Western Railroad Discussion > Trona, Cemex,USG questions

I have Thursday and Friday to explore before I head back to Illinois Saturday. If anyone has any good info on trona I would appreciate it greatly. Does the cemex Victorville operation still head to the mine in the morning and roll back about 11am? What would be the off day for US Gypsum where they only run the water car? Appreciate any help with these I am trying to scratch a few off my bucket list but obviously trona is number 1.
Thank you,
Randy Allard

Posted from Android

The Trona is possible but it's very much a turn up and see operation. After lunch is the best time generally, 1pm onwards. Turning up at Searles and seeing what's there can give clues. If there are loaded coal hoppers in the yard then something will probably be coming to collect them. Otherwise calling in at the office down at the plant might yield some info on the day's plans. If you wait up at Searles and a white Trona pick-up arrives you know that a train isn't far away.

Cemex Victorville does what you say, heads up to the mine around 8am, back at 10 or 11, then up again about 12-1pm and back 3-4pm, approx times obviously. There could be other runs such as coal also... Friday there could also be a loaded BNSF rock train (possibly in 2 halves) heading down to the mainline... 9-10am approx if it's still operating as it used to.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/25 13:51 by exhaustED.

Randy, the regular interchange freight typically goes out on Monday and Wednesday afternoons for UP to pick up Tuesdays and Thursdays with the LOP82 local. So Thursdays and Fridays tend to be a bit more random, as Ed says.

Thursday morning might see a decent shot at them working the plant in West End with some of what they've brought in from UP. Then they'll head on into the Trona plant. The gate into the plant was closed and locked by midday Friday when I was there, and that's a really bad sign for trains if you see that.

I'd put more weight into being there Thursday than Friday if you don't have specific info otherwise.

Mike Derrick

Posted from Android

exhaustED Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Trona is possible but it's very much a turn up
> and see operation. After lunch is the best time
> generally, 1pm onwards. Turning up at Searles and
> seeing what's there can give clues. If there are
> loaded coal hoppers in the yard then something
> will probably be coming to collect them. Otherwise
> calling in at the office down at the plant might
> yield some info on the day's plans. If you wait up
> at Searles and a white Trona pick-up arrives you
> know that a train isn't far away.

Has calling them actually worked before? I know alot of shortlines are a little private with official running hours for many reasons. Also does Trona do drop off/pick up? Do they take a loaded train from Trona proper and then drop it off at Searles AND pick up the loaded coal all in the same job? I have seen them on TO and on Youtube separate the jobs into two jobs where one is dropping off cars and then a light set goes and picks up loaded coal for Trona. 

Any additional information would be really helpful. 

BrandonRC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> exhaustED Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The Trona is possible but it's very much a turn
> up
> > and see operation. After lunch is the best time
> > generally, 1pm onwards. Turning up at Searles
> and
> > seeing what's there can give clues. If there
> are
> > loaded coal hoppers in the yard then something
> > will probably be coming to collect them.
> Otherwise
> > calling in at the office down at the plant
> might
> > yield some info on the day's plans. If you wait
> up
> > at Searles and a white Trona pick-up arrives
> you
> > know that a train isn't far away.
>
> Has calling them actually worked before? I know
> alot of shortlines are a little private with
> official running hours for many reasons. Also does
> Trona do drop off/pick up? Do they take a loaded
> train from Trona proper and then drop it off at
> Searles AND pick up the loaded coal all in the
> same job? I have seen them on TO and on Youtube
> separate the jobs into two jobs where one is
> dropping off cars and then a light set goes and
> picks up loaded coal for Trona. 
>

I called in at the office twice in the past and they told me the day's plan. Not sure if it helped having an English accent.... or not! 

In answer to your drop-off/pick-up question, yes they do that very often, at least 50% of the time I'd estimate.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/25 09:46 by exhaustED.

exhaustED Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I called in at the office twice in the past and
> they told me the day's plan. Noy sure if it helped
> having an English accent.... or not! 
>
> In answer to your drop-off/pick-up question, yes
> they do that very often, at least 50% of the time
> I'd estimate.

Thank you! I'll try and put on my best English accent lol.

BrandonRC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> exhaustED Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > I called in at the office twice in the past and
> > they told me the day's plan. Noy sure if it
> helped
> > having an English accent.... or not! 
> >
> > In answer to your drop-off/pick-up question,
> yes
> > they do that very often, at least 50% of the
> time
> > I'd estimate.
>
> Thank you! I'll try and put on my best English
> accent lol.

Lol, good luck, if you need any more info feel free to message.