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Re: Heavy power in SP/NWP Willits, CA
Author: WAF
Date: 09-06-2013 - 08:38
OPRRMS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Trackside Tommy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Things changed in mid 1978 when SP shifted
> SP/NWP
> > operations to Oakland from Roseville. Thats
> when
> > SP started running the WCERY/ERWCY via San Luis
> > Obispo instead of Bakersfield and it seemed to
> > allow more of the big power a chance to get on
> the
> > NWP. Oakland didn't always swap out the power
> on
> > the WCERY, whatever that was, with SD9E's.
> >
> > The job that ran from Oakland to Schellville
> and
> > return also would get big and sometimes oddball
> > power. If the FRA had been in Oakland and BO'ed
> a
> > bunch of locomotives then the turn could have
> just
> > about anything for power.
>
> There was also an
> Oakland-Lombard/Schellville-Roseville train that
> was called out of the pool during that time frame.
> What was it, Wes, the OARVW, or something like
> that?
>
> I have personal knowledge of one Saturday morning
> of it being called out of Oakland with three
> SDP45s, 21 cars and a caboose, setting out the
> train at Schellville, then running cab hop to
> Roseville. Total time on duty was something like
> 5 hours. The best part was somewhere around
> Dixon, when the rear brakeman suddenly opened the
> rear cab door of the lead unit. The train was
> making upwards of 70 MPH, and the surprised
> engineer asked him - in reference to him having
> climbed over the drawbar between the caboose and
> the rear unit, then walking along the running
> boards of the units - "Do you realize how fast
> we're going?" The man took a glance at the
> speedometer, kind of snorted, and said, "A real
> hoghead would have 'er up to 80 by now." Ah, the
> Good Old Days, back when railroading was still fun
> . . .
I know all about the SD9 swap from RV to OA in June, 1978.
Rich, your right about the OARVW. Sometimes a breeze, sometimes not makling it past Lombard on the eastward trip to RV
-------------------------------------------------------
> Trackside Tommy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Things changed in mid 1978 when SP shifted
> SP/NWP
> > operations to Oakland from Roseville. Thats
> when
> > SP started running the WCERY/ERWCY via San Luis
> > Obispo instead of Bakersfield and it seemed to
> > allow more of the big power a chance to get on
> the
> > NWP. Oakland didn't always swap out the power
> on
> > the WCERY, whatever that was, with SD9E's.
> >
> > The job that ran from Oakland to Schellville
> and
> > return also would get big and sometimes oddball
> > power. If the FRA had been in Oakland and BO'ed
> a
> > bunch of locomotives then the turn could have
> just
> > about anything for power.
>
> There was also an
> Oakland-Lombard/Schellville-Roseville train that
> was called out of the pool during that time frame.
> What was it, Wes, the OARVW, or something like
> that?
>
> I have personal knowledge of one Saturday morning
> of it being called out of Oakland with three
> SDP45s, 21 cars and a caboose, setting out the
> train at Schellville, then running cab hop to
> Roseville. Total time on duty was something like
> 5 hours. The best part was somewhere around
> Dixon, when the rear brakeman suddenly opened the
> rear cab door of the lead unit. The train was
> making upwards of 70 MPH, and the surprised
> engineer asked him - in reference to him having
> climbed over the drawbar between the caboose and
> the rear unit, then walking along the running
> boards of the units - "Do you realize how fast
> we're going?" The man took a glance at the
> speedometer, kind of snorted, and said, "A real
> hoghead would have 'er up to 80 by now." Ah, the
> Good Old Days, back when railroading was still fun
> . . .
I know all about the SD9 swap from RV to OA in June, 1978.
Rich, your right about the OARVW. Sometimes a breeze, sometimes not makling it past Lombard on the eastward trip to RV
