The two largest customers in Salinas (as of a few years ago) were International Paper and WestRock (both packaging manufactures), and both located off what remains of the old Spreckels Branch. There are a number of other smaller customers in Salinas who receive various ag related chemicals/fertilizers, lumber, and likely some other stuff I'm unaware of.
Further down the Coast Sub traffic is rather sparse, most of it being similar ag related commodities. Two lumber yards in Paso Robles that receive lumber by rail being the exception.
Pre PSR the Salinas Hauler would run from Watsonville to Warm Springs 6 nights a week moving trafic between the two yards. The Monteray Local worked all the industries in Salinas, and ran 5 or 6 days a week (went back and forth a number of times). The Holister Local worked out of Watsonville Jct. 5 or 6 days a week also and worked industries in Hollister and Gilroy. The Rock Job would work Granite Rock at Logan and move gravel cars up to San Jose and back at night 5 days a week. Lastly the Santa Margarita Turn would run south as far as Paso Robles 2 days a week, though typically would turn at San Lucas one of those.
With UP's PSR changes I'm not really sure where things stand. The Hollister Job is now based out of Warm Springs and is doing some other switching on the Coast Sub near San Jose in adition to serving Gilroy and Hollister. Not really sure where the others stand.
Few photos from a few years back...
Monteray Job working on the Spreckels Spur
Salinas, CA by
Matt Batryn-Rodriguez, on Flickr
Hollister Local heading back to Watsonville Jct. after working Gilroy
Corporal, CA by
Matt Batryn-Rodriguez, on Flickr
Monteray Local heading south through Elkhorn Slough.
Elkhorn, CA by
Matt Batryn-Rodriguez, on Flickr
And the Hollister Local working their namesake town.
Hollister, CA by
Matt Batryn-Rodriguez, on Flickr
Hopefully someone with some more current knowledge on Coast Sub ops will chime in, as I would be curious too.
Best regards,
~Matt