Detouring "Coast Starlight" with iconic windmills above.

Southbound "Coast Starlight" detouring over Altamont Pass on a beautiful spring morning.

The 844 is eastbound approaching the summit of Altamont Pass on the former Western Pacific during its visit to California last year.

A detouring IG2OA crests the 1 percent of Altamont Pass, and starts its slow decent towards the East Bay, and eventually Oakland. I began my chase here of Miss Katy, and ended it just six miles do... (more)

The vibrant and colorful trainset of ACE 02 contrasts nicely against the emerald green hills of Altamont Pass, as it heads East towards Stockton.

S.P. CO. A.D. 1909...The summit tunnel of the Altamont Pass hasn't been full of Locomotive exhaust since about 1985. Kind of strange the SP included A.D. in the concrete, they must have thought th... (more)

Although the 1995 was the last engine the day before, that meant it would lead the eastbound MSJRV the next day. The railfans were out in force for the occasion. Seen here crossing the bridge at... (more)

An eastbound intermodal runs through Altamont pass as the California poppies start to bloom and the hills turn green.

The old Southern Pacific right of way lays abandoned, without rails while an Eastbound Union Pacific stacktrain cruises by, passing the old code line poles of the SP... All amongst the rolling hil... (more)

The MRVSJ rolls through the shoe-fly just East of Livermore on a windy, warm Spring afternoon.

An overpowered Lathrop Shuttle heads back East through Altamont Pass. It ended up flagging every signal because of the slow moving UP 844 in front of it.

A trio of EMD's roll West through the shoefly, about 10 miles from downtown Livermore. Much thanks to John Ryan, Ryan Parent, and Ron Cady for suggesting the location and also providing entertainm... (more)

Steam in s-curves... UP 844 chugs up the 1.0% grade, rounding the S-Curves just East of Livermore.

Here comes the 844 -- and a caravan of pacers!

UP 844 enters a set of s-curves East of Livermore leading the Western Tour Excursion. Per radio chatter later in the day, they had boiler issues pulling into Stockton.