Re: Tri-X archives: SW900s in the Mist
Author: OPRRMS
Date: 07-29-2013 - 10:44
Guess I missed this one.
The track the engine's sitting on was called the Chinaman. They're probably waiting for the pot signal to enter Main Line 4. The signal, which was controlled by 16th Street Interlocking, would be out of sight to the right. Main Line 4, Main Lime 3, Freight Lead 2 and Freight Lead 1 are visible in the right background, with the Desert Yard beyond. Behind the engine, the Chinaman lead continues west towards 10th Street, and beyond that it splits. Going to the right would take you to Pacific Transload Systems (commonly called "Chicken Charlie") while going straight took you down the street running on Cedar Street which was the original main line. Off to the left are two tracks next to the large concrete warehouse (the building's now lofts). The job is one of the Emeryville jobs. Personally, I hated the SW900E's, as during Houston's rebuilding of them, virtually all the cab insulation was removed plus the cab heater rheostat.
All this track vanished after I-880 was moved to its present location in the middle of the Desert Yard (used to be 27 tracks in that yard, now there's 5) after the Loma Prieta earthquake. "Chicken Charlie" is still served by rail, but access is now from Track 401 at the west end of the Desert Yard.