In the summer of 2006 I responded to an e-mail on one of the local 4x4 message boards about an individual that had just arrived in the area with a Rubicon and was looking for information on where to trail ride. I contacted him and found out he had a Rubicon! We met and he showed me how capable a Rubicon is!

Sidenote: I have been off-roading since 1970 when I started in Alaska. I have always known about the Rubicon Trail in California and when Jeep came out with a Rubicon, in 2003, I figured that was a very capable rig!

After checking out his Rubicon, we went out to the local ORV Area (600 acres of anything an off-roader would want! (More information about the 7 Mile ORV Area here)). He further demonstrated it's capability. At that time I had a Toyota Tacoma PreRunner that was not a 4x4, but it did have a locker in the rear. I purchased the PreRunner in 1999 while still in Alabama. There were no 4x4 areas in Montgomery, so at that time did not figure I'd need a 4x4. Little did I know at that time I would be in Washington state in 2004! Now that I'm here, I've been thinking about getting another 4x4. So along this guy comes with his Rubicon. I decided that would be the vehicle I would get. Why? Because it comes stock from the factory with lockers both front and rear!

So after many months of my normal researching a vehicle, I decided in January 2007 I'd go ahead and purchase a Rubicon! Unfortunately the configuration I wanted, the half metal doors, was not available until the end of January 2007! After discussing everything with the dealer (options, accessories, and so forth), and waiting until near the end of January 2007, I ordered it! Now the waiting began!!!!!

Being the computer person I am, I starting visiting the various Jeep, and more specifically Rubicon, online forums. I found out you can track the progress of any DaimlerChrysler vehicle by calling a particular phone number. So once my order was in their system, I began tracking it:

Date	Code	Definition
Jan 27	BA	Order entered into system
Feb 1	BG	Passed edit N/A for schedule
Feb 5	BX	Passed edit available for schedule
Feb 7	D	Firm schedule - dealer has allocation and all parts available
Feb 9	D1	Gateline schedule - scheduled to be built
Feb 16	F	Paint
Feb 19	KZL	Released - not shipped
Feb 20	KZM	First rail departure

OK, so now it's out of DailmerChrysler's control and on a railcar somewhere! The question is "Where is it and when will it arrive"? Again, searching the various forums, I found out that once it reaches KZM status, the dealer is provided a railcar number. So now I have the railcar number, but where do I go to search for the railcar location and estimated time of arrival (ETA)? Given the security now after 9/11, I wondered if such information is publicly available.

Lo and behold -- it is, that is if your railcar belongs to Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR)! Again, searching the web I did find the UPRR web site and entered the railcar number. So what did I find? Check this out:

  685470 37111208724523342753182P TA *Arrived 0 343138000 AIR LINE JUNCTION AIRLINJUN OH 0
  2007 02 19 18 40 00 0 L 0 0 0 NS H9 872452334 2753182 ETI ETA Industry 0 Not Visible City
  Not Visible City Not Visible State Not Visible 0 2007 03 07 10 01 00 -2 L 1 711 0 CU
  872452334 2753182

Sure looks like a lot of gibberish. However, upon closer inspection, you will find (see underlined text above):


So now you know the railcar's last reported status (Arrived Air Line Junction OH 2007-02-19 1840L; which translates to Feb 19 at 6:40 PM local time). And the ETA somewhere(!) is Mar 7, 2007 at 10:01 AM (again local time). Note that railroads use the 24-hour clock and generally any times specified are local time, i.e., the time at the specified location.

Armed with that knowledge, and by constantly checking, here's the railroad schedule I came up with:

Status	Location	Date Time	ETA Date Time
Arrived	Air Line Junction OH	2007-02-19 1840L	ETA 2007-03-07 1001L
Arrived	Gibson IN	2007 02-21 0147L	ETA 2007-03-07 1001L
Departed	North Platte NE	2007 02-25 0930L	ETA 2007-02-28 1001L
	North Platte NE is home to Bailey Yard, the world largest railyard (website) (satellite view)
Arrived	Cheyenne WY	2007 02-25 2142L	ETA 2007 02-28 1001L
Departed	Rawlins WY	2007 02-26 0823L	ETA 2007 03-02 1001L
Departed	Green River WY	2007 02-26 1446L	ETA 2007 03-02 1001L
Departed	Nampa ID	2007 02-27 0933L	ETA 2007 03-02 1001L
Departed	La Grande OR	2007 02-27 1819L	ETA 2007 03-02 1001L
Arrived	Hinkle OR	2007 02-28 0046L	ETA 2007 03-02 1001L
	Hinkle OR is home to another large railyard. From what I saw on Google Earth, this appears to be a switching point for trains running east-west to those running north-south.
Departed	Hinkle OR	2007 02-28 1908L	ETA 2007 03-02 1001L
Departed	Wallula WA	2007 02-28 2222L	ETA 2007 03-02 1001L
Arrived	Spokane WA	2007 03 01 0538L	ETA 2007 03-02 1001L

So Mar 1 it's sitting in the UPRR railyard in Spokane. How soon to get it to the dealer? Will I be able to pick it up before they close on Saturday? Yes!!!! They prep it and on Saturday around 2 PM I get the call! Go to the dealership and have it in my possession by 6 PM!