Nostalgia & History > More SP Sugar Beet Trains Filmed By Tony Johnson, 1980's 90's

1. 4/14/87 E/B Loads at Elkhorn Slough, California
2. 11/4/86 Mainline switching. Road power pushing empties to beet loader at Cooper,2 miles away while pulling it's own train.
3. 4/10/89 e/b loads at Spence then pacing train.
4. 4/10/89 Gonzales
5. 3/28/90 E/B at Spence
6. 3/28/90 entering the tunnel at Metz

Tony Johnson videos.

Regards, Jim Evans

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Great video ! Amazed the beets were running 70 mph ! The trains were a rule 33 train that restricted the maximum speed to 45 mph due to the tons per operate brake was over 80 tons per car. The cars usually weighed between 100 and 120 tons a piece. The beet cars had the old brass bearings with oil filled journals.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/19 17:26 by SanJoaquinEngr.

Thanks Jim and thanks Tony.  Being originally from California and seeing the trains many times, I have often wondered what happened to the sugar beet industry in the state.  As for as SP hauling, the old wooden cars were in bad shape but as I recall some modified hoppers were used near the end of rail haul.  Not only did the rail haul die, but the industry seems to be gone also.  At one time there were processing plants from Hamilton City to the Imperial Valley.  Now there may be one  only in the Imperial Valley - I'm not sure.  What was the primary reason the rail haul endend and what caused what appears to be the collapse of the industry in Southern Oregon and Northern California? .  TomE

SanJoaquinEngr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great video ! Amazed the beets were running 70
> mph ! The trains were a rule 33 train that
> restricted the maximum speed to 45 mph due to the
> tons per operate brake was over 80 tons per car.
> The cars usually weighed between 100 and 120 tons
> a piece. The beet cars had the old brass bearings
> with oil filled journals.
>
> Posted from Android

SP put a restriction on how much they could load into he cars in the 90s. 70K max because they were falling apart. Still speed was suppose to be 40 MPH for them, but back in the eighties, they could go 55

Steamman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks Jim and thanks Tony.  Being originally
> from California and seeing the trains many times,
> I have often wondered what happened to the sugar
> beet industry in the state.  As for as SP
> hauling, the old wooden cars were in bad shape but
> as I recall some modified hoppers were used near
> the end of rail haul.  Not only did the rail haul
> die, but the industry seems to be gone also.  At
> one time there were processing plants from
> Hamilton City to the Imperial Valley.  Now there
> may be one  only in the Imperial Valley - I'm not
> sure.  What was the primary reason the rail haul
> endend and what caused what appears to be the
> collapse of the industry in Southern Oregon and
> Northern California? .  TomE

Long answer : do a TO archieve search about beet trains and you'll find the answer

https://www.farmprogress.com/bitter-challenges-await-california-sugar-beets

I am the only one on the board who has heard of Google? This is the third post (amd last) I have made on inquiries tonight.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

Cool video.  Brings back memories!

Our Family grew Beets in the Dixon Ca. area and the main reason for the collapse was the sugar industry went Off shore. Sugar Cane was much cheaper off shore as labor cost was lower. The Cane industry also collapsed in Hawaii as well.