[Frank C.]

There is this ODD early afternoon train that services part of the Interurban line of the NWP along with limited stops between San Rafael, CA., and Middletown, CA. This train leaves San Rafael Yard around 1345H and arrives in Middletown around 1600H with stops in Kentfield, Larkspur Ferry, San Rafael, Hamilton Field, Schellville, Sonoma Plaza and then Middletown. This train has timed connections to Redwood High School "end of Junior/Senior classes along with the arrival of a ferry from SF at Larkspur. On this particular day it held 5 minutes at Hamilton Field for an Air Force crew transfer of guys and gals going home for Thanksgiving!

Images 1-4) The train seen arriving and departing Redwood High School's stop along the Interurban line.
Image 5) The signal progression improves for the next EB Interurban at Redwood H.S.
Image 6-8) The train is seen arriving and holding at Hamilton Field.
Image 9-10) Passing Black Point Storage Facility and headed for the bridge, this train is reducing it's speed to a whopping 45 MPH to cross the bridge.

Regards,

-Frank C.

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[Frank C.]

Evening has come, the rain has all but dried up and the skies are bright with stars. Tonight a rare trackage rights train will traverse the NWP from American Canyon to Ignacio with CFNR power.

Image 1) Leaving American Canyon.
Image 2) Through the S Curves outside Schellville, CA., this train has finally gotten enough speed to it to maybe get to Ignacio in the next 45 minutes.

Regards,

-Frank C.

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[Frank C.]

The moon was high as I caught this light power move headed towards Petaluma, CA. Turns out the BNSF sent some older power for testing along the NWP and with it brought some interchange power to take a loaded grain train to Canada! What a great early Thanksgiving morning surprise! Later in the morning before heading home, I caught the same power doing some tests at Sears Point.

Image 1) Approaching Sears Point the moon is finally rising over the horizon.
Image 2) Between Sears Point and Black Point the moon is higher as the light power cruises past the intermediate.
Image 3) Waiting on a better signal at Ignacio, the power is set up to head West before going East as the BNSF 8621 doesn't have cab signals..
Image 4-7) It's still chilly out as NWP crews do a cab signal test with the 8621 outside Sears Point...Rumor is the NWP will buy 5 engines from BNSF. The NS 9034 is set to go out on the grain train to Canada later in the day but is being used as axles/power for the testing today.

Regards,

-Frank C.

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[Frank C.]

Early evening and it is time for the departure from Schellville to American Canyon. Today some unusual cars are on the headend to head back to the National Rail Network.

Image 1) Crew is onboard and has just air tested the train. Two SD9's are cut-in mid-train for the shove up and over Jameson Canyon.
Image 2) Rolling out of the yard the train is looking at a restricted speed leaving the yard and going around the wye.
Image 3) As they leave the wye, the depot platform disappears behind them in the near distance.
Image 4) Crossing the bridge at Lombard the train, despite a 45 MPH limit is barely crawling at 25 MPH.
Image 5) Running on a Diverging Adv. Approach, the train was coming across the bridge as W. Lombard dropped to a restricting aspect.
Image 6-7) Crawling into the yard at American Canyon finally they will yard the train among two tracks and take the passenger cars to the engine yard ready for an overnight trip out to the NRN.

Regards,

-Frank C.

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[Frank C.]

After a quick turn around of the power due to an issue with the ex-SP unit coming into American Canyon, this short Z train makes its way West towards Schellville and into the yard for a pickup at Schellville. The crew was amazed at someone being out in the POURING rain of NorCal shooting them as they went along.

Image 1) Shoving the train into the American Canyon Departure Yard, the power will then run down and around the wye.
Image 2-3) Having run around 3/4 of the wye, the UP unit is now in the lead as the LP backs to the train.
Image 4) Someone forgot the derail on the way back in. Thankfully they got stopped in time...
Image 5) Over the derail, laced up and doing an air test before departing again.
Image 6-7) Departing the American Canyon Departure/Engine Yard and headed West along the South end of the Wye towards Lombard.
Image 8) Cutting across Business-29, the UP 5793 notches up to head West on a Diverging Clear.
Image 9) Sitting at part of the Schellville Depot, the crew calls the NWP dispatcher to remind them that they need in the yard, not down the mainline.
Image 10) With a flashing red (Restricting) into Schellville Yard, the crew throttles up and passes the signal dropping it to RED as they cross over 3 Mainlines and the yard/depot lead as well as the very busy SR-12 through the Sonoma Valley. Today, not many cars are on the road as CHP has shut down much of SR-12 due to the localized flooding.

Regards,

-Frank C.

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[Frank C.]

After CFNR 103-108-201 switched out their train the power heads into the CFNR engine facility for the night...

Regards,

-Frank C.

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[Frank C.]

On the last rainy day we had, I heard of a special move from Willits to American Canyon and points East. The NWP3800 and SP7231 came up light power from San Rafael and picked up 5 ex-AMBOX cars that were going to be re-built at Alstom.

Image 1) CP Pieta and the train is working on an advance approach.
Image 2) Blasting through ASTI at 70 MPH this consist is hardly working as they drag these 5 empties WESTBOUND.
Image 3) Into a restricted speed zone of Healdsburg, CA., this train is sitting pretty at 29 MPH in a 30 zone.
Image 4 & 5) At the West end of Healdsburg, the train is about to pick up speed as it passes the old turntable.
Image 6) Crossing First Street in Healdsburg, CA., this train is about to cross the Russian River for the third time.
Image 7) Looking at a clear signal for now, the train speeds towards Windsor, CA., past the Healdsburg RV Storage track.
Image 8 & 9) Sitting on the freight bypass the train is waiting on the dispatcher to line a signal after Train 4 and S.M.A.R.T. 206 to clear.

Regards,

-Frank C.

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[Frank C.]

It's 0600 (6:00 A.M.) and the P&SR departs Santa Rosa, CA., for points West including Bodega Bay Yard. Some switching is done along the way, including down the P&SR Petaluma Branch.

Image 1) "In the distance" P&SR 600 crawls through the yard trackage headed for the Bodega Bay Yard.
Image 2) About to knock down the signal across the NWP, the P&SR 600 is crawling at a mere 10 MPH with a loaded train.
Image 3) Across the NWP and headed across the MoW road.

Regards,

-Frank C.

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[Frank C.]

It must be that time of the month again...MoW Monday!! NWPY1500 and two slugs shove a bunch of RCGX empties back towards Santa Rosa, CA., on the P&SR. They'll go down to Petaluma to the Rock Quarry for another load and head back out later today...

Image 1) Blasting through Graton, this train will make the climb back up to Santa Rosa, CA., shortly.

Image 2) 3 cars into the signal and the P&SR interchange signal drops on the crew unexpectedly. They came in on a RESTRICTING aspect.

Regards,

-Frank C.

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[Frank C.]

Yesterday was a rare treat for the kids as Thomas came to play on the Mt. Tam section of the NWP Railroad. Seen here, a double whammy took place. The TWO water tenders used to take water up to the top for the week came along for the ride back down the hill. At the end of the week, Thomas and the two water tenders are set over to the transfer track for the NWP to pick up later in the evening.

Regards,

-Frank C.

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