Western Railroad Discussion > Why the GSR Detours?

There have been several UP detours on the  BNSF Southern Transcon during the last 24-36 hours: BNSF symbols F  VAUKCM and F KCMCAU. Location's spotted are Texas Panhandle (not the usual trackage right trains). Anyone know why?

PCBill

There's a post a few days down about UP having a bridge issue in New Mexico. That would be my guess.

Missed it-thanks.

B

UP trains heading northeast can run under the Transcon at Vaughn and up a connection track to BNSF then to Amarillo. Where they connect again to UP I don't know.

Edit: The post below says the hot Z's go straight through to KC.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/23 15:11 by Cumbresfan.

Schneider will do anything to get back on BNSF!!!   

zchcsse Wrote:
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> Schneider will do anything to get back on
> BNSF!!!   

Yeah how's that going for them now anyway? 

Appears the repairs at Santa Rosa are complete...

https://www.up.com/customers/announcements/premium/allpremium/PR2023-12.html



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/23 16:51 by AaronJ.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
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> UP trains heading northeast can run under the
> Transcon at Vaughn and up a connection track to
> BNSF then to Amarillo. Where they connect again to
> UP I don't know.
>
> Edit: The post below says the hot Z's go straight
> through to KC.

i doubt any would turn north at Amarillo.  BNSF directional running would require the trains to back-track to Dalhart before getting back on th GSR. The three symbols I saw all were to/from "KCM" which would indicate BNSF all the way to KC.

B

Would think UP could have gotton get back on GSR at Hutchinson. 

millerdc Wrote:
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> Would think UP could have gotton get back on GSR
> at Hutchinson. 

Hutchinson isn't on the transcon

You are correct.  They could manuver their way to Topeka, but why bother.

no trains thru SLC during this?  especially z trains-or they don't have the crews-nevermind

Easier in this instance to simply reroute via BNSF for a few days to maintain priority schedule. In particular, UP has long since abandoned using the LA&SL route for Chicago-LA premium intermodal, especially as train length expanded beyond 10-kft. Running Z trains via Sunset/Golden State routes provides a path that is simply flatter/faster/shorter compared to Overland/LA&SL plus running via trackage rights on the BNSF transcon between KC and Global 4 gets them into Chicago without running via St. Louis or Des Moines.

dan Wrote:
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> no trains thru SLC during this?  especially z
> trains-or they don't have the crews-nevermind



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/23 06:47 by AaronJ.

millerdc Wrote:
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> You are correct.  They could manuver their way to
> Topeka, but why bother.

The BNSF crew has to go to KC either way so no need to use a UP crew for the short distance from Topeka to KC or vice versa

What is the normal route in the Chicago area for UP Sunset - Global 4 trains?