Western Railroad Discussion > Triple Track Mainline on the Needles Sub Between Goffs and Needle

Railfanning the triple track section between Goffs (MP 609.1) and Needles (MP 578.0) on the Needles Sub is quite active. The project was completed last winter and BNSF wasted no time in utilizing all three tracks into its operations. Common sights are trains overtaking one another in both directions, a third track utilized to store trains when traffic gets a little congested during crew changes in Needles, and an occasional view of three trains passing by similtaneously. If you are new to the area, trackside viewing of trains is easy while following old Route 66 between Goffs and the Highway 95 crossing at West Ibis. Traveling east, access to East Ibis and three other spots between there and Kleindorfer (where the fruit stand is) is easy by just following the dirt roads to trackside. Camping in the desert is worthwhile and the scenery quite diverse with great telephotos possible. In the third photo is a westbounder snaking around the S-curve beginning at East Ibis looking west. This is a great place for roster shots. The middle photo is the final application of ballast after a tracklaying along a mainline segment. Tracks are then lifted, aligned and ballast tamped. In the top photo, ties are being transferred from the flacars to the roadbed in a continuous motion at the speed of a man's slow walk. The trolley is continuous transferring cement ties onto the conveyor and is interesting to watch. Will send along more scenic views later on...Going east to Summit, note that third track construction has begun in places, most notable where the deep cut is located just east of there. Perhaps see you there - Robert C. Del Grosso  

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I wonder how long until they add a fourth mainline track on the Route?

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

GP25 Wrote:
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> I wonder how long until they add a fourth mainline
> track on the Route?

Probably that won't happen, but there's talk of a third main between Daggett and Ash Hill (Klondike).

I'm definitely going to have to venture out there again sometime.

T.C.

They seem to be only adding the third main where the grades make a bottleneck.