OK, not actual streetcars, but that’s the way traffic was moving today through Vancouver center. It’s a shame that I couldn’t go check out the shops during my lunch hour because the trains never stopped moving through the center. As I was headed that way I heard a dogcatch crew on an H-RRBVAW say they were ready to head into the yard… I caught the train at 11th street and wished it’s power had been reversed… it had the BNSF 5309 (C44-9W, Heritage II) and the BNSF 7765 (ES44DC, Power Bar).
I zipped over the depot parking lot to shoot a 3-window winged SD60M leading a SD40-2 on the MPSPD (UP 2332, UP 3143).
As he turned the corner onto the bridge, the northbound IG1SE came off the bridge with four EMDs and pulled up to a red block at the center. When he got the signal to pull north I shot this new angle which I’m semi-happy with, and will be happier with when I do it with some morning sunlight and slightly better cropping.
I’ve been known to take pictures of people enjoying trains. Here’s a photo taken by Bob Ulberg of me as I took that shot…
Then it was back over to 11th street to catch the G-MURINB, a 2×2 grain load with the BNSF 4568 (C44-9W, Heritage II), BNSF 5408 (C44-9W, Heritage II), BNSF 4168 (C44-9W, Heritage II), and BNSF 4991 (C44-9W, Heritage II).
As soon as he cleared, I noticed another set of bright headlights at 8th street, and another train started through. This time it turned left… it was an M-PASLYD with FURX 7262 (SD40-2, Cascade Green/Black) and BNSF 890 (B40-8W, Heritage II).
There was another train sitting down at 8th street… I planned to head up to the shops but figured I’d see what he had for power. I was intrigued by the rainbow of BNSF 1059 (C44-9W, Heritage I), BNSF 7782 (ES44DC, Power Bar), and CN 2621 (C44-9WL, Black/Red/White). I thought about doing a broadside as he crossed the diamonds at the center but instead decided to drive down and catch him coming down the hill towards the Port of Vancouver. I should’ve gone with the broadside. I ended up taking what might be the worst-composed shot I’ve taken in 5 years. I’ll post it later on it’s own for y’all to laugh at.
There were more trains, but I had run out of lunch hour and it was time to continue the work thing…
