The Overland route is being reworked to handle double stacks over the Hill. They ran an Engineering special from Omaha to Oakland to check out the tunnel work on Donner Pass on September 27th, 2009 and returned east on the 29th.
No 1 track, you mean. Track 2 between Bowman and Colfax has Tunnels 22 thru 32, which haven’t been enlarged.
You are right. Thanks for the correction.
I noticed a post on Train orders concerning the Donner tunnel modifications and it states the double stacks over Donner should start operation after Thanksgiving.
This should increase the amount of trains over the Hill durning the daytime since several stacks per day now use the FRC line.
The following picture is today’s Z train westbound. I wanted to get a few of the Z trains before the double stacks start running over Donner. I am not sure any of the regular Z trains will run without the double stacks.
CZ
Would this train stop being? Aren’t normal stacks pretty slow movers. This train seems to be normally overpowered when I see it, which I would assume someone is paying a premium for. I am just really looking forward to seeing double stacks again. Are all current doublestacks that go through the Feather being routed over Donner?
That is an interesting question and one I have no idea what is the correct answer. The Z trains are normally the hot ticket and move right along at track speed when they have clear track. I have seen the stack trains moving at track speed also but lately the Union Pacific has been running some very long stack trains.
I hope someone can speak to your question and we will see what the Union Pacific does after Thanksgiving with the stack and Z trains. I was under the impression some would be integrated as a single train but that has not been announced.
CZ
DId UP stop the work due to economic turndown?
I am not aware of any work stopping on this project.
The tunnel work and the cross overs look like they are complete except for the signals and maybe some of the control wiring. The signals at the East end of Colfax are installed and are turned sideways until they are commissioned and put on line for the dispatcher. I have not heard anything different and would expect them to start running double stacks in December this year. Have you heard anything different about the completion.
CZ
They have continued to work on this project is almost completed and the date for the new operation is after Thanksgiving.
Are they going to change the directions that trains are run. I am not sure if its due to construction or not buy the eastbound empty autoracks have been on the westbound track through Auburn the last couple of days, so has the local which I am assuming goes up to Colfax? I haven’t seen anything with helpers going this way. Is the new crossover at Bowman behind Head Quarter house?
Thanks for the info.
New Bowman x-over is about the same place as the old one-- but it’s 25? mph instead of 10.
Eastward stack trains will run on the usually-westward track Bowman to Colfax-- aside from that, no changes.
The crossover is directly behind Americast Stone Inc. building, which is about one thousand feet or so west of the Head Quarters. We were up there picking up some precast concrete pieces and talked to the U.P. crew behind the building and looked at the newly installed crossover and the electric machines to operate it.
As Timz has said, the operation will allow the double eastbound double stacks to bypass the newer track #2 between Bowman and Colfax. The double stacks will use the # 1 track both directions but the other trains will probably still use the newer # 2 uphill since its grade is lower.
Another use might be for Amtrak to use the #1 eastbound if they need to pass a slower freight between Bowman and Colfax. The Roper eastbound freight normally waits at Newcastle if it leaves Roseville yard prior to #6 arriving. In that case, #6 runs up the steeper older #1 track to Newcastle and then it runs around the freight at Newcastle and then uses the crossover at Newcastle to use the # 2 track on to Colfax.
CZ
Americast Stone, INC
I saw a FRA inspection car behind a SD70 coming back down through Auburn today. The car went up Wednesday behind a AC4400 to check out the modifications I am assuming. Do the Tunnels from Rocklin to Newcastle on track 2 have enough clearance for doublestacks?
They’re supposed to-- and Newcastle to Bowman too. They have done some work down there,
This is the new cross over installed with the signals in place and look to be in the position now for use. The first view is west bound.
Looking eastbound at CP RV129
Communications Box CP RV129
Nice pics. I may have to go check that out! Really looking forward to doublestacks. I wonder if the one unit up front and one unit in the rear will be enough for Donner?
Thanks I wanted to see what it looked like and will go up to Colfax to check out that crossover next week or so.
The amount of units all depends on the weight of the train. The grain train usually has four up front, three to four in the middle and one to two on the rear of the train. Going back east empty, the grain trains usually only has front power and one on the rear. The lead power of those can be two or three units depending on the train.
I am looking forward to getting some pictures at the crossovers of the stack trains and the word on the street is saying they will start right after Thanksgiving. I am still waiting to hear if they run a test train to see if all is correct.
This is a Z train westbound at Colfax right over the cross overs in town.
CZ
Hey guys,
Do you know why they (UP) are cutting down the hill (or appear to) on the south side of track one, just west of the new crossover. I was noticing that it looks like there is a backhoe leveling the area south of the track. It almost looks like they are going to put a siding in.
Dave
Dave
I have not noticed that work being done, but will check out the area next week to see what is going on. The latest word is the double stacks start next week on the 20th. That was on Trainorders, but we have no way to verify the timing.
CZ
The first double stack I have seen just passed the Auburn fairgrounds on track one headed west. Wasn’t able to snap a picture sorry. Hopefully someone down the hill can.