Re: The WORST trip you've ever taken
Author: Z-Train
Date: 02-06-2011 - 20:09
Dmac844 Wrote:
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> 1999 NRHS convention excursion - round trip
> Sacramento-Keddie. Was suppose to be pulled by
> 3985, that was nixed after 844's boiler tube
> failure. UP came up with a dirty GE unit to pull
> the train. 1 hour late start out of Sacramento. 1
> hour delay on the way up at Oroville because the
> box lunches were not ready. Hit debris on the
> track southbound out of Oroville on the return,
> backed up to Oroville and waited for new power
> since the GE unit was damaged. Ended up pulling
> back into Sacramento around 11:30pm.
>
> On the good side, any trip into the Feather River
> Canyon is worth it!
Interesting. I was on that same trip and count it among my favorites. This was my first ride through Feather River Canyon. Yes, the UP diesel was an aesthetic disappointment, but I was much more interested in the route than whatever locomotive would be pulling it. I've been on several excursions which returned late.
My worst excursion was a 1998 Chicago - Galesburg 261 trip for Galesburg Railroad Days. About half-way through the trip, there was a bearing problems and the 261 limped to Galesburg. The run-by was scrapped It was an extremely hot day and by the time we arrived in Galesburg the Railroad Days vendors were closing up. We returned to Chicago around 1:00 - 2:00 am.