According to a Wharton Journal Spectator article dated 11/12, they have stopped two miles south of Hungerford and will not proceed further until 2009. However, as of that date, they were one mile north of Telferner, proceeding at three miles a week, projecting a mid-April finish meeting near El Campo, running trains by May 1.
Signaling? I have followed the progress of the "Macaroni Line" on this website and other websites. I have one question, though: when this line is complete, will it be signaled? I would guess it will either be CTC or dark territory TWC. If they are putting in the concrete ties and heavier rail, though, it almost screams for something more than 49 mph TWC.
I was forwarded an email that said that the intermodal yard is now open. I haven't see or heard this anywhere else. Anybody know? I may have to make a trip down there this weekend to see for myself...
KCS is now listing container trains between Laredo and Rosenberg. They have to still go through Flatonia but they are using the new yard.
I'll see what I can do on Friday. KCS is ramping up for through trains on May 1. They are concerned about the safety issues with trains having not run there in years. Along with Operation Life Saver, they are trying to get the message out. I am scheduled to give Operation Life Saver presentations all Friday at one of the elementary schools in Edna starting at 8:00AM. It will still be dark when I drive by the yard on my way but should still be light on my way home. I am scheduling more as we are trying to hit all the schools before trains start blasting through in May. OL is also training more presenters at a session in El Camp the last week of February.
OK the yard is not much yet. More like a team track where they can unload to or load from trucks. The tracks are down to Hillje just west of El Camp on the west side of the line and as far as Hungerford just east of Wharton on the east side of the line. Ballast is down almost to Hungerford on the east end but only to Louise on the west end. Right of way is cleared between the track ends but still working on a few small bridges, trestles and culverts and the big Colorado River bridge. Still a lot of grading and sub roadbed to prepair. Where the ballast is down between Edna and Louise and Kendleton and Hungerford, it still needs tamping, leveling and contouring. More photos at the end of my Album.
Have they had, or will they have, a dedication ceremony for their new yard? If not yet, a future photo op? Boxcab E50
This was a cool operation to watch. The ties are picked up 20 at a time by the trolley hoist. It then rolls along the rails attached to the sides of the flat cars up to the tie laying machine. At the front end it drops the ties on a conveyor that feeds them down and inserts them under the rails that it has lifted. The rail is then feed down and clipped onto the ties. The whole rig is pulled along by at Caterpillar type tug that crawls along on the sub roadbed between the welded rail.
Sort of a Golden Spike ceremony. We could all meet there and have one ourselves. Unofficial, of course. I guess it would be in Victoria? We could meet anywhere along the line. I would hope to see a few trains.
Maybe I'll finally get to see some activity on that line, other than the construction work. We should be coming through headed back south around the middle of May. Ed .
I made a trip to El Campo today for some business I had to take care of. They had rail laid approximately three miles past the Colorado river bridge at Wharton and about 12 miles left to complete the rail to El Campo.
I always love watching that track equipment. We don't often get to see new construction. Hoping to see some new progress photos soon! Boxcab E50
At 1:30 pm today Kansas City Southern drove the gold spike on the Macaroni line at T&NO Milepost 37.6 (from Rosenberg) just north of El Campo. Still ballasting and tamping to go but it is solid rail from Rosenberg to Victoria again.
