The Flickr Railroadphotography Image Generatr

Although Sacramento is known for its historic gold rush significance, start of the Central Pacific, and being the capital of California, for railfans it means a lot more than that. As mentioned, the Central Pacific originated in Sacramento, however, many other notable pieces of railroad history included Southern Pacific's large and famous Sacramento Shops which laid next to downtown, SP also had their Roseville Yard to the east, the Western Pacific's Jeffery Car Shops were located in South Sacramento, Sacramento Northern had a massive presence, as well as many other things. However, as time went on many lines would be abandoned and facilities would shut down. This would leave the WP's shops looking like an abandoned lot, the SN was torn out, and SP's once bustling shops became eerily quiet, with the California State Railroad Museum taking over some of the buildings to store equipment. However, next to SP's shops was the station which was still open due to the creation of Amtrak saving passenger rail in the United States. However, eventually it was time for a makeover.

In the early 2010s the original right of way was torn out to be rerouted through an open field between the original platform and the shops. This new design cut out the very sharp s-curve as well as rerouting the mainline around the station platforms, therefore making it easier for freight traffic to navigate through the area. This also meant that Amtrak had their own area to hold their trains and a new and improved platform to replace the aging one from the 1920s. Interestingly, the original platforms were not demolished but rather one was taken over by light rail, and the other was just left abandoned.

Seen in this photo, Amtrak 11 storms out of Sacramento in the early morning with the remains of the SP all around. On the left is where the SP's Sacramento Shops would have once been, and in the background behind the power is the original platforms, with the old right of way no longer traceable.

Amtrak #11, The Coast Starlight, approaches Sacramento Valley Station with Amtrak 510, a rare P32-8BWH, leading over #160 in the "Pepsi Can" scheme. The sun had just rose, peering through some clouds covering the Sierra-Nevada Mountains.

Amtrak P32-8BWH. number 510, leads an hour late Coast Starlight along Berg Siding at Yuba City on the Valley Subdivision. Train 14 usually gets to Yuba City not long after 1 AM, but in this case it has arrived at 2:30 on the dot. I planned on going to Sacramento Valley Station, but the time of night convinced me otherwise, and I decided to get a quick and lazy shot while pacing the locomotive.

This was my first time shooting the Norfolk Southern Office Car Special since 2015. It's always cool to see these special trains even if they don't have the F Unit leaders anymore. A double heritage lash up with NS 8100 Nickel Plate Road and NS 1070 Wabash isn't too bad I suppose.

Unfortunately the Pittsburgh skyline doesn't look as beautiful as it normally does in June but we have been experiencing the effects of smoke from Canadian wildfires for the last few weeks.

A rare 2025 Dash 9 duo, led by NS 9864, leads intermodal train NS 20H eastbound through Mifflin, Pennsylvania, along the Middle Division of the NS Pittsburgh Line.

NS 1081 leads manifest train NS 12G eastbound through Mifflin, Pennsylvania, along the Middle Division of the NS Pittsburgh Line.

NS 1000, the France unit, leads intermodal train NS 258 eastbound along the Middle Division of the NS Pittsburgh Line through Mattawana, Pennsylvania.

While me and Moose try to get ahead of a UP westbound towards Tehachapi, we end up seeing a BNSF Grainer with an MRL EMD SD70ACE in the consist as the two rival railroads pass by each other.

UP AC4400CW 7100 rounds the bend out of Mojave heading up the Tehachapi Loop. In the distance, still lit by the setting sun , is the MRC Rock and Sand mine which always made for a nice backdrop.