UP trackage rights on BNSF Stockton Sub

[BCAmtrak]

Does anyone have any ideas why UP runs trains on the Stockton Sub between Stockton and Port Chicago (San Francisco Bay Area)

[Maxwell Plant]

My guess would be trackage rights granted from the BN-ATSF and UP-SP mergers.

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Brent Tidaback, Member #234
BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot!
"Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!"
The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF

[BCAmtrak]

Why! I know that UP uses the BNSF lines when rheir lines are under repair

[BarstowRick]

Trains magazine as recently as a year ago published an article on this subject. Now it would be a terrible thing for me to have to sit down and go through all my Trains magazines to find it...grin. Trains website may have a search engine that would help.

In the meantime here is my best recollection.

WP had tracks into the Port of Chicago accessed by a train car ferry. For reasons unknown to this railfan the WP ceased it's operations via the Sacramento Northern into the port. An agreement with AT&SF secured trackage rights and the WP continued to service the port.

I believe the switching of the port was done by a WP subsidiary that is still provding said services...but don't quote me on that.

Stockton is becoming a major player as a port of entry. Expect bigger and better things in that arena. I understand the port authorities, civil authorities and the railroads are working out some sort of arrangement.

I hope this helps.