Well, we’ve revised the route, twice. I think it’s all planned now. We won’t spend much time in Seattle itself, although I am excited to see the Chihuly Garden and Glass museum. Mostly though we’ll just use it as a convenient spot to sleep while we range out. Mt. Rainier one day, Olympic National Park & Rialto Beach on another, then off to Spokane by way of North Cascades National Park, then down to Yellowstone, an overnight stay with my grandson and his family in South Dakota, and, finally, Omaha because Jim says it’s a big railroad center.
Of course, he’ll be looking for trains all along the route. A couple of places that have steam trains are disappointingly not active on the days we’ll be in their area. He’ll probably just have to settle for diesels.
I’ve printed out maps for the points of interest and put together a file folder to take along. I’m pretty sure I’ve got the packing list completed. It looks like a lot of stuff, but we’ve done this before and I’m pretty sure I can fit it all into three bags. My big suitcase holds most of my clothes and stays in the car except for Seattle itself. I’ll use the small suitcase to pack daily stuff and take it into the hotels overnight. I’ll have a carry-on type bag for shoes & toiletries.
I’m really excited about the National Parks. I’m expecting to get some great new photos for my desktop monitors and Facebook header pictures.
We are preparing to make a trip to Washington State in June. Working on visiting all 48 contiguous states. This trip will take us through several states we’ve already visited, of course, and add Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
We’ve planned our route, set the days, and made hotel reservations. I’ve started a packing list. It’s amazing how much stuff you need to be comfortable and healthy for two weeks. If I don’t make a packing list ahead of time, I’ll find I’ve forgotten small things (Or even large things, one year I forgot to bring pajamas.). For practical purposes, the list is broken down into categories: Clothing, Toiletries, Electronics, Books, etc. So far, I’ve added items in several categories after thinking about it a few days. I’m pretty sure I’ll think of more as the days go on.
I’m really looking forward to this trip. I’ve always wanted to see the northwest. I just need to get myself into better physical shape before we leave. I’ve started an exercise routine and I’ll be adding to it as school is out soon and I won’t have kid duty anymore until the fall.
I’ve just about stopped taking pictures over the past couple of years what with Covid and not traveling. To encourage getting back into it, I’ve ordered a new telephoto lens for my camera. It should arrive before the weekend. I’m excited about the whole thing.
Nevada Northern Railway – A bucket list location checked off my list!
I have been wanting to visit and photograph the Nevada Northern Railway for several years now and has been on my bucket list! Well, in February I met up with fellow railfan and friend Bryan Burton from Denver Colorado, at Las Vegas, Nevada after my first airline flight since the start of COVID back in 2020! The flight was packed both ways, but everyone did as they were requested and kept their masks on and whenever possible kept socially distant! From Vegas we drove to Ely, Nevada for the Nevada Northerns 2022 Winter Photography Charter!
It was a beautiful weekend, even though we didn’t have what I’d call much of winter event as for the most part it was in the 50’s during the day and the only snow we had was whatever was left over in the shady parts of the landscape. Still we had a great time and I came back with a lot of great photos which are in a gallery below!
Off on another railfan trip to Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Well, despite COVID and the fact that we had both our shots, fellow railfan Ryan Scott and I set off on a weeklong trip to take part in a photography charter at the Strasburg Railroad in Strasburg, Pennsylvania from November 3rd – 8th of 2021! This was my second trip to Strasburg as my sister April and I visited there a year or so before COVID reared its ugly head! Ryan and I took a couple days going and coming so we could railfan along the way and several days in the Strasburg area during our charter.
For those that aren’t aware of what a photography charter is, it’s where a group charters a train for a specific purpose, which in our case was to photograph or video the train during special photography runbys where we get off the train and various locations and the train crews run the train past us or pose for photos. It gives photographers a chance to capture photos that you wouldn’t be able to capture otherwise due to inaccessible or remote locations. Each person that participate pays a fee for the ability to participate. Ryan and I along with several other friends we know had a great time and I’ve added some of my favorite photos from the trip to a gallery below.
Chasing the Union Pacific Steam Locomotive 4014, The Big Boy
My first over night railfan trip since the beginning of COVID was from August 26th through the 28th where good friend Ryan Scott and I chased the Union Pacific Steam Locomotive 4014, the Big Boy, from Little Rock, Arkansas to just south of St. Louis, Missouri.
The Big Boy is an articulated 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive which was manufactured by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York in 1941. There were a total 25 of these giants built and of the eight remaining locomotives this is the only operational one.
According to Wikipedia: “The locomotive operated in revenue service until 1959, when it was donated to the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in late 1961 and thereafter displayed in Fairplex at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California.
In 2013, UP re-acquired the locomotive and launched a restoration project at their Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In May 2019, No. 4014 was operated for the first time after sitting dormant for almost six decades.
It ran its first excursion, double-headed with Union Pacific 844, three days later on May 4, 2019. Now part of the Union Pacific’s heritage fleet, it now operates in excursion service, in addition to hauling revenue freight during ferry moves.”
The Big Boy was on a month-long tour around the Midwest through, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming and returning to Cheyenne, Wyoming on September 7th to finish the trip.
All in all Ryan and I had a great trip, even though my DJI Air 2 drone ended up stuck in a 30′ oak tree!
Yep, during my chase of Union Pacific’s 4014, the Big Boy on Saturday, August 28th, 2021, my Air 2 Drone decided it wanted to take off on its own where it moved about 150 feet from where I had it hovering over the junction where the UP Hoxie sub meets the Chester Sub, South of Scott City, Missouri! Not totally sure why, but it happened and even though I had the home point set to the crossing where I took off from and my hover point where I was waiting for the Big Boy was in a clear area.
It was a very hot and humid day though and I was watching the drone hover and when we heard the steam whistle blow, I reached over to start my 4K video recording and when I looked back at the drone controller screen the drone was in the top of tree, more than 150’ from where I had it hovering! To top it all off the Big Boy didn’t even merge onto the Chester Sub like we thought it was going to and it came through a crossing that was about 25’ from where the drone decided on its own to move to. Perhaps it knew something I didn’t! LOL In all seriousness, that’s the exact reason you always keep sight of your drone! I couldn’t have looked away from the controller and drone more than 15 seconds or so and this happened!
Fortunately, it was out in the middle of the country and there were only about 6 of us railfans and a couple of locals at this location. The drone didn’t fly over anyone before it decided to fly away and land in the top of 30-40’ oak tree, about in the middle of a stand of about 2 acres of oaks! The forest was so dense that I couldn’t even walk into where it was, and I wouldn’t even think about climbing such a tree at my age!
I had a care package which would have allowed me to replace the drone for $400, but I opted to go ahead and spend the extra money and buy the newer DJI Air 2S drone instead as it has a much better sensor than the Air 2. I got the new drone in a few weeks ago and I’m very happy with the quality and performance of the drone!