Tracking West
"Don't You Know I'm Still Standin'"
The Napa Valley Railroad, or better known as the Napa Valley Wine Train, is probably the most well known operation in its niche corner of the industry. The company started in 1987, with the hope of bringing a luxury wine tasting train to the Napa Valley. Originally rostering four MLW FPA-4s and a fleet of old passenger stock, the railroad has seen some changes over the years.
Though the railroad is mostly known by railfans for the FPAs, and a former SP RS-11, the roster is much larger than that. Today, the roster also includes a 60 and 85 Tonner from the Navy and Air Force, a GP9, a GP38-2, and a KLW, which I'll discuss later. At one point in time, the railroad also rostered a 44 Tonner for shop switching and a Baldwin DS-4-4-660 while upgrading the track when it was first bought from the SP. The Baldwin was sent to Portola shortly after the track was refurbished, I have no idea if the museum still owns it. However, as times change, and the roster grows, and only growing older, the MLWs and ALCO were bound to meet some sort of fate eventually.
In 2008, FPA-4 73 was already running with a mix of natural gas and diesel after a conversion at some point prior. Napa Valley decided to fully convert it to natural gas, but it wouldn't last on the roster like this, being sidelined by 2017. From what I've heard, it was apparently extremely unreliable and the railroad does not want to reactivate it. When 2023 came around, it was no surprise when word got out that Napa Valley was getting a new locomotive from Knoxville Locomotive Works. This unit would be numbered 1864, after the founding year of the original NVRR. The plan was to have an entire "green" roster by 2025, meaning no more smoke belching first generation diesels. That clearly went to plan, it's almost the end of 2025, and there's only one unit that has been delivered. While I was out chasing the train pictured, I had gotten a possible answer as to why this is the case. Another railfan mentioned that the crews hate the new Knoxville motor so much that the company is looking for an alternative to KLW, but have yet to find a good one. I don't know if that's actually true or not, but I personally wouldn't doubt it. Though with this in mind, what is going to happen with the famous MLWs and ALCO?
As of right now, it appears that not much is happening. Although I believe 71 was retired awhile back, 70 and 72 still continue to haul trains once in awhile. It has become increasingly harder to catch these units running, as it seems the company wants these locomotives retired as soon as possible, but sometimes the MLWs and RS-11 will make an appearance. As to how much longer these old horses have is anyone's guess, especially with regulations such as the "In-Use Locomotive Regulation" being repealed for not being enforceable.
I first found out the FPAs were running after I had seen them over a week prior. After chasing the Fairfield Job west that morning, the train was having some sort of issue or delay while at Napa Junction, so I went to go see what was up with the wine train. I waited for awhile, then the train pulled into the station with the same set of power in the photo. I went to Yountville and waited, but it never arrived. Eventually, I got word the Fairfield Job was headed east so I left. Coming into Yountville, I was met with the wine train. Oh well, I would get it coming back south right? Nope, after chasing a second train on the California Northern, with a solo GP38-2, I went back to catch the wine train. After I crossed under the tracks on the north side of Napa, there it was. Not knowing how long the power set was going to be on for, I just accepted I would have to come back another time, when it was probably going to have an EMD or KLW on the train.
Skip to this last Friday, I had received word that the FPAs were confirmed to be on the lunch train (one of the many wine trains), until Monday. Seeing that it was not going to rain on Saturday, I knew I had to go. I had no plans for the weekend besides watching football and hockey anyways, so now I had something to do. Arriving to Napa around 10:30, I went to scout out some spots. I already had a few in mind, but I knew getting every spot I wanted would require multiple trips. What I didn't realize is that some people I knew were out there as well that day. After I was done chasing north, I met up with the others at St. Helena. I only had two spots in mind for the southbound trip, not knowing where else to go, I followed them for awhile.
That brought us here to Rutherford. Long ahead of the train, we were there for awhile before the train finally showed up. It would then stop at the crossing for the Grgich Hills Estate for awhile, but with the shadows starting to get long it was good for us when a cloud cover balanced out the shadows. Just then, a puff of black smoke and the sound of the horn warned us the train was on the move. After getting the shot, we would follow the train to Napa before being done for the day.
"Don't You Know I'm Still Standin'"
The Napa Valley Railroad, or better known as the Napa Valley Wine Train, is probably the most well known operation in its niche corner of the industry. The company started in 1987, with the hope of bringing a luxury wine tasting train to the Napa Valley. Originally rostering four MLW FPA-4s and a fleet of old passenger stock, the railroad has seen some changes over the years.
Though the railroad is mostly known by railfans for the FPAs, and a former SP RS-11, the roster is much larger than that. Today, the roster also includes a 60 and 85 Tonner from the Navy and Air Force, a GP9, a GP38-2, and a KLW, which I'll discuss later. At one point in time, the railroad also rostered a 44 Tonner for shop switching and a Baldwin DS-4-4-660 while upgrading the track when it was first bought from the SP. The Baldwin was sent to Portola shortly after the track was refurbished, I have no idea if the museum still owns it. However, as times change, and the roster grows, and only growing older, the MLWs and ALCO were bound to meet some sort of fate eventually.
In 2008, FPA-4 73 was already running with a mix of natural gas and diesel after a conversion at some point prior. Napa Valley decided to fully convert it to natural gas, but it wouldn't last on the roster like this, being sidelined by 2017. From what I've heard, it was apparently extremely unreliable and the railroad does not want to reactivate it. When 2023 came around, it was no surprise when word got out that Napa Valley was getting a new locomotive from Knoxville Locomotive Works. This unit would be numbered 1864, after the founding year of the original NVRR. The plan was to have an entire "green" roster by 2025, meaning no more smoke belching first generation diesels. That clearly went to plan, it's almost the end of 2025, and there's only one unit that has been delivered. While I was out chasing the train pictured, I had gotten a possible answer as to why this is the case. Another railfan mentioned that the crews hate the new Knoxville motor so much that the company is looking for an alternative to KLW, but have yet to find a good one. I don't know if that's actually true or not, but I personally wouldn't doubt it. Though with this in mind, what is going to happen with the famous MLWs and ALCO?
As of right now, it appears that not much is happening. Although I believe 71 was retired awhile back, 70 and 72 still continue to haul trains once in awhile. It has become increasingly harder to catch these units running, as it seems the company wants these locomotives retired as soon as possible, but sometimes the MLWs and RS-11 will make an appearance. As to how much longer these old horses have is anyone's guess, especially with regulations such as the "In-Use Locomotive Regulation" being repealed for not being enforceable.
I first found out the FPAs were running after I had seen them over a week prior. After chasing the Fairfield Job west that morning, the train was having some sort of issue or delay while at Napa Junction, so I went to go see what was up with the wine train. I waited for awhile, then the train pulled into the station with the same set of power in the photo. I went to Yountville and waited, but it never arrived. Eventually, I got word the Fairfield Job was headed east so I left. Coming into Yountville, I was met with the wine train. Oh well, I would get it coming back south right? Nope, after chasing a second train on the California Northern, with a solo GP38-2, I went back to catch the wine train. After I crossed under the tracks on the north side of Napa, there it was. Not knowing how long the power set was going to be on for, I just accepted I would have to come back another time, when it was probably going to have an EMD or KLW on the train.
Skip to this last Friday, I had received word that the FPAs were confirmed to be on the lunch train (one of the many wine trains), until Monday. Seeing that it was not going to rain on Saturday, I knew I had to go. I had no plans for the weekend besides watching football and hockey anyways, so now I had something to do. Arriving to Napa around 10:30, I went to scout out some spots. I already had a few in mind, but I knew getting every spot I wanted would require multiple trips. What I didn't realize is that some people I knew were out there as well that day. After I was done chasing north, I met up with the others at St. Helena. I only had two spots in mind for the southbound trip, not knowing where else to go, I followed them for awhile.
That brought us here to Rutherford. Long ahead of the train, we were there for awhile before the train finally showed up. It would then stop at the crossing for the Grgich Hills Estate for awhile, but with the shadows starting to get long it was good for us when a cloud cover balanced out the shadows. Just then, a puff of black smoke and the sound of the horn warned us the train was on the move. After getting the shot, we would follow the train to Napa before being done for the day.