This way I could travel the entire route of the Detour (which re-joined the regular route just east of Winnemucca), and catch the next Westbound Zephyr without needing a hotel. In fact, the stop was expected to be short enough that a hotel would clearly not be worthwhile.
We arrived at Elko 12:50 AM, only modestly beyond the two-hour delay we were told to expect because of the Detour. The Crew called a Taxi for me (good thing I knew the number), and I got a ride to the popular Red Lion Inn & Casino. As the largest Casino in town, and probably the most "family friendly", it seemed a good place to pass the time until departure. In their pleasant all-night Restaurant and Coffee Shop, right next to the Slot Machine floor, I enjoyed a 3 AM ham & cheese omelette with hash browns and chorizo sausage, then a long slow cup of coffee, then a very long, very slow glass of ice water. Things were pretty peaceful, except for the flashing lights and electronic music from all of the gambling machines. Other than a late-night game of Poker (with one woman winning hand after hand), there was very little going on. Amtrak was scheduled to arrive at 3:46 AM, but Julie said more like 4:42 AM. Finally I was able to confirm the Zephyr had left Salt Lake City at 1:14 AM, so they could not get to Elko before 5:14 AM at the earliest. Even so, they insisted that arrival would really be 5:07 AM. So I returned by Taxi to the little bus-stop-type Station by 4:30 to avoid any chance of being left behind. Two other Railfans from the Feather River Trip were there, and a couple of locals taking the Train for the first time. We watched a long double-stack Freight Train pull through eastbound, then one of the locals decided to drive instead of waiting for the Train (when she realized she could never make Reno by the time of her appointment otherwise). At 5:37 we boarded Train #5 to California, just as first daylight was bringing the Desert into view.
We had the same consist as the previous day: two engines, baggage car, three sleepers, diner, lounge, and three coaches. No private cars this time. As before, the third Coach was closed (until we got to Reno). The trip back to Winnemucca was very scenic, following the Humboldt River as it winds its way among the Desert Mountains. Past Carlin we went through a long Canyon with Basalt Palisades. We saw the cross-over of the former S.P track and the former W.P track (following the S.P track, as is usual for the Westbound Zephyr), and the town of Battle Mountain with nearby mines and a large power plant.
We stopped at Winnemucca to pick up the remaining Westbound passengers (including returning Railfans), and enjoyed a brief walk in the cool desert morning. We departed at 8:05 AM, just one hour behind schedule. Travelling south of there I had an early lunch (my usual hot dog and pepsi), enjoying the scenery from the Lounge Car... some historic ruins near I-80, some sand dunes, some rugged land near a reservoir that looked like ancient lost cities covered with salt, and the little town of Lovelock. We passed an eastbound Freight Train (all automobile carriers), and noticed the triple-trailer trucks on the highway (not found in California). In the area of Humboldt Sink we saw volcanic formations alongside the Salt Flats, and then some desert wetlands. At Fernley, the Canyon of the Truckee River was beautiful, with colorful rocks and hills, and abundant water. When the Track followed at the base of a cliff, we saw wire fences that operate as Rockslide detectors... if a falling rock breaks a wire, that will register for the Dispatchers and they would know to check the Tracks for damage.
After a red light right outside town, we pulled into Sparks (with the station inside the Freight Yards), seeing a small lake and a water-slide park along the way. Approaching Reno we saw a jetplane coming in to the Airport there to remind us that we were now returning to Civilization. We passed a steel works with a crane suspended from elevated rails... a small example of an industrial "wide gauge" rail system. We spent ten minutes at the Station (inside the new Downtown Trench), then departed Reno at 11:05 AM, again just one hour behind schedule.
At Verdi we began climbing the Truckee Canyon into the Sierras. We saw the old water flumes alongside the track, and the California Boundary Marker both on the Highway and by the Track. At Floriston we had to wait till 12:30 for permission to procede. There were some interesting Pinnacles on the cliffs above the Train, and an area of Basalt Pillars across the River. At Boca we crossed the Little Truckee River and saw some Aspen growing. The forest was Ponderosa Pines, but on the ground there was still lots of Sagebrush in full bloom with bright yellow flowers (as also at Portola the day before).
Above the Town of Truckee, we had a long wait on the Stanford Curve (from 1:30 to 2:50 PM) because of Freight congestion and Track Work ahead. Some of the Aspen here were already turning to gold for Autumn. As we continued climbing, we could see another Freight Train following us, and some small lakes in the forest below. After the first Tunnel, we got outstanding views of Donner Lake and the whole Donner Pass area with plenty of high country and exposed Granite. About this time I had my early dinner, another Hot Dog & Pepsi from the Snack Bar. After another long wait, we got permission to proceed at 3:45 PM and passed through the Summit Tunnel. From there on, it was smooth travelling, with only a brief wait for the eastbound Zephyr at Cisco. There was evidence of ongoing Track Work all along the route from the State Line, but especially at Yuba Gap, where we saw lots of heavy equipment, and floodlights to allow the work to continue overnight.
Once we left Donner Lake, the Crew gave good estimates for arrival times into California, with appropriate connections arranged for everybody (by train, by bus, or by taxi as necessary). The fine scenery continued with the deep Canyon of the American River far below, and colorful towns of Gold Country (including Alta and Dutch Flat). Just before Colfax we crossed the twin Trestle Bridge at Long Ravine (over I-80), then saw a Farmers' Market in the old Town Center. From here on, it was a familiar descent through the forested foothills. At Auburn we took the southernmost track (just south of the town proper), as is usual for the Westbound Trains. Approaching Roseville, we saw the Detour where we had headed North the previous day. At the former McClellan Air Force Base, we saw the Circus Train parked on a long siding. Coming in to Sacramento, we saw the Light Rail Yards, then crossed the beautiful American River and saw sunset on the final approach to Downtown.
On general principles, I was ticketed to return to Martinez on the Capitol Corridor Train, scheduled to depart Sacramento at 7:40 PM. I figured the flexibility might come in handy. As it happened, they said we would get into Sacramento just in time for that train, holding it if necessary. I would then HAVE to transfer in order to catch my Amtrak Bus from Martinez to the North Bay, as they would NOT hold the Bus for the Zephyr (which was expected to arrive a little later). Of course I was just glad we would be able to make the connection at all, as I was prepared to spend the night in Sacramento if necessary.
Waiting on board the Capitol Corridor Train, I had my evening snack of Chicken Cup-o-Noodle. They did have an outstanding menu of gourmet items to be served on board, but when I inquired they said that that was the menu for the San Joaquin Trains, not for the Capitol Corridor. Funny they would deliberately display the wrong menus.
The trip back to Martinez was uneventful. Because the train is brightly lit, it was hard to see anything outside except for the views from the bridge at Benicia... city lights of Martinez, and lights on the oil tankers below and the refineries nearby. Once back at Martinez, I saw a couple more trains go through... westbound from Bakersfield, and eastbound to Sacramento. Then the Bus (connecting with all of these trains) was ready to depart. After a sleepy trip through Napa, we returned to the North Bay, where I found my Moonlight Express waiting to drive me home. A smooth, successful trip from Start to Finish!
