Wow - 3016 views (as of 1/2/04) and not one comment? Well, this will change that. Must have been a pretty awesome sight (and sound!) hearing them chug up the grade. Great shot!
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Breathtaking view, Superb Photo, I wish I could be there to see that.
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I have a Pentrex video with this in it. Excellent Shot! I believe both were on thier way to LAUPT.
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it would have been nice to see a real "race" no diesels with 8444, the same amount of cars in each consist..
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| Posted by mc5725 on June 20, 2005 | |
With an SD60M and an E9A behind 8444, who do you think would win the race?
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I dont think the E9 and the SD60M were helping the 8444 up the hill. I think they were used on the downhill run only for dynamic braking
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| Posted by Mike Woodruff on August 17, 2006 | |
Actually, the SD60 and E9 were in Run 8 just about the entire time. It's pretty obvious on the soundtrack of the Pentrex video.
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Yea they are running look at the smoke coming from them...The dirty cheaters at UP...good for nothing...
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| Posted by Kevin on January 26, 2007 | |
I was in Hesperia, CA, at the top of Cajon Pass when this happened. It was amazing to see first 4449 charge by and a few minutes later followed by 8444 also with a mile-high plume. That day is what cemented me to be a railfan for the rest of my life.
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Yeah I have the Pentrex video of this historic trip as well over Cajon Pass. Beautiful shot Mike! Where you able to smell the soot in the air when they passed?
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Notice the 4449 does not have a diesel helper!
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8444 probaly has some diesels on it because its got more cars
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This whole event is gonna have to be repeated, this time with the ATSF 3751 included!
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Great Angle! I was chasing them that day too, wishing for a box of stingers to take out the news choppers.
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If it was really a race, type on type, it would be no contest. The UP Northern's were rated at over 100 mph during their day. As much as I love Doyle McCormick's Daylight, it would be no contest if they were running loco's only. The 844 would win going away.
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WOW!!!
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| Posted by Eli W. on February 14, 2011 | |
Who won?
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I have that on my SP 4449 VHS
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There never really was a race. I was the pilot on the train from West Colton to Bakersfield. Approaching Dike (or Devore if you're a Santa Fe fan) we had to lay back and kill a few minutes so the 844 could catch up to us. We had been in radio contact with them for the last 30 or 40 minutes so we would arrive at nearly the same time when the two main tracks came together. The 4449 was at her max. Fireman George Lavacot was doing a great job keep the pressure right at 300 pounds.
As for the 4449 almost coming to a stop as we approached the siding at Canyon, that was my fault and I take full responsibility for it. As we were coming into Canyon Doyle asked me where he, the 844, was going as they got farther away from the SP main track. I forgot to tell him the 844 had to (for lack of a better term) swing out away from the SP main track at Cajon before we would be running parallel to each other again. Right about the time that Mr. Woodruff took his photo, Doyle turned to me and said, "Isn't this great? I have goose bumps on my arm from this." He showed me his left arm and it was covered with goose bumps. I think he was having more fun than I was.
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| Posted by Carl K on March 19, 2015 | |
Great shot Mike. I wish I could have been there with you.
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