Western Railroad Discussion > UP Keeps Rolling Along the Woodbridge Branch

...for now at least.  This past Wednesday morning, I went out to photograph Union Pacific's elusive Lodi Local, which operates on the Woodbridge Industrial Lead in Lodi, CA.  GP38-2 leaser unit GMTX 2681 was the unit in charge of the LRS51-12 on this day.  The local originates out of Stockton and performs a few switching moves in the yard before heading north on the Fresno Subdivision.  Once in Lodi, the train diverges from the main line and rocks and rolls up the 2.4 mile branch to a General Mills plant.  General Mills has announced it is planning to close the facility before the end of the year.  With General Mills being the only customer on the line, the future of the short branch is in doubt.

1) The conductor prepares to flag the train across the busy crossing at Turner Road.

2) Easing across Turner Road.

3) GMTX 2681 shoves hard into the facility. Note the two boxcars on the right sitting in the small yard in Woodbridge, which took a ride with the train up to Lodi from an industry in Stockton.

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Thanks for the great photos. I heard about the GM plant closing earlier this year. Too bad as I remember fairly long cuts of cars going to and from there.

4) The leased GP38-2 crawls out of General Mills property, blaring its horn for the cars and pedestrians on Turner Road.

5) "Your true colors shining through...." A little Phil Collins moment there... Anyways, GATX blue paint shines bright.

6) After completing switching duties at General Mills, GMTX 2681 puts on a show as it rolls down the brief stretch of street running on Lockeford Street. The train has received permission to join UP's Fresno Sub for the quick southbound return trip home to Stockton Yard.

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7) GMTX 2681 rocks and rolls across the intersection of North School and West Lockeford Streets.
My video of the train is currently on YouTube titled: UP Lodi Local (8/12/15)

It was a great morning along the Woodbridge Branch.  It's unfortunate the plant at the end of the line will be closing.  It appears this train runs M-W-F during the mid-morning hours.  Get your shots while you can!

-Nick



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/15 09:18 by NorCalRails32.

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Sad to see this go but thanks for posting. Probably should have eaten more Cheerios! - Scott



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/15 12:33 by viewrail.

The red boxcar is a WP car!

Great coverage Nick! Watched your video, too - interesting interactions with automotive traffic.

cchan006 Wrote:
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> interesting interactions with automotive traffic.

It always is. Some people behind the wheel really make you wonder.