the up line in Vegas runs near Treasure Island hotel where I stayed. It’s a single line crossing a unknown road with short mixed freight, but mostly 3 bay covered hoppers, any idea what’s in these hoppers and who do they service in the area? Also, they ran at night because of those horns!!!
Rambo1…
…Money ! …
rambo1 (8-2):
Did you have fun in Vegas?
I have no idea about the specifics of the hopper shipment(s), but your inquiry post is somewhat baffling. Could you rephrase it, i.e., say it another way? The mainline is two-tracks, so I suspect you are referring to the branch that used to go to Hoover Dam. The branch, however, is not real close to the hotel you mentioned. And, are you speaking about the horn strongly carrying through damp late night air?
Best wishes,
K.P.
I lived in Vegas for 18 years and I’m a little confused about your question. I know where Treasure island is – it’s close to the UP main line just south of Spring Mtn Road or Sands, depending on which way you’re going… There were 20+ trains per day when I lived there. It is mixed intermodal, stacks, vehicle, and merchandise trains running 24/7. The only other line other than the main is the branch to Henderson which diverges from the main at Boulder Jct just south of Tropicana Ave about 2+ miles south. That line services Timet and other industries in Henderson and has lots of hazmat traffic. There was a REAL rocket scientist who bought a house next to the branch and was appalled to find out that trains rain there. That train runs once per day but I’m unsure whether it’s night or day.
Damp late night air in Lost Wages??? The only branch off the main is the one to Henderson mentioned above, and it runs along the south edge of McCarran Field. There are some switch leads further north along the main line, though.
When I go to the Vegas I stand off Wyoming Ave where the double track becomes triple track. That spot is a bit east & north of the Stratosphere [:)]
…Does that “branch” still run all the way to Boulder City…? I used to keep my eye looking where it went, as it made it’s way all the way down to the Boulder Dam site. {Back in the 30’s.}, Liked the big cut and fill to accomplish the big “U” turn as it passed beyond Boulder City and working it’s way down that grade beyond there.
That was back in the 70’s. I watched for it while traveling on route 93, on my way down to Kingman.
And I’m totally aware of the brand new massive concrete arch bridge across the canyon now…I watched it being built {for several years}, on the live cams.
Even an occasional coal train…
The Henderson - Boulder City route was cut at Railroad Pass a couple of years ago. The crossing signals are still in place, but the road has been re-graded and the ends of the rails are well above the level of the pavement.
The stretch from Boulder City to behind the Railroad Pass Casino is operated as a tourist route, occasionally running steam.
The right-of-way beyond the present end of track at Boulder City is the upper end of the Railroad Tunnel Trail. You can hike from Boulder City to the former site of Himix, above the parking structure at the dam. Most hikers skip the upper end and just hike from the Lake Mead visitors’ center through the tunnels to the dam.
The first time I visited the area the rails still ran from Boulder City all the way down the road, around the supertight hairpin almost under the new bridge and ended under the one heavy duty cableway that’s still in place. That hairpin was partially relocated (and tightened) during bridge construction - which I mostly watched with my Mk I Mod 0 eyeballs.
Chuck (Clark County, NV, resident)