posted
I saw a very interesting train roll through Fullerton today on BNSF, and I am wondering if it might have something to do with the laying of CWR on the Tustin or HB branch, because it was an empty UP welded rail train. The power was an SD60M and SD70M "flag unit." Has anything like that been on the branches lately? It seems very odd that they would route a train like this through Fullerton unless it was coming from this general area.
Also, I was out on the Santa Ana Branch on Friday afternoon, and although I didn't see anything, I did notice a large number of boxcars at South Anaheim, and my hunch that they would run a Sunday local (although I didn't see it) did turn out to be correct.
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i saw it too i thought it was interesting. it looked empty right? i was up on the parking structure as it went by
Posts: 139 | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
There are two sets of hauler power on the wye at Anaheim. One 3 unit set on the East leg and one 6 unit set on the West leg of the wye.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
The Costa Mesa left Anaheim this morning at 0550 as light power and returned at about 0620 as light power. Will they run the local just for the sake of running it, like how they used to have to protect a schedule?
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Maybe it wasn't CM at all(unless you heard radio i.d. as such), maybe it was extra switching move related to track gang reported on t.o. as scene between S.A. River and Main St. on Tustin Lead yesterday.
Posts: 216 | From: San Carlos, CA, USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
Went by the West Anaheim wye today and there was a lot, and I mean a lot of UP going on there. Hi rail trucks, weld trucks, 4 tailers parked near the local power and 3 parked in front of the hauler power. Is it possible that this is the equipment from the work going on near by? I dont recall ever seeing that much MOW equipment or vehicles at the yard there.
Chris
Posts: 1 | From: santa ana, california, usa | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
The Costa Mesa Local left Anaheim very early this morning at 0535 as light power, 2126/1095. That's probably why if returned so early. I believe it returned with 3 empty center beam lumber cars and 5 VCY boxcars.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Did anyone see the Marlboro Local today? I overheard him on the scanner saying that their power was having a difficult time moving the train. Just curious how long it was this afternoon.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Today's Marlboro returned to Anaheim at 1550 with 1095/2126/1579 and 14 cars. Wonder how long the train was when it left Anaheim. I haven't seen a 3 unit set of power on this local for a long time. By the way, does anyone know how the track rehabilitation program is doing on the old Tustin branch?
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
A very very long procession of work equipment just made it's way down Santa Ana Street just now going towards Anaheim Depot. Got some pics and video. Kind of caught me by surprise to see any weekend activity. Lost count but is was in excess of 30 pieces of equipment. Took a good 10 minutes or so to see the parade go by. Guess they are all finished on the Tustin branch. Wonder where they are going next?
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
My guess would be the Huntington Beach branch between Stanton Jct. and Anaheim. They recently dropped CWR there, so it looks like that stretch is next on the list for an upgrade.
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A track geometry car left Anaheim just before 0800 this morning. It traversed down Santa Ana street and is going to make it's way down the Tustin branch before returning. The Costa Mesa Local left Anaheim at 0610 with 15 cars.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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The UPY 1219 replaced the UP 2126 yesterday on the Marlboro. UPY 1219 is a patched SW1500. It's nice seeing an SP painted locomotive on the line again as they are getting rare out on this end. The last SP painted unit on this line was Feb 13, 2003, unpatched SP 2568. The last solid SP consist was on Aug 5, 2002, SP 2508, unpatched, and UPY 1230, a patched SW1500.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
The power they currently use for the Buena park switcher is two SP painted SW1500's along with a UP GP15-1. I believe one of the switchers is the 2568, and I'm not sure about the other one. I discovered where they park the power while driving around the industrial complex trying to figure out where they tracks go. I believe the Buena Park switch job operates Sunday-Friday around 2PM or so.
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The Costa Mesa Local rolled past MP 512, South Anaheim, at 7:36am today. Several lumber loads and the typical GoldenWest boxes of newsprint for the Times. I was not able to see the power.
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anaheim-al
photography is my elixir
Posts: 77 | From: anaheim, california, USA | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
The Costa Mesa Local left Anaheim this morning at 0540 as light power and returned 35 minutes later at 0515 also as light power. The car loadings this week have been the lowest I've ever seen it. A total of 14 cars so far this week for the LA Times Plant. That seems about a third of normal. I haven't checked the Wye at Anaheim yet but I'm wondering if the Hauler didn't arrive yet today.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
You're probably right about the Hauler not arriving this morning, because I drove down I-5 around noon, and there were hardly any cars in the yard and usually there are lots.
Posts: 246 | From: Anaheim, CA | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
All I can say is WOW...300 posts! I can't think of ANY single forum that has stayed alive for so long.
Well, anyway, I went out chasing the Marlboro Local today, and coming out of Anaheim it had an SP unit on the point (UPY 1219, an SP patch job) and 20 cars. I caught it switching all throughout the Marlboro complex. I was surprised at the length of time they blocked some grade crossings while they performed their switching moves - 10 minutes in one case. They returned with 15 cars and UP 1095 in the lead.
quote:Originally posted by atsf3751: You're probably right about the Hauler not arriving this morning, because I drove down I-5 around noon, and there were hardly any cars in the yard and usually there are lots.
Based on cargo description, Hauler could have been train dumped at Commerce, but it doesn't run thataway.
Posts: 216 | From: San Carlos, CA, USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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posted
There was a real low rail joint at Santa Ana St and West St. It got so bad that the rail eventually broke and became misaligned. For a good part of the day on Friday a track gang with at least a dozen workers dug up the area around the joint, replaced the track and patched everything up. Looks like they did a real great job. The work didn't intefere with either the Costa Mesa or Marlboro Locals. Also, there was a Saturday Morning Anaheim Hauler that dropped a bunch of TOE boxcars off on the long passing siding at Anaheim. Heads up for a Sunday morning Marlboro Local!
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Marlboro local left Anaheim this afternoon at 1510 with the usual Y1219/1095 and 35 cars! My guess is that it will be returning late back into Anaheim.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
There is another ribbon rail train and ballast train roaming around somewhere in OC. If anyone hears or sees anything, please post the information.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Thanks for the heads-up phone call Brian !!
Rail was dropped the entire length of the HB line, all the way back to the wye and then along the 5 freeway past Euclid. After the rail was dropped, the Marlboro crew drug the ballast hoppers to the Stanton wye. It was an easy chase as the crossing were all dead, possibly the handiwork of the rail dropping ??
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Overheard Anaheim Station calling the Costa Mesa Local this morning telling them to contact the work train at South Anaheim before they come through. Is he talking about the ribbon train?
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
At 0935 1584 and LLPX 2235 left Anaheim down the Santa Ana Branch as light power. I'm assuming this is the work train power. LLPX 2235 I believe is a GP38-2. I didn't get a real good look but it was painted in UP colors with no lettering except the numbers.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
A ballast work train departed South Anaheim at 12:15pm. At 12:30pm they were on the Ganahl spur near Cerritos and Lewis streets. I am guessing that they will continue further east towards Marlboro and the Foamex plant.
Power for the train is UP1584 (GP15-1) facing east and LLPX 2235 (GP38-2??) facing west. It would be an interesting opportunity to catch the 2235 street running back to Anaheim station with empty hoppers in tow !!
A short string of loaded hoppers are still at South Anaheim, maybe 8 to 12 cars.
If you are interested in additional details, feel free to email me at jeff@yayax.com
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anaheim-al
photography is my elixir
Posts: 77 | From: anaheim, california, USA | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
I watched some interesting operations with the Marlboro Local today and ran into Brian (BSME25) too.
The local left a long string of empty box cars and centerbeams at South Anaheim and then proceeded to return light down the runaround track to switch the Weyerhauser facilty. They came back with four more empty boxcars and then did something that I thought was quite dangerous and illegal by the rule books - a Dutch drop.
Just as the SW1500's were crossing Cerritos Ave., they sped up and the brakeman uncoupled the boxcars. The engines quickly ran ahead and escaped through the switch to the runaround track. A brakeman riding the boxcars jumped off, ran ahead of and then IN FRONT OF the moving cars, jumping onto the other side, while they rolled across Cerritos Ave. with only the power of gravity to propel them. Another guy quickly lined the switch and the cars rolled into the standing cut of empites with a loud bang. The switch was then relined and the engines pulled ahead, coupled up to the cars, and pulled them back to Anaheim Yard. No local went to Marlboro today.
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Yesterday (Tuesday) I attempted to track down the ballast train on the Tustin Branch. Instead I found a string of hoppers with no power at West Anaheim. I also ran into Mark (ATSF 3751)and got to see a few minutes of switching by the Marlboro. I had to leave due to an earlier commitment so I missed all the real action. Apparently, the power for the ballast train is tying up elswhere. I missed the return of power yesterday but witnessed the Eastbound move this morning. This morning I heard Anaheim Station tell the work train to shut down the 1584 due to "bad lab work" whatever that means. The work train asked Anaheim if they could drop off the 1584 on the Wye with the Hauler Power because they didn't want to lug it around. Apparently they ended up dropping it off on the engine spur because the Hauler had not arrived yet. Anyway, at about 0725 i heard the familier sound of Amtrak's melodic airhorns. I paid it no mind since I'm a mile or so from the Metrolink line. As the horns got louder I realized that something was crossing Manchester and about to enter Santa Ana St. The now east facing LLPX 2235 approached very slowly as light power, blowing it's 5 chime airhorns very liberly all the way down Santa Ana St, even pausing at the vehicle stop sign on Citron. From what I can tell, the only real segments of track that still need to be rehabilitated is the stretch from just beyond Olive Street to the end of West Anaheim Yard. And of course Santa Ana St could use some major work. It's going to take somemore exploring to figure out what still remains to be done. I'm keeping my ears and eyes open for the return of the entire ballast train today. That train has gotta be out of ballast soon!
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Ballast train returned to Anaheim Station at 1328. It backed very slowly down Olive and Santa Ana Streets with 20 hoppers. The train tied up on the West leg of the Anaheim wye blocking in the power for the Marlboro Local. As of 1350, the ballast train is still on the wye. No hauler power on east leg of wye today.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
The ballast train will be heading down the Santa Ana Branch again tomorrow. My guess is, behind the Costa Mesa Local. Marlboro local just went out at 1410 with only 4 cars.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
Interesting Marlboro local operations yesterday &-3-03. The Marlboro left Anahiem with 20 cars at 1505. At around 1900 I heard the crew of the Marlboro trying to guide the driver of the carryall to thier location on Lewis. The driver couldn't find thier location so two crew members ended up walking to Ball Rd and Lewis St. I was making a left onto Lewis just as the carryall picked up the crew. I heard them tell the rest of the crew that they were on their way to pick them up. I drove to an ally that led to the tracks and found the Marlboro in two parts. The UP 1095 was in front of a long cut of cars on the mainline and the UPY 1219 was coupled nearby to one covered hopper on an industrial spur. The rest of the crew was not there, the engines were turned off and the carryall never returned to that location. This is the first time I am aware of any Anaheim locals tying up anywhere other then the depot. Do they routinely split the power to get their switching done twice as fast? I often wonder how they can leave with 30 plus cars and return with 30 plus cars in just a few hours. Again it was only around 7 p.m. so I'm sure they didn't go dead on the law. If anyone knows what happened, let me know.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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After capturing the F40 images shown in the link above, I had the pleasure of chatting with OC operations guru, Myford Browning at Fullerton. Great to talk with you again...
~ ~ ~
I saw that same drop you described 3751. I don't know if that is illegal, but similar techniques (minus the running in front of the moving cut of cars) can be seen on the Marlboro on a regular basis. From what I saw, the brakeman's concern was the car that was preparing to accelerate as soon as the engine cleared the crossing. He ran ahead of the rolling box cars waving his hands frantically. I am cure he was mumbling something under his breath !!
That sounds rather odd, spliting the power. My first guess is that something split a switch or popped a wheel off the rail ?? I wasn't able to track down the Marlboro due to a commitment to work in a fireworks stand.
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anaheim-al
photography is my elixir
Posts: 77 | From: anaheim, california, USA | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
As of Sunday late afternoon, the Marlboro Local is still sitting where it was left on Thursday. Upon inspection, nothing seemed to be derailed or anything. Tomorrow morining will be interesting. There is only one GP15-1 sitting at Anaheim Station.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
The Marlboro parked at South Anaheimso thats why the one local unit at Anaheim Sunday afternoon. I don't think splitting power would help since there is only one engineer and no fireman on switch crews today. I don't know (do I know anything?)about the Marlboro tieing up a S. Anaheim, but I did note a simular event over on the BNSF the weekend before. The Second La Mirada Roadswitcher that work the Kimberly Clark Spur in Fullerton was tied up there the whole weekend (normally works Monday-Friday). This job runs with a caboose the local was set up to back to the mainline with th caboose first but was sitting at the small yard at State College Blve dead.
Posts: 50 | From: Orange Calif | Registered: Oct 2002
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The Costa Mesa Local left Anaheim this morning with a single unit, the UP 1579, a west facing GP15-1, and 13 cars at 0935 (about 3 hours later than usual). I don't know if the Hauler brought in more local power this morning. If not, the Huntington Beach Local will have to wait for the return of the Costa Mesa. Also, there is a lot of talk on the air about the work train. So, it's around somewhere also.
Posts: 202 | From: Yorba Linda, CA USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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