Burger King across the street. A viewing great site. Food and photos. What more could a railfan ask? :tb-biggrin: Boxcab E50
The E60 was an attempt by GE to keep alive a form of propulsion that should have been in use throughout those parts of the United States with cheap hydro-electric power for use on the highest density rail lines. Imagine the petroleum that this industry could save if it relied on electricity rather than diesels for moving freight and passengers. Granted, it is the best use of fuel per ton mile of any form of transportation but that certainly could be improved upon. To be sure, the E60 had its teething problems, especially at speed but we could have done better. If ever this administration (or future ones) wakes up and discovers that we can reduce our oil consumption through the use of electricity, we'll be miles ahead.
Unfortunately, we'll also need new generating facilities, distribution, and other associated infrastructure. Getting any built these days, is either incredibly costly, or almost impossible. Due to NIMBYs and SIGs. Boxcab E50
Rear end of one of Amtrak's Downeasters at Portland, ME, January, 2006. Southbound Coast Starlight coming to a stop at Vancouver, WA, January 2007. (Incidentally, this is across the river from Portland, OR): How about a Talgo set? Here's one of the Cascades trains at the same depot, later that afternoon: The lead "unit" in the background is an F40PH rebuilt to a "cabbage" unit, while the F59PH you see is pushing the train. Number 3, the westbound Southwest Chief, leaving Gallup, NM on its run on the BNSF Transcon to Los Angeles. I paced this train once on I-40 well east of Gallup (or tried to), and even though I was driving at the posted limit of 75 MPH, I could swear it was going faster than its 79 MPH limit.........it left me like a bad dream.
Southbound Heartland Flyer crossing the diamonds at Saginaw, TX, en route to Ft. Worth: Rear end of the same train, showing the "cabbage" unit: This train will meet the Texas Eagle in Ft. Worth (not to mention a Trinity Rail Express commuter train or two) before heading back north to Oklahoma City. On the day of the OU-Texas football games, this same trainset has been known to have been run as close as possible to Fair Park in Dallas for the convenience of the Sooner fans attending the game at the Cotton Bowl.
