Passing through Arvin yesterday, noticed there's some truck trailers loaded down with new lengths of rail parked next to the tracks a few hundred yards south of Hwy. 223. The overgrowth along the tracks south of 223 has been removed. And there's very fresh flange marks in the grade crossings at Orange St. and further south of there. Since the crossing at 223 is paved over, presume some sort of MOW equipment is what has been on the tracks very recently. There is still a red end-of-service flag on the tracks just north the 223 crossing. Tracks from Di Giorgio Rd. south appear to be in pretty poor shape.

In recent years the winery at Di Giorgio has also been taking on cars; so trains do come almost all the way to Arvin.

The entire branch is an amazingly well preserved mid-century agricultural branch-line with sidings and capacity to handle hundreds of carloads at dozens of line-side industries; of which next to none are currently used. Jointed rail, sharper curves, mismatch of second hand turnout hardware, un-protected crossings, uneven grades, period packing house and trans-load facilities...not much has evolved since the late steam era. Would be a prime candidate for a historical preservation status. Perfect place for some period photo-freights.