Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF 2000 Maintenance Blitz

Not sure if this is OK to post here or if it should be in Nostalgia - but I'm posting here anyway.

In January of 2000 BNSF performed a massive tie and rail replacement program on their Stockton Subdivision (ex-ATSF). They had 8 to 12 hour work windows and in late January they were in Modesto. BNSF detoured hot trains over Union Pacific's Fresno Sub which made for some great detour photography. On January 27th I chased BNSF 4431 South from UP's Calla Siding in Manteca to downtown Modesto.

 1. BNSF 4431 South pulls out of Calla Siding in Manteca after meeting a UP freight.

 2. BNSF 4431 passes the south end of Covell Siding in Modesto. Photographed from Pelandale Ave. on January 27, 2000.

 3. And finally, BNSF 4431 passes by the Modesto SP station (off camera) and past the Modesto Arch on on January 27, 2000. There was another railfan doing the same chase and at this location I finally got a look at him and said 'hi': it was the late Stan Kistler.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/22 12:41 by rattenne.

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Nostalgia to me.

22 years ago is definitely nostalgia.

They were also doing at least one bridge replacement down around Madera - the absolute window allowed them to drive piles and assemble the bridge relatively quickly.  The bridge I saw them working on was the relatively small one that spanned the diversion canal south of Highway 145.  It would be another 10 years before they tackled the much longer bridge across the Fresno River to the north of 145. 

During this blitz they replaced a steel girder bridge at Riverbank that spanned an irrigation canal with a pressed concrete structure. There was another blitz in 2005.