What is the status of the NASA railroad? I know that it was shutdown after the shuttle program ended but was wondering if things have changed with the pending roll out of the new space launch systems.
Also, what is the status of the proposed link to Port Canaveral?
NASA sold off or donated its three SW1500 switchers during 2014 and early 2015, essentially shutting down the railroad for a time. Only 17 miles of active track remain, running from Jay Jay to the VAB area. A year later, during March 2016, an Iowa Northern locomotive owned by Goodloe Transportation Co. delivered the first inert pathfinder booster hardware for Space Launch System. Live booster segments will follow, the first likely shipping this year, but with SLS (Artemis) only planned to launch about once per year, and maybe not for many years given its cost, the future for the railroad is dicey. The booster segments for SLS, and for another rocket named Omega (if it wins contracts) are its only business, as I understand things.
The Port Canaveral rail extension plan appears to have been shelved in 2017.
- Ed Kyle
Meanwhile, a section of track inside the former Air Force Titan Integrate/Transfer/Launch site at Cape Canaveral is being restored to serve the upcoming Vulcan launch vehicle. The track, which used to handle giant Titan 3 and 4 rockets on rail mobile launch platforms, will now allow launch platforms to roll between Space Launch Complex 41 and the former SMARF hangar (now renamed SPOC). The tracks will not, as I understand things, be reconnected with the old NASA Railroad East branch tracks that run near the ocean past LC 39A and B. One of the matched sets of SW-8 locomotives that used to move the Titan platforms is now displayed at the Cape museum. ULA now uses trackmobiles to move the Atlas, and soon Vulcan, mobile platforms.
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