UP 7734 Taking the Main at Salton - There is usually a good story to go along with each adventure while railfaning a new area. The one that goes with this photo is as follows: While standing at a private grade crossing on UP's Yuma Sub at Salton (next to the Salton Sea) the four of us were watching the westbound stack train in the picture above on the siding at Salton. In the distance, some five miles westward (to the left in the picture) we could see an eastbound auto train also pulled into a siding since the main at this point is single track. Over the radio we could hear the dispatcher telling a second eastbound (to our left in the picture) that he was going to meet an eastbound (the auto train) and then the westbound (the stack train to our right) at Salton. - - While we were waiting, the following discussion occurred over the radio: Hey 8646 (The westbound stacker to our right) are you guys driving a stream train or something? 8646 (The lead unit of the eastbound about 10 miles out that is running around the two trains in the sidings) No, why do you ask? (From the westbound) - Because there is a bunch of foamers up here at Salton waiting for you. At which point we all turn towards the westbound and wave. After the eastbound cleared, the guys in the westbound dropped us a bag of cold bottled water. Thanks guys, it really hit the spot because even in March, the temperature in the sun was approaching 90 degrees.
