Western Railroad Discussion > Santa Fe 5704 leaving museum property at Perris yesterday

Along with many Southern California fans, I wanted to witness the ATSF 5704 that was reported to leave Perris in the morning for the 250th locomotive event in North Carolina. After finding the track still disconnected and no activity, by 8AM we left thinking there was no way the temporary connection could be accomplished…wrong! Soon a friend called and said it was indeed happening, the crews must have shown up just after we left. Luckily we weren’t too far away so we turned around.

1) Sure enough, the track was now connected as seen here at 7th ST in downtown Perris around 9:30.

2) By 10:15 the 5704 was stopped, waiting for instructions.

3) Minutes later it pulled ahead, crossing 7th ST.
 

---

---

---

4) Under close inspection, It will soon stop on a 'relatively' level section of track and wait for the BNSF to arrive.

5) Many fans as well as museum members turned out for this unusual movement.

6) Lastly, a roster shot as 5704 waited.

No more pictures, but before noon two BNSF GE’s arrived and waited on the mainline just short of the switch. Then the 5704 slowly moved ahead and coupled onto them for the run to Barstow. A few months from now this whole thing will have to be repeated in reverse.

Hoping some of you find this report of interest, thanks.

OYW
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/26 22:20 by oyw.

---

---

---

What an awesome event. And these are really pictures documenting it. Thanks for sharing. Would've loved to have seen this. The engine looks great, too!

so there is no switch? they unbolt the main and drag it sideways?

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> so there is no switch? they unbolt the main and
> drag it sideways?

Oyw’s photos clearly show a turnout off the main.

Oyw- thanks for documenting this unique event.

Posted from iPhone

Geez, how hard would it be to just leave that switch in place, secure it, and tamp / surface the connecting track??  People in public agencies make SIMPLE THINGS so DIFFICULT.

 perhaps PTC is a factor?  and a signal circuit, someone stated there will be a permanent  awhile ago at some point 

Wouldn’t it be great if someone at BNSF figured out how to get that in a consist going east behind one of this 250th painted units….

Posted from iPhone

Thanks Bob for getting the pics!  I saw something on FB on Sunday morning that this was happening, but decided to stay close to home (only about a mile from the San Jac line in Riverside) due to a full schedule that day.

Rich

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Geez, how hard would it be to just leave that
> switch in place, secure it, and tamp / surface the
> connecting track??  People in public agencies
> make SIMPLE THINGS so DIFFICULT.

I believe the switch stays in place.  But the government insists on severing the museum track and pushing it out of alignment.   So when they restore the connection they just push the track back into alignment and bolt up some joint bars. 

This is state / regional / local government in California the museum has to deal wtih since BNSF sold the San Jacinto Sub to the regional rail agency.  Its a mess.   No one has ever offered a reasonable, factual explanation for it.  Or why the same result could not be achieved with a locking derail device, if the concern is protecting movements on the commuter line.

SD45-2?

Nice coverage, well done!
Bryan

Glad you got out there to catch the unique move.

GN1969 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SD45-2?

yes

DJ-12 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wouldn’t it be great if someone at BNSF figured
> out how to get that in a consist going east behind
> one of this 250th painted units….
>
> Posted from iPhone
I heard that might be the plan, we’ll just have to wait and see.

hotrail Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> coach Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Geez, how hard would it be to just leave that
> > switch in place, secure it, and tamp / surface
> the
> > connecting track??  People in public agencies
> > make SIMPLE THINGS so DIFFICULT.
>
> I believe the switch stays in place.  But the
> government insists on severing the museum track
> and pushing it out of alignment.   So when they
> restore the connection they just push the track
> back into alignment and bolt up some joint
> bars. 
>

Yes, the switch stays in place. It was part of the project when Metrolink opened the Perris Valley Line.

How many times  does it have to be said that there IS a permanent switch on metrolink? Untile the agencies get their collective minds in sync, the permanent SCRM crossover switch on the connector will remain in pieces in the SCRM yard. It's all agency bearucratic ....................

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> so there is no switch? they unbolt the main and
> drag it sideways?

IIRC the problem was that the Riverside County Transportation Commission (who owns the Perris line and who applied for Federal funds to upgrade it) was deathly affraid of losing their grant money if an out of scope project took some of the dedicated funds.  Therefore we had to jump through hoops to get any work past their auditors.  What you see is a compromise solution.  But at least it can be made to work.
The dream was to open up the connection to let the Museum run excursions to the Perris depot, offering remote parking, and maybe even to Riverside, through the canyon.  
 

The permanent switch has been at the museum for about three years. Still waiting for all the hoops to be in place for the permanent installation.

Fine coverage of this interesting move!
GK