GE's and my Schwinn

[alco636]

Sundays I usually go hiking with friends. Just met up with them for a while in the morning of the 11th, then headed out on my old Schwinn. I rode along Route 66, and east of town. I stopped near the Nestle-Purina complex, and didn't have to wait long for the show to begin. BNSF 7612 lead a long stack train first. After that train rolled by, I rode way east to where Route 66 crosses over the main. As soon as I arrived, BNSF 7321 rolled by fast. Just minutes later, the 7816 rolled by. I missed a westbound as I biked along 66.

[alco636]

Soon after the 7816 and train rolled past, the 7410 rolled by eastbound. The crew laid on the horn for me, and waved here. After that I headed home as I had plans. Stopped along Route 66 to take one shot of me and my old Schwinn. Had a strong 25 to 30mph headwind on the way back. Not easy. But it was a fun day.

Al Seever
Flagstaff, MN

[Mark D]

Hi Al
Nice pictures, as always. But I'm more curious right now about Route 66. It is on my to-do list to travel as much of Route 66 as remains. I have researched where it still is, sometimes under a different name now, where it is no longer connected to the rest of what's left.
That must be you with the Schwinn in the last photo, and I am guessing that is on Route 66. It looks pretty empty. I'm curious to how much traffice that historic highway has these days, in that area of course, and what sort of shape is the pavement in? In the photo it looks a bit weathered, but not too bad. Or is it worse than it looks?
One day, I'm going to pack up the wife and some stuff in the trunk and head out on a Route 66 tour that has no time constraints. We stop when we like, we go when we like until we've made it all the way to L.A. From there, up the Pacific Coast highway until we pick up U.S. 12, or U.S. 2 and head back through the northern states.
Gas prices might interfer with this plan. Shoulda done it when i coulda.
That area where you shot the photos looks pretty much away from everything. Are there houses in that area? Ranches? Nothing but wilderness? Just wondering.
Mark D.

[Fitz]

Mark, there are some segments of old 66 in Arizona that are in real good shape, such as between Kingman and Seligman. Here's a photo taken along that stretch when we visited daughter and family for Christmas in 2009. There is a road off this segment that goes down to the Colorado River at the bottom of Grand Canyon, through the Hualapai reservation, and they charge a bundle to use it, but it's worth the trip. In most of the California part, along I-40, it's called "National Trails Highway."

[Mark D]

Pretty nice, Fitz. That gas station looks like it doesn't sell gas anymore. Looks more like a small tourist attraction museum. The Corvette looks like a permanent fixture, too. Maybe taken indoors at night. Pretty cool, and definitely a bit of historic Americana. How far from the nearest railroad were you when you took that shot?

I have found parts of Route 66 using maps that aren't shown on the typical road map and are now listed as county roads, or in some cases access roads. They are well off the beaten path in that you have to turn off the highway to find this two mile segment and then when you get to the end of the segment, you need to turn around and go back to get to a through highway. I have all that info saved somewhere, but not handy or I'd list instances.
Some of those sections might be best left alone. Some locals might look at it these days as part of their driveway.
Mark D.

[Fitz]

Mark, Elrond Lawrence, a railfan, author and photographer, published a book, Railway Route 66. I think the first printing sold out but I have seen some exerpts from it, and if you intend to run 66, you need to get a copy of this work. Great photos of the stuff along the old route.

[Fitz]

Sorry, duplicate post.

[alco636]

Mark, there is a pretty good portion of Route 66 through Flagstaff. Highway 510 is an old Route 66 alignment. It starts east of Flagstaff off of I-40 at Milepost 210. The bridge here is great for photos. On the ATSF/BNSF it's known as Darling, AZ. The town on the map is called Winona. 510 connects with Highway 89 NE of town, and connects with the newer 66 alignment in East Flagstaff. It's a great drive. From what I have read, 66 has been realigned through here a lot. There is a frontage road along I-40 east of Winona I presume is an older 66 alignment.

The section I was on with my bike, it starts at the Walnut Canyon exit off I-40 just a few miles east of town at Milepost 204. Route 66 goes through Flagstaff to a connection to I-40 west of town.

There is another section, by a different name, at Bellemont at Milepost 185. It is on the north side of I-40. It goes west through Parks, AZ and reconnects at Milepost 171.

These are the only parts I've been on here so far. It's fun to think of the families, and famous people who went this way. It's another thing I enjoy about Flagstaff. Route 66 is a big thing in Flagstaff. The visitors center at the depot, and other places, have a lot of Route 66 stuff for sale.

No bike riding today though. We've received a foot of snow, and more on the way.

Al Seever
Flagstaff, AZ

[Mark D]

WOW! Up here it was 70 something degrees and there's no snow to be found. The ice is out on the lakes and the gnats are already trying to eat me.
Hope that white (*)=& doesn't come this way. It's been a really easy winter, I hope it stays that way until fall, so we have an easy tornado season too.
I'm expecting the worst, though.

Yes, it has been a plan of mine for a long time to follow Rt. 66 and I hope I get the time to do it, and I hope gas doesn't get so high that I can't do it even when I have the time.
I'd love to stop at some of those old motels, see some of the remnants of what was, maybe look into some '66 museums, though I try to avoid the tourist trap stuff. And I'd really like to see a few trains blowing along that transcon where I've heard they really fly along, unlike here in Minnesota where 40 is flying along.
I was in Fargo last night. Lying awake around 2:00 or so AM, at my son's place about 12 miles NW of Fargo, out in the flat countryside, I could hear a BNSF train rolling along a few miles away. The whistles at the grade crossings told me of his progress. It made me think of "Can you hear that lonesome whistle blow...."
Mark D.

[alco636]

As of 7pm MST, parts of Flagstaff have received 15" to 24" of snow. The Arizona Snowbowl 36". We may receive another foot by the time the storm is done. Friday the highs are forcasted to be in the low 60s.

As you can see I visited the depot this morning. Enjoy the video. I had fun shooting it. http://youtu.be/uxtuBM2gliA (Having zero luck posting the link here.)

Flagstaff has quiet crossings, and automated horns on some. Once and a while, like today, they'll blow their horns through town often. I can hear one now. Might be Amtrak.

If you do get to drive I-40, you'll see so many trains... For a while before 2008 hit, nearly 100 trains a day went through town. It's rare for me to drive through town and not see a train. Very, very busy tracks.

Al Seever
Flagstaff, AZ

[Mark D]

When I do get down there, Al, I'll look you up. Maybe we could run around the area a bit and do a little train watching.
Much of I-40 is also listed as (now state route) 66. But much of the old alignment is actually next to the freeway, sometimes a couple of miles from it. I don't think that much of I-40 is right over the original alignment, if any of it.
But it's close enough in most cases. In other cases, my plan is to leave the freeway and see what's out there. And get some photo's.
Mark D.

[alco636]

Mark, come on out anytime. I know a few good location so far. There are many more of course. i'm looking forward to visiting the Canyon Diablo bridge this year I hope.

Al Seever
Flagstaff, AZ