United States - Metrolink, Southern California Regional Train Authority SCAX

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Metrolink is a network of local commuter traffic around Los Angeles in southern California. To see the 2016 Metrolink network, click on the picture to show it in full size. Picture is taken at Anaheim Canyon station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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Metrolink train with steering cab wagon 652 is approaching Anaheim Canyon station in the sizzling heat of 25.10.2016. You can almost feel the burning sun. Picture by Ilkka Siissalo.

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Getting closer... The train looks huge on one hand and ridiculously short at the same time with just two coaches. Picture at Anaheim Canyon station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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...but it's not small at all when you see it nearby. In many cases two coaches is more than enough. Picture at Anaheim Canyon station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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... And this time the train did not even stop, but left waiting passengers to still sizzle in the heat and wait for the train that according to timetable and speaker announcements should have arrived already long ago. The locomotive no.877 is an EMD made F59PHI. And by the way, precisely this locomotive no.877 plus 4 coaches can be bought as a 1:87 H0 scale model train from Athearn. Picture at Anaheim Canyon station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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When finally the scheduled train arrived about 25 minutes late, it was a much longer rake of coaches pulled by a similar F59PHI no.881 but in the older colouring scheme of Metrolink. Picture at Anaheim Canyon station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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The EMD F59PHI is one mighty machine. And what a noise ! Picture at Anaheim Canyon station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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Still one more picture of the same train. It's HUGE for such a small number of passengers. Picture at Anaheim Canyon station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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There it goes. I bet it would be cheaper to transport those couple of passengers European style with a simple two coach railcar rather than this monster, but yes, it's very impressive. Picture at Anaheim Canyon station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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And this was the steering cab coach at the other end. Picture at Anaheim Canyon station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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Metrolink steering cab coach 668. Picture at Anaheim station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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Metrolink trains are not only big, but sometimes also... well, colourful, to say the least. Picture at Anaheim station 25.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.

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In this case the pushing locomotive no. 854 is an EMD F59PH built in June 1992. It looks older, doesn't it? Picture at Anaheim station 25.10.2016

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Same train as above, the EMD F59PHI no. 877 but this time different day, different place. This is from along the line in Placentia and the 877 is seen again together with the same two coaches. Picture by Ilkka Siissalo 27.10.2016.

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Same train from behind with EMD F59PHI no. 877 leading. The picture is from the main line leading to San Bernardino and the mountains and it is taken under a new highway bridge. Earlier this so called Orangethorpe corridor caused a lot of traffic problems because of a large number of level crossings and very frequent train traffic. There are still by far too many level crossings, but at least some of the main roads have bridges by now. Picture by Orangethorpe avenue, Placentia 27.10.2016 by Ilkka Siissalo.
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