Railfanning Redding (w/ Engine Startups) - 5/18/18

After a couple of weeks of continuous work, I managed to get some time off and decided to head out and go on a railfanning outing to the northern most parts of California. Due to the vast distances and limited population areas north of Sacramento, only three Amtrak stations serve the northern most parts of California, those of which are Chico, Redding, and Dunsmuir in that particular order. For my trip, I decided to railfan at Redding first, primarily to catch the Union Pacific locals that are based out of Redding on this Friday. The Amtrak station here in particular is very interesting since it serves as a crew base for UP Maintenance of Way and train crews, in addition to the station being surrounded by UP property. This station still retains the original Southern Pacific Depot and has also seen a new platform built within the last couple of years as well. Train activity here is rather scarce though due to the freight movement solely along the Valley Subdivision. Additionally, trains are extremely sneaky coming into town due to the minimal crossings approaching town to both the north and south. Essentially most trains will be only two to three crossings away when you hear the first horn activity. However, due to the design of the local area, all UP locomotives are stored here adjacent to the depot, providing for an amazing and excellent close up and view of the startups of the engines !!! Nonetheless, with a pleasant night stay and a more than generous dinner with some newly made friends, Redding is a great town to visit and railfan, with an equally welcoming hospitality !
Note :
Due in part to the number of rail customers around Redding, UP operates four locals, two of which switch around town, with one in the morning (LRV58) and one in the evening (LRV49); and two haulers, one northbound (LRV64) and one southbound (LRV65) to and from Roseville. Their schedules are typically consistent on the days they operate, as was the case the day I was in town. Please note that due to the scheduling of the Amtrak Coast Starlight that serves these stations, I was not able to see any due to the scheduled times of the station stops either late at night or in the early morning.
Train 1 : Union Pacific LRV58-18 (Day Redding) with GP40-2 #1347 & GP60 #1005. With the morning light rising, the local crew shows up right on time to prep and start up the locomotives for today’s activities. The crew will first proceed south to switch cars in Rawson and Anderson, then they will head north past the station to drop off and switch cars at Gray Rocks, Central Valley, and Silverthorn. Awesome, friendly crew on this train !
Train 2 : Union Pacific LRV65-18 (Redding Turn) with SD70M #5164, SD59MX #9921, & SD70M #4373. Like clockwork, the crew for the Redding Turn arrive and prep the locomotives for today’s run south to Roseville. Due to switching activity by LRV58-18, the south end switch onto the main was occupied; thus the crew had to reverse north onto the main, then proceed south to pick up their train on this day. Nice engineer !
Train 3 : Union Pacific MRVHK-18 with SD70ACe #8368, #8546, & SD60M #2275. This train definitely snuck up on me very unexpectedly and was certainly moving at a good amount of speed !
Train 4 : Union Pacific LRV58-18 (Day Redding) with GP60 #1005 & GP40-2 #1347. After dropping off and switching cars at Gray Rocks, Central Valley, and Silverthorn, LRV58-18 heads back south past the station to set out cars for the next outbound Redding Turn for Monday (LRV65-21). Same great crew as before !
Train 5 : Union Pacific ZBRLC-17 with C45ACCTE #7956, #7930, & #7809. Friendly crew on #7956 !
Thanks for Watching !

[@Nicola636128]

Great video, very nice the loco startups.

[@BrentNguyen46]

Nicola636128 Thank you !

[@steelcityrailfan4808]

Fantastic video!

[@BrentNguyen46]

Thank you !

[@ziggypwner]

Great catches! Happy you've gotten to go up to NorCal!

[@BrentNguyen46]

ziggypwner Thank you ! It is definitely a change in scenery for sure, haha !

[@mdavid1955]

Very nice! Love the loco startups!

[@BrentNguyen46]

mdavid1955 Thanks !

[@TrainSF]

Awesome video man!!! Love UP#1347

[@BrentNguyen46]

TrainSF Thank you !

[@westsacramentorailfanvideo5573]

Awesome catch Brent

[@BrentNguyen46]

West Sacramento Railfan Video Thank you Adam !

[@westsacramentorailfanvideo5573]

You're welcome

[@therookie9276]

Have you ever railfanned in Oakland Station/Jack London Square? Also, good catcg on the Ex-Cotton Belt unit.

[@BrentNguyen46]

RailfanJojo I’ve actually passed through and visited Jack London Square a number of times, although I have yet to legitimately railfan there. I’m hoping to do an all out railfanning day and evening sometime later this year. And thanks !

[@peninsula_sub]

Nice catches!

[@BrentNguyen46]

NorCalRailfan Thanks !

[@Rafael.Santos013]

Great vídeo, my friend

[@BrentNguyen46]

Rafael Santos Thank you Rafael !

[@coppercruz3605]

Incredible Video:) UP 1005 is a SSW Patched unit I've seen him before:)

[@BrentNguyen46]

Copper Cruz Thank you !

[@coppercruz3605]

;)

[@itsyaboiradargaming4377]

Doesn't it run on dirt trains alot

[@parkermccormack2542]

UP 9921 Looks like a pretty unique locomotive type what is it

[@sjrailfan35]

SD59MX, Rebuilt from SD60M.

[@thesierrastandard7281]

Do you know what time the locals came and left? I am going to try to go here on Friday.

[@BrentNguyen46]

King SP As far as I know, there are still only two locals out of Redding. The LRV49 “Night Redding” works Monday and Wednesday through Friday, with crews starting around 4:30pm. The other local, the LRV58 “Day Redding”, works Monday and Thursday through Saturday, with crews starting around 7:00am. It all depends on the customers that need switching on a particular day. I was fortunate where the LRV58 had to switch cars both north and south of the station and passed by twice; but other days it could just be switching at one end and won’t pass through the station at all except to start up and tie down the locomotives for the day. Hope this helps !

[@seanc0317]

I live in Redding & always see 1347 there.

[@Ferromexfan4081]

Can u railfan SMART Trains?

[@BrentNguyen46]

UP Guy 3014 I will certainly look into it. The SMART trains are definitely of interest for sure !

[@adamghimenti6988]

I'll be in Redding on Valentine's day to do some Railfanning video before i go to see my girlfriend