This afternoon I visited the UP Yard at Avondale, Louisiana, across the Mississsippi River from New Orleans, at the foot of the Huey P. Long bridge. Normally I would have posted these photos on the UP Forum, but I think they are of more general interest to Modelers and Foamers alike. This is the yard control tower. Avondale looks to be a fairly large yard, serving UP (ex-SP and ex-MP), BNSF (ex-Frisco?), and New Orleans Public Belt, owner of the Huey P. Long bridge. This is a "real" engine repair facility. This ain't what Cornerstone, Atlas, and others would have us believe a repair facility should look like. There were a few "dead" engines next to the repair facility. This is a B30-7 that needs a bunch of TLC! Behind the "30" is a GP38-2L. Dunno what the "L" stands for .... ? And behind the "38" is this GE unit. It had no model designation, but the snub short hood and the oversize radiator might indicate a very tired U36B. And this is the Avondale car repair facility. Again, it looks nothing like any product that Cornerstone or Atlas markets, but I guess it gets the job done. [ 22. July 2002, 01:27: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
Great photos Hank keep them coming. I especially enjoy all the infrastructure rather than just locomotives
Dude! I used to live in New Orleans and I had passed the Huey P Long bridge many, many times! Of course, back then I was not into trains If you got any pics while the train is coming over the bridge, can you send me some or post some here for others to see? [ 24. July 2002, 16:44: Message edited by: ROMAFERN ]
Frisco never went to New Orleans, so my guess is that BNSF has trackage rights (much like the haulage rights they enjoy on UP from Denver to Stockton, CA on the UP). That last UP unit looks more like a B23-7 . It's ex- Missouri Pacific, and IMHO looked better in the Jenks blue. It definitely looks rode hard & put up wet, as does that SP unit! Must be local power...... And I was puzzled by a locomotive that looked very much like that 2537 you shot- the one I saw was at east Yard in Grand Junction. From what I cal tell, it looks like one of those GP40s UP converted (or had converted) to a GP38. The telling clue is the three fans above the radiator. This sounds like a job for Jim Harrawood ..... Great shots, Hank- keep 'em coming! [ 25. July 2002, 03:23: Message edited by: friscobob ]
There are two distinct main line routes leaving Avondale Yard to the west. One is the ex-SP Sunset Route (ex-T&NO), and I assume the other is ex-MP that goes up the west side of the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge. I was guessing about the Frisco .... BNSF took over ownership of the Sunset Route between New Orleans and the Houston area when UP absorbed SP. UP still has trackage rights on the Sunset Route. There were no BNSF engines at Avondale, just UP, SP, and CSX.
I think you're close on the UP 220. Note the widening of the hood just forwaerd of the stack. THis is to allow the oil cooler to be installed on a tilt for better drainage and is a feature of the DASH-7 line. On the other hand, it looks like it has 8 tall engine doors per side, rhich would indicate a 16 clyinder prime mover and therefore make it a B30-7. It's hard to tell from the photo, but that would be my guess.
Good pictures. I am especialy drawn to the first one, of the tower, because it would also fit in on the "More Than Trains" forum. I like to look around to see the infrastructure and people that make it all possible. The repair facility shot would also fit there.
