Re: Update On Southern San Joaquin Industrials?
Author: SP5103
Date: 04-13-2018 - 09:46
The SW10 belongs to Frontier Rail which has always had the contract to switch Railex at Delano, now part of UP Cold Connect. The "Salad Shooter" trains originate here (now 5 days a week?), go to Green River where it is combined with the "Super Fruit" from the sister facility at Wallula, WA. The combined train goes to Rotterdam, NY to their facility there. The last I saw, the two eastbound trains run under their own symbols to Green River, then a new symbol to NY. I haven't noticed the returning empties in a while, but based on the recent size of the trains they are likely coming back (at least to Wallula) as empties in manifest freights rather than a dedicated train. The SW10 was UP SW9 #1832/SW10 #1221, then CP #1284 via Connell Leasing, then to NREX #1284 before Frontier Rail at Delano. There is a public road along the north side of the facility where you might be able to see the engine through the fence without trespassing. A few years ago they seemed to keep it towards the north end of the facility when not being used.
There was an engine at Pacific Ethanol near Madera (adjacent to BNSF). I surveyed it for a potential buyer several years ago. At that time, the plant had been closed for several years, but recent reports indicate it is back in production. It was an odd engine. As I recall, originally an NW2 or something like that with a real strange homebuilt cab, which was longer and narrower than the loco with the battery box on the side. It had been set up primarily for use with remote control (obsolete system) and had minimum cab controls. The electrical system was odd being more reminiscent of a commercial design rather than EMD/railroad. I think the history was former steel mill, and I later saw a photo of some other industrial customer having a similar one. If it's not there anymore, I would guess it was scrapped on site, but Google satellite view still shows an engine there.