Western Railroad Discussion > UP Gang's Roam the Sunset

UP currently has a army of track workers on the Sunset Route in AZ. They though they could get the nice sunny weather with the rest of the snowbirds but they brought the rain and gloom with them. UP is currently replacing rails and adding cement ties to the old main from Maricopa to Gila Bend. Trains are still running around most of the work on the new double track. At the same time this gang is on the Sunset another gang is nearby on the Phoenix Sub. replacing out the old jointed rail with new cwr from Phoenix to Pichaco. Here is some shots of the action.

1. What did we break?
2. One of many ballast trains
3. Is this self propelled and what is it for?

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A few more
1. Watch where you park.
2. They call me Dusty Bottoms
3. Both ends of a ballast train on Shawmut Siding.

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1. Track ready for an upgrade at Bosque Siding midway between Shawmut and Gila Bend.
2. Searchlights on borrowed time.

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Ohh the Heel of that switch rail in that last shot looks like it would provide a fun ride.

Long live the SP!!! In both bad track and the signals!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/10 20:30 by ats90mph.

mococomike Wrote:
> 3. Is this self propelled and what is it for?
Yes, it is self propelled. If you look under the machine between the tracks, you see hoses coming down from the center of the machine. You disconnect the lines to the track motors and hook them up to hydraulic motors on the rail vehicle. You use the track levers to move the machine forward and reverse.
The Cat looks like it is equipped with a quick disconnect on the end of the stick, and it looks like there are multiple attachments in the little hopper the excavator is pushing, buckets, possibly a grapple, for picking up small parts along the row.
Mike

mococomike reports, in part:
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> UP currently has a army of track workers on the
> Sunset Route in AZ...replacing rails and
> adding cement ties...from Maricopa to Gila Bend...
> ...[A]nother gang is nearby on
> the Phoenix Sub. replacing out the old jointed
> rail with new cwr from Phoenix to Pichaco

Guess they're serious!

What reporting mark is that on the ballast hoppers? It looks like SI. Could UP be using the old Spokane International initials?

They are listed as SI.