I have just returned from a trip to Southern California. While in Barstow I discovered that the BNSF is adding a 3rd main line track that begins at the end of the Barstow yard in East Barstow & appears to extends out past East Barstow on the way to Daggett. From the I40 freeway it certainly appears that the BNSF is extending the track at least out past the Barstow city limits as they were leveling the ground there which I guess was to prepare the land to receive new track for the 3rd mainline track. I have not seen any mention of this 3rd new main yet in your magazine.
Please open up the below link which is my web site then click on the California November 2005 gallery then look for the Barstow pix & you will see the new track for the 3rd main already laid where I was taking pix. Naturally you can also open up any other gallery in the site & view the pix in the gallery you opened in that gallery.
While we have the attention of the TRAINS staff, I think an article is long overdue on the development of double deck cars for commuter service. The Long Island’s prewar and immediately postwar MU’s, the Northwestern’s introduction of them into both commuter service and the Penninsula 400. A bit about European experience. The Burlington’s use of stainless steel and Budd’s entrance (opportunity for some good shots of steam locomotives pulling gallery cars, which the Pacifics did do on some rush hour trains in the summer of 1952) and on up to the new Long Isand and Jersey Transit, and a comparison of the “lozenge” type as used by GO Transit and the gallery cars.
Israel is planning to give Jordan access to Haifa Port by a reincarnation of the old Turkish rule-built “Valley Railroad”, and I have sent the newspaper clipping with its photo of one of the old narrow gauge trains to the editors. The new line will be standard gauge and electrified eventually.