Z-Train With 4x2 GE's Absolutely Howling Across The Desert -- Dateland, Arizona December 10th, 2024

[@richardlively1666]

Before I retired from the UP, about 12 years ago, at speeds above 50 mph you had to throttle down to number 5 to save fuel. It was a bummer cause I always ran Z trains and loved to rock and roll. Kind a funny I was always on their radar for speeding. But I did hold the fastest times on the territory I ran. I miss those days, one of the highlights of my life. Still have the memories

[@R7300]

Luckily notch 5 50mph doesn't exist anymore. But EMS is probably worse.

[@espeescotty]

Man, that totally would be a bummer. That does sound like you had a fun career, though. Just imagine the 1970's Union Pacific and their quest for speed with the 6900's Centennials and the 8000's Fast Forties geared for 90-mph. "Headend to caboose...hold on back there, we've got the highball." 🤠👍

[@skyh]

Nobody beat SP's Blue Streak Merchandise.

[@bradhardy2629]

​@@skyhThe Santa Fe Super Chief. 80 mph. Coast to coast.

[@glennfoster2423]

​@@bradhardy2629Brad, the Super Nos. 17 and 18 ran between Los Angeles and Chicago scheduled for 41-1/2 hours for 2222 miles. The Super Chief did not run coast-to-coast. There were many miles across the California desert at night in both directions and the miles upon miles of Arizona.New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois where the Super (and others) clocked the miles at 90 mph. It was classic Santa Fe to see a sign reducing the authorized speed for the next curve was 85 mph!

[@stevetaylor8298]

Here in Australia, I live between two lines, neither are very close. It's nice on a cold, still frosty night to hear a train in the distance. Sometimes I stay quiet and listen and wonder how long it is and what the driver is thinking. It's great to dream.

[@espeescotty]

Yes, it is neat to hear trains rolling in the distance. 🤠👍

[@johnhess351]

@@espeescotty I used to dream about being the lone Brakeman in the caboose at 3 AM in 1935 rolling across Kansas. He would be looking out his window and seeing my distant amber shade flapping in the breeze of the open window as he rolled up a reefer and took a swig of Jim Beam.

[@espeescotty]

@@johnhess351 All the rear brakemen giving the train a roll by would be thinking that the train must've ran over a skunk! 🤠👍

[@JamieJobb]

Thanks for holding the shot so we hear the sound. of the desert. without trains ...

[@espeescotty]

You're welcome! Maybe only 1% of viewers hang around that long. You're a 1-percenter in the good way. Thanks for watching. 🤠👍

[@vr46go87]

And that train just took 295 trucks off the road. Awesome machines!

[@steeldragon5867]

And it needs trucks at beginning and end of journey, nothing moves without trucks

[@vr46go87]

@ yeah righto mate, don’t get ya knickers in a knot. You know what I meant so stop taking offence to everything princess.

[@steeldragon5867]

@@vr46go87 bad time of the month for you it appears, put your pad on and lay down, just stating the obvious to climate wankers

[@johnathandavis3693]

I live in Barstow, and we have the HUGE BNSF Hump Yard and UP has a yard right out of town. The Hump Yard is noisy -screeching brakes 24/7, but it's funny because it doesn't really bother you. Half the folks I know work for the RR'S. I love to see the huge 2-mile long trains BLASTING ACROSS THE DESERT. So much power and mass going 80+ MPH. Thanks for posting this...

[@espeescotty]

It is invigorating to see these big freights hauling a$$ across the open spaces like this. I visited the Barstow yard a few times when I was a teenager, 1989-1990. I'd love to be able to go there and get a good view of the cars going over the hump and see them coupling up in the bowl. Back when I went, we could sort of see the hump, but not really well. I kind of doubt that has changed for the better. 🤠👍

[@Crackers2549]

Ran those trains for the UP for 42 years and those double stack Z Trains are top priority....! Nothing but green!

[@espeescotty]

@@Crackers2549 That's what I like to see too. 🤠👍

[@Davey-Drums]

Wow, what a mass of freight! Untouchable energy efficiency. That is a truly American scene. Beautiful

[@espeescotty]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed this video! It really is a beautiful part of Arizona. 🤠👍

[@stevenking3286]

Holy tap dancing Christ! It just keeps on coming.

[@espeescotty]

@@stevenking3286 😆...yes, it sure does. 🤠👍

[@samhavholm]

4 pullers with 2 mid pushers,F'n sweeet!!! thank you for the video!

[@espeescotty]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed shooting it. 🤠🤙

[@dustydean56]

When you figure how much freight a train can move per gallon of fuel, as opposed to any other method, the train shines far above anything else.... by a LOT !!

[@espeescotty]

And fuel efficiency has been a big deal for railroads from the very start. 🤠👍

[@djebsr]

​@@espeescotty, I enjoy your postings very much, thank you for your quality work

[@espeescotty]

@@djebsr Thank you, sir! 🤠👍

[@stevenking3286]

Marine shipping compare?

[@oatley5239]

My wife and I were meandering around the west and I matched the speed of one of these guys at 75…the conductor gave us a wave.

[@espeescotty]

They sure can get up and move when the tracks are straight and the signals are high green. 🤠👍

[@russelljackman1413]

Back when I worked for the U.P. as a Freight Conductor, the Z trains we had (before they had a "Z" specification) were seldom over 30 cars long. The last Mail Train I was on with my Father (Engineer), had 11 units (all running) and 7 cars. It was called the Bay Area Express--the BAX. We ran from Ogden, Utah to Green River, Wyoming. We did track speed all the way, making the 176 mile run in 2 hours, 50 minutes. We were definitely "howling!" I've been retired for 9 years, 4 months now, after serving the U.P. for 41 years, and yes, I miss it. It was an amazing career!

[@espeescotty]

Yes, those were the days of true speed and horsepower per ton ratios! Big Jack Centennials and Fast Forties. I wish I could have experienced those days. 🤠👍

[@TheWoodStroker]

For Christmas 2024, I drove from Southern California to Dallas, Texas. I saw several trains like this. It's always an impressive sight!

[@espeescotty]

Nice! Yes, this train could very well have been heading to Dallas too. 🤠👍

[@markiewodi3371]

Well hot-damn you weren’t standing by an effing grade crossing with that stupid bell!!!!! Awesome video!!!!

[@espeescotty]

Hahaha....I know what you mean! I love catching trains crossing roads, but the continuous bell gets old, fast! 🤠🤙

[@jscott8695]

Nice salute! The crews like to see fans out there. Makes them feel appreciated. Thanks for posting 😃

[@espeescotty]

Thank you for watching...I appreciate you. I also very much appreciate the train crews too. Due to my colorblindness, I can't be one of them, but it has been my dream for 43-years now (I'm almost 51 now) to be a train engineer. 🤠👍

[@andyl4565]

They're absolutely flying! Impressive.

[@espeescotty]

Yeah, so cool! 🤠👍

[@vr46go87]

Sweet! One of my favourite places is on the Nullarbor Plain here in Australia. It is very flat and very barren, a bit like the landscape in this vid. At night you can see the freight train headlights on the horizon 20 minutes before they come past. I absolutely love it.

[@espeescotty]

Nice! Yes, there are several places in the western U.S. where it is similar. The trains pass through a low notch in the mountains in the background, and from that spot, you can see trains probably at least 20-miles to the east and an equal number of miles to the west. 🤠👍

[@RichardShelton]

I grew up in Yuma and have made the trip on I-8 to Phoenix and Tucson countless times. I recognized 'the man in the mountain' instantly and clicked on your video. Thanks for the memories!

[@espeescotty]

Thanks for watching! Isn't it cool how some people can see just a glimpse of something almost unnoticeable and right away know exactly where it is? I surprise myself with how I can do it too. 🤠👍

[@Justume]

I love to see trains let loss and going! I watch Norway's trains fairly often and those seem to consistently zing along, and the scenery is constant eye candy. Great video!

[@espeescotty]

Norway does offer a visual feast for the eyes, for sure. 🤠👍

[@LupeCoded]

That's the beautiful sound of America moving. 😢 🇺🇸

[@espeescotty]

Yes, cool stuff! 🤠👍

[@LupeCoded]

@@espeescotty ty for uploading this majestic video. It's nothing short of inspiring. Ty so much.

[@peter9962]

It’s the beautiful sound of a train moving.

[@LupeCoded]

@@peter9962 Correct, and that train I'd moving everything America depends on.

[@espeescotty]

@@LupeCoded You are very welcome. I'm glad you really liked it. 🤠👍

[@yahrique_gaming]

I absolutely love trains 🚂❤

[@espeescotty]

Me too. Thanks for watching! 🤠👍

[@patrickmcgoldrick8234]

Very nice,I am afraid I better go, before I lose my train of thought.All clowning aside nice work,and cool train.Thanks

[@espeescotty]

Oh...I'll give you more trains to think about. 🤠👍

[@patrickmcgoldrick8234]

Thanks,I need to know if this 67 year old brain is earning its keep.

[@trainman9119]

Stayed at RV park (Dwayne’s) in Bowie AZ nestled between I-10 and the UP double track. Fast UP’s every 15 minutes, 24-7. I loved seeing those trains blow by our RV just 100 ft away.

[@espeescotty]

That does sound quite awesome! My kind of place. 🤠🤙

[@maestromecanico597]

Amazing what you can do with a well oiled machine.

[@espeescotty]

Yes, indeed. 🤠👍

[@randydewees7338]

I'm the grandpa of a train obsessed 3 year old boy, I watch train videos now. The Tehachapi Loop is an hour's drive away...

[@glennfoster2423]

@randydewees7338 While you are on the way to the loop at Waylong, spend a while with that young man of 3 years, who probably knows more about trains already than most who are reading this , at the museum in Tehachapi. Lots of good stuff with a friendly and very knowledgeable group of docents. The trains are right outside. Ask for Mark Clay McGowan

[@randydewees7338]

@@glennfoster2423 Thanks. I'll try to rig it - he lives up in the Bay area. He's (with parents) been riding the Amtrak to Bakersfield where we pick him up, couple times a year.

[@espeescotty]

@@randydewees7338 Hahaha...I like that..."I watch train videos now." 😄 I understand that your grandson doesn't live near you, but if you take him to Tehachapi, then he is quite lucky. Many train fans from all over the world can only dream of visiting the Loop and anywhere else in the Tehachapis just for the train action and the location. It is like a Mecca for train folks. He's lucky you do that for him. 🤠👍

[@vancekeith5642]

Awesome video! That has to be the longest train I have ever seen by far!! Thank you

[@espeescotty]

Thank you, thank you...I'm glad you saw it here. 🤠👍

[@jasyamaha]

Now that's a train.

[@espeescotty]

Yeah, man! 🤠👍

[@joshbenton4080]

Cool, that's the sound of the GE Four Stroke Turbocharged FDL Series Prime mover! My favorite sound though, is the Roots Blown Two Stroke 567 Engine.

[@espeescotty]

I would love to have heard a quartet of Southern Pacific U33C's clacking through here with their wide-open exhausts. EMD 2-strokes will always be my favorites, but I never really got to hear very many of the old GE's. 🤠👍

[@sunking2001]

Pretty awesome...trains move America!

[@espeescotty]

They sure do move the goods. Thanks for watching! 🤠👍

[@donotneed2250]

But they very rarely do dock to dock like I did. It wasn't for Federal Regulations I probably would have driven 30+ years commercially instead of 27 but I also trucked in the Army.

[@espeescotty]

@@donotneed2250 Right. Modern railroads need trucks and they know it. Not every business can be served by rail, nor should they.

[@WildWildWeasel]

Man, that distributed power made me smile

[@espeescotty]

I love those dupes too. 🤠👍

[@hendrikdebruin4012]

How privileged you are in the US to see these trains. There is a diesel that runs once a day around 21h00 close to my home and I always wait to hear it. That is it for the day then. Greetings from Africa.

[@javidol1544]

I guess it was too much effort to mention which of the 54 countries in Africa you live in 😂. Greetings from North America.

[@hendrikdebruin4012]

@@javidol1544 Eswatini - one of the smallest and poorest countries in the world - for the man in the street that is. The elite is more than well to do. The monarch wears a watch costing $1.3 million while the subjects scrouge (literally) for food. How blessed the USA is.

[@espeescotty]

The love of trains is universal. Yes, I do consider myself privileged to be able to experience the many trains we have here. I hope things in your country improve for everyone. 🤠👍

[@uhlijohn]

As a retired UPRR engineer, I miss the days when I had all of those ponies under my command.

[@espeescotty]

That would be hard to hang up the spurs on a job like that. At least we now have KZbin. Thanks for watching. 🤠👍

[@uhlijohn]

@@espeescotty I have photos of the 6070 that I took one afternoon more than 11 years ago. I was working a transfer out of UP's Proviso yard and 6070 was first out. When I went back to MU the engines and inspect, I discovered that it was an old CNW E-8 that I used to hostel at CNW's M-19-A, its suburban engine servicing and repair diesel ramp. I saw that its controls had been modernized and the 24RL air brake valve was replaced with a modern 26L and the throttle had been modernized as well. When I went to sign the daily inspection card I saw on the "Blue Card" (federal inspection record) that it indeed was that old E-8 I used to hostel. I forget what its CNW number was. I think it was the 5027-A or some such thing. The blue card must list former owning RR and former number. If you would like to see the photos, e-mail me at [e-mail]. It also had the telephone number of the shipper so I got on my cell phone and called him to tell them of my "find".

[@ajaweaa4579]

Ok; so now I understand why rail is so important to transport goods: you can transport sooooo! much stuff in the one trip. Perfect for such huge distances across the desert.

[@espeescotty]

Exactly! But these long trains are very common in almost the entire United States. 🤠👍

[@harrybarry2291]

Fantastic, the longest train I have ever seen. I can see why it requires 6 engines. They aren't that long here in PA.

[@espeescotty]

Nice! I like how these wide-open spaces let you see more of the train at once. Thanks for watching. 🤠👍

[@blkjet117]

I counted 160 rail cars including the two diesel locos not at the front. 158 rail cars and 6 diesels. I could be off as they were flying by.

[@espeescotty]

I slowed it down and counted again. 89-cars before the DPU's, 77-cars after the DPU's...166-cars. It definitely is hard to keep track when they are whizzing by so fast. 🤠👍

[@xbgtfella]

I got 167 so i was close plus locos

[@wouterkellerman4458]

Hands down tje longest train i have ever seen!! Holeeee Moleeee!!

[@espeescotty]

Nice! I'm glad you saw it here. 🤠👍

[@drotsky]

Wow. Thanks. I watched that twice. Back in the old South Africa we had iron ore trains which ran from Shisen to the Cape. They were long long long trains but not as long as this one.. Awesome. And nice camera work.

[@espeescotty]

Thank you for watching...twice! I would love it to have ore trains running here. It is nice that you got some to see. 🤠👍

[@charlesphillips8635]

Jeez this thing must stretch clear across state lines😊

[@espeescotty]

Well, Arizona is wide enough that we can fit 2 whole trains in the state without anything poking out of the sides. 😜👍

[@charlesphillips8635]

@ hmm only just 🤞😁

[@patrickshaw8595]

Perfect! Thanks from "east of there for sure!"

[@espeescotty]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. 🤠👍

[@ashleyupshall7641]

Now that’s what you call a train.

[@espeescotty]

Heck yeah! It's impressive to watch one like this racing by. 🤠👍

[@Nedankinde93]

The soundtrack is awesome.

[@espeescotty]

@@Nedankinde93 It sure is! I only wish we didn't have so dang many flat-spotted wheels in this country. The hum of smooth wheels on smooth track is pretty cool. 🤠👍

[@bobclavile5653]

I counted 167. Not often you get to see a train as long as the state is wide. HAPPY NEW YEAR. Thanks from The East Coast...at the VA. Beach.

[@espeescotty]

Thanks for watching and counting! Luckily, here in Arizona, we can run almost 2 of these trains before they poke out of the borders! 😆 Happy 2025 to you too, sir! 🤠👍

many of the Z trains came out of chicago and went to Long Beach thru texas. the trains were about 8-9000 ft. long . now they are 15,000 ft. long. on the flat land they run 65-70 . i ran for UP from 1997 to 2018 . the Z trains got frustrated when the dispatcher put them behind a 50mph coal train .

[@espeescotty]

Most definitely I can see the crews being frustrated having to cool their heels behind a slow coal train. And it is funny to think of trains this big and heavy as a Z. I remember the old SP days when 4-6 GP60's and B40-8's would head-up those 8,000-footers that were almost all trailers. I miss those trains. 🤠👍

[@James-g3k5d]

Awesome video, 2 Union Pacific engines helping middle of train.😊

[@espeescotty]

Yes, I love it when trains have DPU's...either in the train or at the rear...or even better, both! 🤠🤙

[@workinghardusa]

Excellent video well done!

[@espeescotty]

Thank you! Thanks for watching. 🤠👍

[@JoeyIndolos]

My OC side had to count - twice! - to confirm that there are indeed 166 cars 😄 Considering that most of them were carrying 2 containers each, and it’s no wonder why railways are still so vital for moving cargo around.

[@espeescotty]

They sure are efficient at moving these containerized loads. Thanks for backing up my count. I counted it at least 5-times! 🤠👍

[@mikee5076]

that line is always busy. everytime i took a load out of yuma on I-8 not uncommon to see 4 or 5 or 6 trains in that section. the cell tower i remember.

[@espeescotty]

Yes, and that is a positive for the train fans. 🤠👍

[@mattr5708]

Awesome video Scotty 👍🏻

[@espeescotty]

Thanks, Matt! This one is turning out to be a popular one!! 🤠👍

[@Supernaut2000]

Just think how jammed up roads would be if all those trailers were being pulled by semi’s. And this is a lot less pollution.

[@espeescotty]

Yes indeed! 🤠👍

[@Rollercoaster555-B]

Hammer Hammer love it Nice work man thank you much

[@espeescotty]

Hammer down and boogie! Thanks for watching, I'm glad you liked it. 🤠👍

[@DinoMartino1251]

Just got a 4k tv and WOW so nice to see this filmed in 4K... thanks for sharing

[@espeescotty]

@@DinoMartino1251 Sweet...I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yes, my phone shoots pretty dang nice 4K videos. I try to shoot all of my videos with it or my 4K GoPro. 🤠🤙

[@mcdlb181]

That was badass

[@espeescotty]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I thought it was bad ass too! 🤠👍

[@P30CH]

Such an awesome catch!! Had to subscribe!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@espeescotty]

Thanks, buddy! I feel like your nickname ought to be Pooch. 🤠👍

[@P30CH]

@@espeescotty That was the Nickname for the P30CH. They weren't too popular with the engineers because they were slow to load and have a lot of lateral motion.

[@espeescotty]

@@P30CH Yes, that is why I feel like Pooch is what your friends call you...your train friends. I wish a model manufacturer like Athearn or Scale Trains would build P30CH's. I'd buy a couple. Sorry for the late response. I've been overwhelmed with emails and comments, and I just can't keep up. 🤠👍

[@P30CH]

@@espeescotty Hello!! No need to apologize I understand. I've been in search of P30CH's. Bowser was the only manufacturer that I know of, made them. Extremely rare. Have a great weekend my friend!!

[@tjwilkins7065]

I was on interstate 10 this year in New Mexico watching these trains run back to back.

[@espeescotty]

Cool! It is neat to see so many trains in a short time. 🤠👍

[@backalleyrailroading2835]

Yeah that was a screamer for sure.. Nice Snag my man !!

[@espeescotty]

@@backalleyrailroading2835 Thanks, Richard! This one and the one with the NS units I got at Aztec were my picks of that day. 🤠👍

[@hudsonhollow]

Amazing!

[@espeescotty]

@@hudsonhollow Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed this one. 🤠👍

[@charliematt4808]

Imagine this beastly long train going through a big city at rush hour… you’d be stuck at a crossing for days.😂

[@jamielacourse7578]

Watching this makes me aware of how much people need their goods..........

[@espeescotty]

And just imagine...this rail line probably sees 20 trains like this and longer every 24-hours, and the BNSF line across Northern Arizona probably sees 30-40 trains of equal size (just stack trains, mind you) in the same 24-hours. AND THEN...factor in just how busy Interstates 8, 10, and 40 are with truck traffic every single day! And that is just the Southern tier of our country. People need their goods, indeed. 🤠👍

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

@@espeescotty With that kind of frequency, they really should electrify. And Union Pacific was even thinking about it in the 1970s, but then upper management chickened out.

[@prun8893]

Good to see tractor trailers loaded on trains.....the way it should be for long haul.

[@espeescotty]

I really wish there were more trailers riding the rails. That was very common in the 80's and 90's when I was growing up. 🤠👍

[@robertstonebreaker8394]

We will deliver !

[@seymourscagnetti7777]

Nice!.....Anyone else re-play this video like five times?

[@espeescotty]

@@seymourscagnetti7777 Sweet! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! Happy New Year to you, Seymour! 🤠👍

[@seymourscagnetti7777]

@@espeescotty Thank you. Best wishes to you and yours for the new year! Cheers!

[@JoeyIndolos]

My OC side had to replay it to count and recount, and confirm that there are indeed 166 cars 😀

[@espeescotty]

@@JoeyIndolos Hahaha...I know the "OC" feeling! Since I feel like my reputation was on the line for posting it, I have counted it at least 5 times! Thanks for confirming it. 🤠👍

[@johnhess351]

WOW! That is hauling freight...all intermodal even...must be the whole container ship load. If my SouthWest Chief to California had only gone half that fast half the time, I would have got there in half the time!

[@espeescotty]

Oh man, but maybe more time on the SW Chief was a positive...longer train ride time. The Sunset Limited runs through this territory, but I don't know what its time keeping is like on UP. I seem to always hear that it isn't good. 🤠👍

[@georgesealy4706]

How do they keep the engines in the rear synched with the engines in front? It seems that if they were not at exactly the same speed, then they would work against each other.

[@DelScorch0]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple-unit_train_control en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_power#

[@georgesealy4706]

@@DelScorch0 Thanks for posting this article. Very interesting.

[@espeescotty]

First, it is important to know that a properly built train should have more power than the absolute minimum to move it. In truth, only 2 engines could probably move this entire train for most of its journey, but it would be going entirely too slow to keep the railroad fluid. The extra 4 units are there to help the train make much better speed, plus help climb the grades without slowing too much. Now for your question. I think when you say, "engines in the rear", you specifically are referring to the DPU's (Distributed Power Units) cut into the train. Well, most of the time, DPU's are biased near the 2/3's mark of the train or at the rear, and often, they are fewer in numbers than the lead units, but not always. Yes, these units are radio controlled from the lead unit's cab, as the article stated, but they really never work against the lead units. Let's just say they are working in a train with an even 100-cars and are cut-in 2/3's back (66-cars deep). The lead units can only pull what the DPU's will allow them to pull....meaning, if the DPU's are pulling the last 34-cars behind them, plus pushing the 6-cars ahead of them, then the lead units will only be able to pull the lead 60-cars ahead of the DPU's. But, if the DPU's are bogged down by the weight of those rear 34-cars, then the lead units will pull their 66-cars, plus be applying a bit of pulling force on the lead DPU to help out. The lead units will not be pulling the full weight of the 100-cars, as the DPU's will be handling the weight of the majority of the cars behind them. Now, if the DPU's conk out while pulling, then they would work against the lead units and become a burden beyond the weight of just the 100-cars. But that only happens when things go wrong. When things are going right, if the DPU's are pulling and pushing too much, then the speed increases at the headend and the engineer will just throttle back to maintain the proper speed and use brakes if needed. The engineer in the lead unit can control the power (and dynamic braking) of the DPU's independently from the lead units. I hope that was clear and not too convoluted. 🤠👍

[@Glen-j2f]

INCREDIBLE RADIO COMMUNICATED COMPUTER POWERING...... matches the exact speed when required.

[@tphiolskol]

Those mid dupes (dpu's) are the work horses

[@espeescotty]

Yeah...so cool! 🤠👍

[@michaelmckenzie5232]

When in Dateland, get a Date shake. Fab! Also explore the old army airfield on the north side of freeway.you can see 😢he calibration bunker thete.B-25 training base

[@espeescotty]

I have seen a couple of videos of the old air base north of Dateland, and I'd like to go explore it, but I'm waiting for when I can take my friend with me. I have also seen the date shakes on TV and KZbin, but I'm not all that hot for dates. Now chocolate shakes, heck yeah! 🤠👍

[@michaelmckenzie5232]

The triangulated runway and the building slabs were still thete on the nort and south side of I-8.It’s all right there, or at least it was 12 years ago.Met the guy that owns it.Was trying to develop the run way area into a mobile home park for old assbites like me

[@michaelmckenzie5232]

They only thing around it on the north side is the school.if memory serves me , that turn off is Agua caliente road. If you go nortth on it you come across the old Agua Caliente hot springs resort , which was HQ for the officers at the WW-2 Patton desert training center.go further north and yo u will hit the SP roll subdivision siding with a spur for off loading material.There was also remnants of the entry gate manned by the MP’s in a mesquite thicket made of local rocks and a wood archway. Go west and an operating bar (yes a bar) go east and u end up at Poco Dinero Ranch and painted rock dam.uou should go before the vandals destroy it.Wish I took pics then

[@espeescotty]

@@michaelmckenzie5232 Yeah, Google Earth still shows the runways there, just north of the 8. I'd like to go explore that area someday. 🤠👍

[@espeescotty]

@@michaelmckenzie5232 Ooh good, a lot of good information. Next time I'm out there, I'll have to re-read your comment and see what I can find. 🤠👍

[@joeannperschall7226]

What a sight😊

[@espeescotty]

Yes, indeed. 🤠👍

[@derrellthomas239]

Seen a lot of trains in my life. That has to be the longest.

[@espeescotty]

As another one of my viewers always says, "It's as long as a dead snake." 🤠👍

[@craiggalvin829]

That is mightily impressive...and efficient! How many road loads point to point has that saved! Here in the uk sadly we don't seem to be investing in intermodal or mixed freight, much to the dismay of motorists!

[@espeescotty]

Exactly! Some of our "monster" stack trains are still 50-cars "wells" longer than this one. If there are a lot of 20-foot containers onboard, that is between 500 to 700 containers per fully loaded train. I suppose due to the tighter clearances there in the UK, double stacks are not even a consideration, but even single stacked, they are pretty efficient at keeping trucks off of the roads for at least some distance. 🤠👍

[@Vanrides.]

It's just not efficient in the UK for rail freight on less than 250 mile journeys.

[@thomasmoran168]

OK, that's funny... I was really amazed by the speed, then I realized I had my KZbin payback speed at 1.5x from a prior video... 😎

[@espeescotty]

@@thomasmoran168 Hahaha...I've done that more times than I care to admit! 😆🤙

[@richardteale8203]

Wow! Now that's some serious sized freight & weight! No wonder those engines were screaming their turbo's & cooling fans!

[@espeescotty]

Yes, plus the howling from their electric traction motors and their straight-cut bull and pinion gears. It all sounds goood! 🤠👍

[@heidiholiday1879]

A real"Iron Horse".

[@espeescotty]

Yes indeed. 🤠👍

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Quad pullers and a HONKER! Boy Howdy didn't YOU do good! Thnks, Palley!

[@espeescotty]

A howlin' and a honkin'. Hustlin' everybody's goodies east for Santa Claus to deliver very soon. Thanks Lewie 🤠👍

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@espeescotty I'm/we're on the western east so we might count BLESS you, Buddy!

[@espeescotty]

@@lewiemcneely9143 You always count. Santa knows how to get there. Have a good night, friend.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@espeescotty Things changed a lot after the storm. His GPS might be off. Sleep deep, Palley!

[@espeescotty]

@@lewiemcneely9143 The truckers know the way...they'll show the big guy the route. 🎅👍

[@ellieprice3396]

Six GE's. Four at the head, two in the middle. What an amazing load of freight; train must be at least two miles long.

[@espeescotty]

In fact, many of the "monster" stack trains, usually around 220ish-cars, will be in the neighborhood of 3-miles long. 15,000-footers are pretty common now. 🤠👍

[@kq2799]

@@espeescotty Can't offshore the jobs so they just stick 2 trains together to downsize the crews...

[@Jam-ks8sx]

So much weight ! Fascinating.

[@espeescotty]

@@Jam-ks8sx It really is. 🤠👍

[@goldstandardaviation1667]

That howling is the electric motors on the locos. My Tesla sounds similar when I punch the pedal.

[@espeescotty]

Yes, the electric motors and the bull and pinion gears. Now multiply that by 24 times on the lead units, and she's gonna be a howler. 🤠👍

[@abdulaziz-yb3so]

For me this is cowboy movie 😁

[@espeescotty]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. 🤠👍

[@ACDZ123]

How come so many engines? In Australia we have the heaviest iron ore trains and only use 3 and 4 loco setups??

[@DT-ge8gd]

Our Aussie trains have more grunt... 😉

[@ACDZ123]

@DT-ge8gd ha ha but they use American locos in western Australia

[@wallygumboot7416]

'Cos it’s downhill from the mines to the coast, you only need enough power to drag the empties back up again.

[@michlo3393]

The longer the train, the more creative you have to be with distributed power. Mid-train DP's are also used as a repeater for the EOT on the rear.

[@peterc8622]

Inclines that vary along the extreme length of the train and electro braking using just the power units, similarly related to the length, weight and grades. Then there's train splitting

[@kingpetra6886]

Impressive.

[@espeescotty]

I sure thought so too. 🤠👍

[@jjarm]

That’s a lot of freight!

[@kkarllwt]

Probably empty boxes.

[@espeescotty]

@@kkarllwt With the holiday rush and the UPS trailers and containers onboard, I'm going to lean towards full and high priority. 🤠👍

[@10GOLDENWOOD20]

I wonder how long it would take to come to a complete stop at that speed.

[@espeescotty]

If she stays on the rails, I bet around a half a mile from 70. There are some videos on YT that show fast trains in full emergency braking coming to a stop in about 30-40 car lengths...but they usually aren't going full-blast 70 mph. If the crew in Pecos, Texas had 10 to 15-seconds more to brake, I bet the outcome would have been far different.

[@10GOLDENWOOD20]

@@espeescotty Thanks...

[@michlo3393]

Contrary to popular belief, most trains will be able to stop within their own length if put into emergency. Intermodal trains aren't particularly heavy when you consider their length, and the longer they are, the more operative brakes they have.

[@firstnamelastname-ys3mz]

I approve

[@espeescotty]

Sweet! 🤠👍

[@ЛЬВИНИ]

Very nice video, likes from me ! ! !

[@espeescotty]

Thank you! 🤠👍

[@matthewm2303]

Most Impressive 🇺🇸👍🏼

[@espeescotty]

Thanks...I agree. 🤠👍

[@7c8f9x]

I was in YORBA LINDA CA. years ago and had to wait for a train with 101 cars on it not counting the engines, yikes, but they were flying by. IT WAS MUCH FASTER THAN THIS ONE THOUGH, THEY WERE HAULING A**!

[@fjb4932]

@7c8f9x, I always hang well back from the crossings while waiting. How far back ? Far enough i've had one guy go around me trying to get as close as he could, just to be the 1st across the tracks. Another guy wanted me to pull up closer, told him to go ahead, i'd be hanging back for when a car came off the track. He hung back as well. You wouldn't believe how far a car can travel when it's Trying to hit something. Ask Murphy . . . ☆

[@espeescotty]

Cool! Fast freight trains are pretty awesome. 🤠👍

[@edwardvanek5409]

I realize it’s not necessary, but I miss the caboose. And this country needs more trains! …

[@pupsmotorworks5228]

Maybe there will be more now, with a new energy re-vamp coming ! Cool, thanks for posting. We don't see many, if any, trains that require locos mid consist roll through S.e. Iowa.

[@edwardvanek5409]

@, we, the United States, should have the best train system in the world. The history of why we don’t is interesting. Part of the reason we don’t, in a short version, is because of rubber companies’ donations to the politicians way back in the day. … ed

[@sethtenrec]

@@edwardvanek5409 and burning oil too don’t forget, oil companies have campaign money as well

[@espeescotty]

@@pupsmotorworks5228 Thanks for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed it. 🤠👍

[@Johnny_Yuma]

To GDMOFO: I live in Yuma and travel through Dateland quite often. It's for sure Dateland. You ought to see the tracks between Gila Bend and Tucson. Trains gotta slow considerably thru the curves....a perfect place for rail fanning.

[@espeescotty]

@@Johnny_Yuma Roger that! You should see my Trains playlist to see how many videos I have from Shawmut. That is a great spot for rail fanning. Thanks for watching! 🤠👍

[@garythiele1663]

How long is that train? A single platform intermodal railcar for 53-foot containers is 67 feet and 9 inches long. 166 cars times 67.75 = 11,246.5 feet. Divided by 5280 = 2.13 miles. Some of the cars are shorter. Estimated length 2 miles!

[@espeescotty]

@@garythiele1663 That might be right close to spot-on. This one isn't, but 220+car 15,000-footers are very common now too. Some of those will have 2 sets of DPU's. 🤠👍

[@fredsalter1915]

No caboose?

[@espeescotty]

Unfortunately, cabooses "left the chat" well over 30-years ago. 😕

[@UyScuti365]

They got Fred instead!

[@espeescotty]

@@UyScuti365 Exactly. 🤠👍

Those were the days... spectator-wise, don't know about crew-wise.

[@peterkunka2694]

A couple of questions: Did you drive to this spot to see the train and then leave, or are there boondocking areas for camping and staying a few days? For this kind of action, I'd rather camp near the rails than out at Quartzsite (I live in Phoenix, so it'd be easy to get to for a weekend trip). And, do you use a scanner to listen to train comms? Might be cool to put camping, comms, and video/photo/drone graphy all together into a trip. Cheers! Pete in Arizona - KI7LIL & WRXY843

[@Brian-iu7rd]

It looks like this poster was down south, but every time I'm across I-40 (especially East of Flagstaff), I use Julie (800-USA-RAIL) to stalk the Southwest Chief heading both ways. Just a blur in Northern Arizona. There's always a ton of multi-mode traffic up there, too. Plenty of easily accessible shooting locations right off the interstate.

[@peterkunka2694]

@@Brian-iu7rd Okay, nice, thanks Brian! I figured he was south... looked like Gila Bend or Casa Grande? I'm in Phoenix and camp often in Flagstaff/Williams during the summer to watch the trains. Pretty cool deal about Julie, didn't know about that but will keep the number in mind for next summer for I-40 traffic. Seligman has a KOA that is close to tracks along I-40 if you want campground services while watching. With a few winter months remaining, I might see if I can get south near tracks for a trip. I'm into Ham radio and scanning, so I'd also like listening to the trains while watching them go by. More to look into. Thanks again!

[@wlbrobinson]

Man after a day of hearing those beasts every 5 minutes on that line you would be tired. You can pick them up in Gila bend shorter drive and food too.

[@peterkunka2694]

@@wlbrobinson True, the frequent rumble can get to you after a while. I'll try Gila Bend for some desert camping while winter is still around. And, have you tried Humberto's for breakfast burritos? Pretty good stuff at that little place. Thanks!

[@espeescotty]

This was shot just on the west side of Dateland, AZ, just off of I-8. You can see Dateland in the pans to the right. There is what looked like an RV park right there on the west side of town, but this old frontage road runs west of town for a few miles too, and there might be a spot to cross the tracks and boondock, but I didn't drive far enough out to see. I-8 is really close, so the noise from that is WAY more intrusive than a train every hour or two. I was out there in the Aztec/Dateland area for 5-ish hours that day and saw only 5 trains, so it isn't super busy out there...and this was during the holiday shipping rush, so probably fewer trains now. As for using a scanner, I haven't been able to pick up anything with my scanner in my preferred train spot (50-miles east of here) for a few years now, so I just leave the scanner at home now. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching. 🤠👍

[@MrJohnL21]

How many airfreight planes or road vehicles would it take to do the job of that train?

[@marktwaine9344]

look at the highways and you can see...

[@41divad]

Silly comparison

[@espeescotty]

Trains, especially American trains, are very good at moving a lot of freight. 🤠👍

[@Winterascent]

Mohawk Peak there in the background at the beginning, just north of I-8.

[@espeescotty]

Yes. Mohawk Pass is a neat spot on the railroad. But due to I-8 running through there too, it is hard to get to the sunny side of the tracks this time of year and too hot in summer when the Sun is north of the tracks. 🤠👍

[@ashleytidd-w9i]

That has to be cost effective.

[@espeescotty]

They sure can move a lot of stuff with relative ease. 🤠👍

[@craigpennington1251]

Actually pretty quiet. All intermodal cargo.

[@espeescotty]

Yeah, those boxes don't say much, do they. 🤠👍

[@RichardOprisko]

Why do train buffs love this? Try getting this close to a moving commercial jet or a ship under way without ending up in Leavenworth! Excellent video - lots of action and not 20 minutes long.

[@espeescotty]

Thanks, Richard! That is why I love trains moving at 70 per...even the monster stackers pass relatively quickly. It makes for better videos. I have seen, and shot, 220+-car monsters climbing a 1% grade where it takes almost 15-minutes for the entire train to pass. Now, I love trains, but my viewers don't sit around watching one train for 15 solid minutes. 🤠👍

[@RichardOprisko]

@@espeescotty As a retired NEC engineer, I have this thing about speed. If I had to work freight again, this would be my dream. Now that we've retired to Colorado and its winter, I believe a trip to southern AZ is in order! Again, great video, keep 'em coming!

[@espeescotty]

@@RichardOprisko Hahaha...you have a need...a need, for speed. Come on down...we've been downright balmy ALL December. Tickled 80° a few times in the last week. Between 10-20° above average every day this month. 🤠👍

[@waynebryant8647]

@@espeescotty I do

[@edog7059]

I'd like to think that running fast like this is every engineer's dream, but it has to be a bit terrifying too. You're not stopping for anything! If something's in the way, you are going through it! Or... maybe some high-powered lasers up front could burn a hole in whatever is on the tracks before you got there. "ZAPPPP we're safe now!".

[@sethtenrec]

Lmao! But you’re so right, you’re going straight through whatever … I wonder if anyone could calculate the foot pounds of energy that train is packing at that speed.

[@glennfoster2423]

@sethtenrec Harking back to Physics 101, just estimate the speed and tons (tare weight plus load) and calculate the kinetic energy. As far as mounting "high powered laser" contraption to blast away some thing-a-muh-jig, well, that probably will only happen in a video game.

[@sethtenrec]

@@glennfoster2423 true & the laser idea wasn’t mine lol. But how much does this loaded train actually weigh? I’m going to say it’s a lot, that’s a capital LOT.

[@tridelltransportation3603]

@@sethtenrecKE=1/2mv^2

[@Diddley-js6lf]

I Went To San Bernardino for my Granny’s Funeral, Driving Along I-40 You can Look To The North a Bit and See The Trains Four and Six Engines Strait Pulling a Mile Long Set Of Freight Cars Going East And West They We’re Moving As Well Because It Would Look Like We Were Paralleling The Train But Pretty Soon The Train Was Passed Us Now We Could Only See The Rear Rail Cars.

[@espeescotty]

Indeed...when all the stars line up, these freight trains can straight haul a$$. Sorry about your granny. ☹👍

[@XY_Dude]

That was a great vid!! Query: The DPU's were pretty quuiet - running low notch or off??

[@espeescotty]

To my ears, I'd say they were almost as loud, but my thought is that the racket from the cars ahead of the DPU's drowned it out some, and also, there were half the units as the lead pack, so that right there might equal less volume. 🤠👍

[@KevinHill-u4f]

4 engines? I counted 6 - 4 up front and 2 about 2/3rds back.

[@espeescotty]

Right, I accounted for the DPU's in the description. It was the four leaders that were howling as a group by themselves and the sounds of the DPU's couldn't be heard when the leaders roared by.

[@rdembow]

Extra locos for climbing grades?

[@michlo3393]

The cut-in helpers have more to do with the train's length than anything else.

[@espeescotty]

Yes, that is a benefit, and there are grades ahead for this train. But those extra units help with better train handling too. Trains with units cut into the train can accelerate faster with less strain on the couplers, but they also brake quicker too. 🤠👍

[@michaelsullivan3581]

It's a hot shot! Quick accelerations and decelerations are the name of the game!

[@siegfriedbarfuss9379]

Rudolf Diesel drives the globe ...

[@raginroadrunner]

He sure does...

[@espeescotty]

Quite right. And also...how many people have an entire type of fuel named after them!? I can't think of any other. You go Rudy! 🤠👍

[@richceglinski7543]

That's a lot of overseas goods moving inland across the country.

[@7c8f9x]

ALL GOING TO COSTCO AND WALMART!

[@espeescotty]

It sure is. 🤠👍