I saw a post on Trainorders.com one morning back in early February about the Feather River Express that would be run on April 1st and 2nd. About twenty minutes later, a link was posted about how to get tickets on-line. I followed the link after making a phone call and purchased a ticket On-line. A few minutes later I got a confirmation E-mail. I told Chris Parker about it and he wanted to go. He came over one night and we went through the same steps I did and thought we had gotten him a ticket too. About a week before I posted a question asking about if the Feather River railroad Museum would be open since I had a friend coming with me. That led to an E-mail asking me who was traveling with me. It turned out that Chris didn't have a ticket on the train and it was sold out. He made some phone calls and I posted on three railfan boards, Trainorders.com, Railroadnews.net and Trainweb.com hoping to get Chris an extra ticket. I watched the boards for days but nothing. Chris then had an idea. He would ride with me to Oakland, then take the California Zephyr to Sparks, a Thruway Bus to Sacramento before riding the train at the California Railroad Museum. We kept in contact right up to the night before the trip.
Up at 4:52 AM, I prepared for the trip, checked my E-mail and packed before driving to the Santa Ana Train Station. I left the car there until early Monday AM then bought my Metrolink Ticket to Los Angeles.
Metrolink Train 603 pulled into Santa Ana on time and I boarded the Cab Car. As I traveled to Los Angeles, I enjoyed a Coca-Cola. We arrived into LAUPT at 7:12 AM and I walked out to the Bus Plaza where I found Chris Parker waiting for me. A couple of minutes later the bus driver loaded the bus and at 7:28 AM we proceeded to Glendale to pick up a single passenger. We hit the rain before Sylmar and continued up the south slope of the Grapevine. Chris and I talked the entire way to Bakersfield making for another nice bus ride. We pulled into Bakersfield thirty minutes early.
The Bakersfield Station.
Our train had guest BNSF 4084 leading our train to Oakland.
BNSF 4331 West passed through the station before the door was open.
San Joaquin 713 3/31/06This San Joaquin train featured the BNSF 4084 Dash 9-44W, Amtrak 160 P-42DC. 8009 Santa Ana River, 8007 Russian River, 8803 San Gabriel Valley and the 6964 Point Arena. We left Bakersfield on time running to Wasco where a new station is being built. North at Elmo we ran through the siding around a BNSF eastbound and at Allensworth we met Amtrak 702 in the siding waiting for us. A compression failure on our P42DC was the reason the BNSF unit is on the point of our train. We stopped in Corcoran then Hanford and Fresno.
Views of the California Cafe Car.
Views of a California Coach.
San Joaquin 713 at Fresno.
View of the train with the Fresno station sign. Later at Gregg we held the main to meet the BNSF 4606 East. We ran to Madera and at West Sharon met BNSF 4090 then backed into the siding to let a late running San Joaquin 714 to head south. After a slow order at Le Grand we made our way to Merced for a fresh air stop. Here Chris enjoyed seeing for the first time the use of the California Car Wheel Chair Lift. A naughty BNSF eastbound at Atwater blocked our view of the Castle Air Museum before we paused at Turlock/Denair then onto Modesto.
On the way there we spotted this cloud trying to form a tornado. My camera is out and ready just in case it does.
More views of the not so friendly cloud. We just heard a report that a BNSF Remote Control Unit had derailed east of the Bakersfield yard. This afternoon got more interesting as we turned northwest into Riverbank and headed into the wet sector of the storm. Did it ever pour, complete with flashes of lightning. At East Stockton we passed a late running San Joaquin 716 before arriving into Stockton.
The Stockton Station during another downpour. I enjoyed a Coca-Cola as the train crossed the California Delta. The train proceeded to Antioch as the rain continued to fall. The rain let up as we stopped at Martinez and the clouds became interesting as we ran west down the Carquinez Straits to San Pablo Bay which was beautiful in today’s unique light. The train stopped at Richmond, ran through Berkeley and onto Emeryville. We rolled through by the Amtrak Coach Yard, down the street at Jack London Square and arrived into Oakland at 5:18 PM{4:25 PM}. We said goodbye to Conductor James and started walking to the hotel.
Oakland 3/31/06
Capitol Train 541 pulled into the Oakland Station. With a light rain we set up for more action across the street from the Jack London Inn under an awning.
Capitol Train 540 headed for Sacramento.
Another deadhead move to the coachyards.
A westbound Union Pacific came down the street next.
The Amtrak then beat the freight through Jack London Square.
The freight chasing the Amtrak.
Behind him came our train deadheading to the Amtrak Coach Yard.
After all that action, we crossed the street to check into the Jack London Inn getting Room 326 overlooking the tracks. After checking my E-mail hoping for good news about Chris getting a ticket, we walked over to the waterfront.
View of a container ship being turned by a hard working tug.
A view towards the western hills across the San Francisco Bay. We ate at Tony Romos where I enjoyed a steak while watching the trains pass through Jack London Square. We walked back via the former Western Pacific Station before returning to the room for the night. We watched the History Channel’s program about Saddam Hussein and a link to the Nazis of Germany. A fascinating program in which I learned more about several present and past issues as the trains rolled by outside our window. I took a waterfall shower and then called it a night.
Oakland 4/1/06
After another "Waterfall Shower", I went to check E-mail before joining Chris for a continental breakfast. We checked out and walked to the station in a light rain. While Chris was buying his ticket to Emeryville, I heard a UP Eastbound approaching.
UP 5775 East rolled through Jack London Square. Knowing our train would be coming into the station, we relocated to the pedestrian bridge.
Our Capitol Train for Emeryville came into the station from Jack London Square. We boarded this train but it wouldn't leave until 7:15 AM.
San Joaquin 712 sat ready to head south to Bakersfield. Capitol Train 520 left Oakland on time and we were off for the quick trip to Emeryville.
Eastbound Feather River Express 4/1/06As the rain continued I detrained to look for shelter. Chris went off so I wouldn't be seeing him again as I met a few friends. I decided to relocate under the pedestrian bridge for more cover. It stopped raining so I moved to where Car One would be stopping.
San Joaquin Train 712 running late came through Emeryville.
At 8:12 AM our Feather River Express pulled into Emeryville.
WP Hearld was added to the front of the 146. Thanks you to Ryan Martin for this photo. I found my name above my seat. Our train departed Emeryville at 8:24 AM and was off to Portola with our first stop being Richmond this morning. This special train had the P42DC’s 146 and 79, Café/Business 58107, Horizon Coaches 51000, 54535, 54509 and 54565, Great Dome 1000, Coaches 54505, 54503 and 54013, Overland Trail, Coaches 54577, 54508 and 54523, Café/Business 58100 and CB&Q 377 Silver Solarium. I got this consist walking the train saying hello to many of my fellow passengers.
View inside the Great Dome.
Views inside the Overland Trail.
Our train passed through Port Costa with the former Southern Pacific Ferry Dock pilings.
The view towards the bridge at Martinez before our train pulled into that station. Our train was loaded from front to the rear.
Crossing the Carquinez Straits. We stopped later at Davis then crossed the flooded Yolo Bypass. The open Drawbridge before Sacramento cost us a few minutes.
Randy from Albuquerque, who had been with me on many Milwaukee Road 261 Trips and who I would share a table in the front cafe for the trip with. I called Lets Talk Trains, the Internet Radio Show, that airs every Saturday morning from 10 AM to 12 PM Pacific Time or 24/7 in the archives. The train stopped in Sacramento and loaded another large group of passengers.
The Feather River Express took the connection at Haggin to get to the old Western Pacific. The train once onto the former WP pulled into the siding at Del Paso for a westbound UP 3498.
Flooded areas north of Del Paso. At Pleasant Grove we met a late running Coast Starlight before we ran across the Bear River into Marysville. At Binney Junction there were plenty of happy passengers as we continued straight on the former Western Pacific.
The Sutter Buttes before we had a slow order for water against the embankment. We ran on to Oroville where we picked up the final six passengers for this trip.
Western Pacific steamer 164 is on display across from the Oroville Station.
After Leaving Oroville we crossed the Feather River and started on the relocated trackage built because of the Oroville Dam on the original river route. We skirted the western flank of Table Mountain. Our train ran through Kramm and Elsey before we caught up to an eastbound stack train we could see ahead of us.
The train stopped before Tunnel 4 to wait for the stack train to go through James on the other side of the tunnel. There was a work gang at James so after we got permission to pass through their limits, we proceed through James. Our train crossed the West Branch of Lake Oroville on the lower lever of the Highway 70 Bridge then plunged into Tunnel 5.
A red signal before Tunnel 6 causing another stop for the train. The signal then turned yellow and we proceeded through Tunnel 6 and 7 to Dark Canyon. After a short period of daylight we headed into the longest tunnel on this railroad today, Tunnel 8, a 8856 foot affair. We exited out onto the arched North Fork Bridge and returned to the original Western Pacific Route through the Feather River Canyon.
Two views of the North Fork Bridge. We were now following the North Fork of the Feather River. At Poe a westbound UP freight was in the siding for our passage.
Views as we headed east towards Pulga.
The train heading under the Highway 70 Bridge at Pulga and there we passed that stack train, the UP 5535 East. The train ran by the Poe Diversion Dam.
Views of the Feather River Canyon between Pulga and Merlin. At Merlin we ran through the siding to get by a high rail truck with its right wheels between the rails.
Our train crossing Rock Creek Bridge. We proceeded across the Highway 70 bridge at Tobin where the SP 8556 was in the siding then onto Camp Rodgers where more red signals were waiting to stop our progress. After stopping at both ends of Camp Rodgers we proceeded east again.
The Rock Creek Dam followed by our passage through the Honeymoon Tunnels then onto Belden where a green signal was waiting for our train.
Joe Harper, the fantastic videographer.
The Feather River Express passed the point where the North Fork of the Feather heads north to Lake Almanor and our route follows Spanish Creek.
Above Twain.
The Serpentine Canyon. At Virgilia we passed the BNSF 41177 East and made our way to Paxton. The train then went through Tunnel 23.
Bridge on the High Line. We then proceeded through Tunnel 24, across a bridge into Tunnel 25 out onto the Keddie Wye
Our train on the Keddie Wye. Sorry for the blurred image but since this was historical I added to the story. Sometimes my camera doesn't work to well in low light. The Feather River Express passed through Quincy Jct.
Next our train rounded the Williams Loop then we went into the siding at Spring Garden. It turned into night as we waited for the UP 5425 West and UP 7042 West. A green signal and minutes later we plunged into the Spring Garden Tunnel.
This is Lyn and Ron Gomes who were celebrating their second wedding anniversary. They were married on the Niles Canyon Railroad on April 24th, 2004. We stopped at Sloat for the UP 4232 West. The train then backed out of the siding at Sloat before proceeding through the night to Blairsdan, across the Clio Viaduct and into Portola. We backed into the House Track and came to a stop at 8:15 PM ending a fantastic eastbound trip aboard the Feather River Express.
Portola 4/1/06As I walked across the bridge over the railroad the sole on my boot came off. I made my way to Highway 70 and on the way to my motel I stopped and bought some white glue as that was the only glue this store had. I checked in at the Sierra Hotel and got my room. I made a few phone calls then glued the sole back onto my shoe. I took a great shower and called it a night.
4/2/06 A shorter night due to the time change early this morning, I got up and prepared for my day. I left my key in the key drop before I walked into town. The sole came off again so the white glue was a waste of time. I made it to the Station Cafe for a breakfast of a waffle, sausage and orange juice which I enjoyed at a table overlooking the yard. After a great meal, I walked down to the yard wondering what to do about my foot wear.
I took these pictures of the rear of our train with the Silver Solarium with its unique
tail light. I started walking towards the engine when a Silver Toyota Highlander pulled
up to me with none other than Chris Parker at the wheel. Chris had taken the California
Zephyr to Sparks, stayed at the Nugget and took a shuttle to the Reno Airport to get the
vehicle. His new plan was to chase our train, return the car at Sacramento Airport and
fly home. We stowed my stuff in his car then drove down to shot my train at rest in Portola.
The Feather River Express at rest at Portola. Chris saw my foot problem then suggested we go back into town to find a solution to the problem. 8 AM on a Sunday morning in a small town meant only one choice, the town's supermarket. I bought a tube of Super Glue and a pack of napkins. Using the exhaust from the Highlander, we warmed the sole and the boot, cleaned the white glue off then crazy glued it back together which worked. We drove back to the train and I put my stuff aboard. Once I had done that, I decided to give Chris the "Grand Tour" of the Portola Railroad Museum.
We drove in to park. The first order of business was to get a good picture of the Southern Pacific 0-6-0 1215 that once was Burris Park south of Kingsburg that Chris and I had gone looking for on the way to Winterail this year.
The Western Pacific lives in Portola. I then gave Chris a complete tour of the museum.
View of some of the engines in the collection.
More locomotives on display.
Quincy Railroad 3 and 4 on display.
Inside the former Western Pacific Engine House. After I showed Chris a few more things outside he drove me back to the train and I gave him directions for his chasing of the Feather River Express. We said our goodbyes and he drove off while I got on the train.