Some scans from the mid '90's on the Feather River Route in California.

The line joined the big yellow empire in 1983, with the UP takeover of Western Pacific, and at the time of my visit seemed reasonably busy, not only with traffic heading across the country, but also some trains using the "Inside Gateway", and turning north at Keddie to head up to the Pacific Northwest.

Here with what appears to be an APL service, leading is SD60M 6123, then C40-8 9175 and finally a Soo Line SD.

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This was my first day back on the line for several years, and so I was very much feeling my way around. I'd met this train at Belden, then giving chase. I'm not quite sure of the precise location - if anyone does know perhaps they could let me know please! In consequence the location on the Flickr map is a best guess.

Power is three SD40'2's 3568, 3234 and 3566, then a C30-7 2486.

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After catching the train again at Pulga, it is seen here approaching the James Loop, just north of Oroville.

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Following the autoracks was this doublestackstack train behind C44-9W 9706 and C40-8 9306.

The location is interesting, being the dual purpose road and rail bridge crossing the top of Lake Oroville, which can be seen to the right. The lake itself is man made with the Oroville Dam just north of town, built across the Feather River itself.

The bridge itself is shown in more detail here, highestbridges.com/wiki/index.php?title=West_Branch_Feath...

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I had followed another set of SD40-2's east from the James Loop to here, perhaps the most famous overlook on the Feather River route.

With the shadow covering the valley rapidly, I was fortunate to have this turn up at 16.45.

I've enlarged the picture to try to identify the locos, the leading two are C&NW C44-9W's, probably 8625 and 8646, with UP SD60M 6233 tailing. This is shortly after the C&NW joined the yellow empire, and these GE widecabs in their stylish livery were a not uncommon sight across the system at the time.

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