Vintage Train Travel Circa 2009

[THe Conductor]

A few months ago I got the oppurtunity to ride behind the Union Pacific Railroad's last steam locomotive built (1944, never officially retired either) UP 844. The trip was from Oroville, Cal. to Portola, Cal. and from Portola, Cal. to Winnemucca, Nev. The cars are mostly original UP cars from the 50s, including the dome car.

I thought I'd share a few photos of the journey here. Not the greatest, but I'll give it a shot. I avoided the crowds around the locomotive so I don't have any of it directly. You can do a google search of "UP 844" if your really interested.

Day 1, Oroville to Portola

This portion of the trip follows the scenic Feather River Canyon, and is the lowest rail crossing of the Sierra Nevada Mountains (5,221') compared to SP's Donner Pass approx 40-50 (7,085') miles south.

Here we are climbing Eastbound out of Oroville in the foothills.

Lower part of the Canyon

Poe Siding

Tight Squeeze

In the Coach

I thought the fabric on the chairs in the coach was rather intriguing.

Unfortunatly I had my wisdom teeth removed a week before, and still had some discomfort in my neck. That and the fact that the decent photo locations were all occupied forced me to take it easy and rest. I ended up napping the last hour of the trip.

Day 2, Portola to Winnemucca

This portion is across the Sierra Valley and the Black Rock Desert in NW Nevada

Empty Nevada/California Desert (Near Herlong, CA)

Over Sand Pass

The Dome with its 360 degree above train views was the place to be. Somewhere near Gerlach, NV. After Gerlach we skirted the Black Rock Desert, home to the annual Burning Man Festival.

 

[Big Man]

Great photos, and sounds like a really interesting trip.

 

[Ethan Bentley]

Great photos, and sounds like a really interesting trip.

Some excellent photos, thanks for sharing.
How often does the train run?

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"Here in the Swan River Colony, we only have a a few steam trains running, I do enjoy Dinner on a Train, especially if its in a 1919 Dinning car!

 

[Ethan Bentley]

Binkie that looks superb, I'll have to look out for an opportunity to do something similar in the UK, I'm sure Mrs. B would like it.

I'd be a little suspcious if any well-dressed Belgian detectives show-up though; then it'd be best to get out of there sharpish, lest one meet with an "accident".

 

[Warden]

First rate pictures

My family and I are off to spend the weekend in a station house on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Should be a perfect weekend

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"We did have this train but I think it went bankrupt"

It was called "Spirit of the West" where did it go Disney Land?

 

[GHT]

Knowing my love of rail travel one kind friend who found a brilliant 1930's book called, Through the Carriage Window, brought into hospital for me to read while I was laid up for a few days. Something that I had completely forgotten was the naming of particular trains. I don't mean the engine, most of which had evocative names but the entire train. For example, if you travelled from London to the coast of Cornwall you could travel on The Cornish Riviera Express. We had trains like The Brighton Belle, The Royal Scot, The Coronation Express. The carriages were similar to those of The Pullman Company, it was like a hotel on wheels. The railway companies competed to make your journey such a delightful experience that you felt a sense of reluctance at journey's end.