Heck of a chase for 844 (Personal "Log" of an epic chase)

[Z-trains]

I can't tell you how lucky I was for this chase. People were taking Insane grab shots at the most crazy places, and slow drivers were around like crazy. So if you don't mind, sit back and enjoy the soon to be posted video, and this "Log" of what took place.

1: We got up at 6 AM to see 844. Wound up at Bluecut, saw Amtrak's westbound Southwest Chief, a westbound UP with an AC4400CW third in consist, then relocated to Keenbrook.

2: Keenbrook. After learning that 844 was going to go up the Palmdale, we relocated to Keenbrook to get a better shot. After seeing around five trains , 844 arrives on the BNSF main, having crossed over from the Palmdale to allow a south-bound stacktrain (Dubbed several years ago "The K-liner" because of the large number of K-line containers on it) Belching out steam as it worked it's way upgrade.

3:Alray. After turning around and going back to the I-15, we raced along at 50 MPH down a forest service road to barely get it climbing out of the freeway underpass at Alray.

4: Lugo. Driving like crazy up the 138 to summit, we saw the 844 park to make sure 96's dynamics were up to the downhill grade. Driving to Lugo we caught an Eastbound going around 50 downhill with almost all UPS containers. After the train 844 came downhill with 96's brakes howling.

5: Lenwood. After getting stuck in traffic in Hesperia, we arrived at the National trails highway to find 844 steaming out of town right before our eyes. U-turning back onto the 15, we raced up to Lenwood to find a beautiful spot where some poor chap's house had burned down, revealing a lovely open valley behind the train. Not five minutes after we had gotten there 844 showed up again to stop at Barstow.

6: Barstow, five train Meet! We went over to a bluff on the East side of the yard and lo and behold, 844 comes and pulls up to the Harvey house. Then a yard job with an unpatched BN SD40-2 pulls up a half-mile down, two eastbounds, and one westbound pull up. This was the most amazing thing I have honestly seen in all of railroading ever. So the two Eastbound simultaneously depart, and 844 comes up and by me. Great way to end an extremely long chase.

Video to be posted later tonight (My other one already has over 100 )

Zach

[Amtrak/Santa Fe Boy]

I swear I did not see you at Keenbrook.Where were you and what was the color of your car???
Sounds like an awesome day.Good job!

[AmtrakFan454]

Astounding.

Well, at least you folks didn't have to deal with our "noise pollution" in Cajon.

[Z-trains]

(11-19-2011 06:55 PM)Amtrak/Santa Fe Boy Wrote:  I swear I did not see you at Keenbrook.Where were you and what was the color of your car???
Sounds like an awesome day.Good job!

I was up on the actual curve east of the crossing.
My dad's car is a White Honda Ridgeline.

Zach

[Amtrak/Santa Fe Boy]

(11-20-2011 09:23 AM)Z-trains Wrote:  

(11-19-2011 06:55 PM)Amtrak/Santa Fe Boy Wrote:  I swear I did not see you at Keenbrook.Where were you and what was the color of your car???
Sounds like an awesome day.Good job!

I was up on the actual curve east of the crossing.
My dad's car is a White Honda Ridgeline.

Zach

Ahh,okay. We were under the tracks before the signal sorta trespassing on the dirt road,but we weren't hassled.
No one was there,too.