According to reports from several sources, UP's twice weekly Portland, OR to Los Angeles, CA RoadRailer trains will shift over to BNSF as of August 1, 2001. All reports seem to point to service consolidation (BNSF handles most of Swift's intermodal business), not UP service problems as the reason for the service switch.
Thats too badd.. we won't be able to see them with those "Wings" leading anymore, Now there will be H2 colors hmm I wonder how the train would look, thanks for sharing Kevin.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan: I am a BNSF fan <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Alan, if you twist my arm I might still take some photos of this train after BNSF takes over... OK, so you won't have to twist my arm.
Actually I don't believe that could happen to easily, I am as much a BNSF fan as a UP fan, so I would not care, but I work at BNSF's Hobart Intermodal Yard, in Los Angeles. We have no way of accomidating Roadrailers, and I doubt UP would sell it's City of Industry Yard to BNSF(the only yard [BNSF or UP] in LA that can handle Roadrailers). The only place BNSF would be able to unload them is San Bernardino, which is close to 100 miles away. There is no work going on in the yard related to paving for Roadrailer loading, and we only have 1 forklift, so we would need a few more (for the wheelsets), if we were to start handling this service. But we will see.
The new facility BNSF is building in the city of Bell is rumored to be able to accomodate Roadrailers, at least according to some intermodal experts and railroad employee friends I know. We'll just have to wait and see where BNSF decides to set them up. It's amazing how relatively little it takes to handle roadrailers; the facilty SP,now UP has at City of Industry is a simple paved area, with room for the roadrailer bogies and equipment needed to move them around. You'd never realize the area is dedicated for Roadrailers unless somebody told you.
Yup, you were right, checked out the Bell Yard, and it is able to handle RoadRailers. Although the track is only long enough for about 12-15. The lot has been there for awhile, we would send over trailers and containers that needed repairs, and our contractor, P&J, would work on them there. About 2 months ago, we moved them all to a new lot, right next to the Commerce Engine Facility. We repaved the Bell Lot, and started using it for overflow parking, when Hobart fills up. Well just about a week ago, I saw it was paved past the end of the lot, up to a spur that runs behind it. Up until now this spur has been used to serve local industries. I believe the track belongs to Los Angeles Junction, a former Santa Fe subsidery. The track was just fixed up, because it was in pretty sad shape. Well anyway when I went to work on sunday, my supervisor told me he is leaving Hobart, to open a new yard. He told me in the city of Bell, and I said "RoadRailers", he asked me how I knew, and I told him that I am a Railfan, and we know half of the stuff going on with the railroad, before the railroad does. He asked me to if I would like to go there with him, and I accepted. So I will be one of the drivers there. So I will only be at Hobart for about 1 more month.
