When I was a little girl, we moved between California, Wisconsin, and Illinois on a fairly regular basis. The moves were often accomplished when my dad was overseas or on his way overseas. Mom, my sister and I would ride the" Santa Fe All the Way" train all the way cross country. I would spend my days in the dome car, meal time in the dinner car, and evenings in a sleeping car. Years later, with our own children, it was miniature train rides at Christmas, history trains going from Point A to Point B and back, and for the grown ups dinner/mystery trains.
To this day, counting train cars at a crossing is an irresistible impulse. Of course, when the train is going 5 miles per hour at a crossing, well, that's not so great and the impulse to do a 180 becomes irresistible.
Today I was hit with another irresistible impulse. This one had me doing a 180 on my way home. I've passed this train engine literally hundreds, maybe thousands of times. Every time I drive through Geer and Santa Fe, I pass this engine secured by a fence and barbed wire . . .
. . . but I've never photographed it. So,
1.) 180 at the grain elevator entrance;
2.) cross over onto the shoulder running next to the orchard;
3.) up a makeshift dirt road and park;
4.) Ignore the "Trespassers will be prosecuted" sign, and
5.) make an end-run at the end of the fence.
Would they prosecute? Really? I decided the sign was for nogoodniks (definition: A worthless, disreputable, or malicious person). And after taking several pictures, that theory was put to the test. There came security in an electric cart. I grinned. I waved. I remained poised to take my last picture.
Fortunately for me, the nice, young, curly haired man could see that I was an admirer of the old beauty. The object in my hand was a camera, not a paint can capable of long range spraying. We were instantly bonded in our shared admiration of the grand old engine. Here are a few more pictures for you to enjoy.
Engine #2260 details are below.
Original Owner - Atchinson Topeka and Santa Fe
Model: Rebuilt EMD GP9u Built as: AATSF 700 (GP9)
Serial No: 21570 Order No: 5450
Number: 5450-1 Built: 5/1956
Current owner: Nuwest Milling, Since technically the engine is no longer a Santa Fe (or BNSF) engine, as it is owned by a grain elevator company, they have yet to paint out the Santa Fe markings. I think after all this time, the Santa Fe will stay on the side of the engine right where it belongs.
Link here as well for Mellow Yellow Monday
Link here as well for Mellow Yellow Monday
6 comments:
how wonderful!
yes, dear,
the signs are for
ne'er-do-wells
NOT for bloggers
who MUST document!
at least
that is what i always tell myself
as
i lightly
trespass...
here & there
tenderly
♥
{{ i still count trains cars
at crossings, too...
i think it is one way our moms
taught us to count
as children
years
ago }}
Trains are wonderful ~ they were very significant in my life as a child ~ thanks, ^_^ (A Creative harbor)
dear annie,
love has driven many a person to climb more than fences to be closer to their object of desire! i love your post...it is a circle of love beginning with a colourful childhood and flirting with adventure even then!
wonderful photographs and truly paradise! thank for being here and transporting me to the Sante Fe!
I have a train mystique myself and I loved seeing all your photos and hearing your memories. On Wed. I leave for a train trip across the Canadian Western Rockies. I am so excited!
Great pics! Have a fabulous week.
Liz @ MLC
Wow, so cool! Great shots..
Visiting for MYM- hope you can stop by..
http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2012/07/new-beach-ball.html
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