Espee's Rosenberg Line

What do they use for power on their business train these days? Do they still have refurbished F units?



Boxcab E50

 

I drove over it yesterday just southwest of Rosenberg and it did not look like anything had been done yet. The KCS still has to go through Flatonia. KCS only recently found local office space to move into and manage all the construction out of for the line rebuilding.

 

Things are starting to happen around here. The KCS business train just went through Sugar Land on its way to Victoria. I have heard they have been out in force telling property owners along the old right of way to get everything off of it such as fences they have strung over it or it will be buldozed. They bought a big chunk of propery around Beasley for their offices and eventually an intermodal facility that they are now using as staging for the construction. Lots of equipment and stuff piling up there.

 

According to a post on Yahoo Railspot (I don't know if that link will work if you are not a Yahoo user) a lot is starting to happen. Mostly old track and ties being ripped up and the right of way cleared.

 

I drove out to take a look today. Old rail still in place for about three miles from junction in Rosenberg. Found this UP MOW gang at about mile 2. I don't know why they would still be out there unless they still own that short piece. Rail was all gone through Beasley and they were clearing all the brush from beside the right of way. The old rail is still in place just west of the San Bernard River.

 

OK, I just found out that UP still owns the first 2.4 miles up to McHattie on the old SP timetable. They will take care of their whimpy 60 lb jointed rail and let KCS tie their 120 lb welded rail onto the end. KCS will have to slow down anyway because UP will likely hold them for ever before letting them pull out on the Sunset.

 

Pretty much. Out of downtown Rosenberg the tracks follow Farm Road 529 until it merges into Highway 59. 59 bypasses little towns like Beasley and Kendleton but the old highway still follows the tracks.

 

I'm a member of Railspot as well as the KCSnotes group on Yahoo, and rebuilding progress is indeed being posted. Stories of rail & tie removal are being posted (get rid of the old, replace with new), as well as weed/tree/brush removal on the ROW.

BTW, to read posts on Railspot you have to be a member. Same with KCSNotes.

Here's the post I mentioned from Railspot:

01/20/2007:

Here's SIGNIFICANT progress to report!

Rail removal has progressed to about MP 14.8, basically the east end of the San Bernard River bridge outside of Kendleton. This means that the stretch of ribbon rail into Kendleton was removed.

Rail-mounting hardware removal has progressed to somewhere between MP 13 and MP 14. This part of the railroad is not accessible, as the old US 59 right-of-way is blocked off along this stretch due to construction.

Tie removal has progressed to about MP 10.0.

Right-of-way clearing has made some progress too. Last time I reported it stopped at about MP 4.0. It starts again about MP 5.1, and has been done here and there to about MP 7.2, about the east edge of Beasley

 

From the Yahoo T&NO list.

 

Thanks for the update, Russ! I've been keeping up with the rebuild of the Macaroni Line on both the KCSNotes and Railspot groups on Yahoo.

 

KCS said this bill board was too close so the owner chopped one leg off. I wonder if that is good enough.

 

Something tells me it ain't, and since KCS now owns the ROW they should be able to force the issue. Too dang many bollboards anyway as it is....and the one in the background looks too close as well.

 

On Wednesday, February 6th, I drove out to the end of rail at McHattie. There was a string of gons loaded with concrete ties parked on the last stretch of jointed rail and rotten ties that KCS has not pull up yet. It was just west of where the UP ownership ends. Equipment was busy unloading ties. The ribbon rail train can't be too far behind.