We all arose and after checking out of the Reba Lodge, drove over to the Mad Chef for breakfast.
Here I had French Toast and three sausages for $3.45. This restaurant, which unfortunately closed in 2016, is Union Pacific 5111, ex 5105, built by American Car and Foundry in 1953. It is the dining room half of a twin unit diner built for the City of Denver. This car was part of the Railroader Restaurant chain in Riverside, California until the mid-1980's when that restaurant closed and the car was moved to Yuma.
From here we went to see Union Pacific 844 before it left Yuma at 8:00 AM MST.
Union Pacific 4-8-4 844 and its 16 car train today.
Union Pacific 844 steamed up and ready to go.
A detail shot of the steam engine.
Two rear shots of Union Pacific 844.
Union Pacific SD70ACe 1996, the Southern Pacific Heritage Unit. We then drove over to the Colorado River bridge west of town.
Union Pacific 7420 West crossed the Colorado River and entered California.
The Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park and Colorado River.
The Union Pacific bridge across the Colorado River.
It was really something to watch the birds take off from the bridge every time Union Pacific 844 blew its whistle then land back on the bridge. It kept happening until the train left Yuma at 8:16 AM MST and proceeded to the bridge.
Union Pacific 844 departed Yuma and crossed the Colorado River into California. From here we tried to beat the train across the Winterhaven Valley but slow drivers caused us to end up just following it. We entered Interstate 8 and overtook out, then exited on Ogilby Road which we took north back to the Union Pacific mainline, where we arrived just before the train.
Union Pacific 844 at Ogilby. We returned south to Interstate 8, taking that west and a Union Pacific Special Agent led us back the way we came out last night. He went via Calipatria and we went the way we went last night and beat him to Niland by seven minutes. We arrived just as Union Pacific 844 pulled in for its servicing stop; the train had met two trains since we had last seen him.
Union Pacific 844 has just arrived at Niland.
Union Pacific 4-8-4 844.
Two views of the steam engine being serviced. We departed here, passing a closed Border Patrol station at Wister and pulled off California Highway 111 just short of Bombay Beach at a spot of good lighting.
Union Pacific 7420 West near Bombay Beach.
Soon we saw Union Pacific 844 and train from about seven miles away getting closer and closer.
Union Pacific 844 passed us near Bombay Beach then we all became Railfans Chasing a Train.
Scenes from the chase.
Near Mecca, we caught up to the rear of the train which slowed considerably to meet a train at Mecca.
We then caught up to the front and Union Pacific 844 stopped at Mecca, so we pulled off and set up for the leaving Mecca shot once he resumed his journey.
Union Pacific 844 leaving Mecca. Due to traffic, we followed behind the train the rest of the way to Indio.
Union Pacific 844 was being serviced as we passed through Indio.
