The M&ET has long been one of the nations most profitable, well-run short lines. The cars you see are, as Mark pointed out, most likely loaded or will be so loaded with screw-cap wine, canned tomatoe products and other grocery table items from the Land of Fruits and Nuts - California!

The M&ET loads out many carloads a night on the BNSF at Empire, Calif. for destinations as far away as New York state. Up until a few years ago, this was a solid boxcar train and originated at BNSF's Calwa, Calif. yard as a local, then turned at Riverbank and brought road power plus DPU's to Empire, where often 100 cars of groceries were expedited east.

The local still runs on the same schedule, but also tramps the yard at East Empire, so it is no longer a solid block of boxcars.