Western Railroad Discussion > UP Restarted Double Tracking in AZ

UP has started double tracking the last few stretches of single track on the Sunset Route across AZ. UP has graded between Theba and Peidra sidings to connect the two. UP has set up a large contruction base near Theba. They look to be building new crossovers at Theba then working out from this location in both directions. The line is fully surveyed and marked for the construction work. 

Way to go up let's do more to cotton rock n anything else across tx to compete.

Posted from Android

Is there any construction activity taking place east of Gila Bend up the hill towards Shawmut?

It is surveyed and tagged, They made mega  a siding out of Bosque but that is it so far. 

I suspect the double tracking is to make it easier to justify the operation of 10,000'+ trains.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I suspect the double tracking is to make it easier
> to justify the operation of 10,000'+ trains.

It certainly lessens the impact of the more frequent breakdowns.

UPRR SUNSET ROUTE    DOUBLE TRACKING  THEY ARE SET TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN SP841 PIEDRI AND SP845 THEBES.AS THE POSTER SAID ,2 YEARS AGO,THE LINE IS GRADED.NOW,WELDED RAIL IS ON THE GROUND AND AT THEBES THERE ARE 8 SPECIAL BUILTFLAT CARS WITH CONCRETE TIES,200 PER CAR.Each end of these are special cars to unload ties ,i think they run on a guide on top of cars to unload them.SURFACING EQUIPMENT IS AT THEBES ALSO.NEW SIGNALS ARE INSTALLED AT SP841 ,BUT ARE TURNED SIDEWAYS .  BASE FOR NEW CROSSING GATES ARE AT THE ONE CROSSING BETWEEN THEM.THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT 4 MILES OF NEW TRACK AND A SIDING LENGTH AROUND 9 MILES.  THIS WILL STILL LEAVE ABOUT 64 MILES OF SINGLE TRACK BETWEEN SP 876 ESTRELLA AND SP749 KINTER WHICH IS JUST EAST OF YUMA,AZ.
I WENT BY SHAWMUT ,ESTRELLA,AND BOSQUE AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY WORK GOING ON OR RAIL OR NEW TIES IN THE AREA,MAYBE IN THE FAL



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/21/25 20:58 by copcars.

copcars Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> UPRR SUNSET ROUTE    DOUBLE TRACKING  THEY ARE
> SET TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN SP841 PIEDRI AND SP845
> THEBES.AS THE POSTER SAID ,2 YEARS AGO,THE LINE IS
> GRADED.NOW,WELDED RAIL IS ON THE GROUND AND AT
> THEBES THERE ARE 8 SPECIAL BUILTFLAT CARS WITH
> CONCRETE TIES,200 PER CAR.Each end of these are
> special cars to unload ties ,i think they run on a
> guide on top of cars to unload them.SURFACING
> EQUIPMENT IS AT THEBES ALSO.NEW SIGNALS ARE
> INSTALLED AT SP841 ,BUT ARE TURNED SIDEWAYS .
>  BASE FOR NEW CROSSING GATES ARE AT THE ONE
> CROSSING BETWEEN THEM.THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT 4 MILES
> OF NEW TRACK AND A SIDING LENGTH AROUND 9 MILES.
>  THIS WILL STILL LEAVE ABOUT 64 MILES OF SINGLE
> TRACK BETWEEN SP 876 ESTRELLA AND SP749 KINTER
> WHICH IS JUST EAST OF YUMA,AZ.
> I WENT BY SHAWMUT ,ESTRELLA,AND BOSQUE AND THERE
> WAS NO SIGN OF ANY WORK GOING ON OR RAIL OR NEW
> TIES IN THE AREA,MAYBE IN THE FALL.