17-06-21 PHOTOS: Capitol Improvements

Third time's a charm eh?  Yes, this is indeed by third trip on Amtrak's Train 6, the California Zephyr, and any of who follow my work might wonder why I might need three complete back-of-train surveys of the same route.  Well first of all, on any specific trip I might miss something or I might take a soft photo.  I've also upgraded my camera equipment over the years and likewise, California / Union Pacific have applied some upgrades to the California Corridor as well, so ultimately my work is never really finished ;-)

This set covers my trip from the initial terminal of Emmeryville, CA to the state capitol, Sacramento.  Speeds are 30-40mph on the initial twisty section along the Bay, but once across the Suisun bridge, speeds increase to 80mph for almost the entire rest of the trip.   You can compare it with my 2014 trip and my 2012 trip.  You can find the full set of photos here.

Passing the Richmond BART yard, I spied a trainset ended with 'A' cars.  These original 1968 vintage cars are relatively rare as only 60 were built, (30 trainsets) compared with 500+ 'B' and 'C' cars.  Today the newer 'C' cars are preferred to lead trains at non-peak times as they can be coupled into longer sets more easily.  Unlike the 'C' cars, the 'A' card do provide a reasonable railfan view.  Just FYI, when making a BART connection with Amtrak, the Richmond Station provides a direct transfer.  Emmeryville is some 2 miles from the Ashby BART station.

Since my last ride in 2014, the number of trackside tent cities have increased dramatically.  This is one major downside to living in an area without bitterly cold winters.

One improvement since 2014 was the addition of a new interlocking (GIANT) that provides an interlocked connection with whatever BNSF line serves the port of Oakland.

Freight train passing on track 2 as Train 6 skirts the San Francisco bay.

Running behind the freight was southbound Amtrak Train 11, the Coast Starlight.  Power was a typical P42DC+P32-8WH lashup with Amtrak #72 and #510.

Near the Carquinez Strait bridge complex we pass through an old school sugar refinery.  These remain common in most port cities to this day.

In this view you can see the old and new Carquinez Bridges.

Passing what I believe was Amtrak Capitol Corridor Train #531 with Superliner cab car #8314.

Arriving at  Martinez we passed what I calculated to be San Joaquin train #711, departing in the opposite direction.

Heading over the flyover west of the Suisun Bay Bridge, I caught UP GP38-2 #807 shifting cars for a refinery complex.

The Suisun Bay railroad bridge is flanked by older and newer spans for Interstate 680.

Crossing the Benicia viaduct I spotted more UP switchers below, GP15-1 #651 and GP38-2 #804.

A few miles down the line, I spied an MoW crew performing point maintenance within the limited of CORDELIA interlocking.  Work like this presents an operational challenge as it creates a double long segment of single track railroad.

Fairfield/Vacaville is a new station on the Capitol Corridor that also serves the nearby Travis Air Force Base. It opened in November of 2017.

Outside Elmira we passed Capitol Corridor train #533 with cab car #8304.

MoW workers on the lengthened Putah Creek bridge.

California Northern Railroad GP15-1 #1569 was hanging out on a spur track east of the Davis, CA station.

UP ES44AC #2649 pushing on the rear of an autorack train.

MoW equipment on a siding just past the milepost 79 automatic signal.

Union Pacific GP38-2 #792 with SD70ACe #8328 and ES44AC #7484.

A hi-rail truck patrols the Yolo Causeway just west of the new WEBSTER crossover.

Crossing the Sacramento River drawbridge we cross the diamonds leading to the California State Railroad Museum.  For a time rails had to be laid across the main line tracks to allow for crossing movements, but as part of the general Sacramento terminal reconstruction plan, flange riding diamonds were provided for.

On the adjacent track #4, Amtrak P42DC #195 sits ready to take a Capitol Corridor train westbound towards the Bay Area.

On track #6, Amtrak California F59PHI #2007 waits, ready to do the same.

For the duration of my journey I was taking photos from Amtrak Superliner sleeping car #32058.

Of course the old Sacramento station building was still in service, just an extended walk to the south, behind the old platform shelters which have been preserved in place.

We finish up with a wide shot of the Capitol Corridor trainset sitting at the new Sacramento rail station with cab car #8303.

Next week tune back for a special video presentation that covers the entire route from Richmond, CA to Sacramento.