Track Warrants Menu

s_sloan@mac.com
San Jose, CA, USA

Track Warrants Is Reborn!

The new Track Warrants is a Video Blog

Track Warrants, The Video Blog
The new Track Warrants features videos of trains and train stories in video. Available as a video podcast on itunes or on the web. Started April 2007, let's see how this goes!
Steve Sloan

Track Warrants

Track warrants is a news publication dedicated to railroading.

It is distributed entirely on the internet via E-mail and is featured here, on the web.

1995

• Track Warrants, Issue 1
• Track Warrants, Issue 2
• Track Warrants, Issue 3
• Track Warrants, Issue 4
• Track Warrants, Issue 5
• Track Warrants, Issue 6
• Track Warrants, Issue 7
• Track Warrants, Issue 8
• Track Warrants, Issue 9
• Track Warrants, Issue 10
• Track Warrants, Issue 11
• Track Warrants, Issue 12
• Track Warrants, Issue 13
• Track Warrants, Issue 14, (Dec. 15)
• Track Warrants, Issue 15, (Dec. 23)

1996

• Track Warrants, Issue 16, (Jan. 26)
• Track Warrants, Issue 17, (Jan. 26)
• Track Warrants, Issue 18, (Feb. 1)
• Track Warrants, Issue 19, (Feb. 23)
• Track Warrants, Issue 20, (May 8)
• Track Warrants, Issue 21, (May 20)
• Track Warrants, Issue 22, (May 30)
• Track Warrants, Issue 23, (July 4)
• Track Warrants, Issue 24, (Aug. 5)
• Track Warrants, Issue 25, (Aug. 14)
• Track Warrants, Issue 26, (Sept. 3)
• Track Warrants, Issue 27, (Sept. 4)
• Track Warrants, Issue 28, (Sept. 16)
• Track Warrants, Issue 29, (Sept. 20)
• Track Warrants, Issue 30, (Oct. 09)
• Track Warrants, Issue 31, (Oct. 18)
• Track Warrants, Issue 32, (Oct. 18)
• Track Warrants, Issue 33, (Oct. 28)
• Track Warrants, Issue 34, (Oct. 28)
• Track Warrants, Issue 35, (Oct. 30)
• Track Warrants, Issue 36, (Nov. 14)
• Track Warrants, Issue 37, (Nov. 14)
• Track Warrants, Issue 38, (Nov. 26)
• Track Warrants, Issue 39, (Nov. 27)
• Track Warrants, Issue 40, (Dec. 9)
• Track Warrants, Issue 41, (Dec. 12)
• Track Warrants, Issue 42, (Dec. 20, posted Jan. 10, 1997)

1997

Release 97.1
Starting the new year for TRACK WARRANTS release 97.1 contains news up to January 15.

• Track Warrants, Issue 43, (rel 97.1.1 posted Jan. 20, 1997)

  Issue 43 contains a photo of SP 127E blasting through Ripon California and Amtrak and BNSF rail news. Also included in this issue is a list of the mail addresses deleted in the latest revision.

• Track Warrants, Issue 44, (rel 97.1.2 posted Jan. 27, 1997)

  This is the first of the new format issues. This issue is all BNSF. It contains BNSF news and excerpts from BNSF Today. It has a photo I took on June 26, 1974 of BN842, an F-unit, leading a train into Wishwram, Washington.

• Track Warrants, Issue 45, (rel 97.1.3 posted Jan. 27, 1997)

  This issue finishes up the news content for release 97.1. It also has a BN photo from my archives. Taken just moments after the photo in issue 44, it shows BN4262, an ex-SP&S C425, pulling up alongside the train of BN842.

• Track Warrants, Issue 46, (rel 97.1.4 posted Jan. 27, 1997)

  This issue finishes up the release with letters and a photo by Ken Rattenne of a D&H C425 on the point of a train underneath the Starucca viaduct. Great photo Ken!

Release 97.2
Finishing up the news for January 1997 is release 97.2. This release also has a theme in its photos. All issues in the release will have photos of early WP F-units.

• Track Warrants, Issue 47, (rel 97.2.1, posted Feb. 5, 1997)

  This is the first issue in release 97.2. Release 97.2 has news up to the end of January '97. It has a photo of the California Zepher in Oakland in WP days. It has news of BNSF and Amtrak.

• Track Warrants, Issue 48, (rel 97.2.2, posted Feb. 10, 1997)

  The second issue of release 97.2 has some old news that had slipped through the cracks for 97.1, plus a lot of information from BNSF Today. It finishes up with Caltrain news. It has a post Zephyr photo of WP803A and passenger unit sisters in front of the Stockton Ice House, shortly before the F3's retirement.

• Track Warrants, Issue 49, (rel 97.2.3, posted Feb. 20, 1997)

  Release 97.3 continues with this issue featuring news of Caltrain, the Conrail purchase battle and planned steam excursions of UP 844 and SP 4449. It has a post Zephyr, 1971 photo of a set of Zephyr F3's, a WP Geep and another F switching cars at a now long gone packing shed near Tracy.

• Track Warrants, Issue 50, (rel 97.2.4, posted Mar. 16, 1997)

  This issue wraps up the news content side of release 97.2. It has UP-SP news, some trip reports and starts the letters section. Of particular intrest is a submission that compares railfanning to deer hunting. It has a 1978 photo of the famous WP Funit set, led by 913, at Altamont summit.

• Track Warrants, Issue 51, (rel 97.2.5, posted Mar. 18, 1997)

  This issue is mostly letters and has little timely news. What it does have is some interesting reader input and links to other interesting sites. Also included is a favorite evening shot of WP 913A at Milpitas taken in Feb. '75.

• Track Warrants, Issue 52, (rel 97.2.6, posted Mar. 23, 1997)

  This issue is also a letters issue. It is short and wraps up release 97.2. It also is the last issue in the release that features WP F's. It has a more contemporary photo of WP FP7 805A.

Release 97.3
This release spanned April and May of 1997. As of late May all the web versions still have not been posted. All issues in the release will have photos of BN Alcos.

• Track Warrants, Issue 53, (rel 97.3.1, posted May, 1997)

  This is the first issue in release 97.3. It has mostly Amtrak news. It's photo is a 1974 shot of a BN C636 at the point of a train in Portland.

• Track Warrants, Issue 54, (rel 97.3.2, posted May 1997)

  The second issue of release 97.3 has BN and a lot of information from BNSF Today. It has a roster shot of a BN C636 at Vancouver, Washington also in 1974.

• Track Warrants, Issue 55, (rel 97.3.3, posted May 28, 1997)

  The third issue of release 97.3 has more information from BNSF Today and Caltrain info. It has a nose shot of BN C425 4254 at Portland.

• Track Warrants, Issue 56, (rel 97.3.4, posted May 30, 1997)

  This issue has train schedule information and a shot of ex-SP&S RS3 4056 at Wishwram Washington.

• Track Warrants, Issue 57, (rel 97.3.5, posted June 18, 1997)

  This issue has rail news and a morning roster shot of ex-NP RS3 4085 at Vancouver Washington.

• Track Warrants, Issue 58, (rel 97.3.6, posted June 19, 1997)

  This issue has rail news and letters from readers. It has a neat action shot of BN, CB&Q E-unit 9949 approaching theVancouver, WA depot. (I know, I know, it's not an Alco!--Steve)

• Track Warrants, Issue 59, (rel 97.3.7, posted June 24, 1997)

  This issue wraps up release 97.3 and is made up mostly of readers letters, with some timely news. It has a shot of GN orange scheme passenger F, BN 9726.

Release 97.4
This release started in early June was planned to feature the work of photographer and friend Dave Hardie. However, I got behind schedule so I didn't have time to do that the way I wanted to, so this release has no photo theme.

• Track Warrants, Issue 60, (rel 97.4.1, posted June 24, 1997)

  This issue has a photo left over from the last release of BN (phase 1) F3A 702 in NP paint. The photographer is unverified for this photo. The news is mostly Amtrak.

• Track Warrants, Issue 61, (rel 97.4.2, posted June 24, 1997)

  This issue gets into BNSF News (as well as timely general news). This issue has a winter snow view of BN8081 on Keddie Wye.

• Track Warrants, Issue 62, (rel 97.4.3, posted June 24, 1997)

  This issue is mostly BNSF (as well as timely general news). It features a shot of two SP'F's at Santa Clara from the early 70's.

• Track Warrants, Issue 63, (rel 97.4.4, posted June 25, 1997)

  Timely news of Tennesse Pass and the Modoc line. An indepth NWP update. CSX and UP-SP news. A 1973 photo of the Zephyr at Alta, CA with UP E's and an SP F.

• Track Warrants, Issue 64, (rel 97.4.5, posted June 27, 1997)

  The June 19, 1997 issue. This issue has news of the 4449 trip, NWP news and a 1973 photo of SP F 6448 and some Amtrak owned UP E-units in Oakland, CA..

• Track Warrants, Issue 65, (rel 97.4.6, dated and posted June 30, 1997)

  The June 30, 1997 issue. This issue has timely news, as well as general news of the UP-SP. It starts the letters section of this release and has a b&w shot of the WP913 at Altamont.

• Track Warrants, Issue 66, (rel 97.4.7, dated July 3 and posted July 11, 1997)

  This issue contains the letters part of release 97.4. It has a photo of a dynamic equipped SP SW8 taken in 1975 at East Oakland.

Release 97.5
This single issue release marked a break in Track Warrants production and was not posted until November of 97. When Track Warrants was published again it started with release 97.6.

• Track Warrants, Issue 67, (rel 97.5.1, dated July 18 and posted Nov 6, 1997)

  This issue noted my coming vacation and featured some then timely news. It also featured an aerial photo by Gary Holmes of one of the January 1997 Feather River Canyon rock slides.

Release 97.6
This last release of 1996 represents the restart of service. It contains a lot of dated material, as well as breaking news. Photographically it features the unpublished work of SP fireman and amateur photographer Lloyd Sloan, father of Steve Sloan. One day in 1952 Lloyd, (not a railfan), took his camera to work.

• Track Warrants, Issue 68, (rel 97.6.1, dated Nov. 07 and posted Dec 18, 1997)

  This issue started with an editorial about my vacation and featured a photo of an SP 2-8-0 switching at Susuin. News was mostly about Amtrak.

• Track Warrants, Issue 69, (rel 97.6.2, dated Nov. 14 and posted Dec 18, 1997)

  This issue had a goofy satire editorial about the UP Texas situation and featured a photo of an SP MK9 and a Blw. AS616 on a train at Susuin. It had breaking news and otherwise was mostly about BNSF.

• Track Warrants, Issue 70, (rel 97.6.3, dated Nov. 21 and posted Dec 18, 1997)

  This issue had a reprinted pro-UP letter to the editor about the UP Texas situation and featured a photo of an SP C9 taking water at Susuin. It had breaking news and otherwise was mostly from BNSF Today.

• Track Warrants, Issue 71, (rel 97.6.4, dated Nov. 28 and posted Dec 18, 1997)

  This issue featured a photo of an SP MT1 screaming through Susuin. It had breaking news and otherwise was about BNSF and Caltrain.

• Track Warrants, Issue 72, (rel 97.6.5, dated Dec. 28 and posted Jan. 5, 1998)

  This issue featured a Lloyd Sloan cab photo of an SP Mikado, taken from an AS616 it was helping, approaching Napa Jct. in 1952. The issue had breaking news from December 1997.

• Track Warrants, Issue 73, (rel 97.6.6, dated Jun 06 and posted Jun.06, 1998)

  This issue featured a Lloyd Sloan cab photo from an AS616 Approaching Napa River? in 1952. The issue had old news and is not being sent out via Email.

• Track Warrants, Issue 74, (rel 97.6.7, dated Jun 08 and posted Jun.08, 1998)

  This issue featured an unpublished Lloyd Sloan photo of the Schellville depot in 1952. The issue had old news of historical interest, including excerpts from BNSF Today and is not being sent out via Email.

• Track Warrants, Issue 75, (rel 97.6.8, dated Jun 10 and posted Jun.10, 1998)

  This issue has a neat photo of an SP AS616 switching at Lombard. This issue has the last of the out of date news that was not sent out over the first six months of 1998 and is not being sent out via Email. One more issue will follow, issue 76, release 97.6.9, then Email distribution will recommence with issue 77, release 98.1.1.

• Track Warrants, Issue 76, (rel 97.6.9, dated Jun 21 and posted Jun.23, 1998)

  This issue has two photos of my dad at the throttle of an SP frieght. This issue has letters sent to me and a lot of Web links. This concludes this release. Email distribution will recommence with issue 77, release 98.1.1.

1998

Release 98.1

While there is a lot of information from 1998 in the issues listed above they were really a continuation of a string started in 1997. Release 98.1 marks the start of real 1998 timely news delivery.

• Track Warrants, Issue 77, (rel 98.1.1, dated July 10 and posted July 13, 1998)

  This issue is a single issue release and features timely information and a nice Ken Rattenne photo. It was the first issue in a long time also distributed by Email. Because this release was the first begun in 1998 it is listed as the first 1998 issue.

Release 98.2

Release 98.2 was a single issue release published right before vacation that year.

• Track Warrants, Issue 78, (rel 98.2.1, dated July 18 and posted Date Unknown)

  This issue was the last issue of Track Warrants. It features the last CCT run to Polk and a lot of unfulfilled good intentions.

• Track Warrants, Mirror Site
• Sloan Home page

SP Pacific 2472 heads north past the water tank at Coyote, south of San Jose CA on July 29, 1995.

Recommended Reading

San Jose Sentinals

A very snazzy features piece done by author, writer, photographer and my friend Ken Rattenne. " San Jose Sentinals " was once a part of this web site. It is often redone, improved and kept timely. This piece is about the towers of San Jose. It is timeless, through, and very enjoyable.

Altamont Press News Line, via Web

Altamont Press's home page containing news and information about Western Railroading. Done by Rob Carlson, this is an excellent source of information and schedules for excursions. You should bookmark this one!

Rob does a great job of publishing schedules on a timely basis,as well as regular news and of course product information.

Photo Gallery

• SP Alcos & Steam by Steve Sloan

Disclaimer:

All content sent to stevesln@aimnet.com is assumed to be submitted for publication, unless it is clearly marked "NOT FOR PUBLICATION." Material may be edited for accuracy and for publication standards. This publication is dedicated to furthering the enjoyment of the hobby of railfanning. The goal is to keep it fun. This is a volunteer publication. This is not an official source, material is not always verified for accuracy.

Related Links

• FLIMSIES! (home page)

This document was last updated Fri May 12 11:05:14 PDT 2006.