Western Railroad Discussion > Rail Train headed to Cali via ex-DRGW

This morning, a westbound UP rail train left Denver for Tulare, CA via the Moffat Tunnel Sub. The train left Pueblo, CO yesterday and has a pair of SD70Ms for power. I suspect the train will probably run via Donner and head to Tulare from the north. Although how cool would it be if it ran via the LA&SL and then ran on BNSF between Barstow and Mojave and then over Tehachapi. :)

============

1. The train winds through the west end of Barbara's Gulch, just east of Rocky.

2. The train is about to pass underneath CO-93 as it runs through a long curve toward a Diverging Approach (red over yellow) signal at the east end of Rocky. MOW has the main tied up, so the train will run through the siding.

3. 50 strips of rail, each about a 1/4 mile long roll west down the main at Plain. That's enough rail for about 6 1/4 miles of track.

That's All Folks!

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

---

---

---

Kind of cool to think that the rail is bending and curving on the way to CA

Posted from iPhone

Flare no flag, classic! Another great catch, hope your boss doesn't find Trainorders :)

T

CPRR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Kind of cool to think that the rail is bending and
> curving on the way to CA
>
> Posted from iPhone

It really is an amazing material! 

I have seen these trains for years, but am still amazed that those rails bend so quickly, almost like magic.  
My fear is they won't bend and will break out of the cars and scatter like Pick-up Sticks.  Thanks for the excellent photos.

Nice catch and shots Kevin!

Sweet rail train, how common are these on the moffat?

Nice shots!  Train is the WPUTLR 21 and is indeed going via Donner.

Davis

Notch8 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sweet rail train, how common are these on the
> moffat?


Not super common. There are a couple a year, probably. Nothing regular.

Kevin Morgan
Arvada, CO
ColoradoRailfan.com

Questions:  is the rail rolled at CF&I?  133 lb/yard?  Does it have rolling id marks on the side? (New rail laid through the Davis,CA depot on the Cal-P a couple of years back only had inked marking not formed physically in the steel...rather cheesy, I thought.  But I don't recall that it was CF&I.)

grafvonb49

Nice catch.  Very pleasing to see the Kenefick Green color on a unit train.
Brian Stevens

 According to the symbol, the train originated in Pueblo, CO, so Evraz/RMSM/CF&I is the likely origin.

This seems odd, as UP is importing long strands of rail from Japan directly thru the Port of Stockton via a special, long-term partnership, and that Port is much closer to Tulare.

However, I am very glad to hear about this U.S. produced rail being used!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/17 10:24 by coach.

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This seems odd, as UP is importing long strands of rail from Japan directly thru the Port of Stockton
> via a special, long-term partnership, and that Port is much closer to Tulare.

The UP has continued getting new rail from Pueblo even with the rail coming from Japan. Don't know how they decide which goes where, or if they are different kids of rail (curve rail?).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/23/17 10:40 by ble692.