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February 2020. A trip abroad once again to the USA with the base being Las Vegas. Two weeks produced 450 locomotives! PSR has reduced foreign power on UP trains but plenty to see on this trip.
Location wise, Las Vegas itself both Arden and Valley Yards were visited frequently for a couple of hours in the morning. As was downtown, which is easy enough to quickly check if anything is tied down. Venturing further out towards California where more time was spent this year; was Yermo and its UP Yard which hosts a real mix of power. Then three visits to Barstow. Where the orange team BNSF and the yellow Union Pacific have track rights and indeed the enormous Barstow Yard is located.
Rarities? Many as always. Foreign power from Canadian Pacific (CP) Ferromex Mexico (FXE) Norfolk Southern (NS) and CSX was in good supply.
The 'Warbonnet' made its appearance in the form of 785, and the Bluebonnet 'jeeps' were also noted. At the time many Warbonnets of the 6xx and 7xx where in store so a real treat to find one. That said as of August 2020 the majority have been returned to use. So something for September 2021. 1707 was also present in Burlington North Green colours, the other 'fallen flag' from the merger with SantaFe to form BNSF. This trip saw more BNSF SD70M and SD70MAC types appear and the quite rare HI 1Pumpkin' liveried ES44AC.
Union Pacific was also to have interesting power knocking about. First up was the great catch of 1996 the Southern Pacific Heritage unit, one of a kind so a real bonus. A pair of older SD60M's were photographed, one a recent repaint into the old version of UP livery. These are now all stored and only rarely used so again a bonus to catch. SD60's themselves also made an appearance with no less than three of the class showing up.
So variety a plenty, 450 locomotives in this gallery to enjoy. Loud noisy big machines, indeed fantastic beasts and where to find them - the Old Wild West!
For 2021, a Canada National - to finish off photographing the 'big class 1' railroads. Any other foreign power, and the ever elusive Southern Pacific UP Patch units. As of August 2020 6236/6290/6310/6318/6367/6378/6379 remain. 2021 will be a three week visit in September and likely to be the last stateside for a while. So that's the aim. (cant complain have SP 6248 before that got paint)! one more would be nice. That will be the 'This Is It' tour. For now though...enjoy 2020's...Fantastic Beats & Where To Find (450 of) Them! ....who knows 500 for next year....