Hello from Reno NV Railfan

John Bogle Jun 29, 2020

  1. John Bogle

    John Bogle New Member

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    I live about 1/4 mile from the U.P. (originally C.P.) main line. There are great places in the desert and in the Sierra mountains to watch trains. I think of it as fishing. I hang out, read a book and if I catch something, great, if not, I still got to enjoy the great outdoors (perfect solo hobby during these months of Covid19 isolation :). I have been doing this for years so have picked up a few essential habits. 1) stay pleasant to the few people and Railroad workers you encounter. 2) do your best to stay off Railroad property 3) DO NOT hang out on or near the tracks it can be dangerous! Modern trains can be amazingly quiet. I have been asleep and awoken with a train already passing by. If I cross tracks I look both ways, and cross at a 90 degree angle and move off. I'm known to many of the "local" engineers, work crews and Amtrak drivers (it never hurts to smile and wave). I've also talked to nearly every law enforcement group who had jurisdiction in the places I go. They now know what I'm doing there and are almost always friendly (again friendliness is contagious :). I have a scanner to help in keeping track of the comings and goings of traffic. I feed the local rabbits and squires with grapes, grain products & bread (again stay friendly with the locals :). That's about it. An Afterthought is I'm trying to map out with Mile post numbers (hopefully for a google earth overlay) all the sidings & spurs on the Nevada sub, Roseville sub, Canyon sub, Mina sub and (whatever "f" stands for) sub on the old W.P. lines. Nice to meet you all.
     
    gmorider likes this.
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome to TrainBoard! Are you taking pictures during your watching? if so, perhaps one of these days you could share a few in one of our ongoing topics about that part of our hobby. :)
     
  3. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Hi John, welcome. Happy to have you aboard. I'm impressed that you've mapped your watch areas, and that you've become known as a friendly. Well done, my friend.

    I agree with Ken. Please share photos. I used to back up to CSX's NO&M Division with lots of action. But now, thanks to Hurricane Katrina, live near a lightly traveled KCS branch.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
  4. John Bogle

    John Bogle New Member

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    I don't have tons of photos as some railfans have such a talent for
     
  5. John Bogle

    John Bogle New Member

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    I don't have tons of photos as some railfans have such a talent for that mine can't compete. The odd thing I have been doing is getting picture of the signal sheds that have the name of the siding or location as well as mile post number. I do have a couple of videos from Williams spiral Loop (Feather river route near Quincy CA) that show trains passing over them selves. I've camped in the middle of the loop and it's interesting that at night you can see sparks generated when the wheels slip on the curve (due to the solid axle - it must require a lot of track maintenance). I don't usually keep close track of lead engine numbers except for a few of the locals that I see often. There is a daily Z train that goes through in the afternoon they call the UPS Z (I was thinking it funny to call it the Oopsie :). I also take note when I see something really unusual like power from afar like Mexico, Canada or CSX (Rare out west). I've been to Cajon Pass (Tehachapi loop) a couple of times (cool little town with an awesome bakery right near the tracks :). Feather river canyon is the place to get great pics if just for the stunning beauty of the backdrop. I'll try and get a few snapshots to post. BTW the Western Pacific Museum at Portola CA is IMHO excellent and huge. The California state RR museum in Sacramento is nice but Portola has hundreds of cars (mostly unrestored) that you can just wander around through (and sometimes into), several old engines like ALCO's and some unusual rail stock.

    Sometimes I'm interested in abandoned rail beds. As you probably know before paved roads everywhere, rails were laid just for a logging area or a small mine or other industry. It's Interesting how since they were sort of temporary and short lived, the standards were sometimes pretty low (Like using logs split in half, flat side up as ties and little to no ballast for drainage).

    I also wanted to add that even as I try to be friendly with rail workers, most of the time I simply observe. I realize they have a job to do which can at times be dangerous. They don't need any lookie loos bugging them with questions. I guess it depends on the circumstances. Being a good citizen I do my best to stay out of the way.
     
    gmorider likes this.
  6. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Welcome to TrainBoard John!
     
  7. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    Welcome to TrainBoard! Interesting sidelights in your posts.
     
  8. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    Welcome aboard, John.
     
  9. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    Welcome to Trainboard
     
  10. jpwisc

    jpwisc TrainBoard Member

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    Welcome from the South end of the Silver State!
     

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