During the 2000s, the wide and wild world of the Internet even allowed you to gawk at massive US consists climbing up Tehachapi Pass and rolling through a small northern Californian town called Dunsmuir. And the best bit about these websites is that you could see reasonably clear and up to date train workings, free of charge, without passwords, rolling ads and incessant encouragements to upgrade. These websites were run by Trainorders, and the sites disappeared about the same time someone realised how to monetise these offerings.
Here's four shots that I'll admit I purloined for a rainy day. They are a bit grainy but they convey (to me at least) a pretty attractive location for train watching, so its always been a dream to get there.
Anyway, today my dream became a reality. Snow on the hills, whistles echoing up and down the valley, fog rising, with the promise of more snow to come. Around 7:30am local time I parked our rented steed in front of the substantial brick building in the Trainorders photographs, and wandered across the depot (see, I am learning the lingo!). And waited.
Hey, Dunsmuir is just like home, nothing runs when I go trackside! Finally, around 9:00am my patience was rewarded with Union Pacific's 6039, 5393 and 8560 work south on a double stacked container train. Here's a couple of shots of it sliding into the loop, which got me excited about a cross which never eventuated.
After 30 minutes of waiting I packed up. Watching the flashing tail light of a freight has never been much of a thing for me. Lucky I did quit, as I saw the same train stowed in the loop 3 hours later.
A break in intensive family holidaying late this afternoon gave me a second chance to sit at Dunsmuir's depot. This time a 15 minute drop-in produced the following cross. First up, Union Pacific's 5444, 6204 and 7434 worked a south-bound freight into Dunsmuir's loop.
I was heartened to see a couple of historic wagons included in the 115 wagon consist... a Chicago & North Western hopper and a vintage-liveried Canadian Pacific boxcar.
As the tail-light for this train traversed the level crossing, Union Pacific's 5321, 9093 and 5050 roared north with a similarly sized freight.
And the best part? When all the noise cleared a young couple approached me, explained that they loved trains, and we got talking. He showed me how to use the scanner app so I am now able to hear trains approaching town. Its a great past-time when people from half a world away can have a yarn about something that isn't corrosive to humanity.
If you ever get an opportunity, look this little town up. The pizza palace is a good hang out, and one of the burger joints is in the top 100 for USA... what other reasons do you need?
Cheers,
Don
