When Railfanning Goes Wrong | Night of the Office-Car Train

[@henryjewell3900]

Must be nice to be on the Union Pacific railroad office car special riding and dining on the shareholders money.

[@Peter-mt6lg]

OMG the RR doesn't want to pay for trainmen,but the can blow money on a stupid football game 👍

[@bowlinerailfan]

You may have considered it a chaotic night, but from my perspective things went very good for you. You made some good catches, including Amtrak with a P42. Amtrak doesn't even run where I live anymore and I would like to catch a P42 before they're gone from Amtrak. Good job on the video.

[@csxtrainfan319]

You should always appreciate it when you catch a certain train the first time even with crappy footage because you don’t if luck is on your side or not and when you try to chase it, you might miss it

[@SoFlorailfanner108]

Agreed because it might come back

[@SoFlorailfanner108]

On a different train

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Agreed. I will always make do with what I get, but I simultaneously strive to get the best footage I can!

[@keithwright5325]

Thanks for all your videos. I enjoyed every one of them.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

You are welcome, I'm glad you enjoy!

[@SD45-ET44AC]

So nobody died, the train didn’t derail and you got some pretty good video, right? Sounds like an excellent night that you made the best of what you could & it did turn out to be a learning experience about lighting trains in low level of light. Plus you got a close up of a Darwin Award applicant at 4:36. 👍🏼🚑🚒

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Yep, nothing went too wrong, just my best-laid plans. Plenty of low-light experience to go around in the wintertime here. The Darwin was amusing, as was the two deer before that.

[@23Sunrise]

I admire how nice UP keeps it Office Car Train rolling stock.

[@bobpaulino4714]

NS also HAD very well kept OCS equipment pulled by an ABBA set of covered wagons (with 3 additional units 'for parts'), and a mix of 20+ primarily heavyweight cars for the consist.

[@BIGV710]

only thing i do not like about usa spotters videos is them bells must make you deaf at times yes im a spotter as thats what we call ourselfs in uk

[@Ovalaardvark433]

The crossings are usually pretty quiet unless they are adjusted loudly or right near the bell, or if they are a mechanical bell. The train horn usually makes me deaf

[@sweynforkbeardtraindude]

Good grief!

[@milwman1958]

I agree he didn’t have to stand right next to the bell

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

I agree that our bells are obnoxiously loud and should not stay on once the gates lower. To be fair, I was set up right under the bell in the first shot. That was also a relatively vintage mechanical bell. Our electronic bells are much quieter usually.

[@Vomahanew]

I wasn't expecting the office train to be so long.

[@HWYENGR]

I wonder if they are carrying not only employees but freight clients - that would a good marketing and PR activity.

[@Vomahanew]

@@HWYENGR That makes sense, and accounts for why they needed so many coaches.

[@stanpatterson5033]

01:07 ...... Man, that is one hell of a soft spot, especially in the rail on the train's left side, or on our right side as we watch the video. The camera angle vividly reveals it. If I were the road foreman of this section, I'd have a tamper out here working that spot, and maybe have ballast re-positioned prior. Looks like plenty available to pull up from below.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Yeah, it is amazingly bad. As it turns out, MoW work to replace ties and re-tamp the ballast here were ongoing at the time of filming, so it might be better off now. Good eye!

[@sirblack1619]

Great video! The rock train while it throw off the schedule was a great catch.

[@williamaprewittjr337]

You should always have a good working fan when you want to cool down the rails.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Yes. And let's plug in some space heaters all along the track to warm them up in the winter. What could go wrong?

[@reglementme6321]

Astonishing how bad those tracks lay, loose nails, a big lack of maintenance

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Maintenance of way work was ongoing in the area at this time, but yes, the track did look awful at the time of filming.

[@billxam2674]

Do those gons (train 2) have covers?

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Nope, it's just limestone rock so no need to cover it.

[@lashendawest7509]

Great catches and awesome video

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Thank you!

[@Northeast_Railfan]

The first catch of the OCS was still pretty good

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Glad you thought so.

[@trainsinkansas576]

Great video. Night shots were outstanding. OCT train was nice.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Thanks!

[@ronniewatkins]

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing!

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Thanks for watching!

[@Trains-101]

Long time no see man! great video!!

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Thank you!

[@Trains-101]

@ I believe I caught the same exact OCS up at Weatherford

[@desmundsafetran5066]

Nice video. Your prediction was right that the quiet zone on Texas 21 and several other crossings in San Marcos will be removed because several crossings does not either have quad gates or a median barrier to prevent vehicle from driving around the gates and it was removed May 31st, 2024. Right now the City of San Marcos is working to restore the quiet zone. I was also thinking of how come the quiet zone can be establish in San Marcos if there were no quad gates or median barrier to prevent vehicles from driving around the gates.

[@Sean-v6g]

They should get prison time for running the gates lots of time years .

[@Sean-v6g]

And commited to a phyceatric ward for being a danger to themself and others .......

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

I am not sure how a quiet zone was established in the first place without quad gates or a median barrier to be honest. I wish the city the worst of luck in getting it re-established.

[@Sean-v6g]

@TheCentralTexasRailfan well if run run crossing gates you need to be commited to a phyceatric ward for being a danger to your self and others .people who do that are nuts .

[@Norfolksouthernproduction-ns]

4:48 love that horn!

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

It's definitely fouled in a...unique way.

[@truckspotting7473]

What's the point of the Fred signal when there's literally marker lights on the back.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Probably for the telemetry data more than anything. The extra red light is just an added bonus.

[@stephenbroughman3231]

Most end of train devices don’t seem to work anyway!

[@isadoremizell-qs7nk]

​@@TheCentralTexasRailfan awsome catches I like the first train it had a mix of everything which is pretty cool very good catch

[@jamesburnside3023]

Great work well done

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Thank you!

[@garyb6219]

Does it annoy the guys in the train to have people so close to the track filming them? I have no idea.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Yeah, some of them get quite annoyed. Many don't care.

[@prandn]

Seem like a GREAT NIGHT of chaotic rail fanning!!! 🙃. Thanks 4 the video.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

It was pretty great and for sure chaotic! You are welcome.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

That was close near miss I’m glad you caught the office car special just in time just moments to spare

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Indeed! It was a lucky night.

[@ThePennsylvanianRailfan2K24]

That sounds like a very chaotic evening!

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

It sure was.

[@KHYIPHOTOS]

Is it just me or is the union Pacific when getting rid of tail and power for middle of train power recently went rail Fanning in new Braunfels and cuddle in your middle that had three units in the middle but none of the back just wanted to know if this was me I’ve been spotting out in the central Texas Austin Metro area for a while, and I started to notice a lot more. I’ve also started to notice a lot less foreign power.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

I have noticed a reduction in mid-train/end-train power too. I think it is due to the new, shorter, more-frequent manifests out of Eagle Pass. It is a welcome change to me, I hate the super long trains.

[@barbararoberto1258]

Liked the video, great night videos

[@michael61985]

A little to close to the tracks I can't stand crossing arms that keep going off

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Yeah close shots are kind of my signature move.

[@csxnstrainman]

Nice video! I really think you did pretty well considering what you had to work with especially at night.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Thank you!

[@johncompton88]

Amtrak was about 1/4 as long and probably had 5 times the passengers...

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

For sure.

[@jeffreymartin6369]

Great job I’ve seen those UP cars! Big Boy 4014 takes those cars on his tours of the USA and the UP volunteers I assume plus the extensive crew use them

[@Railsofsouthernontario]

0:21 what is that on the left side of the rails? a deer?

[@Cat_From_The_backRooms]

Looks like a cat to me

[@Railsofsouthernontario]

@ no its not, use your eyes

[@Cat_From_The_backRooms]

What is it then?

[@Railsofsouthernontario]

@@Cat_From_The_backRooms most likely a deer or a moose

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Definitely not a moose. Not even close. Looks like a cat or bobcat maybe...there were some deer in that exact area, two of which almost got nailed by the second train in this video.

[@lawrencewheeler8868]

Domeliner!!!!

[@kirknitz3794]

Are these the same passenger cars that was with the Big Boy?

[@mattheweastman2060]

Good shot for what light you had.

[@SupaSupaDave1955]

Unfortunately, the Longhorns were playing A&M in College Station.

[@focusfrenzy9759]

read the top, he filmed this on the 18th of October, Texas had a home game the next day (19th) versus Georgia, it did not go as planned. but thats ok pay back next weekend.

[@railfanthatneverdies1892]

i caught this same consist in hearne texas hooked up to bigboy #4014 about a month ago. they must be hauling it back to the shops for cleaning and regular maintenance. bigboy was going to a separate shop to start life again hauling freight on a designated scheduled run

[@houstonreadhead]

Nice video. I liked your narration. I didn't realize trains still blew their horn in San Marcos.

[@desmundsafetran5066]

San Marcos had established the train quiet zone in 2015 but they removed it on May 31st, 2024 because an inspection found several violation on several San Marco's railroad crossing. Right now they are working to restore the quiet zone.

[@Johnny35130]

That gravel train almost hit a deer.

[@arlingtontrains7]

Darkness can be a B! You atleast got it though

[@24fletchdog]

What kind of bike did you have 🤔😎😎 was it a motorcycle 🤔😎

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Just a regular old-school bike. I can push it to nearly 20 mph.

[@paullogan9960]

THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT VIDEOS!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5:15 That car on Businessman express(?) The one with the flag? What number is it ? I ask cause it is a 6 axle car. Why does it need to be such a heavy hauler?

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

You are welcome. I am assuming it is six axles due to extra weight. Not sure why it weighs more.

[@BadgerlandRailVideos]

It's always the special train or the one with the rare/heritage unit leading that gets delayed until after dark, blocked by an unexpected meet on the nearer track, etc, isn't it? Looks like you made the best of the situation and got some nice documentation of the action that night. I've been to central Texas three times now (my father-in-law lived in San Antonio, he passed in 2022 but my wife still has other family there) but haven't had time for any railfanning on any of the trips, yet.

[@mattanatior97studios]

The railroad companys do it on purpose

[@lostsheep2640]

Cool video. But don’t you use a radio? They usually tell you what track they are going to proceed on. Investing in a radio makes it way easier to know what’s going on.

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Not around here. Trains don't usually call signals here. I have a radio but it is not very reliable.

[@lostsheep2640]

@@TheCentralTexasRailfanvery weird they don’t with a station there and all. You sure you have the right frequency on your radio? Because we it stopped to use track 2 they should have called that and then when the Amtrak was at the station and it pulled up behind them they would habe had to radio that in.

[@RAtheGoodRailfanner_888]

Good catch.

[@draganasselin8602]

4:53 what is this horn

[@easternroutemainlinevideos6823]

Sounds like a either a fouled K3L or K3LA

[@GreyBeardTrains]

Nice video next time back up a little bit more please

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Up close is where the shot's at

[@GreyBeardTrains]

@TheCentralTexasRailfan not safe

[@Mollyda_ringsidereporter]

OK WHO PUT A MINI BELL OR HYBRID BELL ON THAT CROSSING

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

There are no mini bells or hybrid bells to speak of in San Marcos.

[@walterfink9782]

My main comment, which applies to you and other railfsn photographers, is this: Avoid train photos and videos taken close to railroad crossings. Those annoying bells are just that, annoying. Yes, they are for safety, but they don't need to be seen and heard, when watching these videos. Try picking locations that are far from crossings. Even try getting trains going around curves, and other areas in the "country." The videos look and sound so much better.

[@jimwyatt9894]

Hello from Southtown!

[@SDE1994]

0:40 thats a nasty looking hump in the track

[@gunsaway1]

I cannot stand those crossing bells.

[@stevee4636]

You Bike, how old are you....

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

Why does my age matter? I like to bike. I am at university which should tell you enough about my age.

[@matthewreny3270]

Click bait!!

[@TheCentralTexasRailfan]

What exactly is click bait here, in your eyes?

[@garyb6219]

@@TheCentralTexasRailfan What things went wrong?