Southern California is, once again, seeing drought conditions thanks to a La Niña condition in the Pacific Ocean. A quick trip to the Post Office became a longer trip home when the signals at the nearby Metrolink station indicated that Metrolink train 802 was running late, and I suspected that Union Pacific’s Santa Ana Local, which operates for a few miles on Metrolink’s Orange Sub, might be following it. While waiting for train 802, the skies opened up, pretty much on schedule according to my iPhone’s weather app, and I figured I’d take advantage of the non-normal weather – particularly if the UP train were to appear, as I could take advantage of the inclement weather to shoot it on the “shady side.” Shortly after Metrolink 802 passed through – only 48-minutes late! – the signal on Track 2, normally the southbound main, showed a yellow indication, which shows up only two days per week for the UP local. At 10:39 AM, ten minutes after Metrolink headed through here on its way to San Bernardino, Union Pacific GP60s 1083 and 1105 (both former Cotton Belt units) passed through the Metrolink station with seven cars. Now to get back home, crank up the heat and get back to work! (Orange, California – March 3, 2021)
