I believe this was early 1974 but in anycase it was during the Nixon gas shortage. Amtrak was using E8's and E9's on #5 and #6 over Donner and, due to the gas problems, I had not been able to photograph them as much as I would have liked. I was driving a 1972 F250 at the time with a 360 engine in it and dual gas tanks. I had heard that it was fairly easy to get gas in Reno so I got both my tanks filled in San Jose and headed out to chase some E units over the hill.

I had shot them somewhere between Colfax and Gold Run (probably Magra)then headed East to try and get them just past Alta at Towle or Baxter. I knew it was going to be close so coming down off the Alta ramp I threw it down into 3rd, and blew thru the stop sign and up Casa Loma Rd.
I hadn't seen the CHP officer parked under the freeway overpass but I soon saw him in my mirror as I moved rapidly toward the old overcross near Baxter. I got to the overpass and pulled over.
We both got out and walked toward each other and he expressed some puzzlement at why I was heading so fast up a dead end road.

To set the scene in more detail. I had an M1 Carbine hanging in my gun rack with a loaded magazine in place but no round chambered (a fish and game reg) and my Ruger Blackhawk .357mag on my hip. Before you start throwing flames over that, it was all perfecftly legal at that time.

I explained why I was in such a hurry and, to my surprise, he told me to go get my picture while he wrote up the ticket. When I got back, I signed the ticket and we both went our merry way. To this day, it has always been my assumption that he wanted to check me out over his radio so he knew what kind of idiot he was dealing with. Not one word was ever mentioned about my weapons.

In the end, I got my photo and the only ticket I have ever gotten while actually chasing a train. The fine? $25.00