This is a pretty good story. On 4449's visit to the opening of Railfar in Sacramento she was headed west on the CalP for the Bay Area. I figured I would drive out to the middle of the Yolo bypass. At that time there was a new paved bike trail across the bypass. So with no bikes on the trail I drove out about 2 miles or so. Got my shot and then it was time for the chase. Well with no bikes on the trail it was peddle to the metal back to the west side. Just as I'm approaching the west side here comes a CHP over the levee and parks on the trail with his red light on. So I come to a stop and the officer askes for the usual and at that time I realize in my haste to leave early that morning I left my wallet at home, so no dirver's license or ID. The officer is still pretty cool and askes if I have any other ID. The only other thing I could think of was my letter of authority from SP to be on the property to photgraph. I show that to him and he says well you know you were doing over 60 on that bike path, but I'm going to let you go if you can assure me you'll be safe the rest of the day. Well, what could I say.

But the story doesn't end there. By this time the CHP was well aware of railfan craziness around the 4449 and at times would put an officer on the train. A few years later at a gathering at CSRM I got to talking to this guy who was a railfan and a CHP officer and some how the conversation came up about him riding the 4449 train. I mentioned the stop I got at the bike path and he says, "Oh, that was you." He had called me in to other officers following the train and that's how I got caught. We both had a good laugh.

Dick Dorn