Delores, Califonia

[Dash]

I was railfanning the old Delores Yard, and have noticed many changes that UP is making to the yard. they are installing fuel tanks, have taken out the loading dock, and have rearanged the yard. The tracks leading the the yard are now set up as a model railroader would set them up, and a new locomotive maintnence facility is being built. Lots of stuff going on.

Cya down the line!

Dash
Dashtrak.com (http://www.dashtrak.com)

[watash]

U.P.must be a secret member of TrainBoard and have been paying attention to Our Layout plans and advice. They are getting smart, now that they know who to ask to make their railroad run like it should. You know me I'll give advice to anyone, Rule281 said I should give "How To" tips on 1'=1' gauge. Well!!

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Watash #982 http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/092.gif

[Mankind]

Ah, Dolores...one of my favorite photo spots! I've also noticed the changes UP has been making to SP's Long Beach Dolores Yard. A lot of it has to do with Alameda Corridor construction, and with improvements to unit maintenance. Before, the most Dolores could do was basic cleaning, fuel, water, lube, light repair, and brakeshoe changeout. Anything heavier, and the unit had to be sent to the LA Taylor Yard facility. It looks like the new "shed" they are putting up at Dolores will be able to handle slightly more involved repairs, and provide shelter while they're doing it. Things are changing in the Long Beach harbor area daily; every time I go down there, I wonder where the next detour will be! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif Friends I have that work for UP, and work at Dolores tell me the new track arrangements can be confusing!

The Taylor engine facility is living on borrowed time; when I got a tour of it a few months ago, the tourgiver indicated UP plans to build a heavy repair facilty at SP's West Colton Yard, and shut down Taylor. Taylor will probably be around another 4-5 years, tops. As always, SP fans, enjoy the SP while it's still here. I saw my first SP patch job last night, a patched SP SD40M-2...now that was a depressing sight! http://www.trainboard.com/frown.gif Here's something from a couple years ago, a pic I took of one of SP's SD39's when they worked at Dolores; the unit was parked just north of the overpass in front of the yard office. It and the GP40-2 it was coupled to were assigned to switch ICTF. All the SP SD39's are off the active roster. This and many other great pics can be found on Richard Percy's excellent SP Modeler's Site, http://espee.railfan.net.
http://espee.railfan.net/jpgs/paul_ellis/paul_ellis_sp-sd39-5316.jpg

Paul #3

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http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/042.gif
Have A Nice Day!

[This message has been edited by Mankind (edited 11 December 2000).]

[DaveCN5710]

Mankind , looks great , I like that picture , it looks MEAN :mad: :D

[SP 8299]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Davecn5623:
Mankind , looks great , I like that picture , it looks MEAN :mad: :D<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

LOL...Glad you like the pic Dave, I loved watching the SD39's, and I guess they do look kinda mean. :D They sure sounded mean, too, especially when SP assigned a pair of them back-to-back to switch ICTF. Nothing quite like the sound of turbo'ed 12-645s straining to pull a long cut of loaded well cars! The bass they gave off was enough to rattle the windows and and mirrors on my truck, as well as my ribcage!

Paul #3

[SP 8299]

Here ya go, Dave...another "mean" shot of SP 5316, this time shoving cars across Sepulveda Blvd., at the south end of Dolores Yard. These things look cool coming or going...

http://espee.railfan.net/jpgs/paul_ellis/paul_ellis_sp-sd39-5316a.jpg

Enjoy. smile.gif

Paul #3

[ 01 March 2001: Message edited by: Mankind ]

[Craig Martyn]

Great picture Paul! It looks like the rear headlights are on???!?!?! Also, note the rear mounted brake wheel (thats one of the parts I make :D).

[SP 8299]

Glad you like the pic, Craig. Yep, his rear headlights were on since it was the only unit assigned to switch that day(can't remember which job), and had a bunch of moves to make in either direction. He had pulled a cut of cars clear of a switch, and had just started shoving on them when I took the pic; guess he didn't bother to kill the rear light! That rear mount brake wheel is a neat feature all of the SP SD39's had....10 of their SD40's had it, too. :D

Paul #3

[DaveCN5710]

Great shots Paul , I see that 5316 has no ditch lights ?

[SP 8299]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DaveCN5623:
Great shots Paul , I see that 5316 has no ditch lights ?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yep...it didn't get ditch lights until really late in its service on SP/UP; in fact, not too long after it got them, it was retired! By that late date, the SD39's were pretty much relegated to heavy switching service, so installing ditch lights on it wasn't a very high priority.

Paul #3

[Colonel]

Great picture i also notice a fault with a certain piece of equipment can anybody pick it? It is not necessarily on the locomotive smile.gif

[John Nutt]

Well Colonel, is it the bent crossing light head with no shade?

[Colonel]

You got it in one John,