Western Railroad Discussion > Some links about Pacific Imperial Railroad

For those that are interested in any activity on rebuilding and opening the Desert Line (PIR). They have a currant office in Carlsbad. The company that's doing the testing and engineering is http://www.jlpatterson.com. They have contracted http://watkinsenviro.com to do the repairs and restoration. J.L. Patterson makes sense but Watkins does not (at least to me). If you go to Watkins site, they are an environmental company that specializes in demolition???? Also, I found, through a federal filing, that there is a foreign investment in this project. It did not list where the foreign cash is coming from (China???) I just read a trade publication that stated Tijuana is now cheaper for US companies to do business with than China. I am just stating what I have read, not my opinion.

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Are my eyes looking at that car on the far left correctly is that a Ex-Metra Pullman car that's just rusting it's life away if so that's very sad to see.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/13 22:36 by UPDetector.

UPDetector Wrote:
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> Are my eyes looking at that car on the far left
> correctly is that a Ex-Metra Pullman car that's
> just rusting it's life away if so that's very sad
> to see.

They had a bunch of these rotting away near Jacumba...most went to Mexico for some tourist deal as I recall. This is just one that didn't make it down there.

There are four Pullmans on that siding. Every time I go by them, they seem to have more damage from vandalism.

I went all over the site for the "contractor". You are right, they do demolition and hazardous material removal. Unless someone is bankrolling a whole new railroad after this one is ripped up, I agree this looks weird. Get your photos now....

UPDetector Wrote:
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> Are my eyes looking at that car on the far left
> correctly is that a Ex-Metra Pullman car that's
> just rusting it's life away if so that's very sad
> to see.

CZRY bought 11 of these ex Metra cars for a proposed
commute operation between Tecate and Tijuana, Mexico!

CZRY sent me to Chicago to inspect these cars.

Somewhat premature!! The State of Baja California wanted
this service but couldn't make up their minds about how
they wanted it done and didn't want to pay for it!!

3 are in Mexico, being used by the tourist operation there,
1 cab car is in Campo (privately owned), 2 were scrapped at
Jacumba by the people who took over CZRY!!
The remainder including another cab car are heavily
vandalized and rotting away at Dubbers Spur, MP96!!

Mike



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/13 12:25 by 2720.

UPDetector Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are my eyes looking at that car on the far left
> correctly is that a Ex-Metra Pullman car that's
> just rusting it's life away if so that's very sad
> to see.

not as sad as the nice old stainless steel passenger cars that CZRY put on the ground east of Jacumba. They are probably still sitting out there...

hotrail Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> UPDetector Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Are my eyes looking at that car on the far left
> > correctly is that a Ex-Metra Pullman car that's
> > just rusting it's life away if so that's very
> sad
> > to see.
>
> not as sad as the nice old stainless steel
> passenger cars that CZRY put on the ground east of
> Jacumba. They are probably still sitting out
> there...

I was part of the crew that cleaned up that derailment, we re-rerailed
all four cars involved, the baggage car went to Jacumba and was repaired,
the two Budd cars went to Dubbers Spur for storage and potential parting
out and the tank car went to Jacumba and the tank portion was given to
the contractor who assisted in the clean up.

The ex NYC/Amtrak baggage car was saved and is parked in Jacumba,
while the two Budd stainless steel cars were cut up, along with
5 damaged covered hoppers from a derailment in Tijuana!

All of this equipment was also cut up by the folks who took over CZRY!
They kept all the money from the scrapping without informing the equipment
owners of the scrapping!!

These were scrapped just before the two ex Metra cars were scrapped
in Jacumba! The scrapper was brought in from LA and when we talked
to the operator of the shear equipped excavator, he informed us he was
supposed to scrap ALL the equipment in Jacumba, including all F7s and
other locomotives and cars stored there.

We told the operator that the locomotives and other equipment did not belong
to CZRY and if they scrapped any of it, they would end up involved in lawsuits.
The operator called his boss, put the equipment owner on the phone with him
and agreed to only scrap the bi level cars they had already started on.
When they finished scrapping the two bi levels, they cleaned up, packed up
and split!!

The real owner of this equipment is still trying to get his equipment off
the railroad.

Mike



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/13 21:59 by 2720.