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I'm surprised no one has posted anything about it yet, but I'm sure everyone knows that the 3751 and train will be departing LA for an excursion to Williams, AZ and will return the following week.
For those of you who don't have any information on it, check out http://www.sbrhs.org/2002schedule.html which tells the whole schedule from start to finish.
For tomorrow's departure, the train will not be using BNSF's Los Angeles Sub via Fullerton, but instead will be using a Metrolink route that is part of the former Pasadena Sub.
Eric Member # 674
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Thanks for the website. I'm hoping to get over to Williams to watch the train come in, but I'm not sure if you have to be an NRHS member to stay for the activities. Anyone else in this part of the country going to watch it roll by?
SteveD Member # 43
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Possibly no one mentioned it here because there was so much good info about it on alternate websites? Hope you all got out to enjoy it, and might post pix here of the wonderful occassion!
atsf3751 Member # 1538
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Well now that it's taken place, the new thread is now how did it go?
From what I saw, I would say it went quite well overall, with the train staying relatively on time through most of the trip. I started chasing it in La Verne and was able to go as far as Ludlow in the desert. It was one of the best-looking excursion trains I have seen to date, with several cars that I have never seen before including a very nice looking MKT observation car on the rear.
The train went up the old Pasadena Sub and stopped in Montclair to meet a Metrolink. It looked very nice starting out - lots of smoke and steam and chuffing. Lots of people came running out of the surrounding businesses when they heard it blow the whistle for the crossing.
Going up Cajon Pass, the train had to stop twice because of problems with two of the cars, but in some relatively photogenic locations. Beyond Cajon I saw it near Victorville (but a passing freight got in the way) and then again near Helendale.
Caught up with it again in Barstow and saw it take on water, and then barely caught up with it again at Ludlow, as the train never slowed below 60mph and looked to be doing at least 70 at certain spots in the desert.
All in all, a very nice excursion (though unfortunately probably the last for quite a while) with one of if not THE best =) big steam engines out there.
Chuck Walsh Member # 677
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Understand the Pentrex folks were there to record the entire round trip and will be selling VHS/DVDs for $20.00 + shipping.
Eric Member # 674
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I'm going to "chase" the train tomorrow on its way out of Williams, and find a few photography spots along the way.
Eric Member # 674
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Myself and about 25 other railfans chased the train to Hell Canyon (north of Prescott, AZ), and watched it cruise over the trestle there. Everyone was talking, and then someone yelled, "Here it comes!" The whole place got extremely quiet, and the chug, chug, chug got louder. The second the 3751 hit the trestle, smoke started pouring out of its stack. It was a great show. My dad had the video camera, and I managed to click off about 6 shots with my camera. We tried to beat it to a highway overpass, and I could have sworn we were ahead of it, but it had actually passed about 6-8 minutes ahead of us. It was impossible to get ahead of it with stop lights, so we had to give up. But we went to Clarkdale to watch the Verde Canyon Train, which was fun, too!
atsf3751 Member # 1538
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I caught 3751 one last time this evening in Fullerton. I initially went to the station, but it was so full of people that I decided to go try Valencia St. which parallels the tracks just beyond the station. There were far fewer people here - much better for viewing.
The train was running about 30-45 minutes behind but it finally came through at 8:30. It was going quite slowly but sure looked good coming through Fullerton. The diesels were only idling so there was nothing to be heard but the sweet chuff-chuff of steam and the whistle which it blew for each of the three crossings. The darkness also allowed the flickering fire to be seen. It looked quite ghostly looming out of the darkness with its single yellow headlight and smoke and steam lapping at its sides.
SteveD Member # 43
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Spent all afternoon waiting at Horseshoe Bend Monday. Watched numerous freights and Metrolinks pass by, of which one pig train parked all day on track one between us and other mains, we gave up on steam train at 6P, heading for dinner at Fullerton, then joined hundreds on the platform and nearby to enjoy her sweet passing about 8:30 in a classic O. Winston Link night time scene. Observed lots of fans and other public strung out along both sides of Esperanza Blvd. beside tracks between Horseshoe and Atwood. Noted several people on TrainWeb stairs and assumed they had pizza ordered, but we were set on speghetti.
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