Western Railroad Discussion > UP Local, Gardena - Athens (Los Angeles area)

Caught this UP local today, from Gardena to Athens, led by 2710, 806 and 2709.  This is a legacy SP/PE line; there is a short stretch of street running on Vermont Ave. in Gardena.
These pictures show the train in the median of 166th St., on Vermont Ave., and then the engines running light after spotting the cars at Athens.
 

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Why does UP even paint the locomotives they use down there ? Just
leave them in Primer !

I would think UP would keep the power somewhere so vandels can't
tag them, haven't they learned that yet ?

Just my 2 cents , this is not the image UP needs !

I used to live near the intersection of Redondo Beach Blvd and Vermont
Moved to Washington in 2002​​​​​. Took the picture attached in 2002 at the
Redondo Beach Blvd Crossing.​

Nice to see the local once again


Jay​

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Your #2 picture, with the red-flagged tank sure brings back memories.
Back in my day, circa 1972-76, I seemed to often catch the the nightly Torrance Hauler
out of SP's Taylor Yard with various former PE traincrews. Conductor John Jaco and
brakeman Dick Ballard come to mind.
I have vivid memories of coming down the steep grade from Athens, making the relatively
sharp curve onto Vermont Ave with only a single Magnetic Flagman wig-wag to provide
motorist protection. Ding---Ding---Ding---  Just that and my engine bell and whistle 
Our trains in those days, (nights really) consisted of 2 or 3 geeps and anywhere from 25-50 cars.
As my Mars light made its arc, sometimes its beam would hit the photo-electric cell that
controlled the street lights in downtown Gardena. As we moved southward into the curve just
beyond Gardena Blvd and toward where you took this picture, I couldn't help but think that those
PE Motormen of old, with their single interurban cars or maybe 5-10 freight cars at most  would
likely be turning over in their graves if they could but see what we 'kids' were doing out there in their stead.
Thanks for the memories.

Charlie

 

Just exactly where is Athens? I work this job often and have never heard that name mentioned.

crackerjackhoghead Wrote:
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> Just exactly where is Athens? I work this job
> often and have never heard that name mentioned.

Old timetables have Athens at MP 495.6, between South L.A. and Gardena.

mapboy

Figueroa and El Segunda-almost-at least according to my genuine 1953 PE Map!

Nice shots, Casco!  

mapboy Wrote:
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> crackerjackhoghead Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
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> > Just exactly where is Athens? I work this job
> > often and have never heard that name mentioned.
>
> Old timetables have Athens at MP 495.6, between
> South L.A. and Gardena.
>
> mapboy

There is a siding near Rosecrans; there was a cut of tank cars there.  
The SPV atlas identifies this as Athens (a different location - further south - from the old PE stop) but maybe UP has another name for it?

After spotting the cars there, the crew headed north, stopping briefly at South Los Angeles Jct. before continuing on.  The area is a rough neighborhood.



 

casco17 Wrote:
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> The area is a rough neighborhood.

"Hood" will suffice. ;-)