The UP's Coast Line has experienced a "sinkhole" near Santa Barbara which has shut down the line to through traffic indefinitely. A strange twist of fate had the San Ardo/Wunpost to Long Beach "Oil Cans" unit oil train detour North to Sacramento, then South down the Valley and over Tehachapi. For those of you who don't already know, the SP/UP ran an identical train between Bakersfield and Long Beach over Tehachapi between 1983 and the mid 1990's. Seeing the train today brought back memories for me, as I remember watching the "Cans" back in the mid 1980's when I was a mere teenager. I have added a new gallery to my website with photos of the detoured train taken today. Here is a sample: If you would like to see the other photos, please visit my website. I hope you enjoy them. ------------------ Kevin Stevens www.trainweb.org/KernJunction
Kevin, love the pictures can you explain what a sinkhole is? Thanks ------------------ http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tunnel88: Interestinb bit of info there... Looks like that consist was led by one of them SD75MACs... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I didn't post the picture, but I can tell you it's an SD9043MAC. UP doesn't own any SD75s, but is in the process of getting 1000 SD70s, all with DC traction motors. It IS a nice shot. We get a few of those 9043MACs over here in Grand Junction, mixed in with all the AC4400Ws on the coal trains. ------------------ Ship IT on the Frisco! Bob T. http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html
Another great set of pics. Kevin. You are a lucky blighter living in such an interesting place!! (Except for the heat ) ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery Alan's European Gallery Alan's British Steam Gallery
Kevin,I added your link to my website Colonel ------------------ http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
The joke about the consist being led by an SD75MAC was a reference to a line by a UP engineer who referred to the 9043 as an SD75MAC until it's re-engined... BTW the SD89MAC is basically identical to the SD90MAC-H carbody... Concerning those SD70Ms has anyone ever seen a UP train recently running flags? Why do they still got the multiflag holders?
How many "cans" are hung on the back of those locomotives. If we ever ran anything that big over here, the signal centre (dispatchers to you) would have a major fit and be off sick for a month Great picture though Ron Rio Grande, Railroad through the Rockies.
They sure run some longs consists in the US, here in Aus (in Sydney) the maimum length is approx 1300 metres but will soon be increasing too 1600 metres (1 mile) this will mean increasing some loops etc. ------------------ http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Colonel: Kevin, love the pictures can you explain what a sinkhole is? Thanks <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Paul, a sinkhole is where the ground gives way and "drops out." I can't comment on what they are like in California as I have no information on that. In the Missouri Ozarks sinkholes are fairly common. I remember one on a farm just down the road from my grandfather's farm when I was growing up. There was a hole about 30 feet across and about 50 feet deep that just appeared overnight. They hauled in several truckloads of dirt to fill it up. I was by there just last year and it is still visible. The biggest sinkhole I have ever seen is called "The Devils Den" by the locals and is just outside of Fordland, Missouri. It dropped out over 100 years ago and is at least 50 yards across and probably a couple of hundred feet deep. I have always been fascinated by things like that and there are a lot of sinkholes in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas. You wouldn't to build your house on the spot where one occured. Charlie ------------------ Ship It On The FRISCO! | IAMOKA.com
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>How many "cans" are hung on the back of those locomotives.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I believe the pictured train consisted of 78 cars which weighs in at about 10,000 tons. For those of you unfamiliar with the "Oil Cans" trainsets, they are specially designed with hoses connecting the cars in groups of 13 cars each (to facilitate quick loading and unloading. The original trains back in 1983 were 66 cars (11 car sets), but in recent years have run as long as 84 cars (14 car sets). This characteristic makes this operation a little more unique than a unit tank car train. Thanks for answering the sinkhole question, E-8. You are right, they are not common in California. When they do happen here, the cause is usually man-made (like ruptured underground pipelines). No word on what caused this one yet. ------------------ Kevin Stevens www.trainweb.org/KernJunction
Kevin Thanks for that bit of information. "Sink Holes" are practically unknown as such over here. We do get problems around the coal mining areas with subsidence. The major problem that we suffer with are what we call "Wet Patches", where poorly drained sections of track cause water to perculate up to track level with the continous vibration of use. Then the ballast becomes like mud and starts to sink. Recently, because of the rain we've been having, there seems to be a lot of them, I know because it keeps throwing my tea or coffee off the control desk of the trains I work on. Ron Rio Grande - Railroad thru the Rockies.
ron, I'd have to say that poor drainage is a problem across all rail networks. Here in Sydney this is a very common occurrence due to lack of drainage. Once a hole occurs it requires track reconditioning and new drainage.
I was going to ask all these questions, but you answered it? " I saw a UP what appeared to be the Gatx Tank Train with hoses connecting cars on top? I believe it was around 65 cars with 3 engines. My questions are when does it run? Is it a special thing or does it run only certain times a month?/year? Did I see a smaller version of this? Is it alot bigger than this? etc. Thanks in advance! " I saw it pass through Suisun, CA and thought there were about 65 cars I counted. Thanks again and God Bless! Dave
