Saturday, July 14, 2012

Postcards from Paradise (and also MYM)


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

6 comments:

somepinkflowers said...

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 }}

carol l mckenna said...

Trains are wonderful ~ they were very significant in my life as a child ~ thanks, ^_^ (A Creative harbor)

rebecca said...

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!

Fran aka Redondowriter said...

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!

Liz said...

Great pics! Have a fabulous week.

Liz @ MLC

Leah H. said...

Wow, so cool! Great shots..

Visiting for MYM- hope you can stop by..

http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2012/07/new-beach-ball.html