Cab Ride on the Santa Fe Stockton Sub. (Richmond Ca.to Trull)

[@michaeldeckert6023]

52 minutes in you go over the Muir Trestle. I live 1300 ft up on the hill to your left. I can sit on my back patio and see the trains rolling both ways. Many now have helpers. The John Muir National Park is right below me and my home. Always wondered what it was like to be on those tracks.. I'm a Southern Pacific guy. I was a brakeman with them, my father an Executive Officer in San Francisco. Great video thank you.

[@brentmiller3951]

My father worked for Southern Pacific on the Oregon coast .He did teletype in Vietnam and used that to get his foot in the door.One of his jobs was to run ahead of the train for 80 road miles and open 3 trestles .I was luck enough to get many cab rides in high hoods and a lot of dash 2" s . SP was the only gig in town on .The sound of the train horn echoing through coos bay will be a memory I will never forget

[@michaeldeckert6023]

@@brentmiller3951 what a beautiful story! My father was World War II. Army Air Corps / Air Force. Same with him. He was very good at his communications and engineering understanding without ever even having a degree. At the end of his service time he was part of the nuclear development in the Kwajaleans.The railroad hired him and after 3 years he became their first management trainee. They sent us as a whole family to UTEP -then Texas Western. We spent 3 and 1/2 years in El Paso while you went to college! Graduating with an engineering background he was promoted until we lived in San Francisco corporate. He was very much part of and headed the communications group who created SPCC. Later to become what you know a SPRINT. The godfather of the SPCC was John Albertson. He was the one I'm sure who recommended my father for college and at the end my father was with him as he and others in the department developed his concept -SPCC. Many don't realize that at that time the SP had the largest privately owned microwave system in the world. It was a leader in many things other than just railroading. Incredible company.

[@tehallanaz]

Beautiful place

[@the_atsf_railfan2926]

Something i love about these old cab ride videos is that it takes you back in time and makes it seem like just some other day in the 90s. Truly amazing

[@keithcordes4430]

I’m 29, from New York, and always have been enamored with the power of trains. Specifically freight trains. When I was a kid in the 90s my dad got me this N scale Santa Fe set and I LOVED it. Still to this day the love of trains continues. Watching these vintage videos and thinking these guys have the best job in the world. You’re the king of the rails! The emperor of the north….

[@stevearnold2304]

It gets in your blood and part of our DNA. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. It seems like five lifetimes ago now. I always love trains and railroads and was fortunate to be part of a small group of incredible people. I god paid for what I love to do. I still railroad but in smaller scales. N and inch and a half scale live steam. Railroading now is not even close to what it was back in the day. Like I tell everyone, “I got to railroad when railroading was fun”. Keep your dreams alive.

[@derekalexander4030]

2 hours and 4 minutes of traveling and never dropped off or picked up a car. That was a awesome run. I think you were right, Steve, there should be a video of each section of the track to be used as a training film to familiarize new engineers with an area of the railroad they haven’t seen yet. I never realized how much water there was along side the railway and how many birds hang out on the tracks and the area.

[@stevearnold2304]

Thanks for watching and commenting Derik.

[@colinmulder6806]

I've got to admit this one of the next best thing to seeing what Santa Fe's Valley Division out of Richmond is like, thanks very much.

[@jamesrowelljamer919]

Awesome footage sir. I'm a Kansas native with a late great uncle that was born on an ATSF passenger train in 1928 outside of Trinidad, CO. His middle name was Santa Fe Lee and the company offered to pay for his college education then. He enlisted in the military instead. Another late great uncle who ran for the ATSF trucking division locally out of Great Bend, KS and the area of Kansas I'm from was full of branch lines that serviced grain elevators and passenger services. All of those lines were pulled back in the 90's but some trestles remain and I will always have the memories of the glory days.

[@sanddabz5635]

Thats a cool story.....college on Santa Fe RR's dime or Uncle Sam. Appears he was an honorable individual and lead with duty & heart.

[@djtdub1]

I never thought I would ever see a cab ride through Franklin Canyon. A great railroad landmark and so close to an urban area. Starting from around 19:00 to 58:00. That segment is a bucket list experience. imho.

[@Zach_Bloomquist]

This was shot from a Santa Fe SD45-2 rebuild. I don't think there is another cab ridelike it on youtube. Important for that historical accuracy. The horn sounds amazing. I think its a Leslie RS3LR but am not 100 percent sure. Thank you for uploading this for all of us to see.

[@stevearnold2304]

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it

[@yukonjack9696]

I was a Santa Fe conductor out of Amarillo in those days. This catches the sound and feel that I remember. Thanks

[@w.keithmcdonald8461]

ME, TOO !!

[@TexasSteelRails]

This is probably the best cab ride video I have ever watched on KZbin, thank you for sharing

[@froggleggers1805]

YEAH, LOTS MORE. ...

[@stevearnold2304]

Yukon Jack. Those days will never be repeated. We got to actually live them!

[@markanderson6133]

Great stuff. Glad to see California in the green season! I was used to tan and brown. Route of the San Francisco Chief. Oh for a time machine to ride that full length dome along these rails. Thanks to those who shot this video and posted it.

[@stevearnold2304]

That would be me and thank you very much

[@keithode1737]

Great video! I grew up in Pinole in the late 80's and 90's. I could see the Santa Fe from my front yard and back yard. The area has changed a lot.

[@gregbrown6430]

Thank you for posting this. I enjoyed seeing many of the places around Christie and Glen Frazer where I photographed the Santa Fe later in 1992.

[@stevearnold2304]

I’d love to see them. I bet you caught me there for sure

[@woodsy4688]

Hello Steve. Your video finally came in on a recommendation for me so I’m just now getting to see it. What a great video. I was lucky enough to attend and graduate one of the many Santa Fe conductor training classes in 95 - 96. My training jurisdiction was Richmond to Fresno. After graduation I only worked for 2 days in Stockton and pretty much had to go back to my previous job due to my low seniority and the high rate of graduates. I sure had a great experience meeting a lot of wonderful people. Being able to experience a cab ride in one of the GE Dash-9 was pretty amazing I have to say. Although I’ve I’ve forgotten a lot, this video certainly brought back a lot of great memories of the 3 months of training I had. Thank you for sharing and sorry to hear about your injury. Take care.

[@iWrick8111]

Great video Steve. Been working this line now for about six years and just got certified as a Locomotive Engineer. Great to see how things were back in the early 90s. And you talk about bad dispatching back then, still feel that way about a lot of them today.

[@GunSlinger221]

nice video, my Dad was the trainmaster Richmond/Stockton Division for years. I never was able to take a ride on one but looks like fun. I remember the derailment in Hercules very well. Thanks for the memories.

[@oldspguy4786]

What a fantastic video! During the time I worked out of Oakland, I used to ride my motorcycle through the beautiful Franklin Canyon area on my days off. Always wondered what it would look like from the cab. Now I know. Right after the Amtrak meet, looked like a few rusty remnants of the Sacramento Northern off to the right. And that long causeway trackage at the end was something else. I can certainly understand the slow order. Finally I can honestly say that if I had to listen to Barbara on that radio for more than 5 minutes, I would have a colossal headache.

[@Tank245]

Did you ever think back then that 28 years later you'd have a railroad buddy who wasn't even born yet in 1992? lol

[@stevearnold2304]

Never in my wildest dreams Tim.

[@1XRanger]

I did my 7 student trips on this Sub in 1967... Thanks for bringing the memories back.

[@Denniss7420]

Good memories! I photographed Glen Frazier, Sando, East Antioch, Knightsen from 1983 - 1993. Shot all of the Kodachromes freshly painted out of San Bernardino on their shake down runs, all of the set outs of woodchips from the #839 and #849 trains as well as the pick ups on the #928 trains at Antioch. Superfleets when they were delivered fresh from EMD and GE and on the #199 trains. Usually could get a cab ride on the 1st Pittsburg switcher as they switched out Domtar, Crown Zellerbach, Dupont and many other industries which are now gone.

[@jeffbasalto5274]

Thank you for the ride very VERY nice.

[@rack_9]

Thank you sir for letting us enjoy your videos

[@Letsfarm55]

Awesome, It's like being on the train. Thanks for shareing

[@Crusader1815]

Thank you for posting this. I was able to find it on Google Earth pretty easily. Their wayback feature has aerial photos from 1993 and even 1939! Makes it interesting to go back and see the difference between what you are seeing here and the present day. What I wouldn't give to go back to 1992...

[@markgiuliano8014]

Great video Steve. Probably the only cab ride video of that portion of the old Santa Fe Valley Division.

[@jeremytarter30]

Worked there from 03-06 - This was about 10 years before me but it was cool to hear Jorn reading back that track warrant. Great bunch of guys out there.

[@stevearnold2304]

I agree. Thanks for watching

[@jofegan]

Nice video of a rarely seen stretch of track. Keep them coming and many thanks!

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

This is an amazing video, thank you for posting it. I was 12 when you made this video lol. I like the signals that they used, they seem simpler than all the lights they use now. Also, I notice a lot of the main line is a black looking color, and the sidings are lighter. Ill be using that on my layout!!!

[@stevearnold2304]

Joe G. I was an instructor engineer my last years on the Santa Fe. I wanted to make a video of the whole division to give my trainees but I got hurt on duty and retired before I could finish it

[@WJGtracker2]

Liked this vid, took four days to see it all but was a great ride. Thanks

[@THR33STEP]

Damn that’s a great video! Thanks for posting!!!

[@stevearnold2304]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it

[@549BR]

Very nice ride.

[@stevearnold2304]

Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@mrbinkidoo]

Fantastic video, Steve. Thank you so much for uploading this!

[@yankinga]

Love the sound of those EMDs gutting it out. This is before the age of exhaust silencers.

[@usm-4kagnew165]

Brings back old memories. As a mechanical guy used to protect the 199 ‘s westbound out of Argentine to Emporia. Often had 18000 -21000 hp and 2500 tons. Made the 125 mile run in as little as 1 hour 45 minutes. Occasionally would catch the 991 eastbound to Marceline. Was a longer run since we had to thread the strawberry patch at Union Station. Couldn’t make 70 until east of Congo and the Sibley bridge. Worked for three roads, Santa Fe by far was the best run.

[@easyamp123]

excellent filming considering the era, must of been a good camera and mount setup. Thanks for the effort, I thoroughly enjoyed this over the last few weeks.

[@paul-andrelarose3389]

Beautifully maintained right-of-way and very interesting land topography. 2019/07/22 - Ontario, Canada.

[@davesb45]

Amazing how different the landscape looks now. Green then, brown now.

[@dbaker3751]

This was April 1, 1992, just after the winter rains. Should be green.

[@dbaker3751]

When you say brown now, when was that?

[@bayradiodj]

Winter in California: green. Summer in California: brown ... if that's what you mean by "green then, brown now."

[@mec253]

Excellent old footage. In the last segment with the slow order trestle area, I'm surprised the Santa Fe didn't put in mega rip rap years ago and turn that area between the bridges into a causeway. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@stevearnold2304]

Actually it was a large over the shoulder camcorder duct taped to the control console

[@easyamp123]

lol, the many uses of duct tape and counting.

[@pizzasubs]

really not bad quality for a camcorder of that year......

[@stevearnold2304]

I’m very glad you enjoyed it

[@3henry214]

Great video! I live along the Stockton Sub between MP 1146.4 (Oakley) and 1139.2 (Bixler), have always wondered what the view looked like along the route from the cab.

[@stevearnold2304]

Now you know, although it’s changed a lot. Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it.

[@ssweeps]

Very relaxing to watch.

[@stevearnold2304]

Yes David. This section between Pittsburg and I believe Dupont was governed under "Yard Limit Rules". Any color other than clear must immediately reduce to "Restricted Speed". A that moment in the video we were traveling at track speed of 70mph

[@ricardoaraozmoldes3970]

Muy interesante y bello video. Felicitaciones Steve. Saludos de Ricardo. De Tucumàn. Argentina.

[@BoxcarJerry]

That was a pretty cool through some beautiful country . I was wondering if we would see any railfans .

[@stevearnold2304]

That’s Jerry. I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@TheRrxing]

Very nice. Love the horn.

[@sanddabz5635]

At 7:28, 17:58, 19:27 and throughout.......... What is/are those pointy cigar shaped rail inside the main rail thingies? I've seen them in other videos and I've them in real-life, WHAT ARE THEY? Please help!

[@stevearnold2304]

They are guard rails. Their purpose is to guide the.wheels close to the main rails and away from close proximity items such as tunnels and bridges in the event of a derailment.

[@sanddabz5635]

@@stevearnold2304 Thanks! Makes total sense now. Enjoyed the ride!

[@stevearnold2304]

I’m very pleased that you enjoyed it. It brings back great memories working for the Santa Fe Railroad. I’m glad a shot it.

[@stevearnold2304]

You're welcome. I'm glad it's being enjoyed

[@patricknoveski6409]

You guys have. The best jobs on the planet.

[@philnewton2011]

Great, Steve!

[@stevearnold2304]

Thanks for watching Phil

[@philnewton2011]

It's oddly soothing. @@stevearnold2304

[@stevearnold2304]

Have you seen the whole 2 hour video?

[@tiptopsound]

Where in Richmond are we in the beginning? Anyone know if the siding at 6:42-7:10 is still in use? Doubt it...

[@stevearnold2304]

Answer to your first question is Richmond Yard next to Chevron. Answer to your second is Rheem and it is still there but a CTC crossover exists in the middle between the BNSF and the UP. A side note to Rheem siding is that the west switch stand still exists and lives in my backyard.

[@tiptopsound]

@@stevearnold2304 Thanks!

[@beemer345]

man that Leslie Rs3l 😍😍😍

[@paulmurray8766]

this is one awesome vid i realy enjoyed it thank you for this great posting

[@stevearnold2304]

We were following the UP Steel Train. In Yard Limits anything other than a clear indication, immediate reduction to Restricted Speed was required.

[@GearheadExplorer85]

Thank you so much for uploading this Steve! I'm continually amazed by all the old railroad footage on youtube. But this is probably my favorite cab ride video because the ambience of the area, the pace, and the length of the video. So what made you go to work for Santa Fe over SP or other lines? On another note, there is a train simulator called Run8 that has been around for a while. It has the famous routes like Cajon Pass and Tehachapi on it. However, it would be EPIC if they added Stockton sub.

[@stevearnold2304]

Thanks for watching. I love to see the Stockton Sub on a simulator. I’d be all in on that. I always wanted to be an engineer and I never cared which one. I grew up in Livermore and I grew up with the SP and WP local. I actually never saw anything Santa Fe growing up. My favorite was always the WP and I sent out dozens of letters to railroads all over the country in 1976 and only got three that were taken applications. The Southern in I believe Louisiana, the BN in Montana and the Santa Fe in Richmond. That was a no brainer. I was an instructor engineer at the time I shot this in hopes of making copies of the whole division and give them to my students. This was taken April 1st 1992. Unfortunately I had a carrier ending on the job injury in 93 and was never able to complete that task. I very much appreciate your comment and very happy you enjoyed the video. Steve

[@ronaldsummons6100]

nice ride along. thanks

[@JebBalentine-zj8sp]

Very cool! I actually worked on the Stockton sub from 2018-2020 before being furloughed for 2 years. (Yes you read that right) I got tired of waiting and moved back east with my family where I got on with CSX. They’d furloughed so many pre Covid that I actually walked into some pretty good seniority here but the railroading was more fun out there. Is Steve Hammond your student engineer in this video?

[@stevearnold2304]

Yes he is and we’re still friends

[@stevearnold2304]

Thanks for your comment. Please share it.

[@bayradiodj]

What model iPhone did you shoot this on, Santa Fe Steve? One of those old wooden ones from the 1980s, perhaps? Absolutely great ride - thanks for filing it, and thanks for sharing it!

[@stevearnold2304]

Yup. An over the shoulder VHS camcorder duct taped to the control stand that took a suitcase to hide. Lol. Thanks for watching

[@DonGomez007]

At the sound of a female's voice (dispatcher maybe?!?) on the radio ( 14:51 ) , one of you guys in the cab yelled "The Bitch!" - I almost wet my pants LOL. Movin' on... there was no drought in 1992 - Franklin Canyon in this movie is so GREEN!!!

[@Denniss7420]

Barbara - the Stockton Sub Disptcher

[@alonzografton2802]

I enjoy the cab ride!

[@samn7788]

I love the sound of those EMD locomotives, the diesel sound with that electric whining sound…

[@stevearnold2304]

It was Robert. The siding switches between Richmond and Stockton were run through spring switches. They are not easy to throw but there is a technic to throwing them. Heading in at Christie you can see my Conductor lining one.

[@stevearnold2304]

SD45-2 on the point, and a GP-60 and an SD-45

[@robertbowman3406]

Was that a spring switch he ran thru at 38:37 as it was lined for the main line?

[@w.keithmcdonald8461]

yes,....good eye,...thanks for watching ! !

[@TrainmanSky]

Robert Bowman It’s a run through a “Spring Switch”

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

*Name that train the ... **_"Cannonball."_*

[@JP-dj2ro]

awesome video, thanks, what is the main commodities transported on this line ?

[@bcherbs]

@14:55 "IT'S THE BITCH" LMAO was he talking about the dispatcher?

[@john1653]

Steve...I love your videos. But how was that train length issue at about 35 minutes resolved?

[@user-yz3et4lq9y]

With Mike long trains at times, I was curious just how did the brakeman get back to the engine when he had to throw a passing siding switch like here in the video? Didn't they have to throw the siding switch back to the mainline after the last car clears? So if a following train didn't have to take the siding they wouldn't have to stop their train to throw the switch back to the main?

[@danielkennedy1524]

Great video! Santa Fe all the way !!!! Is that line still around? Im out east in GA

[@stevearnold2304]

Thanks for watching. Yes it is it it looks very different now with the BNSF

[@stevearnold2304]

Thanks. Barbara was a piece of work for sure.

[@johannmckraken9399]

Steve Arnold Tell me about it, I relieved her enough times. Usually the transfer would go fairly quick, I'd look at the train sheet while she was yakking at me then I'd just shake my head and say "I got it Barb, go home and get your rest." Then it was about 45 minutes of rearranging meets and looking for any traps, after that the rest of the shift was easy. The crews made the job easy as most all of them wanted to get over the road. Mike Byrne and Teddy Rosal taught me the territory, two better dispatchers you wouldn't find. Teddy R.I.P. brother, we miss you.

[@TrainmanSky]

38:22 that switch was switched wrong it was meant for the main line

[@stevearnold2304]

Skytheguy 12 . It’s a run through “spring switch”

[@TrainmanSky]

Steve Arnold oh ok

[@stevearnold2304]

I shut off the camera to conserve the battery. That's why the 199 just disappeared. Our train just cleared the west switch but fouled the circuit for the 199 so the left at Restricted Speed as did our 951

[@Patriot1776]

Heh, in the beginning where your train 'went into the hole' for 199, I gathered from the radio chatter that 'Barbara' your friendly dispatcher had thought your train, 951, was going to stay on the main and 199 go in the hole? Instead, you and your Conductor, being the veterans you are, realized that 199 should have priority, being a piggyback, and so instead your train should go in the hole and 199 have the main to keep 199 moving. Am I correct on all this? ^^

[@stevearnold2304]

You are welcome however this is the only video I took. I was an instructor engineer at the time and I was injured in a collision in 93 and was never able to do any more

[@76NorthShore]

I'm sorry for the injure Steve. Thank you very much for the reply. Hope you're doing very well, Wishing you and your loved ones all the best, Greetings from Brazil.

[@stevearnold2304]

The plan from the beginning was that we would head into the siding at Christie. We told her that we were not going to fit west of the spotting section. The 199 was going to get color and be delayed no matter what. We were just too long and so was the 199. Bad dispatching plain and simple.

[@cgtower8860]

Steve Arnold I

[@lowarcher]

Steve Arnold, I assume you were part of the crew on this trip. Thank you for sharing this with us. I miss being an engineer.

[@TheSupradude26]

@@lowarcher do conductors or engineers make more money? I've always thought it would be fun to be an engineer myself..

[@lowarcher]

@@TheSupradude26 yes, engineers usually earn more per trip than the conductors. At least for NS they do. Other railroads I would imagine are similarly structured pay wise.

[@tommytruth7595]

@@lowarcher But yet the conductor is his boss. Crazy nonsense today.

[@Bob-nf6cf]

One of the finest railroad cab rides on internet. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Was the crew pool to work Richmond to Stockton or to Bakersfield? The dispatcher - train communication is the way it was and maybe still is; thumbs up to Barbara and crew too.

[@stevearnold2304]

Thanks and I’m glad you enjoyed it. Yes we were a pool crew and our run was from Richmond to Calwa (Fresno). Barbara was one of the worst Dispatchers we had.

[@Andyfab99]

@@stevearnold2304 I enjoyed talking to the various crews who were parked on the Fig Garden siding in Fresno, Ca. When my daughter Catherine was areound 2 years old we would go out and by the crew lunch and they would show us the different engines they were operating that day. My cousin is a BNSF engineer out of Long Beach and he would give us train rides to Barstow with permission. Once and awhile we'd get to go through the Tehachapi Loop and the tunnels. AWESOME!!!

[@stevearnold2304]

Did you ever take any photos Andrew

[@jackshittle]

What are the telephone poles for going down the side of the track?

[@stevearnold2304]

Old commutation/telegraph poles

[@stevearnold2304]

They were also used during train orders for locating exact locations for slow orders. For example: 10mph restriction between ten poles west of MP 30 and three poles east of MP 31

[@robertgift]

Should look at this on Googlearth and see what changes have been made. 23:39 What is on right?

[@boggy7665]

Could the 'thing' opposite the signal at 23:39 be a height checker in advance of the tunnel? Could it turn the signal ahead of the tunnel to 'stop' if it sensed overheight?

[@stevearnold2304]

Gracias 🙂

[@chrisgottschalt7471]

So nice to see freight cars not covered in graffiti.

[@stevearnold2304]

Chris Gottschalt, different world back then

[@stevearnold2304]

My intentions were to record the whole division for my trainees. I was bad ordered from an on duty injury before I could finish it

[@kleetus92]

38:38 please tell me that was a spring switch!

[@stevearnold2304]

Most definitely it was

[@kleetus92]

@@stevearnold2304interesting. I honestly didn't think they were that common in operation. I assume that was because they were manual switches? Which also for that line, I am utterly amazed they were not motorized switches. Heck, even the simplistic Bessemer and Lake Erie ore line in Pennsylvania had automatic switches on the line in the 80's, (actually even before that). All in all, great video though! Thank you for sharing!

[@stevearnold2304]

We had TCS from Bakersfield to Stockton and ABS to Richmond with the exception of CP Port Chicago. Thanks for watching and commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@stevearnold2304]

My Conductor commented "it's then bitch" at the sound of dispatcher Barbara's "wonderful" voice.

[@ClinchValleySD40]

Great ride. Thanks for sharing. I have a few on my channel also

[@stevearnold2304]

I uploaded a short segment of this video on KZbin a couple of years ago that has over 10,000 views. This one is better.

[@RailPreserver2K]

Steve Arnold you probably wouldn't be able to do this anymore, not after 9/11 and so on

[@anthonyprince4]

Steve Arnold upload coming through Winder Georgia

[@tomharris8263]

It's my understanding this area is now CTC. Am I correct?

[@rodneydaub3812]

I kept looking at the cars, and I thought this had to be early nineties.

[@stevearnold2304]

April 1st, 1992

[@kb7yim960]

Where is Trull? Between which places like Orwood, Werner, Bixler. Where please. It's not on Google Maps

[@stevearnold2304]

We left Christie on a Red. Restricted Speed to the next signal prepared to stop which was just outside the east end of tunnel 3. (west switch Glen Frasier).

[@aussi3212]

@ 3:12 7th ave bridge, @ 6:32 Chesley ave, @ 7:13 Market ave,

[@donreed]

06:30 say, is this video being played in slow motion, or could I walk to Trull faster? (!!!)

[@Worldsbestundergroundpilot]

Awesome video.

[@SAXTProductions]

Steve, what year was this shot? Looking at the vehicles, I'm guessing sometime in the 80s.

[@davesb45]

What were you running for power here?

[@brianslattum7090]

Awesome video, what year was the video from I was guessing early 90s ?

[@stevearnold2304]

KC97. Totally my pleasure

[@davidjackson1268]

If you're keeping track, at 1:17:45 of the video, the train is crossing Loveridge Road in Pittsburg, Calif. - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYTCmKihiqyefsU