Western Railroad Discussion > Some I5 Corridor Questions

Some questions from a clueless east coaster...

- Are the CEFX units showing up in Dunsmuir part of the UP/CP pool trains, or are they in general service

- Is there a pointer/or info on the general line up of trains through Dunsmuir? I get a sense of what is running in the day, but I presume it is busier at night.

- Is there any local business from Dunsmuir to Klamath Falls - and north over the Cascades to Eugene? Ie. any major industries (wondering from a modelling perspective)

Thanks very much for your help,

Here are partial answers.

At Gilcrest Jct. there is active interchange with the Klamath Northern which serves a mill in Gilcrist. Interchange occurs several times a week.
Gilcrist Jct. is between Chemult and Crescent Lake. Altamont's Oregon railran timetable will have the details.

There may be a mill working south of Chemult at Diamond Lake or a nearby location.

Generally the CEFX and CP units are part of a pool that also involves UP units. The most common symbol is the EDRV and its twin the RVED. (Edmonton, Alberta and Roseville, CA. via Portland, Hinkle, Spokane, Sand Point and the border with Canada in northern Idaho) Sometimes a grain extra bound for Turlock or some other turkey feeder runs.

Let me try to answer:
-CFEX units are in the CP/UP pool with lots of CP grain hoppers behind them but also mixed freight that leans toward Canadian origin; seen them on the point, way cool, needs lots of light because of the dark color.
-Sunday really has been the big day for running trains, the BNSF reroutes will end someday and reduce the traffic; it still looked like 10 to 15 catchable trains on a busy day, lots of trains through the night but you can often catch them coming or going around the KF end of the scenery; check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/I5corridortrains/ for detailed discussions, Yahoo Groups is free at this point.
-modern businesses are down to the Suburban Propane in Mt Shasta and the CORP interchange at Black Butte. On the Cascade line there is KF and then a few lumber mills until Mowich, then a straight shot to Eugene. In the days of yesteryear there were quite a few scattered about, the biggest being the set outs for the Siskiyou Line and the Modoc Line. There's whole books written about that stuff, lots of modeling opportunities. Good place for a vacation, enjoy.

The only Mill traffic between K Falls and Eugene, not counting Springfield, is the interchange at Gilchrist Jct. Crown Pacific sends loaded chips for a north pick-up, and loaded centerbeams for the south pick-up. Lately cement cars have been interchanged as work is being done on a dam.

The mill at Diamond Lake no longer operates, and the chip loader at Lenz does not use the rail anymore.

YM

In general, you can catch most of the traffic around Dunsmuir during the daylight hours. There is a fleet of "Q" Trains from Eugene and Portland to Roseville during the morning and early afternoon hours. Somewhere in mis morning (excluding the MWCEU and MWCPD which you may be able to catch north of Grass Lake) the fleet of northbounds start to run...AMTRAK #14, MRVWP,MRVHK, MRVPD, ZLCBR, ZLCSE and finally the MRVPT. You can also catch a BNSF detour or two during the day.

North of Klamath Falls, there have been long MOW windows so trains are generally held at Klamath Falls until after five. An occasional BNSF train or aformentioned MWCEU and MWCPD may slip through the net along with #14 in the morning hours. The MOW combined with the forest fire smoke has made the area less than a divine area for photography...unless you get up very early in the morning.

If you are a member of I5 Corridor (and I am not trying to be a saleman either), there is a data base of trains, symbols and id hints available for the area. Click "database" on the main menu.

Good Luck
Gregg->

Forgot about the interchange with the McCloud RR which is in Mt Shasta, not far from the Suburban Propane and Boss Photo. McCloud is apparently doing quite a bit of contract car repair. Eclectic collection of western RR cars show up at the interchange (I've been waiting to work that word in) and a steam engine or two.

Heres a string of CEFX units leading a solo CP unit in Dunsmuir Yard a while back.

---

Thanks very much for the detailed replies!