Yesternday, took a trip to Santa Cruz, CA. One of the hightlights was observing the cement train to Davenport through the streets of Santa Cruz. The train consisted of an UP diesel in lead, followed by a couple of SP diesels, then a good number of open hopper cars, trailed by many covered hoppers. Observing the cars’ springs, I deduced the open hoppers were full while the covered hoppers were empty. Obviously, the covered hoppers were to carry the cement from Davenport where there is a cement plant adjacent to limestone deposits. I am guessing the hopper cars contained sand for the making of cement. That was the highlight of my trip. At the time, the train was going westward, opposite the one-way auto traffic on the street. What a wonder! And the train passed only feet from the various roller coasters on the beach! What a wonderful prototype!
That certainly sounds like a gem. I’ve done the tourist operation from Felton down to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, but never had the pleasure of chasing the Davenport job. Hopefully, sometime in the future I’ll get the opportunity.
I could be wrong, but I think the inbound open top hoppers that you saw were loaded with coal. The coal is used to bake the lime in the kiln.
Did you get any photos?
Jim - Lawton, NV - MP236
According to the article about the Santa Cruz Branch in the August 2003 Mainline Modeler coal does go to the plant by rail. Were the open top hoppers 3 or 4 bay? Were the SP locomotives unpatched? If so what are their numbers?
I saw 204 in Ogden last week going EB[:o)][:D]
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Originally posted by ericsp
Didn’t catch the numbers (or type) of the locomotives. The SP units were surprisingly clean since they are under different management. I believe the open hoppers were four-bay, and I think the other writer is correct in saying they were filled with coal. I was so close to the train, some 6 or 8 feet, I couldn’t catch a look at the load. (I couldn’t “see the forest for the trees” because I was sitting in my car at train-axel level.) I silently wanted to chase the train to Davenport, but the purpose of the visit was to entertain my sweetie on her birthday. I wonder if Wednesday is the regular day of operation for the train.