Western Railroad Discussion > UP Martinez Sub Ethanol Shuttle

For several years now NuStar Energy has been bringing ethanol in by rail to its tank farm in Selby, CA on the UP Martinez Sub(railroad location of Tormey at m.p. 24 near the site of the old ASARCO smelter). The full unit trains come west into Oakland(usually the East Oakland yard) where they are then broken into smaller cuts and then backtrack east over the same route they came in on to Selby. The NuStar facility there has three unloading tracks with a capacity of just 34 cars which results in this Oakland/Selby shuttle operation. NuStar then distributes the ethanol to local refineries via either truck or Kinder Morgan pipeline.

UP's Oakland-based YOA-85 job is seen this past Tuesday morning at 09:20 eastbound at CP RV021 Hercules with the UP637-UPY651 for power pulling on 30 ethanol loads for spotting at NuStar. Normally a nocturnal move, this is the first time I've caught the e/b shuttle loads in daylight.

Can anyone confirm where in the midwest these loads originate and how often they run--seems to be about one train a week.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/13 15:00 by shed47.

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This area amazes me as I used to work in various refining/chemical facilities along that stretch of track as recent as 1992. Looks like the Pacific Refining dock is even gone from the river channel now.

RailNet802, out



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/13 08:07 by kk5ol.

Very nice catch and shots.
JB

I believe those trains are originating out of Iowa, but they're not running too frequently these days; probably no more than twice a month at best, as compared to weekly a year ago.

Nice little sequence, and very nice work with your camera angles!

Lance



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/13 11:06 by santafe199.

kk5ol Wrote:

> This area amazes me as I used to work in various
> refining/chemical facilities along that stretch of
> track as recent as 1992. Looks like the Pacific
> Refining dock is even gone from the river channel
> now.

I was under the impression that the facility that once occupied the land on either side of the tracks in the first two shots was California (Hercules) Powder, and that Pacific Refining was behind the photographer a few more curves away, nestled up against the Rodeo city limits. Did the refinery also have a dock near the powder company?

I LIKE Pic 2!!!!

shed47 Wrote:
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> Can anyone confirm where in the midwest these
> loads originate and how often they run--seems to
> be about one train a week.

Thanks for the shots and info on this ethanol move! I've seen it as UExxOE, with xx as AW= Albert City, IA; EB=Emmetsburg, IA; DG= ?; LK=?; WK= ?; C5= Albion, NE; Y9= ? So several sources were in Iowa, but at least one came from Nebraska.

mapboy

When did they remove all the powder works buildings on that point?

mococomike Wrote:
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> When did they remove all the powder works
> buildings on that point?


There was a big metal tank and a wonderful large brick powerhouse filled with machinery which I thought would be sure to be a museum. It was torn down about six years ago. Also when did that job start running out of Oakland?

There won't be anymore trains from Albion as the plant has been mothballed due to corn prices.

DG = Dana, IA
LK = Lakota, IA

WK is an unknown code to me and Y9 is Ord, NE (I think) on the NCRC.


mapboy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> shed47 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Can anyone confirm where in the midwest these
> > loads originate and how often they run--seems
> to
> > be about one train a week.
>
> Thanks for the shots and info on this ethanol
> move! I've seen it as UExxOE, with xx as AW=
> Albert City, IA; EB=Emmetsburg, IA; DG= ?; LK=?;
> WK= ?; C5= Albion, NE; Y9= ? So several sources
> were in Iowa, but at least one came from
> Nebraska.
>
> mapboy

mococomike Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When did they remove all the powder works
> buildings on that point?


A lot of the old industrial sites were cleared and environmentally restored under the so-called "brownfields" program. In their place, communities like Hercules and Pinole have built fancy (and overpriced) new housing tracts -- everything from spacious multi-story homes to clusters of townhomes.

Cant identify those two UP units. They appear to be quite old and dont look ike they have dynamic braking pods. Info please?

Jim

GP38-2, and a GP15. I'm not sure which variation of GP15.

Larry

Yes. Pacific Refining had a dock served by underground pipeline. The dock and pipeline was located on a lease from the State Lands Commission. The lease expired about 2005 and so the successor in interest, New Pacific Properties, was obligated to remove it.

The former Valley Nitrogen ammonia tanks were removed about 2003. The former Hercules Powder Company power plant (built circa 1905) was demolished in about 2006. Architectural drawings were made, and are archived at the Contra Costa County Historical Society on behalf of the Hercules Historical Society.

Larry020 Wrote:
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> GP38-2, and a GP15. I'm not sure which variation
> of GP15.
>
> Larry

The GP38-2 looks to be of MoP heritage with the short fuel tank.

Pacific Refining Plant was @ Rodeo.

RailNet802, out