Southbound train hit Centralia, WA about noon today with 3+1 and the 1989 leading. Was a stack train with import and domestic containers mixed, I am guessing it should go east up the Gorge tonight. It took it two hours to get to Kelso. There is a tie and surface gang working south of Centralia, plus a pile of new crossing panels in the yard, so few mid-day freights trying to dodge Amtraks.

Also noticed fresh ballast dumped on shoulders on the UP side of the upper Gorge, so am guessing that a tie and/or surfacing gang is imminent. Maybe the next project of the gangs working between Eugene and Portland? On Monday I found UP 2258 and 2265 tied up at Pendleton near the prison. Local came east with 2 GP60s and three pressure differential hoppers. Not sure what the SD60s were doing sitting there (protection engines or helper?) but it seems to be a common occurrence. If you thought the local was overpowered, there was a work train tied up at Heppner Junction(?) UP 8087 and new 8864 and a few air dumps loaded with gravel to widen the walkways at the switches. Wouldn't it have been cost effective for UP to have bought 100 or so GP22ECOs?