Western Railroad Discussion > The CORP this afternoon

While returning from visiting family in Grenada we caught up to the CORP returning to Weed from Hornbrook. I was able to catch it in a couple of locations. The weather was clear and warm a break from all the rain and snow we have been getting.

Photo #1  Crossing a small bridge at Gazelle.

Photo #2 Passing an old SP MP sign.

Photo #3 Crossing the Shasta Valley between Gazelle and Edgewood.

Robert Morris Photography

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Heres a couple of more.

Photo #4 Crossing the Shasta Valley with Mt McLoughlin in the background.

Photo #5 Climbing the grade to Weed near Edgewood.

Photo #6 Crossing Edgewood Road near Weed.

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Bob, why are they coming back from Hornbrook? Are they running as a turn out of Medford rather than all the way to Weed?

Out

This appears to be proof that the C-Beams can make it through the tunnels. I noticed a bunch of loaded C-Beams on the old tracks near hiway 97 over the weekend, would think they were the NB train of this morning.

The story has been the GP's go as far as Hornbrook and meet a SB from Medford with the SD40's. They trade loads/ MT's, or MT's/loads to be complete, then go home.

I just discovered that section between Weed and Edgewood last summer, there's a pretty raw looking canyon in there that looks like something out of a King Kong movie.
Or maybe it was Deliverance...

Excellent series of photos, Bob.

Thanks for sharing,
~Ryan

A Great chase with Excellent photos! Thanks for posting.

What a beautiful day for photographing trains.  Nice to see CORP running in the valley, a great setting for your pictures which are ALWAYS terrific.  Thanks for sharing them with us.

Gerry

Beautiful Series Bob!

callum_out Wrote:
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> Bob, why are they coming back from Hornbrook? Are
> they running as a turn out of Medford rather than
> all the way to Weed?
>
> Out


And why the empties from Hornbrook to Weed? I thought they reopened the Pass to bring loads?

Super series Bob, thanks for sharing.  That last shot is especially nice.

Kent in CArmel Valley

From what I've read in TO and the local newspapers this is interplant traffic. The Roseburg Forest Products plant in Weed supplies veneer for the plywood plants in Oregon, This would also be consistent with the Timber works plant in Yreka, they have plants making cabinet grade plywood also near the rail line in various parts of Oregon.

They have only been running for a month, this is one of the first sitings of a train on the line. No idea if running freight is part of the story. Although most processed lumber heading to market is carried on Center beams or inside the large TBOX cars, so it's interesting to see what does goes through the tunnel.

So far, freight traffic over the Siskiyous to the outside world, or somehow shortcutting the Natron Line appears to be speculation. I'm sure UPRR would not want to cut into the volume coming off the north end of the branch. Interplant traffic would support more volume for the Oregon plants, which generally means more jobs. That would appear to support the spirit of Oregon's funding.

Really great series of photos.

Ronda Thomas

The bulk of the traffic for the moment is going to be loads North, peeler off the lathes, chips not burned in
the co-gen, and logs.

Out

That's an awesome catch. 

The peelers go to BB to get shipped out or to the treatment plant next to RFP and then shipped out. There is a market for them as ranch land fence posts.

Curious whether RFP at Weed is simply chipping some of the logs, they have a massive amount of wood chips in front and behind the plant.

Yes, they do just chip some of the logs. They have a contract for chips for particle board and they
do a very good job of determining "straights" for peeling vs cants which do not peel well. They try to
avoid any cant (log cut to length, debarked) which might have an off center inbalance, plays hell
with the lathe.

Out

The track, as seen in the 2nd photo, still looks great!  Great to see the line being used again.  Would love to know when the Ashland turn runs, so I can get down there to hear SD-40's screaming that grade, then catch them at Steinman coming down the hill in howling dynamics.  This is like seeing Tennessee Pass back in action, Oregon-style.