Steam & Excursion > 4014 to move during DAYLIGHT hours and much celebration

Hi Everybody-- Well, hold on to your hats, cameras, etc...

As of 5:27 PM today, 11-25-13, the following news item was sent to 'PLA' (NCRY) from an observer in Southern California...

"A UP employee from the steam program was saying it won't move out to West Colton until Sunday Dec 22. They are waiting for the SD40, reefer and bay window caboose so they can move them in and the 4014 out at the same time. It was to be in the middle of the night, but now local mayors, etc. want to make it a ceremony and Metrolink is going along with it for the publicity. They will detour their trains. It will stop every 20 miles or so for greasing, and be in W. Colton a fairly short time. They will tow with big road diesels front and rear, and pull the "hospital train" with parts and staff to fix it along the way. 30 mph max, and it will be a railfan zoo in Cajon, when it passes through there. Mainly they are waiting on the SD40 which is delayed being painted in Little Rock, AR."

Comments are graciously solicited...

KRK

Thank you Ken,that covers everything I was looking for..
TAH

Thanks for the update!

Of course, naturally it will happen when I'm out of town. Sigh.

Thank you very much KRK for this most interesting update.
I am wondering when the mega--mega move from Colton east will be ???
The only sensible time to do that mega move is in the spring to avoid the nasty--nasty winter weather (winter Blizzards) in the Great Basin of Nevada, Utah and Wyoming etc.
That segment could easily have Blowing snow and Fierce 70 mph winds.
That would be a very very ROUGH trip for the UP Steam Team in that winter weather to be sure.
It is the most practical and best thing to wait in Colton, California until spring 2014.

--- Daniel



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/13 21:02 by daniel3197.

No to discount the weather out here in January and February, but if they are waiting till the potential for blizzards are over, then they might just be waiting till June! The weather isn't always snowy here in Wyoming in the winter. I think the crew knows what they are up against, and will get the 4014 back here safe and sound.

KeyRouteKen Wrote:
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> item was sent to 'PLA' (NCRY)
Is that Pacific Locomotive Association, Niles Canyon Railway?

KeyRouteKen Wrote:
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> want to make it a ceremony and Metrolink is going
> along with it for the publicity. They will detour
> their trains.

I don't see how Metrolink can "detour" their trains. More than likely they will simply cancel Sunday service
on the day affected. I would be surprised if Metrolink did this, but it would make the move much easier, with
no tight time constraints rushing the work.

Spikes Wrote:
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> KeyRouteKen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > item was sent to 'PLA' (NCRY)
> Is that Pacific Locomotive Association, Niles
> Canyon Railway?

YES, Sir.. It is!!

KRK

I can't see Metrolink canceling the entire day's worth of San Bernardino line trains on Sunday, 12/22. Perhaps just the morning, which would affect 2 eastbounds and 2 westbounds between 7:30am and noon.

They could detour the affected trains without any stops on the normally M-F Riverside (UP) line to get people between LA and San Berdoo.

I suspect that passenger loadings will be light on Metrolink the weekend before Christmas. Part of the deal with UP may involve chartering buses for the passengers on that day, possibly running a bus bridge between Pomona and Covina.

maybe they can do a bus bridge?

Good news & good work! TYVM!

I land in CA on 12/21! Sweet...looks like I know where I'll be on Sunday. :-)

Please continue to post info as it becomes available. Thank you.

Mike ONeill
Parker, CO

Not sure of the date of this clip or if put up here someplace else, take a look (an not sure if I did this correctly either)

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=9326586

U.P. always has been #1 when it comes to using their steam program to generate lots of positive public relations! Should be quite a show!

Posted from iPhone

I heard last night from the night security guard at UP4014 that they are done guarding her after Dec 18th.

A.D. Harding
Carnuel, NM