A Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Train Heads to Lincoln

This Chicago, Burlington and Quincy train heads west to Lincoln from Omaha.  Today's train is on its way to Chicago.  Many of its carloads will continue west over the Rio Grande and onto the Western Pacific.

customtrains.org

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 11"x17" Poster by Andy Fletcher

This Chicago, Burlington and Quincy train heads west at Fort Collins, Colorado.  Today's train is headed for Denver.  Quite a few cars on this train are on their way for the Rio Grande Railroad, where they will make their way to Salt Lake City and even to interchange to the Western Pacific for West Coast destinations.

See my Chicago Burlington and Quincy artwork at customtrains.org

 

"Let's Draw A Train" By Andy Fletcher Western Pacific F7 913

Today in my "Let's Draw A Train" YouTube drawing demonstration series, I drew the cab of Western Pacific F7 #913, which is at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento.  In this three part drawing demonstration, I discuss how I get the shape of an F-Unit nose and how important placing the striping is on locomotives in order to place the lettering.

See my Let's Draw A Train drawing demonstrations on my andyfletchertrains YouTube channel

https://youtu.be/QKknpFM20Vs

 

Rio Grande Locomotives Move Trains At Denver

These Rio Grande locomotive move trains at Denver.  The SD40T-2 and SD50 lead a general merchandise train to Salt Lake City.

Meanwhile, A GP40 and GP30 arrive with a fast freight.  Their hotshot carries piggybacks that were handed over from the Western Pacific that have made their way east from Oakland.

See my Rio Grande artwork at customtrains.org

 

Western Pacific Train in San Joaquin Valley

This Western Pacific train makes its way from Stockton towards the Feather River Canyon. It is a crisp fall morning. The San Joaquin Valley definitely has needed some of this season’s early rain after a dry summer.

The train passes a bounty of agricultural lands, including tomato and sugar beet crops. Up in Yolo County, rival Southern Pacific hauls sugar beets by train.

See my Western Pacific artwork at customtrains.org.

 

Western Pacific Locomotives Prepare to Lead Their Trains at Oakland

‪These Western Pacific locomotives prepare to lead their trains At Oakland. Western Pacific was known as The Feather River Route. 

See my Western Pacific artwork at http://www.customtrains.org‬

A Rio Grande SD40T-2 at Grand Junction, Colorado

We stand along the tracks of the Action Road at Grand Junction, Colorado as a Rio Grande SD40T-2 heads towards Denver with a piggyback train.  Today's train has trailers from the Western Pacific at Salt Lake City bound for the Rock Island.

On this Fall day, the aspen quake and complement the orange and even the road dust on the locomotives and trailers.  As the train passes, we give a wave to the conductor on the caboose.  All is well here on the Rio Grande.

See My Rio Grande artwork at http://www.customtrains.org

Visit my eBay store at https://www.ebay.com/str/andyfletchercustomtrains

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

Western Pacific Freight Train Poster and Magnets by Andy Fletcher

Today, I drew a Western Pacific orange and silver 50' feather box car. I now have a Western Pacific freight train poster and a Western Pacific Freight Train set of magnets.  

See my Western Pacific artwork at http://www.customtrains.org/western-pacific.html. 10% of the potential proceeds from my new Western Pacific poster and magnet set benefits Western Pacific Railroad Museum through eBay for Chairty.

Western Pacific-The Feather River Route

Western Pacific connected Oakland with Salt Lake City via Feather River Canyon & was known as The Feather River Route.  WP operated the original California Zephyr in partnership with Rio Grande and CB&Q. WP is part of today's Union Pacific #WhyWeNeedTrains

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

Railroad Celebration of 4th of July Engines: Bicentennial Locomotives #2

Many of our nation's railroads painted locomotives to celebrate our Bicentennial in 1976. My railroad celebration of 4th of July engines continues with locomotives painted for Missouri Pacific, Milwaukee Road, Conrail, Elgin Joliet and Eastern and Western Pacific. Have a Happy Fourth of July

To see my locomotive drawings and posters, visit my website customtrains.org

Western Pacific and Developing My Sense of History

Western Pacific was one of the first railroads that I developed a sense of history about.  When Western Pacific was merged into Union Pacific, I was just old enough to have appreciated seeing Western Pacific trains prior to the merger.
As Union Pacific started to run through Sacramento, I noticed that Western Pacific engines would still be on the trains.  At my local hobby shop, hobbyists wore Western Pacific shirts and hats.  As they discussed the days of Western Pacific, I began to grasp this history.
I have always enjoyed the Feather River Route and have enjoy visiting communities along the old Western Pacific.  When I eat dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory in the Sacramento Western Pacific depot, I still cherish my Western Pacific memories.

Watching a BNSF Freight at Denver Reminds Me of the Legacy of the California Zephyr

It is very inspiring when I sit in the Amtrak lounge car and watch America's trains pass by the window as I draw.  Here, as I head west on the California Zephyr, I watch a BNSF intermodal train just outside of Denver Union Station.

As our California Zephyr heads into Denver, we have been traveling over BNSF's former Chicago Burlington and Quincy mainline from Chicago.  Today's Amtrak California Zephyr is rooted in the history of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy which, together with the Rio Grande and Western Pacific railroads, first ran the California Zephyr.  From Denver, we will be traveling west on the tracks of the former Rio Grande, which today are owned by Union Pacific.

Western Pacific Holds Fond Memories For Me

As I grew up in the Sacramento Valley, I had a love for the Western Pacific.  The beauty of the Feather River Canyon truly inspired me.

By the time I was old enough to take trips to the Feather River Canyon with my father, Western Pacific had become part of Union Pacific.  I, however, was still fond of seeing traces of Western Pacific's heritage throughout the West.

One of my favorite restaurants since childhood, The Old Spaghetti Factory, is located in the former Western Pacific Depot in Sacramento.  I have spent many spaghetti dinners sitting by the window watching trains heading to and from the Feather River Canyon.

Whenever I see the Feather River Route logo today, I think of my childhood and trips to both the Spaghetti Factory restaurant and the Feather River Canyon.  Western Pacific truly holds fond memories for me.

Chicago Burlington and Quincy-Way of the Zephyrs

Chicago Burlington and Quincy was known as "The Way of the Zephyrs" for its famous Zephyr trains, the most famous was the California Zephyr which ran from Chicago to San Francisco in partnership with the Rio Grande and Western Pacific.  Amtrak's Chicago to San Francisco California Zephyr gets its name and a significant portion of its route from this famous train.
 The California Zephyr has always been popular for the beautiful scenery along its right-away as it passes through across both the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada.  Chicago Burlington and Quincy proudly advertised its passenger service with its "Way of the Zephyrs" slogan painted on the side of its freight locomotives.

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.

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy-The Way of the Zephyrs

Chicago Burlington and Quincy connected people and places across the Midwest and the Rocky Mountain States. It was known as the "Way of the Zephyrs" for its signature train "The California Zephyr" that it operated in partnership with Denver and Rio Grande Western and Western Pacific.