Western Railroad Discussion > Yes, The S.F. Dirty Dirt is Still Moving

There have been some recent inquiries about the contaminated dirt traffic handled by UP from the truck-to-rail transload at San Francisco's Pier 96 to the East Carbon Development Corp. disposal site in Utah regarding the volumes moved and frequency. The traffic is certainly still moving but seems to be at depressed levels right now and I'm unaware if a full unit train has run at any time in the last few months--the loads are handled east out of the Bay Area on manifest freights.

Some of the more high profile environmental cleanup projects in the region are now starting to wind down. Waste Solutions Group will hopefully manage to stay aggressive in securing new disposal contracts--they certainly don't look like an operation that is starting to scale down.
http://wastesolutionsgroup.com/index.html

But it was like old times today as UP's YSF-70 hauled a loaded dirt train out of Pier 96 down to the yard in South San Francisco. 14,800 horsepower were used(3 GP40-2/1 GP60/1 GP38-2) to lead 3 tank car loads from Darling International, a dirt doublestack flat and 32 loads of contaminated dirt. The train is seen at 11:40 this morning charging up the steep ramp off the Quint Street Industrial Lead onto Caltrain main one with their 4000+ ton train in a part of the City where, for some reason, we just don't see too many tourists.

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These three truck articulated flats with GFLX reporting marks have been a mainstay on the San Francisco dirt traffic for about a decade now. Much of the dirt handled out of Pier 96 must be quite dense as the old coal service equipment used isn't filled to even half their cubic capacity--maybe dust control is also a factor?

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In whose backyard do they dump that stuff?

Neat shots! Thanks for the update...

BobP Wrote:
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> In whose backyard do they dump that stuff?

I believe it still shipped to ECDC Environmental at Columbia Jct., UT on the former DRGW Sunnyside Branch.

Interesting that the "Dirty Dirt" loads are not tarped.

Thanks for the report, I'm one of those wondering about the traffic. Is 33 loads not enough for a unit train, more likely to be forwarded on manifests?

mapboy

PHall Wrote:
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> Interesting that the "Dirty Dirt" loads are not
> tarped.

THEY SHOULD BE!! That's why they're only about 1/3 full. Anyone know what speed restrictions for such a train?

Kent in Carmel Valley

Would love to see a video of those EMD'S in run 8 charging that grade. Bet they sound great. Also if U.P. use the SD70 models with there radial trucks they could save money & fuel with loco reductions on that run. EMD's ad states that a 6-axle loco with radial trucks can go anywhere a 4-axle loco can go.

Only the cars that have anything hazardous in them get tarped. Contaminated dirt doesn't necessarily mean toxic

Jeff

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Seems like that signal is always yellow over red.

Where did the tank cars come from?

mococomike Wrote:
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> Where did the tank cars come from?

Darling International has a rendering plant at Pier 92 along Amador St. switched by the San Francisco Bay R.R.

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Who normals and locks the turnout? I'm sure they don't stop on the grade to let a crewman off, but it's a long walk back once the entire train is on the main. Does somebody ride the last car?

Rick



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/03/13 22:32 by rdb3.

I'd love to watch people's faces as a 35 car train with real engines on the front end cross the SF MUNI's diamond on 3rd Street. 35 cars crossing that diamond will take some time. Young hipsters don't have time for that in SF, but what can they do?

Frontrunner Wrote:
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> Would love to see a video of those EMD'S in run 8
> charging that grade. Bet they sound great. Also if
> U.P. use the SD70 models with there radial trucks
> they could save money & fuel with loco reductions
> on that run. EMD's ad states that a 6-axle loco
> with radial trucks can go anywhere a 4-axle loco
> can go.

When would the engineer begin to accelerate for the grade? Or is the entire track a grade, with a sharp increase after the crossing?

The third crewmember follows along in a van(yes, the one parked at the grade crossing in the first two photos) throwing switches in front of and after the train to expedite things.

The grade lies between the grade crossing and mainline switch which means only about 15 cars are on that grade at a time. They do get a bit of a running start before the grade crossing and every train I've observed here has made it to the top with ease(including some much heavier). A view from the bottom is pictured.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/04/13 07:59 by shed47.

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SUPER pics!!! Thanks for sharing.