Railfanning Chatsworth (w/ Amtrak Dash 8, B32-8WH

Описание: At long last, a highly awaited and requested video, I finally returned to the rails to do some long overdue railfanning !!! In continuation of my railfanning series of stations throughout California, I had Chatsworth on my railfanning to-do list for quite a while and decided to take a last minute initiative. I had gotten a heads up the night before that one of Amtrak’s B32-8WH (or “Dash 8’s), #503, had been tagged onto Amtrak 785 on its run to San Diego. Further reports later that night confirmed 503’s return and continuation from LAUPT to Goleta, and that it would return to Los Angeles the next morning leading Amtrak 770. The B32-8WH’s have been increasingly rare to see out on the mainline the last few years, let alone leading a train. With presumably a CabCar malfunction or technical issue, 503 was added on until repairs could be made. And with that heavy motivation, I impulsively jumped on the opportunity to intercept #503 at Chatsworth the next morning on Thursday ! I figured the crossing just south of the station would make a great scene with 503’s awesome horn, and boy did I get lucky with a nice treat ! Additionally, Chatsworth is the westernmost station that is within the San Fernando Valley / Greater Los Angeles area before heading up the hills and out towards the coast. The station features a siding (“Track 2”) with boarding platforms which allows for numerous train meets, since the mainline reduces back down to single track both north of, and south of the station. The station additionally features a pedestrian crossing for the “Track 2” platform, making for some nice, extra horn action ! It’s also a fairly tranquil station considering its location in the surrounding cityscape. All in all, Chatsworth is definitely a nice place to catch a plethora of railroading action !

Train 1 : Metrolink #103 with F59PH #861 & CabCar #669. Awesome to see the F59PH’s still running strong on the Metrolink system ! Such a nice treat for the first catch of the day as well ! This train will continue to, and terminate at Moorpark. It will return back south as Metrolink #112 later in the morning.

Train 2 : Amtrak 761 with SC-44 #2112 & CabCar #6908. Nice crew and horn action ! This train will take the siding and board passengers on “Track 2” prior to Metrolink #106’s arrival.

Train 3 : Metrolink #106 with CabCar #695 & MP36PH-3C #895. After holding out and awaiting Amtrak 761’s departure out of the station, Metrolink #106 proceeds into the Chatsworth station. Nice to see the MP36PH-3C’s still running the daily operations !

Train 4 : Metrolink #108 with CabCar #692 & F125 #919. Nice horn action departing the station.

Train 5 : Amtrak 770 with B32-8WH #503, SC-44 #2111, & CabCar #6907. The star of the day, B32-8WH #503 makes it’s unmistakable and rare grand appearance ! Awesome and friendly engineer on #503 with some amazing extra horn action departing Chatsworth !

Train 6 : Metrolink #105 with F59PH #868 & CabCar #676. This train will terminate at Chatsworth and will become Metrolink #110 for its return trip back to Los Angeles Union Station. Another F59PH treat on this day and a nicely timed meet with Amtrak 770 !

Train 7 : Metrolink #110 with CabCar #676 & F59PH #868. Gotta love the F59PH EMD 710 rev up !

Train 8 : Metrolink #112 with CabCar #669 & F59PH #861. Got lucky with this train sitting in the station longer than normal while awaiting Amtrak 765’s arrival. Allowed more time to be able to hear that F59PH engine purr !

Train 9 : Amtrak 765 with SC-44 #2120 & CabCar #6904. Another nicely timed meet in the station and nice horn action upon 765’s arrival !

Train 10 : Amtrak 14 (Coast Starlight) with P42DC #174 & ALC-42 #349. My very first time not only seeing the Phase VII P42DC paint scheme but also seeing an ALC-42 ! Gotta say the new paint scheme is very vibrant; although it rivals the Phase V in my opinion ! Glad to see the P42DC still leading the train though, and chugging along nice and loud compared to the locomotive behind it… ! ;)

Train 11 : Amtrak 774 with CabCar #6951 & SC-44 #2114. Nice extra horn action through the crossing.

Train 12 : Amtrak 769 with SC-44 #2113 & CabCar #6905. Nice conductor on this train ! Also some beefy horn echoes departing Chatsworth !

Thanks for watching !