I was wondering what happened to the Blue Streak. For years it (one of them) landed in my back yard at the Gemco yard (Van Nuys on the Coast line). I left Van Nuys in 95'. I know this was just one section of the Blue Streak. The Blue Streak changed and evolved a lot over it's 60 some odd years of operation. What I'm wondering is after the merger did UP honer this trains tradition, and / or keep it alive ? Is the spirit of the Blue still alive under another another symbol ? I would appriciate any info on the subject. Thanks.
I have just been reading the book about the Cotton Belt Blue Streak. It has a long history going back to the early 1900's, I believe. But, more currently, I read in Trainline, the magazine for the SPH&TS, that UP had named one of their hotshot stack trains the Blue Streak. So, I guess it survives in some form.
Yeah, I still see it sometimes coming down from Corsicana as it runs through Hearne, Texas. They do a crew change at the yard office in Hearne and hardly even stop rolling. The UP has rebuilt the curve where the DalSA wyes off from the line to Houston so they can really accelerate as the head out of town toward Flatonia. It passes under State Highway 6 on the curve and is a great place to watch it.
Hey guys, Great to hear it's still alive. Does anyone know what symbol it uses now and where it goes to /from, and who uses it ?
When I was much younger, I used to like seeing their emblem on 40 foot box cars. At the time, I did not know where it came from. Nor what either "Cotton Belt" or "Blue Streak" meant. Interesting to learn more after many years passed. Boxcab E50
I guess I should clarify my statement. UP now uses the name Blue Streak to describe a level of service for expedited container trains over may different routes. http://www.uprr.com/customers/intermodal/featured/streak.shtml According to the map at the site above they may not even route it through Hearne any more. I guess I am in the habit of calling any hot container train running on the original Cotton Belt route "The Blue Streak." Just a few years ago I know they were because they told me that at the yard office in Hearne. If I recall correctly UP adds a "Z" to the end train name call letters for those trains at that time. They could come through any time of day or night. I am not sure what the letters for the Memphis to Los Angles trains are these days but they may be routing them on the old T&P line between Dallas and El Paso. So I guess it is possible that a train by that name does not even run on the old route any more.
Speaking of the Z train. I think that Z is called the ZNYLD. We Ft.Worth crews are always in a fight with the Corsicana/Giddings sub dispacther in Corsicana when we get there. Steward (SLS) wont even talk to us, then he will give us a track warrant and tell us he ready and then come to find out he holding us for the Z that hasnt even left Tyler yet. Now the Preimun Z that the Cotton Belt had the ZNSCL# DATE runs the T & P route. Ive caught from FT Worth to Sweetwater and Sweetwater to Pecos. Thats a 70mph train..especially when your pacing and passing cars and UPS trucks going down I20 between Odessa and Pecos. Now Mr Straw, wanna see a train wreck waiting to happen? UP is in the process of installing a 40mph curve under Hwy 6. That curve aint good for about 15mph..so wait and see.
Woah, I guess I better get my camera ready to head up Highway 6 for some excitement. When I was working a phone company field job up in Eastland, Texas years ago I liked to watch the MoPac trains there on my off time because they had to slow way down to make it around the corner.
