Davis, California Amtrak Station is Served by Amtrak California Zephyr, Coast Starlight and Amtrak CA Capitol Corridor Trains

 

Our Amtrak Station in Davis, California was built in 1913 for the Southern Pacific Railroad.  Through the years, it has served trains such as Southern Pacific's City of San Francisco and Shasta Daylight. 

Davis's Amtrak Station is served by today's Amtrak California Zephyr and Coast Starlight trains, 

as well as Amtrak California's Capitol Corridor service. 

"The Railroad Museum: Episode 12" The California State Railroad Museum

For Episode 12, The Railroad Game and Host Rick The Engineer visit California State Railroad Museum with questions about the Southern Pacific Cab Forward, Santa Fe and Sacramento Southern. Watch on my YouTube https://youtu.be/pVOLETi-JjU?si=SYSuN2FbW4Ei27-k

 

Southern Pacific 1st Generation Diesel Locomotives Poster by Andy Fletcher

I finished a new poster and magnet set of several Southern Pacific First Generation Locomotives. The GP9s and SD9s lasted well into the era when I first saw trains in my hometown of Davis. See my Southern Pacific artwork at customtrains.org

 

"SPSF, Shouldn't Paint So Fast" Music Video by Andy Fletcher

A Big Thank You to my friends Barry R. Byington, Jim Kleeman, Bill Kalkman and Terry Walsh for contributing their great photos of Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Kodachrome locomotives from the SPSF era to help make my new music video “SPSF, Shouldn’t Paint So Fast”. Watch on my AndyFletcherMusic YouTube https://youtu.be/d2Ukf5BZO1E?si=Ei6k4osWwhjfJbsd

 

"The SP Rotary Snowplow" Music Video by Andy Fletcher

Have you seen the railroads plowing snow with the winter snowstorms?  I decided to write a song, "The SP Rotary Snowplow" in tribute to rotary plow SPMW #205 on display at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.  Watch  the music video on my AndyFletcherMusic YouTube channel https://youtu.be/Ew0AXrHdTpE

 

Southern Pacific Rotary Plow SPMW 205 Drawing by Andy Fletcher

 I finished drawing Southern Pacific Rotary Plow SPMW 205 that is at the California State Railroad Museum.  I have added this rotary plow along with recent drawings of Santa Fe 2-6-2 #1010 and California State Railroad Museum Switcher #2 to my updated California State Railroad Museum poster.

See my California State Railroad Museum equipment artwork at customtrains.org

Railroads of Truckee by Andy Fletcher

Truckee played a key role in the building of the first Transcontinental Railroad and has played a key role the crossing of the Sierra by Southern Pacific and successor Union Pacific.  When taking Amtrak's California Zephyr, Truckee is a great station stop for great shopping, ski resorts and outdoor recreation throughout the Sierra.

See my Railroads of Truckee poster at customtrains.org

 

A Southern Pacific Train Heads To Ogden

This Southern Pacific train heads from Roseville over Donner Pass to Truckee.  Today's train carries Pacific Fruit Express refrigerator cars carrying fresh California produce over the Sierra.  Today's train is ultimately headed to Ogden.  

See my Southern Pacific artwork at customtrains.org

 

Southern Pacific Daylight Heads For Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal

The Morning Daylight begins its journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Power for today's train is 4-8-4 GS4 #4449. Today's train is scheduled for a 5:45 PM arrival at Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal.  

See my Southern Pacific artwork at http://www.customtrains.org/southern-pacific.html

Railroads of Sacramento Poster by Andy Fletcher

The "Railroads of Sacramento" poster includes Central Pacific's Jupiter, the SP Daylight, "The Spirit of Union Pacific #1943", Amtrak & more. Find your favorite state, city or region of the US & Canada 11"x17" posters on my website page: http://www.customtrains.org/states--regions-and-city-posters.html

A Railroads of Grand Junction, CO Poster For Dave's Depot

A "Railroads of Grand Junction, CO" poster for Dave's Depot in Grand Junction. If you are taking the Amtrak California Zephyr 5 or 6 be sure to stop in at Daves' for some great snacks & railroad memorabilia. #AmtrakCommunity #Amtrak #trains serve communities across America.

To see my railroad artwork, visit customtrains.org

A Southern Pacific Train Heads From Oakland to Chicago

This Southern Pacific train heads from Oakland to Chicago.  It carries carloads of furniture bound for the Rio Grande at Denver and the Soo Line at Chicago and carloads of fuel from Chevron. #WhyWeNeedTrains

To see my Southern Pacific artwork, visit my website http://www.customtrains.org/southern-pacific.html

SPSF Kodachromes Poster and Magnets by Andy Fletcher

Sometimes it takes 25 years to make a poster. I drew Santa Fe SD40-2 #5023 in 1993 and today if drew the SPSF SD45-2 #7219. This poster is for SPSF Kodachrome fans.  Kodachrome SP #2823 GP9 is at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in #Portola, #CA. 

You can see the drawings & poster at: http://www.customtrains.org/spsf-kodacromes.html

Southern Pacific Moves Pacific Fruit Express at Salinas, California

This Southern Pacific train moves Pacific Fruit Express refrigerator cars at Salinas, California. With Pacific Fruit Express, Southern Pacific and +Union Pacific  connected the fresh fruits and vegetables of California and the West Coast to markets across the United States.

To See my Southern Pacific 11"x17" poster, visit my website customtrains.org and/or my eBaystore

A Southern Pacific Pacific Fruit Express Train at Tehachapi

This Southern Pacific fast freight train heads east at Tehachapi with Pacific Fruit Express refrigerator cars loaded with lettuce from California's Central Valley.  Pacific Fruit Express was a partnership of Union Pacific and Southern Pacific, designed to carry the fruits and vegetables of California to the markets of the Midwest and the East Coast.

Seeing My First Missouri Pacific Engine in Sacramento, California.

When I was growing up, my hometown of Davis, California was home rails to Southern Pacific.  Although I credit seeing Southern Pacific's daily trains to much of my appreciation for railroading, I often liked to venture to Sacramento to see the trains of rival Union Pacific.
The early 1980's were a sea of Union Pacific SD40-2s with the occasional C30-7.  SD60's and Dash-8's were just beginning to arrive.
One day, as a double-stack train raced through Del Paso Heights, to my excitement I saw a recently acquired Missouri Pacific SD40-2.  I watched as the blue locomotive headed east under the I-80 overpass and out of sight.  That was the first I saw of Missouri Pacific as a California railroad enthusiast. 

Growing Up Around Southern Pacific in Davis, California

I grew up along the Southern Pacific in Davis.  Many days as we drove to down along Second street, a Southern Pacific train would be heading through town.
I often saw their Hydra-Cushion box cars parked in our wide spot along the tracks.  Cars destined for the West Valley line that headed north at our venerable station would get picked up by the local.
As the trains passed by, I would wave to the engineers and conductors.  As the trains rolled onward, towards the Sierra or Oakland, I began to realize that railroads truly connected America.

Sketching Logos-A Connection To The Past

I often sketch logos of railroads both past  and present. Logos are a great connection to railroads that we remember from years ago. Sketching logos is also a great way for me to explain my artist's style, composition and many concepts about my drawing.

My Hometown Amtrak Station Davis, CA

My local Amtrak Station in Davis, CA was completed by Southern Pacific in 1913, the same year Grand Central Terminal was completed in New York. I have boarded the Amtrak Coast Starlight and California Zephyr as well as Amtrak California Capitol Corridor trains many times at my hometown station.

In this picture, I am about to board the Amtrak California Zephyr for Amtrak Train Days in Galesburg, IL.  It truly is a great tribute to our uniformed military personnel that Amtrak welcomes them to the head of the ticket line, as stated in the poster above my shoulder.