I would like to know what the sign on the hanrails of 6760 says. It should say "This locomotive once belonged to a great railroad but we came along and destroyed that. Now it is covered up forever by this hideous green and black."
Former Frisco 298-299 have worked the Pasco, WA hump for many years first as BN units and later as BNSF. In March 1999 I photographed the BN 6262 which is the former SLSF 298 at Pasco working the hump. http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=38986 In September of 1999 I photographed it again in Seattle after having had its monthly done at Interbay. The 6262 is headed back to Pasco. http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=38985 I photographed the SD38-2 again at Pasco working the hump 5-22-09 but now with a new number and paint scheme (and railroad for that matter!) It is now the BNSF 1802. http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=103661 Brian Ambrose Renton, WA
Last Saturday 8-30-09 I was in Tacoma, WA watching trains and keeping an eye out for any former Frisco units. I was on an overpass in the afternoon as I spotted southbound BNSF M-SEAPAS approaching. As it was on the near track an action photo would be too nose on so I decided to just roster anything that might be interesting in the consist. The lead BNSF GE I ignored but I could see the next two units were standard nosed which had me in a dilema. I would have time to only photograph one of them. As they got closer I saw the first one was BNSF 2121 but the second one was a 1500 series unit. That 1500 unit looked really clean so I gambled and shot the BNSF 1563 as it went under the bridge. After getting home I looked into the 1563's heritage and discovered it was the unit I had just discussed in the post before, former BNSF SD38-2 1802. (SLSF 298) It had recently been renumbered to 1563! http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=105005 And here I was a bit disappointed I had not photographed the 2121 and it turns out I'd caught a much more interesting former Frisco unit! Brian Ambrose Renton, WA
Brian, Another very nice angled shot - perfect lighting. It's obvious that you must plan your shots ahead of time? A couple questions: What model camera do U use? I did not know about the twin beacons on the roof? And - What is the "round" thing that is sort of between them? - not talking about the firecracker antenna.
Keith .. Kind of thought that. Would be a great way to keep up with exactly where a train is at any given time. Had not mentioned it to you, but, I like your new Avatar. Have your eyes straightened out after the Kadee installing episode?
Thanks for the kind words Sherrel. It is probably more my being in the right place at the right time then anything else. I had no idea of what was coming on that train. It was moving around 30 MPH so I did not have a whole lot of time to think about what locomotives to photograph. In the photo you can see the rear of the 2121 and it looks pretty faded while the 1563 was shiny and clean. I probably chose the 1563 to photograph as I did not know what I would find when I'd look up its heritage later. I knew the heritage of the 2121 when I saw the number. As for the camera I use it is an Olympus SP-550UZ digital with 7.1 megapixels. Nothing fancy but it is compact with a great focal range and built tough. Plus it takes decent photos. I got it a few years back and have had no problems with it, and it fits in my coat pocket for those cold winter days. The 1563 was on its way back to Pasco. Probably had its monthlys at Interbay in Seattle. It has been assigned to the Pasco hump for years. Those two beacons make me think it is a remote unit though BNSF had been marking all of them as such. Not sure what on the cab roof would identify it as being remote equipped besides the beacons. Brian Ambrose Renton, WA
