WP/SN GE 44 Tonners @ Turlock Western?

[WPZephyrFan]

I was down in the Modesto/Turlock area visiting my kids a couple of weekends ago. My ex and I took a drive to Turlock from Newman (where she lives) down some backroads when we came across a facility that had a large number of locos stored, including two orange and silver GE 44 ton locomotives. The facility was marked as the Turlock and Western. Anyone have any other info?

[Greg Elems]

They are the only industry on the TS Chemergic Branch. We used to run down and spot the cars but after they bought a few engines all we would do is spot them across the road and they would come and get them. Or we would go down and get the empties they pushed across the road. I don't remember taking loads down and bringing back empties on the same trip after they started spotting their cars. It's been six yrs since I've been down there. Do they still have the UP caboose and yellow Baldwin switcher? They did a very nice job painting the 44tonners in silver and orange.

Greg Elems

[BoxcabE50]

I've never heard of Turlock & Western. Possibly because it's a non-common carrier? Any chance you could catch a photo next trip?

:D

Boxcab E50

[John Barnhill]

From what I understand, Chemurgic Chemical owns the Turlock Western. I had heard one of the 44tonners #25 had gone to display in Tempe,Arizona but recent reports state they are both still there.
Here is a recent report on what locos are currently at Chemurgic I got in an email:
sp gp9 3771 with blk roof white sides with red strip owned by foster farms
sp sd9er 4409 fully restored operational
turlock western 44 tonners 25 ,26 both painted in wp colors , operational
union pacific caboose 25696
sp sd7er 1533 needs work but operational , private owners
sp sd9er 4401 needs work operational private owners
sp sd9er4371 needs work operational privte owners
central california traction gp18 1795 needs work private owners
sp gp40-2 7632 needs worked on private owners
up sd-40-2 3913 needs worked on , private owners
santa fe alco s1 1518 needs work on private owners still in original colors
bugx 621 poss,a sw7or9
bnsf 1331 x santa fe still in original color
bnsf 1322 x santa fe still in original colors both run perfect
bnsf 1628 gp9 x np 337
spmw 7468 firefighting tankcar operational , private owners
bugx1302 came from one ofthe sugar plants here in california
spmw 7032 ex baggage car in green silver apint scheme private owners
turlock western baldwin s12 #17 also private , needs lot of work but still runs

you can see sp 4409 on Shasta rails (http://www.shastarails.com/home/home.asp), the reason why theres no lettering or number is because union pacific wont let them put it on .
Unfortunately I havn't made any of my recently planned trips to Turlock to verify the list.
Heres a couple pics for you all:
http://ncespee.railfan.net/Foothill/images/tw17b.jpg
http://ncespee.railfan.net/Foothill/images/tw25a.jpg
http://ncespee.railfan.net/Foothill/images/tw26.jpg

[John Barnhill]

Oh and heres my roster info:
Turlock Western
#17 (http://ncespee.railfan.net/Foothill/images/tw17.html) S-12 Baldwin #76091 1955
ex US Steel #17,
nee Armco Steel #1200,
nee Armco Steel #706
#25 (http://ncespee.railfan.net/Foothill/images/tw25.html) 44Ton GE #28339 1946
ex Stockton Terminal & Eastern #25,
nee CCT #25
#26 (http://ncespee.railfan.net/Foothill/images/tw26.jpg) 44Ton GE #30465 1950
nee Stockton Terminal & Eastern #569,
nee Stauffer Chemical,
nee International Mineral & Chemical,
nee Federal Iron & Metal,
nee PFE #1:2,
nee Pine Flat Dam Const #2851,
nee Pine Flat Dam Const #30465

[WPZephyrFan]

Boxcab, I really wish I had a camera on me that day. I wasn't driving and we went down so many two lane roads I can't remember how we got there! (and, I'm a truck driver!)
John, thanks for the photos. I'm pretty sure there were two GE's there. Maybe some weekend soon, I'll go exploring out that way again.

[BoxcabE50]

Boxcab, I really wish I had a camera on me that day.

Yup. Almost guaranteed- No camera= You'll see something.....

:sad:

Boxcab E50

[WPZephyrFan]

Yep, this is the part of the program where I kick myself for NOT getting a cell with a camera!