Hi All, I am a Union Pacific fan living in Scotland modelling UP's Caliente Sub Division from Las Vegas to Apex in HO. I am trying to find a source for what trains run through (Los Angeles to Salt Lake City) and around (Henderson, LV Industioral Area, Pabco, etc.) the area so I can model the traffic as accuratley as I can on my "railroad". Please can some one help me with this ? Thank you.
I haven't been in Vegas since 2000, so I cannot say how it is now, and since it's been 20 years, so I'm a bit fuzzy on details sometimes. I worked just a couple of blocks south of Tropicanna Ave near the tracks and would go to In and Out Burgers for for lunch, then eat it near the tracks. I generally took lunch at noon, so I was on location by 12:15 and would stay there until just before 1:00. Many times i would catch 3 EB merchandise trains running 10-12 minutes apart pass by me and if I was lucky I'd see a WB vehicle train too. My all time high during lunch was 5 trains, but I got skunked many times.
I remember once I was waiting under the Cheyenne Ave overpass at the E. switch at Wann. An EB empty coal train was in the hole there when a WB headlight showed up way down the straightaway close to Valley, then went in the hole there too. Pretty soon another headlight showed up and a WB double stack barreled thru, closely followed by the one in the hole at Valley. Finally, when the EB got the board, he didn't waste any time leaving town. OMG, those hoppers really followed those rails out of the hole like no tomorow.....it was quite a sight. A bit scary really.
Anyway, I'm glad a Scot likes American trains. I'm an expat living in Italy and we have a friend from Scotland, but his native town eludes me at the moment. Nice guy...looks like Santa Claus with his white hair and beard. Love the Scotish brogue. I have a Rocky MTN Regional Timetiable -- Colorado, Utah, and Nevada from Altamont Press copyrighted 2001. I'd be happy to scan some pages for you if you want it.
I never was much interested in the locals, but I remember an incident with the Henderson local. A real life NASA rocket scientist bought a house next to the tracks about the time UP changed the local's schedule to a night time run. He was livid that they actually ran trains on the tracks! Then the *** hit the fan when housewives got wind of what was being transported to Timet in Henderson, and went ape over a few loose track spikes. All of those chemicals...sulphuric acid, chlorine, anihydrous ammonia...it was insanity at it's finest.
In conclusion, the S-curves just west of Apex is good train watching spot as is around Garnet farther east. I remember a heavy EB military train tackling the grade approaching Apex...with all those tanks and APC's it had a hard time climbing thru those curves. Good luck with the desert...I hope that you like it HOT (40°+) with no shade at all....maybe an old code line pole The inside of my nose was crusted over for nearly a year until I got acclimated to the intense heat and low humidity. It's not my cup of tea. Scotland would be much better.
Raider; two suggestions for you; one of which you may already have tried.
First suggestion is to contact the Union Pacific Historical Society. Second suggestion is to join Trainorders.com and post your inquiry on the Western Railroads board.
There are quite a few active and retired rails frequenting Trainorders and I'm betting you'll get a quicker answer there. Trainorders does charge an annual fee for membership so you'll need to have a credit card available.
Just Google Trainorders.com to reach their website where you’ll find membership information.
I was out on the Cima sub last month, just before the stay at home orders were issued. Spent most of the day and caught just five trains: ILXAH, MWCNP, ZSCLB, MOGWC and IG2LA.
I am so sorry not to have replied to your detailed post many weeks ago. I lost my login and then everything slipped from my mind in this Covid-19 situation. Thank you for your information.
I have visited the area quite a few times when I attended the ConExpo and World of Concrete exhibitions (from about 2010 to 2018) on business. But never really had enough time for proper railfanning. And it sure is hot !
With regard to your timetable, I have an Altamont Press Central West Timetable from 2011 but it does not have any info on what trains run from where to where or from when to when with what on them :-( Is that the same in your timetable ?
Any idea who/what would have this kind of info ?
Thank you again.
I am a member of the UPHS but they have not, yet, been able to help me. I had not heard of Trainorders.com and will give it a good look.
The information that you have provided is just grand :-) With the symbols you have provided I can, from my Timetable, work out where these trains were going to and from.
If you don't mind me asking, how did you obtain the train symbol information ?
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