Western Railroad Discussion > Revenue Freight Returns To The Santa Paula Branch

On Wednesday July 15, Fillmore & Western railway had a rare interchange with the UP at Santa Paula. LOF63 dropped off four tank cars for storage just south of the depot at the run-around switch. I chased the train from the Santa Paula depot to Fillmore.

Attatched are my photos & videos from the mini-chase



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/20 22:21 by SLORailfanning.

---

---

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Part 2/2



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/20 20:20 by SLORailfanning.

---

---

---

Very nice pics and video, great job!

-cool shots , not to nitpick but it was Wednesday the 15th. Covid postponed tax day. You were there early as you were posted up and masked up :) in one of my shots.

Thanks for catching my mistake on what day it was, every day's been pretty much the same since COVID first begun. Sorry for standing on the left side of your shot, didn't know what angle you were going to go for.

When did they replace the the trestle near Hallock Dr. in Santa Paula?

Why did they put the caboose behind the locomotive? The caboose is supposed to be on the end of the train.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/20 08:08 by Sp1110.

Those are loaded tank cars, the caboose acted as the buffer car.

Out 

Why does Ventura County lease the first mile of the branch (between Montalvo and Kimball) to Metrolink?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/20 11:10 by Sp1110.

I believe for train storage

Out 

Where does Fillmore & Western’s trackage rights end? Saticoy or Santa Paula?

Does Union Pacific still own the right of way between Piru and Saugus?

Posted from iPhone



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/20 12:58 by Sp1110.

Great video of the train crossing the streets and bridge.

WONDERFUL to see lots of citrus orchards in the hillside background in the final photos!!  Too bad they can't get reefer loads off that branch for some of the citrus markets.

Also, thatr Santa Paula station is quite nice.  I wonder if METROLINK has ever thought about using this ex-SP secondary mainline as a future passenger line??



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/20 13:20 by coach.

FWRY doesn't own any trackage. FWRY has a contract with the VCTC that owns the line to operate.

They need special permission to go west of Santa Paula, no permission needed for Santa Paula-Piru

If the VCTC denies the contract renewal then most likely the tracks will be rebuilt between Piru and Santa Clarita and Metrolink will run passenger throughout the entire branch.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/20 17:26 by SLORailfanning.

SLORailfanning Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FWRY doesn't own any trackage. FWRY has a contract
> with the VCTC that owns the line to operate.
>
> They need special permission to go west of Santa
> Paula, no permission needed for Santa Paula-Piru
>
> If the VCTC denies the contract renewal then most
> likely the tracks will be rebuilt between Piru and
> Santa Clarita and Metrolink will run passenger
> throughout the entire branch.

Why would VCTC deny the contract renewal?

Posted from iPhone

Not sure where Metrolink would fit the tracks in Santa Clarita.   All sections between the current mainline and the 5 are built up with commercial parcels and streets.

SLORailfanning Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If the VCTC denies the contract renewal then most
> likely the tracks will be rebuilt between Piru and
> Santa Clarita and Metrolink will run passenger
> throughout the entire branch.

Good luck with that since an auto mall is right where the line went through Saugus!

Posted from Android

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SLORailfanning Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If the VCTC denies the contract renewal then
> most
> > likely the tracks will be rebuilt between Piru
> and
> > Santa Clarita and Metrolink will run passenger
> > throughout the entire branch.
>
> Good luck with that since an auto mall is right
> where the line went through Saugus!
>
> Posted from Android

If the line to Saugus was rebuilt and the entire secondary mainline double-tracked could Fillmore & Western share the line with Metrolink and UP?

Posted from iPhone

No, FWRY would go under

SLORailfanning Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, FWRY would go under

Does Union Pacific have trackage rights between Santa Paula and Piru?

Posted from iPhone