Western Railroad Discussion > Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Power Update

The WCRC "Spirit of Washington" F-units brought to Watsonville Jct. by the UP Friday and headed for the SC&MB survived their weekend stay in Pajaro, CA and were picked up by the shortline today and are on their new home rails. The leased HLCX GP38-2 that the SC&MB was using at startup is now off the property and Mount Hood GP9 #89 has assumed the work serving freight customers in Watsonville.

The 89 got a high profile assignment today and seen this afternoon with the WCRC 82 and 84 leaving the UP yard and entering the Santa Cruz Branch. The F's were shoved all the way into Watsonville as pictured and now await their public debut this Saturday.

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Passenger trains may get all the media coverage but as of right now freight is paying the bills for the SC&MB. Before making their move with the F's, Mount Hood #89 tied onto and brought in 7 empty reefers for eventual spotting at Terminal Freezers in Watsonville. That train is seen in UP's Watsonville Jct. yard today at 13:00.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/12 17:39 by shed47.

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The 89 heads up Walker Street in Watsonville with its train of ADMN reefers. After leaving those cars in the short siding near Big Creek Lumber the geep headed light engine back to the UP interchange(to grab the F's) as seen in the final two views.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/12 17:46 by shed47.

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Nice shots! Thanks for your updates.

Thanks for the pics, always good to see rail service expand. Hopefully it expands well enough for the railroad.

Dave

On that old line, there are 4 spurs / customers that could still receive reefers, and a few others that have lost their connection.

One of those customers is seen in the last photo--but trucks are now parked by the rail car loading door. I used to see that door spotted with cars regularly about 10 years ago. Plus, there are loading spurs for other reefer customers in Castroville and Salinas, and DOLE produce out on the old Monterey branch. The business is still there, but on trucks.

Watsonville yard is a quieter place now....sadly. With all the produce being grown down there, it should be booming during these years of expensive diesel fuel.

Great shots!
So the Geep is not required to have ditchlights?

Fizzboy7 Wrote:

> So the Geep is not required to have ditchlights?

If they keep the speed below 20mph over public crossings, no ditch lights are required.

That is one UGLY engine!

upengr21 Wrote:

> That is one UGLY engine!

Yo engine's so ugly it doesn't have to kick cars - just pull the cut lever and they move away on their own.

Yo engine's so ugly it's equipped with not-so-gladhands.

Yo engine's so ugly the taggers leave it alone out of professional courtesy.

Yo engine's so ugly the CF7's on the Big Trees are jealous.

Yo engine's so ugly California awarded it "honorary genset" status.

...boy, tough room.

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> upengr21 Wrote:
>
> > That is one UGLY engine!
>
> Yo engine's so ugly it doesn't have to kick cars -
> just pull the cut lever and they move away on
> their own.
>
> Yo engine's so ugly it's equipped with
> not-so-gladhands.
>
> Yo engine's so ugly the taggers leave it alone out
> of professional courtesy.
>
> Yo engine's so ugly the CF7's on the Big Trees are
> jealous.
>
> Yo engine's so ugly California awarded it
> "honorary genset" status.
>
> ...boy, tough room.

Now that's funny!

Yo engine's so ugly that foamers pass it up to take pictures of yellow sd70s...

Yo engine's so ugly even Larry's Truck & Electric would give it a paint job...

Yo engine's so ugly it don't need ditch lights, 'cuz people run the other way when they see it coming...