Project ReTRAC Update - 7-3-2005

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Was feeling good enough to get out for a couple of hours today and check out Downtown Reno. Thought a few might be interested in a Reno ReTRAC update so will post a few photos from the outing.

A portion of the concrete work stil needs to be done on both sides of the trench where transition from orignal grade slopes into the trench. Also, concrete work in the middle of the project is progressing with much of that completed.

It looks like there will be trains in the trench by turkey day 05.

This first photo is looking west into downtown Reno from almost the east end of the project close to the transition zone. To the left in this photo is the shoo-fly, to the right is the Reno Branch, which is the former WP interchange with the SP in years past.

2

As I was walking away from taking this first photo I heard a horn, turned and saw Amtrak’s No. 5 coming my way. Here is FIVE on the shoo-fly.

3

After the good fortune of having Amtrak run its train during my outing, decided to get a downtown shot of the train west of the depot. The station stop gave me the time to get this next shot of FIVE taken at the shoo-fly and Arlington St.

4

Sometimes I enjoy watching the whole train go by before leaving. Well I was rewarded with the Scotti***histle holding the rear of FIVE. Here is the photo:

5

Back to ReTRAC, in this view the camera is point into the trench at the new depot. Glass work has been completed at track level and some painting.

6

Another view of the station:

7

This photo is looking east towards where the first photo in this thread was taken. To the left is the National Bowling Stadium, and of course the depot to the right.

I’ll post a few more photos later, these will be west of the depot.

8

It looks like the tracks on the right are going into some kind of new business or something? I’m not familiar with the round thing in the background.

Dave
-DPD Productions - Featuring the NEW TrainTenna LP Gain RR Scanner Antenna-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/

9

Dave,

That dome is part of the Silver Legacy Casino. The Reno Branch turns north and crosses 4th street on its way to Stead. The industry to the right of the Reno Branch is Martin Iron Works. Here is a link to a photo of Feather River Lumber Company’s No. 4 on trackage by Martin Iron Works taken December 1957.

http://home.att.net/~lassen.logger/1foto-12.htm

Jim

10

By the looks of it,it might be a ex-CN car.Werid isn’t it?[:D][:D][:D]

11

Your certainly got the heritage correct. Here is the owners web page on the car:

http://www.scottishthistle.com/

12

This photo was taken from Fitzgerald’s skywalk over the trench, the view is to the west.

13

This view was taken at the Ralston Ave crossing of the trench looking west. Notice on the floor of the trench a raised section on the right, this will be the access road.

ReTRAC is roughly between where 2nd Street meets 4th Street in the west and Sutro Street on the east. Here is a link to the google reno map site:

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=39.529722,-119.812778&spn=0.032438,0.061541&z=3&hl=en

14

This photo is 9 days older than the others in this thread. It was taken on the west end of the project at Keystone Ave facing west.

15

I thought a few would enjoy comparing these most recent photos to photos taken about 4 months ago, here is a link to a privous thread that includes photos of ReTRAC earlier this year.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32553

16

Thanks for the update. Will the trench actually put the tracks below the level of the river? (looking at the city map).

17

Good question, I haven’t seen anything on this, but I think in some places it may be at or alittle below river level. It is near the ground water level, although they didn’t seem to have a problem with water in the trench so far during construction.

Jim