Train Action around Stockton

I like trains. It's my hope that this passion is reflected in the work I do at Wheels of Time, and especially in our commitment to authenticity. Authenticity in train modeling comes from a connection to the past. I've had a lot of opportunities to explore sites that are no more: It's sad to see beatiful and interesting sites disappear, but the memories serve to keep my love of trains alive. Here are photos that I took in Stockton, California on July 19, 1997 -- a fascinating site where the former Santa Fe Railway, Southern Pacific Railroad, and Western Pacific Railroad converged. The context: in July, 1997, the Santa Fe Railway had merged with Burlington Northern seven months prior; Western Pacific had already disappeared under a sea of UP yellow and Southern Pacific was headed that way too. Fast forward 13 years: warbonnet Santa Fe diesels, BN green livery, SP scarlet, red and gray are all now just snap-shots of history. Central California Traction survives, in contrast to expectations in 1997, but much has changed. The venerable interlocking tower is gone.

What period in history do you model? Return with me to the busy and varied action back in July 19, 1997. Maybe your next layout could model this interesting crossroads of history?

Surprised: Westbound BN geep running abnormally long hood-forward with a string of pigs bound for Richmond. Maybe the lead engine went dead and was set-out.Horns blowing, southbound Amtrak San Joaquin announces it’s arrival.Minutes later another westward BNSF piggy-back train lead by Santa Fe’s Warbonnet GE C40-8W heads across UP's ex-Western Pacific diamondInterlocking tower provides traffic control on BNSF’s Stockton Subdivision and UP lines; here Southern Pacific engines head up a northbound UP freightCentral California Traction, originally conceived in 1905 as a streetcar system providing the people of Stockton mobility (hence “traction” in the name). At one time, 600-volt “juice jacks” provided locomotion for it’s trainsEMD GP7 No. 60 at the CCT shops, remembering the better days as Reading Railroad No. 607CCT No. 1795, an ex-Rock Island GP18, slumbering

BN Locomotive Shops

Last week I posted photos of Union Pacific's ancient CP/SP West Oakland Diesel Shops.  Here are photos from a more modern diesel locomotive shop on the Burlington Northern.  The first two photos are from Alliance, Nebraska in 1978. The Alliance shop complex services nearly one-fourth of BN's locomotive fleet. Study the details: there are a wealth of modeling possibilities here.

Notice the drop table on the bottom left to change out wheel sets and traction motors; and the overhead P&H crane on the top right of the photo.The silver tanks (located on the aerial structure above the trains) hold sand for the locomotives' sanding boxes. Sand is used to provide extra traction on slippery rails. The big GE U-Boat locomotive is being fueled with diesel no. 2 at a rate of 600 gallons a minute.A view from the inspection pit.

Old--Really Old--Landmark. Perfect modeler's project!

Looking out to UP's locomotive refueling rackTake a good look and cry. As of the end of September 2010, this relic is now history. Obsolete from Omaha's point of view. The seismic fault lines in the area have rendered final judgment for any unreinforced brick buildings. You would be right to protest: it's been in continuous use for some 126-years, making it THE oldest type of this kind in the Golden State, having lasted through the big ones of 1906 and 1989.

Inspection Pit with elevated walkwayHumble beginnings: Built in West Oakland in 1874 as the Central Pacific's Car Shop. Later became the Southern Pacific Car Shop. Modified in 1902 with a building addition, and again in 1942 with the removal of the elegant arched doorways to handle the famous UP-SP-CNW joint train called  "City of San Francisco Streamliner". From that time on, the facility was known appropriately as "The Streamliner Shop."  

Brick arched work over the doors, and to the right, modified opening to fit the City Streamliner train set

Tool room, a 1902 additionIt was further altered in 1949, '54, and '58, including the addition of four inspection pits, elevated service walkways, enclosed machine shop, and a Drop Pit Building -  for changing out wheel sets and electric traction motors. It served Espee's vast empire of diesel locomotives faithfully from the west end of it's Western Division. Countless mechanics, electricians, painters, and others clocked-in to fill 24 hours a day, and called it home. How many diesels like ALCo PA's, EMD SD-45's, and GP-9's were serviced here? How many gothic "SP" initials were reapplied here? How many D-77 traction motors were changed out?

Drop pit to change out wheel sets and traction motors

You can almost hear the talk of shop mechanics, the blaring of megaphones, the clanging of metal on metal, the hiss of the air being released, and the chant of two-stroke cycle of 645E3 and 567 idling impatiently, like race horses ready to go again. Can't capture that again, you might say.220 volt megaphone

Close up of brick work: don't make them like this anymoreBut look again: with a wealth of details, it's a modelers delight. Double gable-roof, arched brick doorways, 24-lite fixed sash windows in segmental-arched fenestration, pilasters carry up into the gable ends, and a loco or two with hood doors swung opened showing green inside.

Model that, and remember a way-of-life.

*All photos by Matthew Young, Sept. 24, 2010. Feel free to repost, but please credit Matthew Young and link back to Wheels of Time (Not for commercial use!)

Close view of drop pit tableElevated walkway detail

More of Robert Diepenbrock's Harriman Headend Cars

As is plainly visible from these pictures, Robert is a master at model building. We've featured his kitbashing before, and I am always impressed.  Here's more of his work drawing from Wheels of Time stock.  They are SP Class 69-BP-30-3 RPO -Baggage-Express cars that we produced a number of years ago. Thanks again for the pictures, Robert!



Anticipation. Union Pacific Extra 844 East

Waiting for Extra 844 East to arrive. Enthusiasts jocking for the best photo spot. You hear the chirping of crickets and grasshoppers in the fields near the tracks. A jack rabbit scurries past. A bee sweeps the air around you: you wave it off. Someone appears casually walking along the tracks ... if Extra 844 East appears now, your photo will be totally ruined with this person there. You hear the scanner go off. It's 5 minutes away ... sigh of relief.  Can this person hear all the grumbling photographers muttering under their collective breath, "Get out of the way!". Somehow our collective prayers are answered, and they duck out of the way into a thicket, just in time for us to hear the deep bellow of the whistle announcing the coming of Extra 844 East. Two long whistle blasts, followed by one short one, and finally one really long one. It must be at a grade crossing. Not far away now. Your hands get sweaty. You double check your camera settings:  shutter speed - check,  aperature -  check, depth of field -  check. Thinking now about the best moments to release the shutter. Steady now. Your heart is starting to race. Smoke on the horizon. Hear the reciprocating chug-chug-chug-chug becoming louder as Extra 844 East grinds it's way up a grade. Then it suddenly appears in your camera's field of vision: Extra 844 East. Click. Hear again the melodic deep whistle blow. Click. Swoosh. You pivot your position catching the train going by at speed. Click. A sea of yellow with the singing steel wheels on steel rails. Click. Then as suddenly as it appeared, it's gone. You hear the wailing of the whistle echoing into the distace. The chorus of crickets and grasshoppers starts up again as though they didn't miss a beat. Everyone smiling. Ah, can I experience that again?

Below, the animated sequence of photographs: UP Extra 844 East taken by Matthew in Niles Canyon California for your enjoyment.