Nostalgia & History > A West Valley memory

A EUWCQ starts its trip down the West Valley Line at Tehama, California back in September of 1992.

Adam

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Super shot and beautiful countryside, great railroad and really nice boxes

Great shot !
Gary

Excellent.
JB

Would it turn right or left at Davis?

Nice location with the foothills in the background. Most West Valley locations show horizons only even though it's a valley.
t4p.

Great shot, good memories there!

Larry

Great location you dont find many West Valley photos.

Robert Morris
Dunsmuir, CA
Robert Morris Photography

Nice shot Adam.  Graffiti free too.

Kent in CArmel Valley

timz Wrote:
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> Would it turn right or left at Davis?

Most likely right, to Oakland.

billmeeker Wrote:
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> timz Wrote:
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> > Would it turn right or left at Davis?
>
> Most likely right, to Oakland.
 
Probably would turn left and go to Elvas Tower where it would turn right, stop at the steps for a crew change and continue down the Valley.
Going to Oakland would have required a Cal-P crew to be deadheaded from Roseville to Davis to meet the train.  That crew would only work the 70 some odd miles to Oakland and be paid for a hundred, where it would be replaced with a crew to SLO. Then another crew change at SLO to LA, followed by another in LA for the 57 miles to Colton.

Via the Valley, the crew at Elvas takes it to Bakersfield where the second crew takes it to WC.
G

I always felt a little uneasy sitting up on the overpass as cars and trucks went whizzing by at 60 mph.

Jan Austin
Chico, CA
J.G. Austin Photography

Was Watsonville a crew change point for Coast line trains, then SLO?  Or was the longer run to SLO how it always was?

If the UP ever wanted to run FAST TOFC trains between the Bay Area and Portland/Seattle, this line would be the way to do it.  The line is still intact, still flat and fast.  For the UP, after diverging at Davis, it could be 70 mph running almost the entire way.  The line is just waiting for fast trains again...until then, CAL NORTHERN is doing a super job generating LOTS of carload traffic along the line, with new (mostly ag) businesses locating along it every year.  Lots of boxcar freight (tomato plants), hoppers, tanks, flats, etc.----very healthy (but slower speed) business going on these days.  Agriculturally, the West Valley is booming with farmland prices high, and production growing.

Just happened to be in the area today so drove into Tehama, this appears to be the overpass for Gyle road with the rear end of the train still on the wye. The background is very recognizable and yes there's a few trees that have grown along the ballast on the far side, impinging on the view of the foothills. Today the west leg of the wye seems to be clear with the south leg fading into vegetation. There is a metal red 'flag' immediately south of the grade crossing that connects with the the four way stop in town, the wye switch being immediately north of the pavement.