Re: Wallula Questions
Author: SP5103
Date: 07-21-2019 - 13:05
>A couple of queries about Wallula--
>Do Blue Mountain ( or whatever it is called) ,BNSF and UP all serve the PCA mill?
At some point, WATCO put Blue Mountain under PCC, but on the last train to Wallula the UP was still referring them as "Blue Mountain". By PCA mill, I assume you are referring to the Boise (Cascade) paper mill. Is it a subsidiary of PCA or has it recently been sold to them? The mill contracts out at least some of their switching, I believe the mill still dumps their own chip cars with their small GE loco(s). WATCO has had the contract to switch the mill for quite a while, and they have 2-3 locos that tie up next to the UP depot. As far as I know, WATCO handles the transfer between the mill to either BNSF or UP.
The former Blue Mountain/PCC lines between Wallula, Walla Walla and Weston (primarily a UP lease) has been operated by Columbia-Walla Walla since May 9th after Watco walked away. CWW already operated Walla Walla to Dayton (former UP/BN, BLMR/PCC, now owned by Port of Columbia).
>Why is there a balloon track just north of the PCA plant ( not the Railex cold storage one)
Technically, Railex no longer exists that I am aware of, though it is still CP Railex off Railex Road. This now became part of UP Cold Connect, and seems to have far less traffic as before. Once harvest gets into full swing, it will be interesting to see how much traffic picks up. I don't think there is a dedicated train any more. The best I can figure is that a job works out of Hinkle, still referred as the "Super Fruit", that picks up and delivers at Cold Connect as well as acts as a general transfer between Wallula and Hinkle. My best guess is that the Cold Connect loads are being added to a priority intermodal train at Hinkle (at least to Green River, WY), but I cannot yet confirm that. Frontier Rail had switched Railex/UP Cold Connect, but that contract switched over to Harbor Rail Services last fall. The wine and beverage warehouse in the center of the loop is not part of cold connect, presumably Railex's successor runs it.
The other loop belongs to Simplot and is a corn elevator for cattle feed. They get an inbound shuttle train about once a week (usually off BNSF, but can get them from UP). The lead up to the loop possibly looks to be the remaining stub of a former branch, maybe the former NP to Eureka, Walla Walla and Dayton?