Western Railroad Discussion > Richmond, CA: Home to EMD Switchers

GP60s are switchers these days, right? Here's some pictures of BNSF 170 which is assigned ot the auto yard in Richmond along Canal St. It was running with another unit for a while but now is handling the autoracks all by its lonesome. Also, some pictures of Richmond Pacific's #11, a SW1200. These were taken over the past two weeks. 

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#11 shoving some tank cars toward that Burger King on Cutting Blvd. 

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Pulling cars from the Cemex facility. 

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Also, this one. 

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Interesting bunch. The auto jobs were MY least favorite of all jobs worked on the railroad as you always had to use air which meant no kicking and a LOT of back and forth. Especially with knucklehead help that failed to think ahead and left every move just in the clear which meant you had to go to a hook, cut in the air, shove one car, etc, instead of shoving in a couple cars and leaving room for the next one or two cars. Anyway   .   .   .
JB

Richmond Pacific 11 was rebuilt by BN from an 1000 HP NW2 to what they called a 1200 HP NW12. 

Pic 5 is one of my favorites!!

Keep in mind the auto job is a scab outfit that uses a FNBS locomotive...

phthithu Wrote:
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> GP60s are switchers these days, right? Here's some
> pictures of BNSF 170 which is assigned ot the auto
> yard in Richmond along Canal St. It was running
> with another unit for a while but now is handling
> the autoracks all by its lonesome.

Much better than the NRE Gensets that handled this before!

badman Wrote:
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> phthithu Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > GP60s are switchers these days, right? Here's
> some
> > pictures of BNSF 170 which is assigned ot the
> auto
> > yard in Richmond along Canal St. It was running
> > with another unit for a while but now is
> handling
> > the autoracks all by its lonesome.
>
> Much better than the NRE Gensets that handled this
> before!

To BNSF if it has four axles it's a switcher.

Thank you for the great set of photos. Question. Approximately what days and time of day is the Richmond Pacific switcher on duty. I seem to miss it for some reason. Thanks again. I really enjoyed your photos.

Posted from iPhone

6432 Wrote:
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> Thank you for the great set of photos. Question.
> Approximately what days and time of day is the
> Richmond Pacific switcher on duty. I seem to miss
> it for some reason. Thanks again. I really enjoyed
> your photos.
>
> Posted from iPhone

I know they run weekdays. My observations probably not too helpful. I see them 8am area, noonish, and then 6pm onward. There are two jobs. One works the area out by the UP main and the Chevron transfer yard. That's called out yard. Then there's an in yard which you see around the Levin Terminal area and the adjacent yards. Not sure who goes to BNSF interchange or when that happens. I saw them interchanging around 730pm a couple weeks ago before the time change. 

Also, sometimes around noon the UP's YOA78 shows up to interchange at Stege but I guess it can also happen earlier or later in afternoon. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/24 15:44 by phthithu.

Very nice series!