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"Truckee Limited" Project
Author: Key Route Ken
Date: 05-09-2008 - 12:27
Hi Everybody--
My video documentary on the "Truckee Limited" of April 25, 1971 is nearing completion. This was the final SP excursion that brought to a close some 104+ years of railroad-owned and -operated "special trains" prior to the AMTRAK takeover of May 1, 1971.
It was a grand day, but a very LONG one, as you shall see. The SP went all out in providing rolling stock and staff to make it seem to be 1950 all over again.
Twenty-one cars, five SP F-units (led by SP F7A # 6459) and many wonderful memories.
Several hundred feet of vivid Eastman color footage supplemented by some (53) "stills" tell the overall story ! Interior and exterior scenes including the SP cooks in the kitchen of the Dining Car doing their thing as they had for years !! I really got involved putting this thing together. Watch for it !! For further info: keyrouteken@msn.com
Anyway, speaking of memories: Our very own 'Wesley Fox' (WAF) was on that final trip as a young 18-year old kid... I mentioned it was a very LONG day... Here is a personal recollection from "WAF" himself regarding the final "Truckee Limited" ......
Hope you like it !!
"The Special was late coming out of the coach yard, departing 16th at 8:15a, 10 minutes late. The first incident was running past our Richmond passengers, who had rather surprised looks on their faces as we went rolling by at 60 MPH. The conductor pulled the air and we came to a stop on big curve at Giant. A brief 10 minute discussion took place, comparing orders ( no doubt talking with the 16th St operator to get 52 to pick up our passengers). Off we went, meeting Number 11 ( 11 cars, 3202/FP-7A/FP-7A) leaving Martinez at 9:13a ( 1 hr and 12 minutes late). We picked up our passengers and pulled forward to clear the Mococo Line and 52 made its station stop and dropped off what we forgot in Richmond. Being the last week before Amtrak, SP spiced up the trains with extra cars. 52 had a lounge car ( working) behind the baggage, a total of 12 cars, (3201/F-7B for power). Once 52 cleared, we backed up and picked up our Richmond passengers. 1 hour late, off we went to Sacramento. While in the depot, the GM autoparts came through with SP 8840 and a UP SD-40). Stop at Roseville to change the locomotive crew and onward to Colfax for a stationary photo stop for 25 minutes. By now, it was clouding over and off we went up the Hill, meeting 101 at Magra 1:25p, 3 hrs and 2 minutes late, (3209 and 3009 for power, 14 cars). Raining at Gold Run and snowing by the time we got to Emigrant Gap.
East of Stanford Curve, we passed the remains of an earlier runaway that week. JLY, if he reads this, can fill us in on details of the runaway, but 4 SD45s and 4 cars went off into the woods.
We arrived in Truckee about the time we should have left.. 3:35p. Once we got off the main to turn on the Truckee Balloon track, a work train went west with the Roseville Hook back to the derailment site. At about 5:15p, the work train came back into the yard to clear and the Truckee Limited got the ok to occupy the Number Two track and pick us all up. Underway at 6p, we headed back to the Bay Area and the snow had stopped and the sun was coming through the clouds.
I don't recall us passing any e/b trains except between Truckee and Norden. Arrival back in Sacramento was at 10p. Passengers for the Peninsula were getting antsy about making their connection with Train 108 at 12:35a, so at Martinez, the conductor gave a message to the operator to hold 108 until the buses got to 3rd and Townsend and passengers boarded.
As Ken said, a very long day! "
Cheers...
Ken Shattock
(KRK)
My video documentary on the "Truckee Limited" of April 25, 1971 is nearing completion. This was the final SP excursion that brought to a close some 104+ years of railroad-owned and -operated "special trains" prior to the AMTRAK takeover of May 1, 1971.
It was a grand day, but a very LONG one, as you shall see. The SP went all out in providing rolling stock and staff to make it seem to be 1950 all over again.
Twenty-one cars, five SP F-units (led by SP F7A # 6459) and many wonderful memories.
Several hundred feet of vivid Eastman color footage supplemented by some (53) "stills" tell the overall story ! Interior and exterior scenes including the SP cooks in the kitchen of the Dining Car doing their thing as they had for years !! I really got involved putting this thing together. Watch for it !! For further info: keyrouteken@msn.com
Anyway, speaking of memories: Our very own 'Wesley Fox' (WAF) was on that final trip as a young 18-year old kid... I mentioned it was a very LONG day... Here is a personal recollection from "WAF" himself regarding the final "Truckee Limited" ......
Hope you like it !!
"The Special was late coming out of the coach yard, departing 16th at 8:15a, 10 minutes late. The first incident was running past our Richmond passengers, who had rather surprised looks on their faces as we went rolling by at 60 MPH. The conductor pulled the air and we came to a stop on big curve at Giant. A brief 10 minute discussion took place, comparing orders ( no doubt talking with the 16th St operator to get 52 to pick up our passengers). Off we went, meeting Number 11 ( 11 cars, 3202/FP-7A/FP-7A) leaving Martinez at 9:13a ( 1 hr and 12 minutes late). We picked up our passengers and pulled forward to clear the Mococo Line and 52 made its station stop and dropped off what we forgot in Richmond. Being the last week before Amtrak, SP spiced up the trains with extra cars. 52 had a lounge car ( working) behind the baggage, a total of 12 cars, (3201/F-7B for power). Once 52 cleared, we backed up and picked up our Richmond passengers. 1 hour late, off we went to Sacramento. While in the depot, the GM autoparts came through with SP 8840 and a UP SD-40). Stop at Roseville to change the locomotive crew and onward to Colfax for a stationary photo stop for 25 minutes. By now, it was clouding over and off we went up the Hill, meeting 101 at Magra 1:25p, 3 hrs and 2 minutes late, (3209 and 3009 for power, 14 cars). Raining at Gold Run and snowing by the time we got to Emigrant Gap.
East of Stanford Curve, we passed the remains of an earlier runaway that week. JLY, if he reads this, can fill us in on details of the runaway, but 4 SD45s and 4 cars went off into the woods.
We arrived in Truckee about the time we should have left.. 3:35p. Once we got off the main to turn on the Truckee Balloon track, a work train went west with the Roseville Hook back to the derailment site. At about 5:15p, the work train came back into the yard to clear and the Truckee Limited got the ok to occupy the Number Two track and pick us all up. Underway at 6p, we headed back to the Bay Area and the snow had stopped and the sun was coming through the clouds.
I don't recall us passing any e/b trains except between Truckee and Norden. Arrival back in Sacramento was at 10p. Passengers for the Peninsula were getting antsy about making their connection with Train 108 at 12:35a, so at Martinez, the conductor gave a message to the operator to hold 108 until the buses got to 3rd and Townsend and passengers boarded.
As Ken said, a very long day! "
Cheers...
Ken Shattock
(KRK)
| Subject | Written By | Date/Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|
 "Truckee Limited" Project |
Key Route Ken | 05-09-2008 - 12:27 |