Union Pacific Mainline Railroad Action

Saturday, November 01, 2025 dawned as a beautiful, sunny fall day, with perfect warm weather and not a cloud in sight. Such a wonderful opportunity to spend a few hours by the railroad tracks, at Colfax, CA, to watch and photograph mainline railroad action on Union Pacific's Roseville Subdivision.

After enjoying amazing breakfast of prime rib, eggs and more at Edelweiss Restaurant 2 in nearby Auburn, it was time to head east to Colfax, to spend the rest of the morning, and the early afternoon taking photos of Union Pacifc Railroad mainline action, at Colfax, CA.

Photo: It's 08:34 in the morning, and I'm perched on top of the CA Hwy 174 overpass, overlooking the tracks, as I catch my first train of the day, IOANP heading east, with double stack containers.

It's interesting to note that after I'd finished breakfast and I was driving east on I-80, I overtook this train at Applegate, as the train was doing about 45 mph up the 1.5% grade, so it was easy for me to drive the 65mph speed limit and catch this train at the desired photo location.

Photo: U.P. #5503 brings up the rear of the train as a DPU, as it heads east, toward Cape Horn and beyond. Note the blinking FRED that marks the rear of the train.

Photo: After watching IOANP, I settled in for the rest of the day at M.P. 141.91, where Grass Valley St. crosses the tracks, at the current Amtrak station, and the former Southern Pacific depot, which now houses a Placer County museum.

It was interesting to note a cut of double stack container cars, along with a very cold BN #9359 parked on yard tracks, near the former depot. The small Colfax yard serves several rather local customers, but none that would cater to container traffic.

Photo: At 09:38, U.P. #8111 led a westbound empty auto train... I had no idea of the train symbol... thanks to a friend, I found this to be the MROMI.

Photo: The last car clears the Colfax yard and heads west towards Milpitas, and Warm Springs yard.

Photo: Later in the morning, at 10:25, MRVGR climbs the 1.5% grade eastbound into Colfax, as it heads toward it's destination of Green River, WY, with work to do in Sparks, and as it later turned out, cars to spot in Gold Run, just a few miles east of Colfax.

Photo: U.P. #7798, a GE AC45CCTE in all of her glory, at the head end, as she highballs through Colfax.

Photo: My long 20x telephoto lens, along with the cars in the manifest train, give a great look at the 1.5% eastbound grade heading into town on Track #2.

Photo: Just a few minutes later, the last car of the train crosses Grass Valley St., as MRVGR head east toward Green River.

Photo: A half hour later, at 10:54, another eastbound train appeared, this train was AMICX led by #5817, a GE AC4400CWM. Photo illustrates the steep mainline grade into town.

Photo: As #5817 rolled into town, she reduced speed, pulled up next to the Amtrak station platform, just short of the Grass Valley Street crossing, and stopped, much to my surprise. It certainly made for an easy photo opportunity!

Photo: There is no doubt about this identity of this photo location! The 21st century Amtrak station at Colfax, CA is nothing but a concrete platform, and the amenities are restricted to three metal benches and a few lights. Amtrak trains #5 and 6 swing by every afternoon, usually close to an hour apart. The benches next to the mainline make for relaxed train watching enjoyment.

Photo: AMICX pulled into Colfax and stopped, just west of the street crossing. Shortly after she stopped, the conductor climbed off #5817 and began to hike towards downtown, a short block away. He didn't seem to be in a hurry, so I struck up a conversation with him, asking what train it was and why they were stopped. I learned they were to stopped for the next twenty minutes, so the previous east freight, MRVGR could spot a couple cars up the track at Gold Run, as MRVGR had the main line tied up. All was well on this beautiful Saturday morning...

It turned out he was taking the short one block hike over to The Wrecking Crew Bakery and Cafe for a coffee/doughnut run. Wrecking Crew is known to all Roseville Subdivision railroaders, and is a favorite bean-joint when the opportunity happens. The conductor has good taste, as I'd enjoyed a "Bagel Bomb," stuffed bagel from the fine bakery just a couple hours previous. Click on the link to enjoy my fine dining experience! Railfanning is truly hungry work!

In the meantime, the engineer got out and was making sure all of the doors on the long hood were secured properly.

Photo: After waiting around twenty minutes for MRVGR to finish spotting cars, AMICX released brakes, and headed east. The green aspect at M.P. 142.1 lights the way ahead.

Photo: U.P. #7308 brought up the rear of the train, doing her part to push the train east.

Photo: At 11:56 Amtrak train #6 arrived in Colfax, led by #170. That pesky manual switch stand seemed to creep into practically every photo and there really wasn't a way to avoid it, unless you didn't use any telephoto. Such is life...

Photo: Eastbound Amtrak train #6 debarks a handful of passengers at the station platform.

Photo: Several passengers got off the train, and another passenger arrived, carrying his baggage in canvas bags.

Photo: The conductor signals the head end it's time to highball! Next stop will be Truckee, a little over an hour east of Colfax.

Photo: Number 6 crosses Grass Valley Street on it's eastbound journey, and enjoys the "green" at M.P. 142.1.

Photo: To my surprise, ten minutes later, at 12:-03 in the afternoon, westbound INPOA blasted into town. Great timing on the part of the talented road dispatcher.

Photo: Two units on the head end of the train...

Photo: Two DPUs in the middle of the train...

Photo: The tail end of INPOA as it passes the Amtrak station, on the pay to the Port of Oakland.

Photo: A couple of days before today's adventure, railfan social media was buzzing about Amtrak #5, and lead unit #160 wearing "Pepsi can" paint. I simply had to see for myself, and besides today's eating adventures, I used train #5 as an excuse to head to the hills today. Train #6 didn't disappoint me!

Photo: It's 12:40 in the afternoon, and Amtrak #160 strikes a handsome pose as she leads train #6 into town, about fifteen minutes ahead of schedule.

Photo: The conductor looks out the lounge car window as the train prepares to debark two passengers.

Photo: Westbound passenger trains don't stop directly at the station, as passengers would be tasked to cross directly over the rails, so they pull up to Grass Valley Street, which is blocked by the train, to let the passengers off. Today, this duo debarks train #6, as the brakeman readies to board the train.

Photo: After everyone was aboard, and the doors were locked, #5 proceeded to slowly west to just pass the crossing, in order for the crossing gates to rise. The train stopped and waited for fifteen minutes, as she had arrived fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. At 13:05, right on schedule, she released her brakes and departed for Auburn and points west, leaving behind a cloud of smoke.

Such a fitting close to a fun-filled day of railfanning Union Pacific Railroad's Roseville Subdivision at Colfax, CA.

When it comes to railfanning the Roseville Subdivision, days like this with nearly nonstop action are hard to find, and should be enjoyed when Lady Luck deals you aces, rather than jokers. My luck was great, as I enjoyed an amazing day of mainline railroad action, on Union Pacific Railroad's Roseville Subdivision, at Colfax, CA. Cheers!