Western Railroad Discussion > Today's Pasadena Local-GP40X leader

Having the day off today due to the wet weather, I was sitting around the house listening to the radio when I heard the Metrolink Dispatcher calling BNSF 3039 West. Knowing that wasn't the typical GP60M which is normal now days, I took off and set up for the train passing through San Dimas. Today's train was rather long at 15 cars, with the last 10 being loaded bulkhead flats of concert ties for the Gold Line project which is in full swing. Good looking train today, even with the crappy weather. Nice of BNSF to change up the power for something different.

1. Passing through San Dimas.

2. Azusa


Thanks for looking,

DRGW

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That's pretty amazing for almost 2013. GP40X's are just about nil.

Wow, nice catch. I heard him blowing through Glendora today and might have to go catch the return run around 3pm. That's a lot of bulkhead flats with concrete ties for the Gold Line on today's train.

Rich

What's really amazing is how much that unit is getting around, it's worked out of Sioux City on the Yankron,
out of St. Joe on the Hamberg, been shot down in Kansas and now it shows up in Cali. It barely went that
far when it was new.

Where do these units get tied up at the end of the day... Fontana?

Mark

Yes, Fontana off of Cherry Avenue and Whitram, north side of Auto Club Speedway. Not the best part of town so be a bit careful, and of course respect the railroad private property.
Saw them roll by work today. Pretty cool sight!

mwbridgwater Wrote:
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> Where do these units get tied up at the end of the
> day... Fontana?
>
> Mark


Mark, they get tied up at the Yard North of the Old Kaiser Mill usually under Cherry Ave

Here's the eastbound trip through Glendora, about an hour later than I predicted. Nice post-storm light, but plenty of glint on the warbonnet leader. The 3039 is the first blue & yellow unit I've seen on the local in 3 years. I can remember seeing these leading hotshot pigtrains through here (along with GP50s) in the 1980's.

Rich

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Rich, really nice color and contrast on that second shot.

Man Rich, that "storm light" is great...

Posted from iPhone

mwbridgwater Wrote:
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> Where do these units get tied up at the end of the
> day... Fontana?
>
> Mark

Thanks guys, that's what I figured.

Matt, you lucky dog you! Nice catch for sure. Nice storm light photos Rich. You guys done good today! RSD5 and oyw are gonna be jealous, I know I'm ticked!

KC

Geeze, Matt... you're getting too damn good at this. :-)

Good grief! Even more ties! I was at the laydown yard in Duarte (near the site of Santa Fe's Butler siding) about a week ago and saw a "humungous" stockpile of concrete ties--it looks like a lot, but then I remembered the yardful of ties in northeast Sacramento when the RT Metro light rail line was under construction 26 years ago. It's very impressive when they're all in one place, but then they get spread over several miles of railway.

DNRY122 Wrote:
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> Good grief! Even more ties! I was at the laydown
> yard in Duarte (near the site of Santa Fe's Butler
> siding) about a week ago and saw a "humungous"
> stockpile of concrete ties--it looks like a lot,
> but then I remembered the yardful of ties in
> northeast Sacramento when the RT Metro light rail
> line was under construction 26 years ago. It's
> very impressive when they're all in one place, but
> then they get spread over several miles of
> railway.

And don't forget, they're building double track. Double the ties!

GP40X in the greater Los Angeles area? On the Pasadena local? Real nice catch!

SantaFeRuss

DNRY122 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Good grief! Even more ties! I was at the laydown
> yard in Duarte (near the site of Santa Fe's Butler
> siding) about a week ago and saw a "humungous"
> stockpile of concrete ties--it looks like a lot,
> but then I remembered the yardful of ties in
> northeast Sacramento when the RT Metro light rail
> line was under construction 26 years ago. It's
> very impressive when they're all in one place, but
> then they get spread over several miles of
> railway.

Last Sunday there were 6 loaded flats of concrete ties by Miller Brewing and a flat car of rails. Lotta ties!

mapboy

Nice to see 1 of the 12 still working.
Thank you.
90mac

90mac Wrote:
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> Nice to see 1 of the 12 still working.
> Thank you.
> 90mac


Isn't it ten; 3800-3809?? And I believe
the Santa Fe's are the only ones operating
as built. UP's have been rebuilt into
GP38's for CP and Southern's were scrapped, IIRC.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA