#mountain railroading

[anthgange1994]

American USRA type 2-6-0 Steam engine.

If you haven't guessed, I really like steam rail.

[guerrerense]

Approaching Portola por Jake Miille Photography Por Flickr: After an early morning journey across the frigid and desolate Winnemucca Subdivision, Union Pacific 8876 eases into the small town of Portola, California. After a quick crew swap in Portola, the UP 8876 will continue west along the scenic Canyon Subdivision towards Oroville. UP 8876 — MGRRV 18 — Portola, California March 19th, 2025 jakemiillephotography.com

[eltristan]

Ex-Espee #8382 SD40T-2, now FCCA 1024

[anthgange1994]

[eltristan]

FCCA 1027 takes a spin around the famous turntable in San Bartolome. A small stream flows through the yard and the turntable is always filled with water, there are even fish living in it!

All turntables on the FCCA area manually operated and our whole traincrew helps out to spin the locomotive around the turntable. Despite the manual labor required the locomotive was turned with incredible speed, faster than most automatic turntables in the US!

[southforsunshine]

The Loops: Timelapse

Traveling this section of railroad will require some 22 miles to go 4 miles compass north while climbing just over 1,500 feet. This is the land of dynamic brakes and throttle 8 -- of steep grades, tunnels, sharp curves, and full course reversals where you can see both ends of a train at the same time. Welcome to The Loops. It is amazing to think that this whole railroad, from top to bottom, remains virtually unchanged and has needed no major engineering upgrades since it's birth in the early 20th century. When they built the Clinchfield, they did it right the first time.