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Caltrain's work train, made up of two leased PFMX GP9's, Amtrak and UP rock cars and one of its two leased cabooses crawls along track two between Redwood City and San Carlos, dumping ballast.
October 1999 |
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Here's a better look at the two leased Power Fluid & Metals GP9's. 3842 and 3833 are both ex-SP engines, and a photo of them in their predecessor's paint appears on Page 2 of the Caltrain photo gallery.
October 1999 |
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Two Kiewit Pacific workers operate the dump gates on this rolling graffiti billboard (a.k.a. ballast car). Their supervisor gives the Conductor/Assistant Conductor instructions on when to move, which direction, and how quickly.
October 1999 |
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Here's a closer shot -- you can clearly see the ballast falling out of the dump gate.
October 1999 |
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The pass they are making with the train here is only to dump rock on the west side of track 2, outside of the rail. They dumped between the two rails earlier in the day.
October 1999 |
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This shot clearly shows how the dump gates are operated. The workers insert a steel bar into one of 3 or 4 openings on the side of the gate which give them the leverage needed to open it in a certain direction.
October 1999 |
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The Assistant Conductor, observing the progress here, protects the rear of the train in case of a needed "back'emup" move.
October 1999 |
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Here is a good shot of 4736, one of two cabooses being leased for work train service. Like the GP9's, they are also painted in Caltrain's colors, and they are former SP "crummies".
October 1999 |
