SacNorthern650's photostream  

Every March, in the early springtime, I like do shoot for an entire month in black and white. This is the kick-off of the madness.

© D. Felice Strong-Baker Photo, All Rights Reserved.

Change is the only constant in the world. Amtrak California's venerable fleet of EMD F59PHIs are no exception. These locomotives, built in 2001, have clicked off some reliable two million miles across the state of California pushing and pulling the states population between Sacramento and Oakland, and other points on the Capitol Corridor system.

Progressive Rail, formerly CEECO in Tacoma, Washington has rebuilt these beautiful locomotives into more modern, efficient and green beasts completely repacking and re-engineering these units. The rebuild will have these units on the road for at least another 15 years. Just in time for another rebuild.

The new logo and paint is Caltrans push to rebrand Amtrak California into a more "state-transit system", the new logo and font used on the long hood is easier on the eyes, is more inviting and lets the average person know that this is YOUR tax money and what YOU as California taxpayers have done - turned the Captiol Corridor from a 2 round-trip a day "trundler" into a 16 round trip a day high-speed, high-pace corridor. It only rivals the Northeast Corridor itself now - and not by far either.

Whether new logos, paint, gear or rebuilds; these beautiful machines will continue to serve California faithfully, just as the first generation units have since 1993.

© D. Felice Strong-Baker Photo, All Rights Reserved.

Even in an era where California has worshipped the automobile and continues to do so, the passenger trains and mass transit has justified its existence and now, has assured it permanently. Even with Interstate 680 soaring overhead, this eastbound Capitol Corridor train will beat any automobile to Sacramento without breaking a sweat. While carrying some 500 people.

I know. I've both ridden this train; AMT 536, and tried to out-run it some 60 miles back to Sacramento. Sorry, its not happening.

The Amtrak California Captiol Corridor service has enjoyed some 15 years of safe, reliable service in Northern California, and now has become the preferred mode between the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. At the beginning there were 4 round trips. Today there are five times as that...

© D. Felice Strong-Baker Photo, All Rights Reserved.