Western Railroad Discussion > UP's El Segundo Local at the Diamond (CA)

In keeping with the theme of diamonds, the next day I chased the UP El Segundo Local with a friend. Wanted a telemash at the abandoned mall in Hawthorne but would have gone with a much wider lens had I known they had four engines (I think they had outlawed the day before and picked up that train's power just east of here).

Image one is coming through the mall.

Image two is now down in El Segundo as they stop by the cement plant to make sure the diamond is clear.

Image three is of the train hitting the BNSF diamond.

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Image four, coming back past the wigwag in Hawthorne.

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Not only have I never seen that many units down there before, but never such big power either. Nice shots!

Nice chase and photos.
Brian Stevens

PE's Wise Tower never looked like this back in the 1960s.
I watched a PE train do the honors at the little tower with, I believe, six levers to set the signals and derails.
I don't recall exactly how many levers there were, but it was fascinating to watch.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

Love the wig wag photo, outstanding lighting.

Posted from iPhone

Nice shots!

Very nice..!!

If foggy memory serves me correctly, re pic # 3, the BNSF track going out of the picture at upper left. Isn't that track now terminated a short distance beyond where it used to cross over El Segundo Blvd on an overpass?

Yes, but the rails are still in place north to almost Imperial Blvd. The rails and Ties have been covered in dirt for the last three yeaars as the MTA is using this segment as a dirt storage area for the construction of the Crenshaw light rail line.

Also as for the large power on the El Segundo branch. It was not possible to bring large power in, as the rail, as I was told was too light for it.
But the UP has replaced all of stick rail with relay 136lb rail and now makes this possible. Not sure what they have done with all the switches.
But wow I have never seen this large of power and the number of units out west on this segment ever in the past.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/18 08:06 by czuleget.

Thank you Charles for the images very neat and congrats on IOD

> Also as for the large power on the El Segundo
> branch. It was not possible to bring large power
> in, as the rail, as I was told was too light for
> it.
> But the UP has replaced all of stick rail with
> relay 136lb rail and now makes this possible. Not
> sure what they have done with all the switches.
> But wow I have never seen this large of power and
> the number of units out west on this segment ever
> in the past.


The axle loading on a four axle unit is actually heavier than on a six axle unit.

Excellent! Congrats on IOTD.

Nicely done, Charles, and congrats on IOTD!
GK

Very Nice Photos, Congrats on IOTD!

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