The Forgotten Heads-Up

Images from May 18, 2014

About a week ago, I learned that 3 private cars, en route to New Orleans, would be running through Houston on todays Amtrak #2. It’s great to get a heads-up on moves like this. Too bad I didn’t remember about the move, I might have set up in a better location.

After a leisurely Sunday morning breakfast, I ventured out to catch the eastbound Sunset Limited. I ended up at Ormandy, near MP 16 on UP’s Glidden sub.

Arriving there, I see the MLDEW, UP 4206, waiting on track 1 for a route to Englewood. The plan was to catch # 2 as it overtook the waiting freight train.

It wasn’t a bad plan, but I didn’t count on the high sun angle creating the wicked glare on the nose of P42DC #160.

Pulling back to 70mm allowed me to salvage one shot without the glare.

As the head-end was passing me, something seemed odd. Before I could ponder that question, I realized that #2 had an additional locomotive in its consist.

I quickly swung to my right to get a shot of the rare, for the Sunset Limited, 3-unit consist.

As the train blew by me at a good 60mph, I was wondering why were 3 locomotives on this train? I was also cursing my composition choice. A wider shot would have shown the 3-unit consist more clearly. Within a few seconds, I remembered the heads-up I had received about the private cars and that was the reason for the third unit. Then I realized I needed to get the camera back up to my eye if I was going to get some shots of the 3 PV’s!

First out is PPCX 800713, the Federal. A 1911 vintage Pullman, it’s supposedly the oldest private car that meets the strict mechanical/electrical/brake requirements to be operated in an Amtrak train. Click here for a more information, and interior photos, of this 103 year old car.

Next was 1950 vintage Pullman sleeper Pacific Sands. Click here for the history of this car.

Bringing up the rear was Tioga Pass, a 1959 product of the Canadian National Shops in Point St. Charles, Quebec. It was one of 12 similar cars designed for railroad executives. Click here for the Tioga Pass website.

Some guys have all the fun!

As the train receded, I again lamented the composition of my shots. It really would have been nice to get a more open view of this train. But that’s what I get for not remembering about the heads-up I had received…