There are two single track sections on the Hill at this time. One starts at switch 9 (171.2) at Emigrant gap and goes to shed 10 at mile post (178.3). This is a distance of about seven miles. The other one is at Eder (195) to east Norden, ( 192) about threee miles via the Big Hole, which is a tunnel.
The Southern Pacific pulled up the second track in these two areas because traffic levels on Donner were very light after the UP purchased the WP FRC line and D&RGW purchased the SP. After 1989, the UP diverted most if not all of their traffic to the WP line and the Overland route over the Sierra’s fell to very low levels. The new owners continued to use the SP name, but it was really the Rio Grande after 1989 that ran the SP and the new owners pulled up the second track in those two spots. They used some of the used rail on the Sunset route, which today is still being double tracked.
I found out from several sources in the last month that the UP will indeed double track those two portions again in 2012. That is their plan and it will make some of the pictures of the same train impossible for us to move between the locations since there will no waiting at switch 9 or shed 10. The single track portions really help railfans but not the railroad.
Some concrete ties are now in use along with the older types
Thanks for the info and as soon as I feel up to it (probably next year now), I will make a trip over to see “the hill”. I have yet another question for you, does UP run smaller or second generation power over the hill?
I know they have specially adapted GP38-2’s to run during the winter but are normal GP38/40-2 or SD40-2’s still running on a regular basis?
There might be some exceptions like the SD60M on the work train a month ago, but no other power except the latest EPA units is now normal on the Hill.
The GP38-2’s are used for the snow work and any local work in the foothills now is done by GP60 standard cabs.
We did get a GP60M on a BNSF train recently being moved to the bay area for local use. The BNSF has two or three GP60 models in Reno for local switching work. Seems odd, but they are in Reno since the BNSF has trackage rights and does some local work in town.
CZ
I have started two photobuckets on the Donner pass and Roseville Sub which is the same, but too many pictures on the same pages can be boring.
Thanks for the info, it would seem that anything built prior to 1995 no longer works on the hill, so if I limited my model roster to Amtrak; P42DC, BNSF; 9-44CW, ES44DC, CN; SD75I, NS; 9-40C and UP, SD70M, SD70ACe, 9-44CW, AC4400CW and ES44AC, I will just about cover it.
I also have a Atlas CSX Dash 8-40C, would that run on the hill or is that to, a rare bird.
The /Dash 8-40C’s or 8-40CW’s don’t meet the new EPA rules, but anything is possible on a train that orginates back east and runs as a unit train to California. That one could be used as what we call, “Modelers License” type of use. That term means we make up a reason the unit is still being used. Recently, I spotted a CSX SD50 at Roseville around the shops, so anything is possible. I am not sure if it is still a CSX or has been sold to a lease company, but it was here in town about three weeks ago.
Thanks for the up date on that, I might keep the CSX Dash 8-40C but I am kicking myself for missing out on Athearn’s UP FEF3 #844 with sound. Hopefully they will do a re run of it.
Thought I’d step in here, if you don’t mind. If you missed the Athearn Genesis FEF 4-8-4, you might want to keep an eye out for the new Genesis SP MT-4 4-8-2 (which actually did occasional helper and passenger service over the “Hill” between Roseville and Norden during WWII). I have the DC non-sound version, but had a chance to hear the DCC sound version at my LHS, and it’s an absolute winner! Smooth, extremely powerful and just beautifully detailed.
Just thought I’d let you know–beautiful loco and very reasonably priced, at least here in the States.
Thanks for the info and I have to say that I had not considered it, but I might go and see if I can find one. The problem we US modellers have here in “good ol’e blighty” is that everything is usually ordered in and very really have items to be demonstrated.
Shame none we saved as I could have a excuse of running one as “preserved” lol.