Squid Pix

[Tater01]

Great shots as always!

Did you get to take a ride on the new engine, or at least in the tender box?

[Squid]

Great shots as always!

Did you get to take a ride on the new engine, or at least in the tender box?

No, I didn't ride. We got there just as a trip was leaving ... the next one would have been longer than we wanted to wait. Plus, had to get to a hobby shop in Springfield on the return trip ...

Regards,
Squid

[Squid]

Early on April 1st, 1995, I was at the summit of Cajon Pass in Southern California. Amongst railfans, Cajon Pass is legendary in the lore of mountain railroading. My purpose for being there that bright spring morning was simple: news was that the first ever run of the Santa Fe's newest locomotives from the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors would be making their first westbound run into the southern California area at the point of a hot intermodal train. The SD75Ms were attired in Santa Fe's famous "warbonnet" red and silver colors, arguably one of the most famous railroad schemes of all time.

Back in the day before the popularity of the internet exploded, railfans in socal passed information via a telephone hotline from a publication known as "Flimsies". It was expected that the train featuring the new SD75M locomotives would appear at the Summit of Cajon Pass sometime in the daylight, but there was no guarantee. I made the 100+ mile road trip to Summit (a legend in it's own right) and took station at an area just east of Summit, known as Martinez curve. If luck wasn't with me, at least I would be able to see 40-50 trains in a couple of hours worth of railfanning.

I set up for the "shot" that I wanted and waited. And waited. Finally, the scanner came to life and I got ready. I fired up my Nikon F3 and started my camcorder. And then, Santa Fe 206 came into view, straining against the curve as it headed towards the Summit. Loaded with trusty Kodachrome 64, I went to work.

Of all the shots that I took this day, this is my favorite. The locomotive serves today as BNSF 8206 ....

Regards,
Squid

[Squid]

As I have said before, back in the day when I was an active duty Squid, I was fortunate enough to do some neat things. Attached a a few photographs of flight operations onboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) in the summer of 1992. Camera was a Nikon F3 ...

Regards,
Squid

[Squid]

For your consideration are a couple of shots of the Battleship New Jersey in Long Beach, California ...

Regards,
Squid