So I'm watching a Charles Smiley video on westers shortlines and it includes a section on CORP. I'm reminded of something I've noticed before and never understood. They seem to run nothing but GP38s. The GP38 doesn't seem ideally suited to the nature of the line. I mean, SP put Tunnel motors and 45s on the line along with the old Caddies. It seems like classic 6 axle territory. I just can't believe CORP is getting the most efficient use of those 6 plus engines over the steep grades. The video is from 1997 and hearing all the positive aspects of the line and how they've taken so many trucks off the road and how many carloads they've carried and etc etc etc. Makes the current state just that much more depressing. Anyway, anyone know why the 38s?
"I just can't believe CORP is getting the most efficient use of those 6 plus engines over the steep grades." Maybe that's why they stopped service over the Siskiyous with the claim it was not profitable (using the 38s). Are GP38s the only, or at least the heaviest motive power that Rail America / CORP have?
Those GPs spent some time here in the flatlands around Globe/Miami on the Arizona Eastern, but are now gone, I believe.
I live next to the tracks in Central Point, and I'm ashamed to say I've been taking that for granted, lately - may not be current on CORP's schedule. I think what I'm looking at is MON-FRI Medford trains to/from White City, Grants Pass and Glendale. But what I see for sure is a bunch of SD45T-2s. Maybe even a SD40T-2? I still see the 38s, but unless it's my imagination, I'm seeing mostly tunnel motors. I'll pay more attention today. Scott
Maybe they just couldn't get anything six axle besides SD9s in the 90s? I was in Roseburg at Thanks giving and the pair at the station was GP38s. Also, where exactly does the Natron Cutoff and the Cascade line rejoin the Siskiyou? When we were heading to Portland over Thanksgiving, the only train I saw running was a long manifest with new UP power on the front, but we hadn't gotten to Eugene yet. We were south by about a half an hour. It was climbing up a steep grade to the east of I-5.
The two lines separate on the north at Springfield Junction and rejoin on the south end at Black Butte. The Siskiyou line is beset by steep grades tight curves and close clearances. The "Flares" on the SD45's at times would hit the sides of the tunnels. The Cascade line(Natron Cutoff) has easier grades but has several places where maintenance problems persist(slides)and is difficult to access except by rail. Oakridge is the base for most of the maintenance crews unless the Yello Peril has changed things.
OK, so looking at the map, there is no way that the Mixed Manifest I saw was on any tracks other than CORP. But like I said, I saw nothing but ACes and GEVOS in Armor yellow on the train. Does UP run through anything south from Eugene on the Siskiyou line?
Both western Oregon regionals (Portland & Western and CORP) interchange traffic with UP in the Eugene yard. In exchange for pre-blocking all interchange traffic, UP provides the regionals with motive power for some of their trains. CORP uses the UP power to handle their trains between Roseburg and Eugene, which would be the train you saw. PNWR uses the UP power provided to them to haul trains back and forth on trackage rights over UP's Valley main between Eugene and Albany. The entire trains- locomotives and all- are then interchanged between UP and the regionals in Eugene. I wonder if the curvature over Siskiyou Summit played a major role in CORP's decision to use 4-axle units. The line can handle six axle power- as decades of SP operating practices show- but using four axle units will substantially reduce rail wear and thus long term track maintenance costs. Whether the additional capital and operating costs of using a third more locomotives and fuel to move the same tonnage balanced against accelerated rail wear and replacement costs takes a much sharper pencil than I have right now. Jeff Moore Elko, NV
Ive seen at least six 6-axle units at Medford last time up. Three tunnel motors and what I would call SD40-3s. These three SD40-3s are, and have been for years, wearing HLCX markings and paint. Not sure if they run over the hill but I used to catch a couple in Weed every so often.
Well, like I said, this video was from the late 90s and it didn't show any 6 axle power on the hill. They did mention that the flares scraped the tunnels especially tunnel 13. Like I said, it was pretty depressing to watch all the excitment about the service then and the potential revenue. They seemed generally excited by their connection to Railtex and their potential as a line.
