Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
The California Zephyr is one of Amtrak's long distance trains that runs between Chicago, IL and Emeryville, CA in the bay area. This train particular got sent out with two heritage units as the power! AMTK 130 and AMTK 164 were in charge of the almost week long round trip to California and back to Chicago. AMTK 130 is painted in Amtrak's Phase II scheme and AMTK 164 is painted in the Phase IV scheme. Having two heritage units on the same train is rare enough, given there is only one of each specially painted locomotive in Amtrak's rolling stock (minus the Phase III P32s in the northeast). It has become even more of a rare sight to see AMTK 130 out on the west coast again, among others like 100 and 108, since it is equipped with a computer system called ACSES that is designed for trains running on the east coast. It is essentially cab signaling along with showing speed limits and speed changes. ACSES is required to be operable for train operations on the east coast and only a group of P42s have the software installed. AMTK 100-130 are the common locomotives to be seen pulling trains on the territories that need this computer system which is why these locomotives hardly end up anywhere else in the United States anymore.
I chased this Zephyr from Rocklin, CA to Davis, CA when it was making the westbound trip. Then, I chased it back eastbound from Davis to Hirschdale, CA, just a few miles east of Truckee, CA. I also caught an autorack train headed up the hill when I was headed back home as well as a Capitol Corridor that evening in West Sacramento. It was a very fun chase and I got lots of great shots so please enjoy this fun train just as much as a I did!
Locations in order of the clips in the video:
(WB) Rocklin
Elvas Wye
Davis
(EB) Davis
North Elvas
Bowman
Dutch Flat
Nyack/Emigrant Gap
Soda Springs
Truckee
Hirschdale
Thanks for watching! đđŧ
Š All rights reserved to Central Valley Railfan 8311
The California Zephyr is one of Amtrak's long distance trains that runs between Chicago, IL and Emeryville, CA in the bay area. This train particular got sent out with two heritage units as the power! AMTK 130 and AMTK 164 were in charge of the almost week long round trip to California and back to Chicago. AMTK 130 is painted in Amtrak's Phase II scheme and AMTK 164 is painted in the Phase IV scheme. Having two heritage units on the same train is rare enough, given there is only one of each specially painted locomotive in Amtrak's rolling stock (minus the Phase III P32s in the northeast). It has become even more of a rare sight to see AMTK 130 out on the west coast again, among others like 100 and 108, since it is equipped with a computer system called ACSES that is designed for trains running on the east coast. It is essentially cab signaling along with showing speed limits and speed changes. ACSES is required to be operable for train operations on the east coast and only a group of P42s have the software installed. AMTK 100-130 are the common locomotives to be seen pulling trains on the territories that need this computer system which is why these locomotives hardly end up anywhere else in the United States anymore.
I chased this Zephyr from Rocklin, CA to Davis, CA when it was making the westbound trip. Then, I chased it back eastbound from Davis to Hirschdale, CA, just a few miles east of Truckee, CA. I also caught an autorack train headed up the hill when I was headed back home as well as a Capitol Corridor that evening in West Sacramento. It was a very fun chase and I got lots of great shots so please enjoy this fun train just as much as a I did!
Locations in order of the clips in the video:
(WB) Rocklin
Elvas Wye
Davis
(EB) Davis
North Elvas
Bowman
Dutch Flat
Nyack/Emigrant Gap
Soda Springs
Truckee
Hirschdale
Thanks for watching! đđŧ
Š All rights reserved to Central Valley Railfan 8311
