Western Railroad Discussion > Plaster City Railroad US Gypsum

Sharing some pics from a trip to Plaster City last week. With the temp heading to 111, we only hung out for the morning train.

Image one - Roster of one of the repainted DL535Es as it builds its train.

Image two - the train is almost built

Image three - the conductor walks the train - only it was not to be - a call from the mine killed the run and they would leave the hoppers in plaster city and run to Ocotillo Wells with just the water car.

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Image four is the now empty water car train shoving back toward Plaster City (taken in Ocotillo Wells).

Image five is of the empty water train heading away (but slowly enough that we got ahead of him).

Image six is the water train one last time (couldn't go much further with our two-wheel drive).

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Awesome shots. So they repainted the other one too?

Yes, they both have the same sharp new paint.

Well done! especially for 2WD.

Great photos! Thanks for sharing, the last time I was out there
the units were still in the 'as delivered' blue with white lettering!

Mike

Didn't realize they now have a new paint scheme. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing, these pictures really convey how hot things must be. Almost no greenery in sight

Notice they have two AC condensers right over both seats in the engine to keep the crew cool.

I remember seeing a frequent passage of water trucks going south into Mexico from here, the locals told me some of their town wells had gone dry.
At first it appears that the desert does not want to sustain much life, what it does sustain has adapted far from the green "nature" we are used to.
After a while you appreciate the subtle colors and tiny plants that lay almost unseen in the sand.
I have found railroad history/work/photography a wonderful portal into understanding so much more....
Thanks for sharing.

Is that what's left of the eastern end of the SD&AE?

Excellent photos of one of the last ng operations in the US. Hope it stays in business for 50 years.....

This 3-foot narrow-gauge line does not connect to the SD&AE, which is standard gauge.

Great shots, really interesting operation.

BobP Wrote:
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> Is that what's left of the eastern end of the
> SD&AE?

Yep, to the west lies broken dreams, broken hearts, and broken promises. Heck, it's ALL broken!

No. It is not the SD&AE.

Posted from iPhone

Interesting pics!!

BAB Wrote:
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> Notice they have two AC condensers right over both
> seats in the engine to keep the crew cool.

Out there, air conditioning is not a luxury, it's an essential!

Thanks for the report, Charles! I guess I'll have make another visit to document the new paint scheme.

I don't know how far out you went, but the ROW and the access road get close to the bombing range out there. Saw a couple of F-18s do fly-bys. Some of the sand traps I saw out there few years ago would have been bad for 4WD as well, as all 4 wheels could dig in depending on how the driver reacts to the situation.

Dirt roads do not mean 4WD ONLY. The road is totally passable by high clearance 2WD. It does get a little sandy between MP 11-MP 14 but I've done at least four roundtrips chasing trains to the mine and back with no issues the past two months.