Western Railroad Discussion > Around Palm Springs (Southern California)

I made a quick visit to the Inland Empire in early December.

I did my usual drive on I-10 to randomly hunt trains, and spotted an eastbound Z. I guessed that good winter morning light might be available near Palm Springs, but that was almost 40 miles away.

I drove ahead and spotted a westbound Long Beach bound stacker coming my way, so I made a meet out of it, first clip, against the light.

Rather than head past the Amtrak Station (Rimlon) to nab the Z at track speed for a shorter video, I was curious about the progress of the Indian Canyon Rd. widening project, so I went the Amtrak station to nab the 4x2x0 Z - sorry for the longer video, but the light was darned good there. Entire train is shown.

(more next)

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

I documented a somewhat unique angle near the Palm Springs Amtrak about 5 months ago (first video) Train + Depot + Windmills:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,6060115

It was possible (without a drone), thanks to the Indian Canyon Rd. Widening Project. The new road to the west was not finished yet, so I used that to get the angle. No more. That section is finished, so where I stood, I'd be run over by cars now.

After I nabbed the eastbound Z, I kept mental note of the project's progress, then continued east toward Indio, even if I knew I couldn't beat the Z until I reached the Salton Sea. Well, sh*t can happen...

I've learned to enjoy loitering in Indio for several reasons. I can park close enough to the tracks, then get quickly out of the car to document a train going in either direction. Westbound signals are visible, and by deduction, I can anticipate eastbounds - I can often pick up the hotbox detector 2.5 miles away to the west.

Caveat is that it's far enough from I-10 that it takes several miles to catch up to a train.

The eastbound Z was long gone, but I expected the typical late morning Sunday parade (2 or more), and the 2nd one showed up (4x2x0), with a quick honk from the K3HL on the C6044AC (or C4460AC) leader. Thanks for the half "highball the foamer," this video:

(more next)

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Another reason I like loitering in Indio is that due to the potential "train congestion" caused by single track + sidings ~10 miles east between Thermal and Salton on the Yuma Sub, there's potential for more radio chatter between Dispatcher 244 and the trains.

And I heard a potential meet (at Mecca) before the 2nd Z showed up. So I correctly waited for a westbound, confirmed by the signals.

The westbound was another Long Beach bound stacker, but I made the mistake of not identifying the SD70AH-T4 leader quickly enough, so I didn't document it at Indio.

Well a non-Z train is a turtle to me, so I was under no stress when I got stuck behind traffic before I got back on I-10 to chase this westbound.

I didn't scout it, but the old section of Indian Canyon Rd. was still standing (but closed off) when I drove by earlier. I estimated I had plenty of time to find a parking spot and walk there to nab this westbound. I've been wanting this angle for a very long time, but due to lack of drone and for safety reasons, I never tried it... until now.

That's the third video, and I got a well-timed surprise meet with a MWCEC (eastbound to El Centro). Entire stacker is not shown - I cut it short after the mid-train DPUs... otherwise, the video would have been 8+ minutes long.

That's it for the report.

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Nice series of videos!  I think the second video is superb timing....

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

Very interesting views.  I vividly recall seeing a passenger with suitcase standing forlornly at the Palm Springs station while our Sunset Limited passed on the main without stopping early last year (there was a recent TO thread about this issue).

Why was the passenger siding roadbed evidently designed differently from the mains that makes it vulnerable to obstructive sand buildup (assuming that UP has little trouble keeping the mains clear)?

Thanks!
Oliver Barrett

Agree.  Good timing on the meet.  All nice videos.  It's nice to see an update on the Sunset Route; haven't been out there for several years now.

Andy

ShoreLineRoute Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Very interesting views.  I vividly recall seeing
> a passenger with suitcase standing forlornly at
> the Palm Springs station while our Sunset Limited
> passed on the main without stopping early last
> year (there was a recent TO thread about this
> issue).
>
> Why was the passenger siding roadbed evidently
> designed differently from the mains that makes it
> vulnerable to obstructive sand buildup (assuming
> that UP has little trouble keeping the mains
> clear)?
>
> Thanks!
> Oliver Barrett

The recent TO thread ( https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,6109284 ) includes my story and picture on the PS platform early on the morning of June 19 last year. Sand is piled high and into the passenger shelter. When the train arrived, the conductor told us to wait and he would move the train so as to have us not wade through sand drifts a couple of feet high to board our car!
 

Yes, I remember that, very impressive!
Oliver Barrett

Cumbresfan Wrote:
> The recent TO thread (
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
> 6109284 ) includes my story and picture on the PS
> platform early on the morning of June 19 last
> year. Sand is piled high and into the passenger
> shelter. When the train arrived, the conductor
> told us to wait and he would move the train so as
> to have us not wade through sand drifts a couple
> of feet high to board our car!
>  

Fine report, and nice videos to accompany!
GK

Excellent work as always!

Great videos Charles.  Nothing quite like the crisp, sunny, winter skies in December thru February in our California deserts.

Rich