Ya'll Railroader Listen Up Here.

It's a little warmer today in Dallas but the gloom is still hanging a couple hundred feet off the ground. At the 10AM reading, the fog and mist layers were at 400 and at 11AM it was overcast and some broken was reported at 2400. It has been a good morning to get some work done but right around 10:30 I went to the Truckee channel and watched a good 'ole Sierra snowstorm start accumulating quickly. By 11:30AM (9:30) their time, it had pilled up about 4-6 inches with another 3-5 due tonight and 3-5 due tomorrow (at least I don't have to shovel this snow storm.)

 Then, it was a bit of railroading at the crossing at Donner Pass Road and Bridge Street in downtown Truckee,Ca. Wow, with the mountain passes down to one track, the east bounds have to stop and wait for the west bounds to come through, then it's reversed. There has been a Union Pacific pull a consist of near to 100 cars west. Fifteen minutes later, A west bound Union Pacific sat on the east bound track waiting for the BNSF to come east. Both those consist were about 60-70 cars.

Low and behold, there pulled up a beast of a Union Pacific. He had six engine/power units poised like a patient pointer dog. When he got the clearance, he pulled out and made the crossing car after car after car. About three-quarters way down the line of cars he had a boost engine (#7 if you are counting power unites to pull through the passes and the High Sierra). Behind him continued the consist with inter modal units single stacks and double stacks. There were some inter modal frames that were all shinny and yellow fresh out of the factory unloaded and in transit. Most likely, they will carry their first full loads on the return trip from the west coast.  And-- at the end was engine #8, in the number of power units, gave push power from the tail end. All total, eight great and mighty diesel power units to get a 100--maybe 110 cars nearly a quarter mile up the mountains.

All this in a snow storm hitting the bend between the California state line with Nevada. The snow units to clear the tracks and mountain passes sat ready in Truckee. They will be heading out tonight most likely. The snow that those units can move is amazing. Railroading in this part of the world of the United States Rocky Mountains and ranges across Sierra Nevada to the California High Sierra takes a lot of equipment for maintenance, safety, just to bring the ocean cargo across America from China and Korea and Japan. Even Australia and New Zealand  ship their products via ocean containers to the west coast and then the inter modal ride carries them all across America. Seeing inter modals like CSX (the old Seaboard Coast Line) based in the Carolina's and running side by side tracks with the Florida East Coast Railroad is just amazing that commerce is moving from coast to coast and half way round the world as we shelter in place.

Just for reference: Reno is 4,506 feet above sea level. It is 35 miles from Truckee
                              Truckee is 5,817 feet above sea level.
                              Lake Tahoe is 6,224 feet above sea level. It is 14 mi south of Truckee
                              Donner Pass  is 7,239 feet above sea level and is 9 miles west of Truckee.

From Reno to Donner Pass Summit, that's 2,733 feet in elevation in as little as 45 miles.
As you can see... The western approach to Donner Summit and Pass is steep, while the eastern approach if gradual. Between Reno and Donner Pass Summit requires an enormous amount of power to push a massive train up the western approaches. Hence, the 8 engines needed for the Union Pacific with the 100-110 car train I just wrote about. Some of that weight being pushed are loaded and unloaded cars.

Another thing about Truckee that I like is that the Pacific Crest Trail crosses there and some of the most beautiful scenery can be found in this stretch of the Sierra Nevada Ranges. Some of the hikers come into town for supplies, a bath or shower and a good bed for one night over their sleeping bags. They also like a good sit down meal once and awhile on the trail. Needless-to-say, you see a lot of backpacks walking around downtown Truckee.

The Old Big Boys of the Union Pacific are still around in museums and one the UP still runs on tours around the west. These original big wheels were designed especially for this terrain. All steam, too!

A Union Pacific Big Boy...One of the Originals

Being moved from Fair Park to the Railroad Museum in Frisco.

Being pulled out of Fair Park, it's home for 50 plus years by a BNSF on its way to Frisco. Not the Sierra of  Nevada or California but it's seen the scenery many times.

Fair Park Is Really Changing!

With the new management to open up Fair Park during the days beyond and up to the State Fair run of three weeks, the changes were very obvious and people were all over the 177 acres of  grounds. It was a much more friendly atmosphere and from what I saw today, the changes will only make Fair Park a true park and second jewel for Dallas as it should be.

With Fair Park getting much needed work, crews were also doing that, too! The place  just looked alive more than I can ever remember. That pretty much sums it up like this: " With the State Fair not running, the place was more alive than ever!" No mid-way, no concessions, but people were just totally enjoying their day. After yesterdays punishing walks,  I though it might just be my imagination that was giving me a false reading, but no, even I enjoyed the afternoon.

The Art Decco paradise still just blows me away to see so much in one location. If people don't realize what a prize this is for Dallas, then they need to get out an explore the wealth of this place. Usually, I make a trip down there about once ever four months with my last one being  the installation of Big Tex prior to opening day for the fair.

Fountains outside Hall of State Building. These are not the amazing programed music water and light show with surround sound directly in front and across the plaza from the Hall of State Entrance.

Originally opened as Star Plex and since has undergone several sponcorships. The groups, performers, bands, and music is still the good stuff. It's an outdoor lawn venue with sound stage.

The art decco collection of buildings is getting a boost from the city to the tune of $50 million. Cracks, paint, repairs  will be a well deserved fix.

A Big Change and A New Discovery

Some of you will remember that when the "big boy" of Union Pacific was being readied to be pulled to Frisco and the rest of the collection of old cars and engines were being pulled out with little or very short notice, a trip to Fair Park was just about every weekend. Since the final move, there has been no need to go down to Fair Park. Yesterday, on my shoot list was a brief note that I should check out what was being done with the land were the "museum" of trains had previously occupied. It would also give me a chance to get my cardio-walk in with almost perfect weather. An old weatherman taught me years ago that when you add the temperature and the humidity together and the total is more than 130, you are going to  sweat like a rain storm. Below that and you feel comfortable. The humidity was dropping and the temps were about average for this time of year so that did make for a perfect weather day to be walking.

When  arriving at Fair Park, the valet parking was set up at a couple of entrances. Talking to the parking attendant, they waved me through to go on an park in the self parking area. If you have ever been to Fair Park, you know that it is 177-acres and from one end to the other. You could snake out about a mile and a half of distance; since there are three routes of museum buildings, you can triple that distance. Add midway and  Cotton Bowl stadium and the row of building from the old Women's Museum building to Music Hall and the former museum of Nature and Science to the Hall of State complex, to the aquarium and outdoor arena where they feed the manta rays in a Sea-World-like atmosphere, to the Discovery Gardens and the butterfly house and I know I have left out a few besides the exhibition halls in front of the musical dancing water shows. but that's just from the old train museum to the geographic center!

 Fair Park is one big place. I've long said that it could be Dallas' second jewel with White Rock Lake being the first jewel in the crown. Although, I have written before that in comparison, the old Elitch Gardens at 38th and Tennyson Street, in Denver, was 77 acres of mass, Fair Park is 100-acres more! It's Texas, folks!

The area where the trains once were displayed is now all landscaped with all the old fences and light poles gone. I had not realized until I saw what had been done, what an eye sore the "train museum" had been on Fair Park. Sometimes, the real beauty comes in other forms of new attractions and change. We are all creatures of habit and whether we like it or not, some times, change is a way to move us forward as a human being.

But, the surprise came from the other half of Fair Park. As I walked toward Pennsylvania Avenue and First Street, I discovered a historical marker in front of WRR-FM 101.1 studios. Yes, the city of Dallas also owns and  runs the classical radio station. Somehow, I had missed the marker over the years. It is in need of some up keep, too. But, it gives a history of the station (more than 102 years ago). WRR is not exactly like some of the other classical stations around the country but the format is much the same and in some ways, better. It's that Texas branding again, folks. Unique.

Another discovery appeared. While I have seen it in the past, I do not think I have actually seen it on the road before, but I think the WRR van is cool in a subtle way. A very subtle way. As, I crossed over to the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue, I walked toward the former Starplex complex, an outdoor lawn of grass and seating where concerts are held. A music venue. In early 2000, it was  renamed the Smirnoff, and now it's under the Gexa Energy Pavilion name. The west entrance also has the Belk box office. I walked through the parking lot from First to Second street and down  Second along side the Texas Discovery Gardens to where I had parked. It was a good walk. There was also an education in the historical marker at WRR and while I have passed it a few times chasing trains, I had never seen the actual venue of the old Starplex. Remembering when it was announced that it would be built, Mom would tell me about the progress as it was being built. Those were the days when I was trying to save the world single-handily. Before someone sat me down and said to me," it takes a lot of drops of water to fill up the bucket. You can't fill a bucket with one drop. Change."

So, the cardio-walk was good. The educational experience was good. The weather was good. I'm knocking off  pounds with diet and exercise. I feel good, too. I'll warn you ahead of time. There is a bit of classic(al) humor in a couple of shots.



Ludwig's van on the side and the highly classical,"Dude, Bach off" on the rear doors. You might also remember that Bach was a pedaler. He played pipe organs and the pedal keyboard is played with the feet. Get it? Pedaler. And don't forget to click on an image so it opens up in a viewer.

The Historial Market for WRR

Under a new Name, the old Coca-Cola Starplex is alive and well.

So, cool. Also, check out the sticker on the lower left bumber:  Strauss Relief

The Procession of Good-Bye for Big Boy

While there are/were a lot of women who are/were as much railroad people as any, men are drawn to railroads and trains and its history. Here are images to that fact. There are several sub-post to this post

The smile says it all

Every one had a camera

The Procession of Good-Bye for Big Boy

The Fates Align in Tribute to the Big Boy 4018

I am not superstitious to much. Nor do I rule it totally out either. It seems to me that the fates are responding to the move of the Big Boy as a final tribute.Maybe. In case anyone  wondered, there is a full moon on the 20th. It probably would not come into play had the Big Boy moved last month or all the times beforehand, but, as fate would have it, it has been delayed almost every single time that there was  talk about a move being locked in as a "sure thing". It makes a good case for another dimension that lies neck and neck with the world that we know so well,or at least think we know so well.

The Big Boy did make it out of Fair Park. That is a fact. It didn't make it to Frisco. That, too, is a fact. Big Boy creaped  into Irving and firmly anchored on a siding under darkness. It was  a long day for the crew that didn't go far today. At approximately 10:50 this morning (Sunday,18th), the horn sounded and Big Boy with its braking units was slowly pulled out of Fair Park after a half century there. For the remainder of the day, it set in a freight yard off 175  and Scyene Road. Most of that time I sat in the Dallas,Garland and Northeast yard off Mockingbird. Three hours, in fact.Others came and went, mostly to check on the progress of a very much beloved piece of equipment once titled to the paper agent of the Union Pacific Railroad, created to hold such equipment as most transportation companies create. When certain types of equipment take on a life of their own, some see them as just a piece of equipment. Not so. The fates do control such life-like objects and things we humans don't fully understand. Those unexplained happenings are more real that we think. Once in a while, these objects play mind games with us humans. The Big Boy has an untold story to tell and it will tell that story in due time. Just wait and see.

Even the pictures of the departure from Fair Park had the Big Boy looking back on  Fair Park as it was pulled down the dead track to the main line of Union Pacific with a BNSF engine. True, it is the way that it had been put into the museum some 50-years ago, but it plays a part in the tale.

And to go neck and neck with another dimension,still, some will remember the young  motorcycle riders who shut down US 75 Central Expressway to honor one of their fallen cyclist a couple of years ago.

Big Boy looks back on Fair Park as it leaves it home of 50-odd-years.

They were seen on the road way above the Big Boy. Now tell me that there isn't fate at work here. I talked to my computer at work for years. I'd pat it on it's top and tell it how good it was. My computer always worked, while ever single computer in that office would need  a tech or geek or IT guy to get theirs working. Tell me equipment doesn't take on a life of its own.

As one of the breaking cars arrives in Irving with Big Boy, a near full moon looks down.

A group of young cyclist that shut down US 75 to pay respects to a fallan cyclist appears above the tracks where Big Boy weyes near Lamar Avenue.

 

Union Pacific 4018 Love Leaves Many Hurt Feelings

No.4018 Big Boy Outside at Fair Park

A non-reported derailment delayed the Big Boy's move.

The 4018 Big Boy was siting on the siding outside the Fair Park fence for the first time in 49 years. People were streaming into the outside parking lot to see the behemoth. What a beauty!

It's sad that Union Pacific predicts that it would cost between $3M to $7M  to restore the 4018 to full working order. There were only 25 built. Only 8 remain. To bad to museum has signed a deal with the devil rather than using some of the tools at hand to raise the funds to restore the engine.

 

The Contralto

This is the male match to The Contralto but shown only as a comparison to why The Contralto was re-created.
The art work is priceless! Art Deco at Fair Park is a jewel in the crown the city has kept as a treasure.

The Contralto at Fair Park. It has been missing for years and was recreated and reinstalled. Thank goodness!

The Contralto. The Hall of State is the building behind with the three columns.

The credits

Side View of the Reflection Fountains and the Portico of Confederate States,Portico of Mexico,Spain and France Buildings.

Fair Park is Much More than Elitch Gardens--Maybe.

The Entrance to the Midway for the Summer Opening

Plastiki on display in front of the Hall of State Building

The new Top O'Texas on the left of the Texas Star.Actually, it's behind the Texas Star.

The Cotton Bowl with a crane still in place from my last trip to Fair Park.

One of the many Art Deco Buildings at Fair Park.

Swan paddle boats at Swan Lake on the lagoon.

Fair Park, this Friday night, May 3rd, kicks off something it has never done.It will open the midway for the summer on Saturday, May 4th.. The new ride, Top O' Texas, the 500 foot observatory up and down wheel will give a view of Fair Park and surrounding areas, including downtown Dallas.

It has long been an unanswered question why the City of Dallas has quasi-turned its back on Fair Park in favor of the Trinity River Corridor Project. Sure, they have pumped a few million bucks into Fair Park upgrades, when the place could be drawing in tons of convention dollars nearly year round and  there is so  much more to Fair Park than just the Cotton Bowl. Don't get me wrong. I have etchings on my heart for the Cotton Bowl, the old parades that were a Thanksgiving-- or was it Christmas-- tradition. It was the emerald of the jeweled crown that the city had with Fair Park.

Many years ago, Elitch Gardens  in Denver, was a fun summer place to go. That was, before the original EG moved from its historic home of 38th and Tennyson Street. It was between the old Stapelton Airport and downtown. At approximately 70 acres, the park was a major attraction when you visited Denver. You had not been to Denver unless you went to Elitch Gardens. Long story short, with many ownership changes over the years including an ownership under the Six Flags brand, it has managed to survive with a 20 acre water park but not like the crowds of the old park. By-the-way folks, Elitch Gardens opens its 2013 season on May 4th also.

Yesterday, I walked the entire length of Fair Park's approximately 177 acres down one side and back along the lagoon and IMAX building to the parking area east of gate entrance no.5 which is across from the Texas Discovery Gardens. I'm thinking to myself, Music Hall is full for a performance, a flea market is going on, the Old Mill Restaurant has a good size crowd, people are coming out of the Discovery Gardens. The city ownes water parks. Why don't they have one at Fair Park? Amid all the questions that were left unanswered was the most pressing question: Will Fletcher's be selling their corny dogs,too?

 

The Ground Where Big Tex Stands

Big Tex Float at the St. Patrick's Parade on Greenville Ave.

Friends of the State Fair

Surveyors at work to raise the stand by 6 foot for Big Tex.

Well, everyone has heard by now about the Big Tex fire a few days before the fair closed in the 2012 season. Since then, there has been a lot of talk and work and discussions about the future of Big Tex.  Happily ( it was decided and private money started pouring in to help ) Big Tex will be rebuilt bigger and better. He was a pretty big guy to begin with. The fact of the matter is: he's gonna be bigger if for nothing than the ground he will stand upon.


Opening day of the State Fair this year is September 27th. Big Tex will be there! He is sure to be a big crowd draw throughout the fair this year especially, but I would anticipate the 11 AM opening ceremony this year will have a bigger crowd than normal. I'm thinking it will be, at least.







The surveyors are out already working to raise the stand by 6 feet. This is a spot of respect! Big Tex has been here every year for 60 years and he's coming back for year 61 bigger and better than before.

You can call the Fair Board at Fair Park if you want to make a donation to help fund the reconstruction, I bet.




 

The Trains at Fair Park Are Thinning

The next consist to move at month's end

The brakes are being rebuilt.

The Big Boy on the left. Over 1 million pounds of steel!

     The old trains at the former Museum are just about gone. The next big consist is being readied to move across the Union Pacific tracks out of Fair Park to the BNSF yard in Irving before being moved those final miles to the new Museum at Frisco. Looking at what's left, shows the years of neglect while on display at Fair Park.
     Of course, the Big Boy move will be the last to go. It is the biggest locomotive under steam that I have ever seen. I must say that. This is the one that everyone has been waiting to see on live rail again. The enjoyment of seeing an old steam locomotive under it's own power moving on the tracks is still exciting. To see this locomotive under it's own power will be an experience of a life time.
     Meanwhile--here are a few pictures from Fair Park. There are a couple taken from the other side of a chain link fence and the slight grey blur is the camera's reaction to the object in the lens. The Facebook page for the museum is saying that the move will be March 31. That's a Sunday and the TRE will not be running. That means that the trip should have live rail free from traffic to move to Frisco. It would not be expected to have this piece of equipment sitting on a yard siding at Mockingbird or Irving yard. It would be assumed that it will move non-stop from Fair Park to Frisco in one move. That is, of course, just an assumption. There is a little bit of politics being played out by a few and that always spoils the broth some.

Fair Park (Part Two)

As seen on A&E Networks Shipping Wars

One one of the many Art Deco Sculptures at Fair Park

The new Top O'Texas Ride with the Texas Star in the background.

Yesterday, was a great day at Fair Park. The post from  Sunday  was images of the new Top O'Texas ride being built there. While at Winfrey Point later in the afternoon, the tower could be seen from the Point. That's about 8-10 miles from Fair Park and it stands as tall as the KERA tower that it is built next to.  That tower has towered over the landscape for a very long time. Now, it's going to have a neighbor!

This post will continue were yesterdays left off.

In the past, I did a shoot of the "Gas Monkey Garage" featured on A&E network. Dr. Moe, of Texas Storage Wars was at Fair Park yesterday.His gallary store is across town on Riverfront Blvd in the Design District. Hope to shoot over there in the not so distant future. While I couldn't get a shot of him from there,at Fair Park, I was able to get a shot of the Twisted House from the A&E show, "Shipping Wars". If you saw that episode, you will recall that Chris and his partner had hauled the house to within a mile of Fair Park from Portland,Me., when the load shifted. Well, the house is behind the Cotton Bowl currently at Fair Park and there is  a shot of that. Also, while there, I got the image of the famed art deco sculpture that is an amazing piece. And, the Tactical Services Division of the Dallas Police Department that houses the mounted unit and the K-9 unit was discovered along with the Pan American meeting rooms with the auction area at the state fair was also discovered. All in all, there was a lot of discoveries made at Fair Park yesterday.

Howling Winds and 70* F Made for Some Potpourri Shots

A hot and F-a-s-t little remote. I like this car!!

A new attraction to Fair Park! Sweet! Now promote it and keep it open!

Top O' Texas Tower at Fair Park under construction

Days like this I'd buy like peaches: A bushel and a peck! And that's a whole bunch. The docket today called for going to Fair Park.It is one of my favorite places and a grand prize within itself. Having the Texas Star year round is a jewel within a jewel and  you have not even entered any of the museums. The Discovery Gardens are amazing, the Cotton Bowl is a landmark. The Hall of State building, music hall, African American Museum building each have their own history and so much more. Now, the new ride that will be the biggest in Texas will debut  by this years State Fair.

After leaving Fair Park and doing a run-through of Deep Ellum,  it was down Grand Avenue to the Lake. There, I found a guy with one of the most amazing remote control cars. It's just plain F-A-S-T!!
He gave me a demo at the ball diamond parking lot  at Winfrey Point.

Another Post from this trip to Fair Park will be scheduled for tomorrow, Monday,Feb.18
 

Bunny Outline and A Green Heart

A Green Heart at the Chinese Lantern Festival  Takes Shape

This past fair season, Fair Park held a very large area to display the Chinese Lantern Festival. It was such a success that after the State Fair ended, the display ran a few additional weeks. Now that the media calendar is beginning to search for such material, I was able to find a bunny being built and a heart. The heart I shot was green. I choose it because it fits so well with ecology. That famous money-making Cupid treat, candy, fits because even at Valentines, mint chocolate has its followers,too.

A Bunny Head Takes Shape. The electrical bulbs and wiring can be seen inside in sunlight.

 

The Beautiful Lotus Bloom in Silk on a Blue Sky
All these are lighted from the inside and were fantastic at nighttime.

A Train of Trains

History moving up the road from Dallas to Frisco. This is the consist of the hospital move of two engines and two diesels on their own wheels. It had left Irving about 45 minutes prior from this spot and from the Gribble siding going north toward Carrollton.

Just north of Gribble siding. The train behind waited as this consist passed it on the right, then back on the main track .

The Santa Fe diesel familiar to every one at Fair Park

Spot No7 and another moved as a hospital move

Chained Down and 20'06" on the move

Fall Afternoon of Potpourri Images

Old No. 7 to sick to travel on it's own,hence the hospital move.

Good grief, how long has that been there?

When days are free of appointments  from my medical friends who poke and jab and twist and probe their areas of expertise, I celebrate byspending the entire afternoon just looking at fall colors and light patterns. Surprisingly enough, I find some interesting things to photograph. I call those afternoons Potpourri Images. Here are a few.

A soccer ball on a rebuilt dock in late afternoon sunlight.