Carol L. Voss Wrote:
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> I think that there is some truth in what you are
> saying about the signal situation and etc but as
> to the UP steam locos coming to the bay area, they
> ran into some high fees for air pollution after
> they were here in '92 for the NRHS convention.
> They have not come closer to the bay area than
> Stockton ever since. THe Niles Canyon rwy is not
> technically in the Bay area air quality sphere of
> influence and doesn't come under those regs, as I
> understand it. ALso, the LA air quality people
> also charged UP with big bucks the last time they
> were there back in the '90's. It's very complex
> but we haven't seen a UP steam loco here for 20
> years. As to the 4449, since it is not a UP owned
> loco, they won't allow it on their tracks for
> excursions so that deprives us even further down
> here. BNSF will allow it .
> C.
> C.

Carol,

As a long time resident of the Bay Area (since 1960), I feel compelled to post a couple of items in response to your comments.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has jurisdiction over all of Alameda County, including the Niles Canyon area. So the Niles Canyon Railway is under their oversight and jurisdiction and they run steam locomotives on a ongoing and regular basis. That would seem to undermine the idea that there is some sort of ban on steam locomotives in the Bay Area.

So I would say a "steam ban" by the air management people is in the category of an "urban myth".

From the BAAMQD website: "The Nine County Jurisdiction of the Air District. The District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma."

Another point. At the time of the 1992 NRHS convention, the UP used the former WP branch line to San Jose for access for its convention excursion trains. There were several bridges on that line south of Milpitas that were too light in rating for the 3985, so it was based out of Milpitas for the duration of the convention. Diesels pulled the passenger cars between the Cahill Depot (when owned by the espee now known as Diridon Station) and Milpitas, where the 3985 took over for the trips to Stockton and Oakland.

Since the 1992 convention the espee ceased to exist as an independent company and was absorbed by the UP. The UP has a policy of no foreign steam operating on their lines, so no 4449 or 2742 trips out of San Jose. UP currently runs their steam locomotives when and where there is a business case to do so. Has there been a business or PR reason to run steam to San Jose since the convention? I can't recall any event in the South Bay that would merit such a visit.

As a side light to this discussion, UP has promised the museum in Los Angeles, that currently houses the 4014 (Big Boy) a benefit excursion with the 4014 once the locomotive has been restored and converted to oil firing. I would expect that would operate in Southern California, where that museum is located.

So it will be interesting to see what transpires with that in a few years.

Perhaps UP will rediscover the way to San Jose, someday...

Regards,

Bob J