Western Railroad Discussion > UP coast line operations question.

Hello everyone,

This morning about 8 am, I saw a very long empty auto rack train heading south through Gilroy, CA on the old SP coast division. I was surprised to see such a long train. Can anyone tell me where it originated from and where it was going? It was nice to see an actual train on the line, and not the tiny locals that usually pass through.

Dave

kilroydiver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hello everyone,
>
> This morning about 8 am, I saw a very long empty
> auto rack train heading south through Gilroy, CA
> on the old SP coast division. I was surprised to
> see such a long train. Can anyone tell me where it
> originated from and where it was going? It was
> nice to see an actual train on the line, and not
> the tiny locals that usually pass through.
>
> Dave

Dave,

The racks are a re-positioning move from Milpitas to Mira Loma I believe. These happen a couple of times a week. There are occasional bare table moves as well.

J.

Happens quite a lot. Usually follows southbound Coast Starlight by about an hour or two when I see it in Chatsworth......

They typically run to Nogales, AZ or El Paso, TX from Mira Loma (as AMINGR and AMIEPR).

Thanks all,

I appreciate the info. In the times that I pass by, there are no trains, so it was a surprise to see this one.

Dave

kilroydiver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks all,
>
> I appreciate the info. In the times that I pass
> by, there are no trains, so it was a surprise to
> see this one.
>
> Dave


All of us on the Coast line would like to see a mixed freight go through just once.....not counting locals between SLO and LA

The train in question was the AMIEPR 16, Milpitas, CA to El Paso, TX (Ferromex Interchnage) repo move.

As stated the other typical destination is Nogales, AZ, also Ferromex interchnage.

In recent times they haven't been doing any repo moves between Milpitas and Mira Loma. There was one oddball move in previous months to the Ventura County railroad in Oxnard, which ran as an AMIVCR.

Davis

strench707 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The train in question was the AMIEPR 16, Milpitas,
> CA to El Paso, TX (Ferromex Interchnage) repo
> move.
>
> As stated the other typical destination is
> Nogales, AZ, also Ferromex interchnage.
>
> In recent times they haven't been doing any repo
> moves between Milpitas and Mira Loma. There was
> one oddball move in previous months to the Ventura
> County railroad in Oxnard, which ran as an
> AMIVCR.
>
> Davis

I really do not think there would be very much empty repo to Mira Loma, as Mira Loma is mostly inbound loads destined for Southern California distribtuion. Even if there were some new vehicles imported and trucked to Mira Loma to head east, there is more then enough empty cars to cover that.

Empty autos usually called in the early am hours at Milpitas/Warm Springs. Gets to SJC between 6am and 10 am. Usually overtaken by amtk 11 between SJC and Salinas. Usually if it gets out of SJC ahead of 11, it will take the siding at Salinas. Altho sometimes 11 will pass them on double track between SJC and gilroy. There is no place to clear between Salinas and Santa Margarita. When 11 is really late...they may run ahead down to SLO (usually) or Santa Margarita (not too often)

Runs average of 5 days a week. 2 units, and 72 to 75 auto racks typically.

Mixed freight on the coast.... all uve got are....
The Salinas hauler WJ to Warm springs and back overnight, the Guadalupe hauler Gemco to Guadalupe 2 RT per week, and the Leesdale Gemco to OXR and return on wednesdays.

How many through Freights are there on the Coast Line route now days?

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival