Main line upgrade project bypassed a path going south and then back over I-10, removing a bridge on the west end of the path, leaving several miles of stub ideal for storage. Google Earth image has a long string of grain cars in the image from a couple of years ago. At times the Class Ones will have many units in storage at various places depending on needs. This looks to be a very good spot for such storage, if for no other reason that there is no easy access to the tracks.
On a visit to that Marsh Station Road area along I-10 back on October 6, 2012 the then newly stub ended line had freight cars on it.
There is a possibility of revisiting that area in the next couple of months, and if so, getting photos of those engines would be a must! UP might be trying ‘away from the cities’ approach in storing unneeded power. At West Colton Yard in 2009 power was stored in the Receiving Yard. That was common sense, right? Not so! People were known to stop on the freeway at night, cut the yard fence, and break into the engines and steel copper wiring! All under floodlights!
The new Arizona area might be a bit more challenging to get to the locomotives. Determined corrupt weirdoes might not even see the units in the darkness. If so, parking the units by Marsh Station Road might have proved to be a good location choice. If (“if”) the units stay there a long time, the choice proved to be a good one …
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
The engines were there for at least a week. Came back through the area after spending a week in San Antonio and they were still sitting there. Can't believe they would have that many in storage. Area is dry and out of the way except that the engines are very visible from the freeway. I agree that it really leaves the engines open for possible vandalism. UP must feel comfortable with it, though.
K. P. HarrierThe new Arizona area might be a bit more challenging to get to the locomotives. Determined corrupt weirdoes might not even see the units in the darkness. If so, parking the units by Marsh Station Road might have proved to be a good location choice. If (“if”) the units stay there a long time, the choice proved to be a good one …
The problem is, they probably will find them... Unless there is daily survelliance, the potential for vandalism is pretty good, even moreso because the perps will be able to work uninterrupted for long periods of time.
All it takes is one to discover them.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
jabrs The engines were there for at least a week. Came back through the area after spending a week in San Antonio and they were still sitting there. Can't believe they would have that many in storage. Area is dry and out of the way except that the engines are very visible from the freeway. I agree that it really leaves the engines open for possible vandalism. UP must feel comfortable with it, though.
Unfortunately, the crooked, and conniving types always seem to be with us. It seems to be in an environment with equipment stored 'out in the open' that opportunists flourish. Human nature never seems to change, only the 'opportunities' change with the times.
Growing up in Memphis,Tn. {late 50's and 60's). The ICRR had a group of steam engines stored on a truncated line off the Johnston Yard. It was a 'rough neighborhood,' and adjacent to accesses from lanes, paths and rarely used streets. There must have be 30 to 40 steam engines stored on two lines of what was then called the levee line of the former Y&MVRR ROW. Over time the line of engines had been victimized by souvenir hunters, and other scavangers of 'salvage' found on old steam engines. When the railroad went there to pull out the engines to go to scrap, a number of engines had been so torched and robbed by scavengers over time. The railroad was forced to salvage them' in place' to recover any value.
Point is, a large corporation that puts its' assest out in unprotected areas, is wide open to any group of so-inclined individuals[ Thieves, and Taggers,etc.], who would steal or devalue that property left unsecured.
Missouri Valley, Iowa has engines in storage. Mostly older GEs and a handfull of SD60s. A few of them look like they came right out of the paint shop. A few of them don't.
There's probably quite a few places around the system with stored power. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the oldest ones wind up leaving the roster before they are once again needed in service.
Jeff
Might want to try BNSF's stunt of parking the engines inside a federal reservation. Even getting caught near the LUGO's & LUBO's resulted in federal charges...
All the class 1's are storing hundreds of engines due to the downturn in coal and car loadings in general.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
mudchicken Might want to try BNSF's stunt of parking the engines inside a federal reservation. Even getting caught near the LUGO's & LUBO's resulted in federal charges...
The other night there was a light power move that I think took some of the stored power out of Missouri Valley. I don't know how many or what kind, if they were being specific about model, they pulled. It was going west. I don't know if they are going to be put back into service. I have heard they are expecting an increase in business through my area.
Do freight locomotives get sidelined when traffic slows down?
According to Sean Graham White's January BNSF power notes, BNSF still has over 1000 units in storage LUGO (Laid Up Good Order). That is down from the previous month. The numbers change daily as units are laid up or pulled out for service based on the railroads power requirements..
UP appears to have pulled a bunch of locomotives out of storage due to the weather problems along the West Coast. A long dead line at Yard 9 near Proviso that I first sighted in October was not present yesterday.
For what it's worth, I did see four DIT UP Dash 9s heading south this afternoon through Sacramento hopefully going back to work.
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So will these stored locomotives come back into service at some point?
Belated Reply to this thread …
On March 31, 2016 the Marsh Station Road area was passed through. The following resulting photos were posted in the “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” thread, but are repeated here in this thread because they pertain to the subject at hand. Belated, but posting them now is better than not at all.
The setting and territory of the Marsh Station Road area: This is two-track territory, but here the normally CTC eastbound track (relocated here a few years ago) is separate from the normally westbound track (not seen and un-relocated). The Freeway is I-10.
Other photos from Marsh Station Road:
From the nearby Empirita Road:
Hopefully this will make up for the delay.
ATSFGuySo will these stored locomotives come back into service at some point?
It depends. They might or might not, depending on when traffic levels increase and their condition at that point.
Yes they may come back. They are in long term storage on the old main line that was changed with the Mars Station cut off. As rail traffic increase with the short term traffic or long term traffic we can take these units out of storage as needed. We have many such locations all over the UP.
At last count, I have been told there are at least 300-350 locomotives. The entire Empirita siding is full. They are in storage and again I have been told the are scheduled to be scrapped at some time. I think it would be a great idea for the UP to allow registered railfans to, under supervision to remove loco seats, number boards etc. for a nominal fee. The locos were brought in in groups of about 25 based on my observations from my front yard.
Chuck do you know anyone that has an idea what it would cost to re-manufacture or rebuild an older tier 0 or 1 GE 7fdl-16 engine? Thanks. Jim
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