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If you live in the Los Angeles area: While driving along I-210 in Irwindale next to the Miller beer plant, for several days now there has been about a mile-long piggyback train parked there on a siding. No engines, anyone know how it got there? This line has been closed since 1994 except for local freights! This piggyback train does not belong here! (In fact, the Miller beer plant is a heavy customer for local freights, there is only one other customer west of Irwindale in Monrovia at a grain-silo type company). It's a good thing the engineer stopped at Irwindale, as the line ends several miles later at Arcadia, what a disaster it would have been. Did they know this line is closed? A mystery indeed, the train looks "real." (i.e. this is not a movie train or a train for a commercial TV).
Posts: 38 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
BNSF uses those sidings to store excess intermodal cars there. They do the same thing at 1st st yard in LA. & on the harbor sub along various sidings. It's been going on for years now.
Posts: 249 | From: Downey CA USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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Thanks for the info, it seems that this was the first time in my years of commute along I-210 that I saw this type of train on this line since it closed in '94. I grew up along the Pasadena sub. and I can tell you I miss those ATSF freights.
Posts: 38 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Yes, I used to watch the freights fly through the curves of South Pasadena....they sure seemed to move faster than the 25mph speed limit!
Posts: 874 | From: South Bay (LA County), Calif, USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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Well, I live in Azusa, about 2 blocks away from the old main. Since the through-freight shutdown in '94, I have seen a lot of interesting stuff go by the 9 years I have lived here. Santa Fe tested the restored 3571 steam engine with 2 GE -9's and some passenger cars in '95. But, most of the testing was done at night; what away to go to sleep! The "flats", had some of the most unusual power I have ever seen. Everything from GP20's to brand new GE's and EMD's. I would see the "Christmas Express" for the City of Hope kids go by every year. They always used the newest and cleanest equipment. Now, all I see is GP30's, GP35's, GP39's, and GP50's pull the locals back and forth. Anywhere from 2 to 5 loco's would power this train. I would see 1 local a day (go by twice, back and forth) and the "flat" train come almost every Sunday. But for you hardcore SP fans, the Basset Branch (Azusa- Irwrindale area) is great too. But only down to about a single train a week. This is what is left of the old Pacific Electric main, the Northern District. Very light rails and UP GP50's going about 5mph and always a caboose! Very good chance to see rare power on this line. Well, hope this pleases some of information cravings!!!
Posts: 14 | Registered: Sep 2000
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How much r/road traffic is in the Irwindale/Monrovia/Asuza area these days? I'm planning to visit in the (hopefully... ) near future and would like to know the best possible 'safe' location I could railfan
Posts: 5 | From: Caerphilly, South Wales, U.K. | Registered: Oct 2000
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