I saw on Google Earth that UP's Truckee loop track (for snowplows) had been dismantled. Web search showed UP sold the yard for developement and has relocated some of the facilities. There was some indication that the loop would be relocated. Where is the new loop to be located?
According to the 2009 Master Plan the balloon was to be moved eastward.http://www.townoftruckee.com/home/showdocument?id=4304
On page 2 old and proposed location of the balloon track are shown.
In the mean time the Master Plan was changed: http://www.townoftruckee.com/home/showdocument?id=14779
Page 27 shows the old situation and page 21 the proposed one. The location seems to be unchanged but the balloon track design differs in a few ways.
Looks like UP removed the old balloon track to rebuild it according to the new design.Regards, Volker
I had seen updates from the 2016 study that suggested changes, but it now seems they are following the 2016 plan, which is to tighten the wide west lead into the loop. When I first looked at Google Earth, I noted that the connections off the main had been dismantled, however, after looking at the outer part of the loop, I see it is still in place, which coincides to the part that will remain. The GE image was dated Aug 2017, and hopefully they would have completed the relocated sections of the loop before last winter.
UP uses the balloon mostly to turn their flangers. A Flanger is pulled by locomotives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdeHd6Xa4dk
Plows and spreaders are attached to both ends of the locomotives so they can't get stuck easily. They wouldn't necessarilly need a balloon truck but tracks for layovers.Regards, Volker
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