BNSF Ballast Train on Cajon

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BNSF SD70ACe 9237 led an eastbound 4+2 (9237, 5161, 6978, 4117 + 7120, 7339) ballast train past Hill 582 on Cajon Pass, track 1, as a northbound UP manifest led by UP 7911 made an appearance on the Highline, 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 17, 2013.

BNSF 9237 is an EMD SD70ACe. Reportedly: it was built in 2008 serial number 20066862-108.

Years ago, Keel Middleton said, "Not sure where the ballast came from but your train here is the U-CNAPIS9-15B. It is a unit train from Corona, CA to Pisgah, CA. Looks like it might have originally came from Pedernal, NM and they spot dumped in various locations between Topock, AZ and Corona going west then turned back east dumping more until it was empty."

These photos were shot with my Nikon F100 and my second to the last roll of Fuji Astia film.

BNSF 9237 is an EMD SD70ACe. Reportedly: it was built in 2008 serial number 20066862-108.

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Analog Image, Nikon F100, Fuji Astia film, Upscaled Machine Scan 2013.6.3.2.1-ph

#train #trains #railroads #railroading #bnsf #emd #trainspotting #film #filmphotography #cajonpass #fujichrome 

SP S-12 2128 in Eugene

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Southern Pacific (SP) 2128 was in Eugene, Oregon on an unknown date in the summer of 1972. The Baldwin apparently brushed pretty close to something judging by the cab damage. SP 2128 is a Baldwin S-12. Reportedly: SP 2128 was built by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton in 1952 as an S-12, SP 1494 Class DS-114 serial number 75776. In 1965 it was renumbered to SP 2128 Baldwin S-12, SP Class B412-3. The disposition of this locomotive is reported as: To GE/Chrome Crankshaft, to Koppel Bulk Terminal 76 which became AGREX 76. June 1988 to Metropolitan Stevedore reportedly number 1, scrapped in November 1995.

Too crop or not to crop, that is the question. I am making these decisions on the photos I am scanning all the time. When I first took the photos I often shot further back. I only had a "normal" lens. Later, I thought of these photos as being flawed, as being too far away. Now, the loose cropping has provided something I had not thought of as being important then. That is, context.

Looking back on these photos I see them now as environmental portraits. The great photographer Brian Baer used to call environmental portraits of people, "mug shots with a wide angle lens." That's what these are, only with locomotives. They show the locomotive in it's world. They are kind of like static action shots.

Southern Pacific 2128 in Eugene, Oregon in the summer of 1972. The Baldwin isn't the only thing historical in this photo. All the roadnames on the boxcars shown here are gone too.
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Analog Image, Kodachrome Slide 2.5-341, Scan 2010.10.12.1.4-ph

#train #trains #railroads #railroading #southernpacific #blh #trainspotting #film #filmphotography #baldwin #eugene #kodachrome 

SP 355 in Roseville

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Southern Pacific (SP) F7A 355 was in Roseville, CA, apparently in Rotary Service, likely in the Spring of 1970. This may be my second train slide ever. Shot on Wards or Sears slide film.
According to SSW9389 on Trainorders, "SP 355 was classified as a passenger unit, class EP415A-3. It shows up in the 1971 Annual as one of two EP415 units remaining on the SP roster. There were a total of 37 F units included in the 1971 Annual. Don't have the 1972 Annual, but suspect this unit was retired after the major failure you described. The SP was purchasing large numbers of the SD45T-2s at the time and the 355 was most likely traded back to EMD." "Topper" said, "The retirement date I have for it shows to be 10/72."
SP 355 was an EMD F7A, SP Class EP415A-3. Reportedly it was built in 1952, construction number 17209, as SP (T&NO) 355 Class DF-9. It was reclassed in 1965. It was the last T&NO unit to operate in it's original three unit number when it was retired and sold in 1972.
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Analog Image, Unknown Slide Film 2.5-43, Scan 2010.10.6.1.3-ph

#train #trains #railroads #railroading #southernpacific #emd #trainspotting #film #filmphotography #roseville #funits 

HO BN (SP&S) ALCo C636 at CCMRC

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On Saturday, January 10, 2026, my Burlington Northern (BN) 4369 (SP&S) led a train past the "Salmonella" fishery at the California Central Model Railroad Club (CCMRC) in the historic Agnew depot in Santa Clara, CA.
The real BN 4369 was an ALCo C636. Reportedly: it was built in 1968, builders number 6010-04, as SP&S 343. After the merger it became BN 4369. It was retired circa 1980.
The real BN 4369 was an ALCo C636. Reportedly: it was built in 1968, builders number 6010-04, as SP&S 343. After the merger it became BN 4369. It was retired circa 1980.
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Apple iPhone 13 Max,
Images: 2026.1.12.7.12, 17, 19-ph

#trains #railroads #railroading #modelrailroading #HOscale #ccmrc #bowser #ALCo #burlingtonnorthern #sps #santaclara 

Model BN (SP&S) ALCo at CCMRC

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On Saturday, January 10, 2026, my BN 4369 (SP&S) led a train in the canyon while high above a daylight train headed in the other direction at the California Central Model Railroad Club (CCMRC) in the historic Agnew depot in Santa Clara, CA. My BN 4369 is an HO Bowser model.
The real BN 4369 was an ALCo C636. Reportedly: it was built in 1968, builders number 6010-04, as SP&S 343. After the merger it became BN 4369. It was retired circa 1980.
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Apple iPhone 13 Max,
Image: 2026.1.12.7.9-ph

#trains #railroads #railroading #modelrailroading #HOscale #ccmrc #bowser #ALCo #burlingtonnorthern #sps #santaclara 

SP Commute GP9 3003

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On an unknown date, in September 1972, Southern Pacific train 118 powered by commute GP9 3003 raced past a group of Train Masters that were waiting out the weekend in San Jose, CA.
SP 3003 was an EMD GP9, SP Class EP418-2. Reportedly it was built in 1954 as SP 5603, SP Class DF-603, serial number 19564. It became SP 3003, SP Class EP418-2 in the 1965 renumbering. In 1975 it was rebuilt becoming GP-9R 3186, SP Class EP418E-1. In 1995 it was retired and in 1996 it was sold to Progress Rail. In 2000 it became Western Rail (WRIX) 3186 rebuilt with a chopped nose. In 2006 it was resold to Kalama Export Co., in Kalama, WA. Current status not known.
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Kodachrome,
Slide 2.5-599, Scan 2008.2.17.1.5-ph

#train #trains #railroads #railroading #southernpacific #emd #trainspotting #film #filmphotography #sanjose #kodachrome 

WP eastbound at Keddie

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One of my early photos. Western Pacific (WP) 3522 and two WP friends led an ABBA set of Union Pacific locomotives, one UP GP30 two UP GP9Bs and a UP GP35 eastbound over Keddie Wye in August 1971.
WP 3522 was an EMD GP40. Reportedly: it was built in 1970, serial number 36783. Other reporting marks and numbers said to be associated with this include: UP 671 (assigned but never applied), CMNW 3005, PRLX 3005, CMNW 3522, BRC 236, PRLX 5610. Current status not known.
Please do not edit, crop, "correct" or "improve" these photos without asking me first.
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Unknown 35 mm film camera:
Slide 2.5-3538, Scan 2008.3.24.3.3-ph

#train #trains #railroads #railroading #film #filmphotography #EMD #westernpacific #trainspotting #blackandwhite