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posted 02-01-2003 05:57 PM            

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Today while driving down Rosecrans Ave. through Paramount and Downey I saw new eastbound and westbound UP signals being installed at each side of the street. A little unusual since this part of the line has been closed down for sometime and there are not even any crossing gates or RR signs up all. Looking down towards where this line used to cross/connect to the UP San Pedro Branch I saw several stacks of RR ties. I'm guessing a connection will be made meaning the only customer on the line (oil refinery) may now be served out of LA. Does this mean the end of the line for the main section coming up from Orange Co. and that the Huntington Beach Local will no longer be required for this chore? Anyone out there know anything more?

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posted 02-03-2003 12:14 AM            

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Your right. The connection with the UP harbor line will mean that the Huntington Bch switcher will no longer run between Stanton and Paramount. The connection is new and there was not a connection at an earlier time. I don,t known when it will be in service.
The signals are interesting. I saw them too and at the crossing west of the refinery. They must be to indicate when the train can enter the crossing. They may be putting in gates for all sides off the cross? We Will see later.

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posted 02-03-2003 04:05 PM            

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The way things are going , I think U.P. may begin serving the refinery from the new junction before they abandon the older track, fueling my fantasy of routing the A. Hauler that way

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posted 02-13-2003 07:50 AM            

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In the Feb. 10 edition of the Press-Telegram, there is an article about Bellflower's redevelopment. The segment of old PE track through there is scheduled to be removed in March, to be replaced by a 2.5-mile bike path/walkway.

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posted 02-21-2003 05:22 PM            

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UPY1206 and UP1095 pulled 14 tanks from Paramount this afternoon. Headed through Cypress at 15:45.

I know track speed is slow, but I could have run from one intersection to the next to keep in front of them.

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posted 02-21-2003 08:31 PM            

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OC=Oil Cans? Jeez, I wish Anaheim Al wasn't hiking around Yosemite so he could be photographing such a sizeable move for us.

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posted 02-23-2003 11:33 AM            

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-al is back in town...

Steve, I assume you got your postcard, eh ??

Any new news on the date of the cut ?? It has been over a week since I have been by the Anaheim yard, at that time, there were still the black tank cars by the 5 fwy, so I assume that they are still working out of Anaheim, and not off the San Pedro Branch.

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anaheim-al

photography is my elixir

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posted 02-23-2003 01:17 PM            

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Yup, got the card, that's how I figured why you weren't responding to mail sent to either of your e-boxes, take a peek when you get time.

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posted 02-23-2003 04:31 PM            

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Anyone know the timeline for the abandonment of this line? I'd like to get some photos on it before it closes, if possible. Does anyone know what days the HB local goes down the Paramount line?

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posted 02-23-2003 07:34 PM            

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Dash Al,

There is a customer out on the Marlboro line that gets black tank cars as well.

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posted 02-25-2003 09:49 PM            

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Yes, both Neville and FoamEx recieve tank cars, but not in the quantities that I see along the freeway. The CM local had several in tow today as well, possibly for Behr ??

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anaheim-al

photography is my elixir

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posted 03-04-2003 12:02 PM            

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I took Monday off to attempt to video and photograph the HB local going down the Paramount Branch. Unfortunately, the local went down the Huntington Beach side first. Got some video and photos of the local performing some of it's chores in the Garden Grove area. By the time it returned to pick up it's long string of tank cars left at Stanton, it was already 1715 with the sun setting fast. Got some videos and photos with the train leaving Stanton, Cerritos and Bellflower. By the time it reached Bellflower it was already dark. Even with the rush hour traffic, I was able to keep ahead of the train. From what I could tell, there were no industries anywhere on the line between Stanton and Bellflower. Does this mean this entire segment will be abandoned? Hopefully I'll be able to chase the local down this branch a few more times before it is rerouted.

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posted 03-05-2003 08:30 PM            

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Caught the HB local today with UP 1095 on the point heading up to the refinery in Paramount. UP had MOW crew working at the new connection so wonder how long it will be before its operational.

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posted 03-07-2003 10:19 AM            

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JeffB(aka A-A), and I made an on-site inspection of the new trackage last Sunday and found the details very interesting, including the apparent relocation of the San Pedro branch main line slighly westward through the junction area. As my U.P. trainman cousin has proven useless in ascertaining cutover schedule, perhaps one of you locals could duck into the [West] Anaheim yard office and pose the question directly(office not open on my recent weekend visit or I wudda). Question: should this board determine the name for the new junction point, e.g. "O.C. Junction" or "Stanton Junction Junction"[repeat intended]? Surely U.P. would be appreciative 8>).

[This message has been edited by SteveD (edited 03-07-2003).]

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posted 03-08-2003 07:58 AM            

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Steve,

Was the connection already made? Also, I'm sure you noticed the signals being installed each side of the Rosecrans crossing and also near the refinery at Downey Rd. Why the sudden need for signals?

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posted 03-08-2003 08:53 AM            

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No, connection not yet made. Question mark shaped track all laid out all ready for both ends to be pulled into place as soon as old P.E. diaginal cut and old Pedro branch removed so turnout installed on realligned Pedro track can be accessed.
Yes the various signals are rather intriguing and puzzling.including some novel in-street flush lights at the crossing just west of refinery?

[This message has been edited by SteveD (edited 03-12-2003).]

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posted 03-10-2003 09:30 PM            

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Photos at the link below show the condition of connection when Steve and I made our unannounced visit to the ex-PE r-o-w.
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?f=1&i=222389&t=222389

The flush mounted lights would be just _west_ of the refinery. We ate at a burger stand just _east_ of the refinery. (The food was acceptable, but each of our burgers were made incorrectly, or maybe we just grabbed the wrong ones ??)

All in all, another great day of OC railfanning.

As a side note to SteveD, I visited horseshoe curve last Sunday (yesterday) and saw five trains in just less than an hour... 3:08pm to 3:52pm.

YEE HAW !!

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anaheim-al

photography is my elixir

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posted 03-11-2003 05:49 PM            

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It appeared that this Sunday was another week without the operation of one of the Anaheim based locals.
By the way, anyone know the operating days and on duty time of the Buena Park switch, the forgotten UP switch job in OC.

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posted 03-11-2003 06:02 PM            

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B.P. not forgotten, just overlooked. Its loco kept inside BP Industrial Complex rather than at Anaheim. On my recent visit the assigned patched S.P. crud was derailed with leading axle of both trucks on ties, idling away. A couple blocks away a derailed hopper was leaning pretty far over.
Ironically, ties were distributed throughout the district including along the track where the switcher was unrailed, those ties presumably awaiting installation(but too late?) Yeh, I would like to read reports on activity there as well--whose watching?

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posted 03-11-2003 06:58 PM            

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I drove through there on Sunday and saw the aformentioned switcher, at least I think it was the same one, sitting on the siding and visible just off of Industry Way in La Mirada. Judging from the number of cars here, they do quite a bit of switching. However, nothing was happening. The unit was completely shut down. I'll have to swing by there more often and figure out what time they do the switching.

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posted 03-12-2003 08:45 AM            

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At one time there was both a Buena Park and an Anaheim Hauler that fed Orange County, but I presume by now it is just one long train that has blocks for both districts, dropping them as it goes?

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posted 03-12-2003 06:23 PM            

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I think you're right. The Buena Park Hauler used to be a daytime run, and it's been gone for a couple of years now. I remember seeing it when it used to be solid consists of SD9's pulling the train. The current Anaheim Hauler is often a very long train, and I've heard that it sometimes exceeds 8,000 feet, so it doesn't surprise me that they run it at night. It must block crossings forever!

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posted 03-12-2003 09:48 PM            

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Caught the HB again today with the same power as last Wednesday and the longest string of tank cars that I've seen on it. Wish it was daylight savings time already. Despite its very slow speed, at the 5:00 rush hour with all the cars and stoplights its a tough chase. Caught it in Artesia and Bellflower. Sun is about gone by the time it gets to Paramount to switch out.

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posted 03-13-2003 12:17 AM            

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I drove past the new connection in Paramount. The mail line has been realigned and it appears the connection has been made. It was just a quick driveb y but I also did observe a number of RR workers at that location. I think the end is near for the Paramount to Stanton segment. Are there any industries at all between Paramount and Stanton?

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posted 03-13-2003 08:33 PM            

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Only the refinery in Paramount.

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posted 03-13-2003 08:34 PM            

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Nope, the refinery job is it.

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posted 03-14-2003 09:55 AM            

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I remember a team track that used to be located towards the end of the branch that used to receive regular loads of lumber. When I did a driveby of the new connection, the team track appeared long gone. I caught the HB local with a string of cans by luck in Cypress at Moody yesterday (Thurs) and chased it all the way to the refinery getting some video and photos at several locations. I hope the connection isn't put in service for at least a few weeks so I will have other opportunities to view this local a few more times. I wish I had paid more attention to this branch. It really has that Pacific Electric/Southern Pacific feel to it. Does anyone know what local will be handling this refinery job after the connection is made?

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posted 03-14-2003 02:11 PM            

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I observed the HB Local leaving Anaheim today at 1330. It had a very long string of tank cars. At least for now, these cars are still being delived by way of Stanton.

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posted 03-14-2003 09:23 PM            

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Some speculation it could be the Mead Local which I've been told still sports a caboose (shoving platform).

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posted 03-15-2003 11:23 AM            

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BSME25 said: "I remember a team track that used to be located towards the end of the branch that used to receive regular loads of lumber." I tried to respond yesterday that I couldn't remember a teamtrack beyond the refinery, only a Barr Lumber yard at end of Los Alamitos Branch and at Bellflower, both of which lost service or closed in mid-90s. BTW, for anyone who hasglimpsed the new Paramount junction..Is it all ballasted yet? including the whole loopy connection?

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posted 03-16-2003 01:13 PM            

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While destinations of outbound traffic from the Paramout refinery can vary widely based on seasonal paving and roofing demands(a lot of its so-called asphalt actually went to Salt River Project in Arizona for many years for use as boiler fuel at the utility's electric generating station[s] via interchange with SFe. Some apparently goes to the modern but discontinued pipeline terminal at Fleta(just south of Mojave yard) for storage, according to a thread on Trainorders about the tank trains that once loaded there. I've lost contact with contacts from my petroleum career but thought this item was of interest due to the current focus on developments thereabouts. Fleta prob'ly is fitted with heaters and insulation from use in hevy crude transportation that would make it suitable for the asphalt trade.

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posted 03-16-2003 08:12 PM            

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I did a drive by of the Anaheim yard and the freeway sidings... a total of 33 tanks cars on the two sidings, one string on the north siding had 16 tanks in a row.

It is assumed that the line is still in use, eh ??

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anaheim-al

photography is my elixir

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posted 03-16-2003 09:53 PM            

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Steve There was a team track just west of Paramount Blvd that was quite active just as the team tracks at Westminster and other site were, what 5-10 years ago.
The crossing of Paramount/Rosecrans Ave apppears to be going to be protected by traffic lights abd there is a square box on the signals that must have something to do with the RR xing. There seem to be some other devices that may make sounds No sign of any traditional flashers or gates.
On Downey Ave (near the refinery)the short hooded signals are still facing away from the tracks. Some interesting new ideas in grade crossing protection.

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posted 03-16-2003 10:43 PM            

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The team track I am referring to was just west of where the tracks crossed Rosecrans Av and Paramount Blvd in Paramount. I used to see center beam flats on that spur all the time. I even had the opportunity to photograph what I assume was the HB local at that location years ago with two blue EMD leased Geeps.

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posted 03-16-2003 11:53 PM            

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Perhap you would be interested in what traffic was on the West Santa Ana branch in the past. I have a 8/11/83 SPINS book for the line from Stanton to the end of track west of Paramount.
MP 504.8 Lincoln and Walker St. Spur EE switch
Cypress Team Track 4 cars
Superene Feed Supplement 1 car
MP 501.8 South St & Pioneer
Atresia Team Track 15 cars on spur EE
Artesia storage 1000 ft and
George Verhoeven Feed Co. 4 cars on siding
Remember the area was once an
important dairy region
MP 500.5 (about) Triangle Distribution
2 car spur I think they shipped butter
from this site at one time EE switch
MP 501.1 Monarch Wood Products 4 cars
WE switch Artesia Blvd
MP 498.5 Bellflower Bellflower Blvd
Triangle Grain Co. siding 10 cars
hopper dump for grain (dumps also at
Superene and Verhorven)
Hammond Lumber (at one time Barr Lumber)
2 cars and team ramp and team track 7
cars WE switch.
MP 496.8 The Refinery then known as Pacific
Oasis Oil Co 1006 ft storage run around
track and three spurs in refinery for 20
cars
MP 496 Paramount Team Track 4 cars west of
Paramount Blvd WE switch on spur.
MP 495.5 A.M. Castle (steel or metal
products)4 car spot under crane. spur
track with EE switch. Note: the SP pulled
up the UP crossing and then put it back in
when this customer again wanted service
only to have removed again a short time
later.
This SPINS shows the tracks crossing the LA River and Long Beach Freeway - pre I-105

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posted 03-18-2003 09:12 AM            

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Cliff's listing of industries is interesting and useful to me since I left my SPINS copy back in O.C. when relocating. A curiosity is that the branch retains the milepost numbering assigned by S.P. when it added the P.E. trackage to its own Basin network, so that the steel plant beyond the [now gone] diamond has the lowest number and count upward the further into Orange County., i.e. the mileage is from San Francisco via Watts rather than via Anaheim like other S.P. branches in O.C. I always thought it a bit amusing that the RR kept considering the 'end-of-track' to be at that steel plant even when the operating track ended at the removed diamond.
BTW, Cliff, what was MP of diamond?
On this subject of MP numbering, one wonders if U.P. intended to retain the P.E. diagonal after joining it to the San Pedro Sub if new mileposts would be assigned beginning with 12.5 assigned to Paramount on the Pedro Sub.or zero like the Lakewood Industrial Lead is and "La Habra Sub" became when it was seperated from the Brea Chem Industrial Lead(the latter still carrying its S.P. MPs measured from Slauson Jct., while the connecting 5-mile Fullerton Industrial Lead still bears MPs from its days as U.P. Anaheim Branch, measured from Whittier Jct.). Sorry to ramble, just my nature?

[This message has been edited by SteveD (edited 03-19-2003).]

[This message has been edited by SteveD (edited 03-19-2003).]

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posted 03-19-2003 11:04 PM            

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The Paramount team track is very near the xing. I would guess that it is close to MP 496 or 495.9.

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posted 03-20-2003 07:22 PM            

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I saw the HB local heading back to Anaheim at 7:00 this evening...seems a bit late. It was fairly long. It definitely made a trip down to Paramount today because it had 23 tank cars on the rear.

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posted 03-24-2003 04:28 PM            

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I chased the HB local out of Anaheim today. Power was UP 1095 and a GP15-1, #1572 I think, but don't quote me on that. Both were badly graffittied. They had about 6 cars of lumber and chemicals on the head end and 12-15 tank cars trailing. They went up the HB branch and coupled up to another string of oil cans, which they shoved on the head end with the engines in the middle all the way up to Stanton Junction. They then set one string of tanks out on the wye and left the other on the HB branch on the south side of Beach and proceeded down the branch towards Huntington Beach. I chased them as far as Edinger before I got caught in a traffic snarl and lost them. I might go out later today if they don't get back too late and follow them down the Paramount branch.

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posted 03-27-2003 03:06 PM            

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In absence of any more news since ATSF3751'S 3/24 report, I can't resist noting similarity between his Monday observation and movement depicted on commercial video "Railroading California Style, S.P. Series #1", by Direction Video Productions of Encinitas, wherein big S.P. units are shown curving off H.B. leg of Stanton Branch through the wye with mixed consist toward Anaheim but heading into a standing cut of tankcars on main line(single hopper visible on W.S.A. spur w/o Beach Blvd.)presumably left behind before running to H.B., followed by same power heading off up Paramount line with the tank cars(after shoving them clear of North Stanton). This tape did not follow the oil cans to the refinery or return, but jumps to switching at Greenville on Santa Ana Branch. 'Twas my only recourse when I got lonely for simulated O.C. action prior to amatuer video by a certain other contributor of these threads. Date not indicated but there was still one lumber load on the tail of the cans as it headed northwest, so must have been mid-90s or so.

[This message has been edited by SteveD (edited 03-27-2003).]

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