Western Railroad Discussion > Eagle Mountain, CA Iron Ore Ops Starting Up Down the Road ?

Does anyone have any details on the track re-installation and start-up of the Eagle Mountain, California iron ore mine and mining railroad?   I have been getting good back-channel intelligence on this project.   One of the main goals is to undercut Utah Iron, LLC's pricing and capitalize on Eagle Mountain's shorter distance to the Port of Long Beach.    I understand the rail is all but gone and will need to be installed, but the ROW remains largely intact since going out of service in the late 80s.   God, I love capitalism. 

Burt

Sounds like you're a week late posting this.   On a serious note,  any reactivation of the line will have to deal with re-opening a long closed open pit mine,  Joshua Tree National Park wanting some of the property near the mine;  people throughout the Coachella Valley who would oppose any iron ore trains, bulk loading at the harbor, a ton of other enviromental issues and that's probably only the beginning.  Anyone remember what happened with the proposal to haul trash out to the mine which would become a huge landfill?  And that was what, 25 years ago?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/21 11:37 by masterphots.

Sounds like the same fantasy of reopening Tennessee Pass.
JB

Yes and August out there would be a great time to start work.

Out 

thought the name Eagle Mountain CA was familiar.....working on the movie Tough Guys exhibit at ORHC and the picture of the 4449 crew with a couple of actors will include their names and the location of Eagle Mountain......Arlen

That's 2 for bidhitter.

I was kind of wondering why they started taking the track up, then stopped, apparently.

John Acosta
Palm Springs, CA

Didn't they tear it all out? What's left had to be South of the Interstate if any is left at all.

Out 

In all my trips to Blythe,  the last bring in 2019,  there was no track visible from I-10....maybe there's some left down by the Salton Sea.  

My thought as well.

Out 

You could probably build a heavy duty conveyor system for a lot less money and load the cars at Ferrum.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You could probably build a heavy duty conveyor
> system for a lot less money and load the cars at
> Ferrum.

That's a reasonable suggestion. The ore at Eagle Mountain is Hematite, which doesn't require much processing.

Last I heard the idea of using the pit to store water died a quiet death.

Can't imagine anybody living out around EM liking the idea of the mine reopening in any way shape or form.

Allen

Posted from Android

Last time we drove by Ferrum a couple of weeks ago the track was still there as well as the large maintenance shed.

Posted from Android

John Acosta
Palm Springs, CA

bradleymckay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You could probably build a heavy duty conveyor
> > system for a lot less money and load the cars
> at
> > Ferrum.
>
> That's a reasonable suggestion. The ore at Eagle
> Mountain is Hematite, which doesn't require much
> processing.
>
> Last I heard the idea of using the pit to store
> water died a quiet death.
>
> Can't imagine anybody living out around EM liking
> the idea of the mine reopening in any way shape or
> form.
>
> Allen
>
> Posted from Android

I thought the "town" of Eagle Mountain was still a company town. So anybody living out there would most likely be an employed employee.
So I think the complaints will be minimal.

What's left of the town is a derelict dump.  Fenced and guarded,  nobody would ever consider living there in 2021.  I'm surprised they haven't razed it by now.

When did UP disconnect the branch from the main line at Ferrum?