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Posted: 6/1/2008 5:12:13 PM EDT
Santa Fe 3751 pulled an Amtrak Special from LA to San Diego and back today.

Here are my pictures and the story:

My wife and I waited for it at the Sorrento Valley Station.  It was close to home and I wanted to see it running, not just sitting there downtown.  It was due downtown San Diego around 1130, so I figured it would pass Sorrento Valley around 11 or so.  It didn’t show up until 12:40.  I was only able to take two pictures because it was going pretty fast.

Here they are:





We then went downtown to see it close up.  We arrived just before they sent it back up to the wye at Miramar to turn it around for the northbound trip.

Here are my pictures from downtown San Diego:















Then it was gone.

I really enjoyed seeing it.
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 5:13:28 PM EDT
[#1]
That's pretty cool.

Link Posted: 6/1/2008 5:17:45 PM EDT
[#2]
I think the Northern is one of the best looking steam engines ever.
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 5:19:30 PM EDT
[#3]
That's a pretty beast.  Nice pics.
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 5:20:18 PM EDT
[#4]
nice pics!
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 5:21:06 PM EDT
[#5]
If there was ever a machine with a soul, it is a steam locomotive.

Link Posted: 6/1/2008 5:22:41 PM EDT
[#6]
big beast of a machine
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 5:26:59 PM EDT
[#7]

Quoted:
If there was ever a machine with a soul, it is a steam locomotive.


+1

I've gotten to spend some time around a few, and they are absolutely fascinating, especially  if you're mechanically inclined. They literally are alive and breathing. It's something that's lost in our sanitization of transport.


Everyone should go out of their way to ride behind one at least once. It's a experience unlike anything else in transportation.
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 5:40:20 PM EDT
[#8]
Cool!  
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 5:40:22 PM EDT
[#9]
What do they run it on?  Heating element in the boiler, and a bunch of batteries in the coal car?
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 5:42:25 PM EDT
[#10]
dude i am so jealous that you live in SD, that is my place to move to and my company HQ is in Mira Mesa, but it's hard for me to give up all my guns
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 6:29:42 PM EDT
[#11]
Northern?

Big beautiful beastie.

NTM
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 6:30:34 PM EDT
[#12]

Quoted:
If there was ever a machine with a soul, it is a steam locomotive.



Truth. I wish there were more active puffer bellies.
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 6:35:13 PM EDT
[#13]
I am surprised those are legal to drive in California.  
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 7:20:14 PM EDT
[#14]

Quoted:
I am surprised those are legal to drive in California.  


For some reason, people always seem to underestimate what is legal in CA.

NTM
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 10:26:44 PM EDT
[#15]

Quoted:
Northern?

Big beautiful beastie.

NTM


Northern is the name given to engines with a wheel arrangement of 4-8-4.  4 small wheel truck under the cylinders, 8 big main driving wheels and 4 wheel truck under the firebox.

That particular class on the Santa Fe was known to run in excess of 100 miles an hour in the good old days.

On this trip I've heard that they only went about 60, maybe 70.  My son is still pissed that I didn't try to chase it this time.
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 10:30:22 PM EDT
[#16]

Quoted:
I am surprised those are legal to drive in California.  


drive???
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 10:31:24 PM EDT
[#17]
very nice and saved for some family, thank you.
Link Posted: 6/1/2008 11:26:11 PM EDT
[#18]
That is awesome.
Link Posted: 6/2/2008 12:32:17 AM EDT
[#19]
Awesome!!!!!
Link Posted: 6/2/2008 1:36:02 AM EDT
[#20]

Quoted:
Northern is the name given to engines with a wheel arrangement of 4-8-4.  4 small wheel truck under the cylinders, 8 big main driving wheels and 4 wheel truck under the firebox.


Sorry. I meant I wasn't 100% sure if it was a 4-8-4 or not. Was having some difficulty counting the smaller wheels.

I do believe my dad has a model of the class, by Bachmann.

So how many people don't call a 2-8-2 a Mikado?

NTM
Link Posted: 6/2/2008 2:13:51 AM EDT
[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Northern is the name given to engines with a wheel arrangement of 4-8-4.  4 small wheel truck under the cylinders, 8 big main driving wheels and 4 wheel truck under the firebox.


Sorry. I meant I wasn't 100% sure if it was a 4-8-4 or not. Was having some difficulty counting the smaller wheels.

I do believe my dad has a model of the class, by Bachmann.

So how many people don't call a 2-8-2 a Mikado?

NTM


The only RR that went out of their way to not call them that was the UP in WW2, they changed the name to MacArthurs.

A few eastern roads sometimes had their own names for some classes but most went with the standard.  And that was usually assigned by the builder or buyer of the first order of the new wheel arrangement.

Although there was one arrangement where the SP broke ranks, 2-10-0's were called Decapods, by almost all roads and 2-10-2's Santa Fe's since the Santa Fe developed the first practical 2-10-2's.  the SP called their 2-10-2's Decapods or decks
Link Posted: 6/2/2008 1:01:46 PM EDT
[#22]
Link Posted: 6/2/2008 1:03:26 PM EDT
[#23]
Sorry I missed it!  It looks right in place at the old station.
Link Posted: 6/2/2008 1:03:51 PM EDT
[#24]
Link Posted: 6/2/2008 1:11:04 PM EDT
[#25]

Quoted:
I have the Lionel model of that locomotive released a few years ago. It's a beautiful machine. I really wish Frisco 1522 was still running.


Here, here.  I live in Rolla and sure would have liked to seen it under steam.  We have 1501 in town and I like to stop by every once in awhile and take a gander and imagine what it would look like on the track.
Link Posted: 6/2/2008 1:25:30 PM EDT
[#26]
Link Posted: 6/6/2008 2:28:25 PM EDT
[#27]
Awesome pics.  There is nothing like a steam engine running by you at speed!!
Link Posted: 6/6/2008 2:30:24 PM EDT
[#28]
That's a beautiful engine.
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