I have been following the construction of Reno’s ReTRAC project for the past year or so, taking photos as time permitted. Earlier had also followed the news accounts leading up to the trench for the privous 8 years. This project was an out-growth of the UP/SP merger.
I was able to be present for the last two trains using the shoo-fly, an eastbound then a westbound. Also, calling in late to work was able to get photos of the first non-construction train in the trench, which was a westbound.
Pictured here is the last eastbound using the shoo-fly track, which by-passed the construction. UP 8388 leads the MFRNP 17 (Manifest-Fresno to North Platt) towards the east end connection of the shoo-fly to the mainline. Photo taken from the Wells Ave overpass at 10:14 AM Friday November 18, 2005. A piece of the trench can be seen just to the north of the lead unit. Map of the area were the picture was taken: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=39.529615,-119.803462&spn=0.007232,0.013739&hl=en
The last westbound on the shoo-fly, which was also the last train to be detoured around the trench was the QNPFRP 15 (Quality manifest, North Platt - Fresno, perishable Nov 15) with a GE Dash 8 40C, UP 9280 on the point. Pictured here at 10:36 AM Friday November 18, 2005 passing the temporary Amtrak depot at Lake Street.
The published plan was to cut the shoo-fly after Amtrak’s Train No. 5 passed over the shoo-fly, but because of the tardiness of No. 5, it was decided to cut the shoo-fly at both ends after UP 9280 west passed.
Pictured below are a couple of photographs showing the east section of the shoo-fly, after being cut, pushed over to main track No. 2 leading into the trench. Track No. 1 was already connected to the trench.
These photos both taken from Sutro Street facing west towards the trench.
After about a 30 minute maintance window, where men and equipment fouled both the west and east end of the trench track No 1, the first train a westbound unit auto rolled into the trench at about 12:15 PM. The train, with UP 6767 on the point was symboled AGBMI 14 and had 3 “big shots” riding the front platform, this staged for a group of media people in the trench at the Amtrak depot.
Down by the depot, taken from the Fitzgerald’s parking garage.
Not really, but there is a front moving through which may drop some snow up in the Sierra today over the 7,000 ft level. Just some rain in the Truckee Meadows.
After the usual squable among some of us about the good or the bad of the trench, nice to see your final pictures of the project. Through in a few more of the new operation, including the Amtrak, next time you have a chance. You may have the best photo coverage of the project from start to finish. Nice job!
Thanks folks. I met another fellow a number of times trench side, who was much more disciplined than I about taking photos, he is planning a Winter Rail presentation. Winter Rail is a big western railfan event that has been going on in Stockton, CA for many years. I have been asked to give a presentation at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, which I’ll probably will do sometime next year. NSRM has a free lecture once a month through the year on the first Wednesday of the month.
