February Ops at Silicon Valley Lines

The last Friday of the month traditionally is Operations Night at Silicon Valley Lines. The regular positions were all assigned and the railroad ran well, so I got to run train #444 Windsor to Jasper Jct with some switching chores in Silicon and Nowheres. I haven't run this train in a while and had a lot fun. Above SP 4837 leads train across the high bridge at Mt. Nickolls National Monument.

45 minutes later switching is behind us and train #444 is cruising through Mt. Marvel on the way down the loop to Jasper Jct.

While this was a modern session, the Tracy Historical Railroad Society operated an excursion train from Tracy to Bayshore and back with their recently restored steam engine 1234. It created quite some excitement in cities and towns along the route, as well as kept the dispatcher on their toes.

The switching job at the Hallelujah Papermill had their hands full tonight. Here's a manifest freight passing the papermill at speed on the mainline.