Chasing Trains For The First Time
On October 6 1996, my Dad took me out on what I consider to be my first time chasing trains. It was a Sunday and I remember it being cool out. Armed with my sisters cheap purple camera that used #110 film cartridges, I was ready for anything.
We started the day by sitting at the former location of the Provo, UT depot. After about a half hour of waiting the first train of my first train chasing adventure blasted by. A Union Pacific manifest freight with a C40-8 trio pulling. This was the first train I ever photographed. I had no idea what I was doing but I was so excited and I didn't care.
The chase was on! We followed the train through the cities of Springville and Spanish Fork. We then got a little ahead of it in Spanish Fork where I took this next photo.
We continued up and over Soldier Summit, a drive I had done many times before but never with the intent of chasing trains. Somehow the area was different now, I was at full alert. For those of you that have made this drive, you know that highway 6 parallels the right-of-way for most of the time. My eyes were fixed on the track, looking for anything that looked like a headlight of a train. When I would see one, my Dad would pull over where he could and I would run out of the car and snap a few pictures.
We went as far as Martin & Helper where I got a few photos of the Utah Railway SD40s and then the Rio Grande SD40T-2 & SD50 helper units.
On the way back home I was able to catch a few more before the day was done. Below are photos of Southern Pacific helpers on a west bound manifest and then 3 SP AC4400CW locomotives descending at Thistle, UT.
Throughout the rest of the day I saw and photographed many trains. Traffic is unfortunately much lighter through there now but I will occasionally try to chase something when I have time. After I got the film developed I spent many hours looking at the lousy photos I had taken (at the time I was quite proud). I have been on many exciting chases but none of them will ever be as good as this Sunday in October 1996 was.
Chris Brimley
3 Responses
JOHN RYNIEWICZ
This is great!
Sean L McCarthy
Thanks for the throw back, my first true trip was chasing the 4449 over Tehachapi Loop for 1984 worlds fair daylight. I had no idea those memories would last forever. Two SP diesels in full daylight colors with 4449 and it train, priceless.
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LEE CECIL
October 23, 2016
Thank you Sean. My son and I followed the 4449 train from the siding north of Bakersfield, over the Loop and on to Mojave. It was a thrill to stand beside the Beautiful 4-8-4. Thank you for bringing the fond memory to my mind. I will now spend the day reliving a 32 year old memory. Time passes too quickly.