Western Railroad Discussion > Permanente Local 5/14/07

Took some pictures of todays Perm Local with about 50 loads of coal.
The pictures were taken in Campbell Ca. The power was 4697,9539,9...,and
9791.

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Had 45 loads at 5900 tons with the UP4697-9539-9656-9791 for power, a remarkable sight on the branch with its 75 lb./yd. rail milled in 1906 on the upper half of the line. Seen in three shots at Monta Vista, a mile from the cement plant, and in Saratoga.

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4697 leading todays perm local 4:20pm

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We really are in the heart of Silicon Valley as today's Perm arrives at the Bay Area's own little version of Appalachia.

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Nice catch! Very rare 6 axle power dragging unit coal train on a branch.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/07 20:25 by coast7.

That's amazing! Thanks for doing the legwork!

Stan

WOW....they are serious after that track work.....no more doubling or tripling the hill any more with that power! I really miss 6 or 7 GP or SD 9s failing one by one as it grinds up that hill to the plant.


Bryce

They dodged going on the ground, that's for sure.

coast7 Wrote:
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> Nice catch! Very rare 6 axle power dragging unit
> coal train on a branch.

When did UP decide to use six-axle power on that line? I remember back in spring 2003 (before I moved back to Sacramento, CA) that UP ran exclusively four-axle power on the Permanente Local.

So that is what I missed when I relieved you Cross bucks good work my good friend. Where was Topcat?

busdriver Wrote:
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> WOW....they are serious after that track
> work.....no more doubling or tripling the hill any
> more with that power!

They actually did double the last mile of the hill today--taking 23 loads up on the first run--but I think that's more related to track capacity issues at the plant than not having enough power(about 2.8 h.p./ton). Is the day far off when the through AC power off the unit train from Utah operates straight up the branch? The runaway track seen in the photo is spring switch equipped and says a lot about the grade the train has just charged up.

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Topcat was probably foaming at trackside in San Jose. Crewed died on the HOS, relief in sight tomorrow. Think the train is somewhere in Cupertino.

Axy

Axy_Dent Wrote:
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> Topcat was probably foaming at trackside in San
> Jose. Crewed died on the HOS, relief in sight
> tomorrow. Think the train is somewhere in
> Cupertino.
>
> Axy

When I left the office around 15:00 I had seen that they were lined out of the yard. Waited around a few minutes but the train didn't show, so I had to zip home. I guess I will look for
the train on the way home today. Nice shots guys. BTW, Radum I told your Conductor that the
SD70 was coming your way. I guess he didn't have a proper job briefing ;-) Have a Caltrain Day.

As for the six axel units, guess all that maintenance paid off for them to drag those big units
out that way. Maybe a preview of things to come.

TopCat

Good photos CrossBucks, you finally brought your camera to work, take up where I left, so we can see the day to day exploits of what's happening out there.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/07 10:12 by fjc.

RayChuang1654 Wrote:
> When did UP decide to use six-axle power on that
> line? I remember back in spring 2003 (before I
> moved back to Sacramento, CA) that UP ran
> exclusively four-axle power on the Permanente
> Local.

It is a very recent happening. With Newhall having been torn up the 4 axles that used to be there are now mostly in South San Francisco. They have to scrape up whatever is available to handle the Perm and when the coal arrives they have problems finding enough power. With the recent tie replacement and ballast additions, this line is in much better shape than it has been in many years. There are several postings of pictures of the ballast trains, with 6 axle power, and a tie gang from a couple of months ago here on TO. Workers are still present replacing grade crossings all along the line with a couple of pieces of MOW equipment being stored in the little siding just north of RV Stich in Campbell along Winchester Ave. Having 4 units of this size on this train is unprecedented though.

bobs Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RayChuang1654 Wrote:
> > When did UP decide to use six-axle power on
> that
> > line? I remember back in spring 2003 (before I
> > moved back to Sacramento, CA) that UP ran
> > exclusively four-axle power on the Permanente
> > Local.
>
> It is a very recent happening. With Newhall
> having been torn up the 4 axles that used to be
> there are now mostly in South San Francisco. They
> have to scrape up whatever is available to handle
> the Perm and when the coal arrives they have
> problems finding enough power. With the recent
> tie replacement and ballast additions, this line
> is in much better shape than it has been in many
> years.

Back when I was a regular hanging out at Newhall yard when the Buddha was yardmaster, nothing with 6 axles was allowed up on the branch. And I was watching one day when a six axle unit derailed in the yard and Buddha went ballistic but went right into action and got everything re-railed and taken care of.
C.

Carol Voss
Salinas, CA

that 1906 rail still looks like an accident waiting to happen -- is there still a plan in the works for CWR?

CarolVoss Wrote:
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> bobs Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > RayChuang1654 Wrote:
> > > When did UP decide to use six-axle power on
> > that
> > > line? I remember back in spring 2003 (before
> I
> > > moved back to Sacramento, CA) that UP ran
> > > exclusively four-axle power on the Permanente
> > > Local.
> >
> > It is a very recent happening. With Newhall
> > having been torn up the 4 axles that used to be
> > there are now mostly in South San Francisco.
> They
> > have to scrape up whatever is available to
> handle
> > the Perm and when the coal arrives they have
> > problems finding enough power. With the recent
> > tie replacement and ballast additions, this
> line
> > is in much better shape than it has been in
> many
> > years.
>
> Back when I was a regular hanging out at Newhall
> yard when the Buddha was yardmaster, nothing with
> 6 axles was allowed up on the branch. And I was
> watching one day when a six axle unit derailed in
> the yard and Buddha went ballistic but went right
> into action and got everything re-railed and taken
> care of.

SD7's and SD9's were allowed according to the SP rulebook.

Hey guys just heads up the permanente local has been given authority to use 6 axle power on the branch under 2 conditions;
- availiability
- When drags consist of 30 or more coal cars.

As for 5/14/07 there was no reason for us to use four 6 axle units but we thought it would be fun anyways! converted 4 axle RCO's are junk and the worn out SP and DRGW units just don't cut it!