Union Pacific also operates a mainline switchback with twin side-by-side tunnels. It's in the Sierras, just west of Truckee, CA. Assuming, that is, that the definition of switchback is the same in CA as in KY .
Sadly the Covid situation prevented me traveling to meet this obligation. I have to be especially careful because I take care of an elderly parent. But I have not forgotten you guys - nor given up on Sunday Mornings! In fact, I am fully vaccinated and hope to get back to taping soon! ❤ Thank you so much for caring!! -DeAnn
According to the VHS video available for purchase on Amazon, this operation was from 1991. In 2010, CSX extended the switchback to accommodate 110 cars. Now it's just a matter of a change of direction at a switch with locomotives on each hand, not the more complicated breaking the train apart and putting it back together depicted in this video.
That's correct, no more breaking the trains because the tail tracks have been extended to accept 110 cars! Such a cool operation on a major class 1 railroad.
Hot Springs Arkansas also has a switchback on the Arkansas Midland Railroad. They come from Malvern on the former Rock Island main then switchback to the former Missouri Pacific main to continue into town.
It's pretty much out in the middle of nowhere...on the road to nowhere. I don't mean that derogatory, it's just that not alot of people live in that area. Thanks for watching! -DeAnn
This is a great video and there is great shots of Sea board system and Seaboard family lines CSX, Chessie System power. I miss the Chessie System power.
I believe this was the early 90's. And, unless things ahve changed just in the last couple of years,this is still an ongoing practice. The slow down in coal shipments may have put this operation on ice for now. Hopefully someone who knows can fill us in.-Tim
~ Must be some heavy rail in here and well maintained, because some of the moves look faster moving than I would expect, especially backing thru non-hi speed (?) switches and with human lives on the ground... ~ I am on the verge of a 2nd HO switchback layout..First was 35' long in an Apt. (!) in Los Angeles. I was forced to relo ! Now in smaller digs , it'll be a 8' -ish X 10' -ish X 1.5' -ish shelfie.. ~ I stumbled onto THIS Vid 1st time, today, 2/19/21 and am shocked at how much my plans, which have been in motion 2-3-ish yrs now, are so close to this 1:1 scale 'layout' !! I.E. TOTAL coincidence !!! NO LIE : I even have been planning to use my Shinohara code 83 >3-way< switch I had in prior RR, for a 3 track yard throat same as this 1:1 scale tail track 3:03 !!.. As this Shinohara power-routing switch was problematic at times when engines ran thru it to engine house, caboose Trk, and 1st leg of a WYE, this time no motive power will traverse it as it become instead a yard throat, even if I'm forced to employ a 'handle' (flat car/gondola) to use it that way !!! And that will a wonderful sight with no stall-outs over it !!! ~ In conclusion I'm blown away by inadvertently finding THIS vid at this date and time !!! If you have limited space for a MRR consider a switchback. It demands loads as you can see here !! M
I'm so glad you found this video! The whole video (see the description) might also be a help as it shows how the trains get from the marshalling yard to the wye and where they go from there. Tim says he had a "shelfie" for years, HO scale. :-) - DeAnn
Looks like this is not only switch back, but also cut and reassemble? 2:55, in train simulator (Run8 mainly), I did many similar operations in local jobs. In industrial area, their sidings have different access bounding. Putting engines at both end of train is pretty handy, reduce many time consuming turn around operations. First time to know mainline have this too.
It's actually a "build it to the next town, but never made it" instead of a cut and paste. :-) And yes, can you imagine trying to triple a train through this without the engines on each end?? Thanks for watching.-DeAnn
We are *back*!! We have been posting weekly for about a month and have many more videos in the hopper. If I can help it - we will not be disappearing again. 😀👍 Thank you for watching! -DeAnn
Be careful what you ask for! 😅 We are putting up new videos every week and are hoping to put up two every week. I am glad you missed us enough to ask. Thank you for watching! -DeAnn
I'm sorry, I didn't see your comment. Well, I had to go out of town and then our editing computer died. 🤬 Tim tells me we are ready to go in a week or so! 😀 -DeAnn
I miss doing the videos! Well, the pandemic has forced some changes - because of distance and family responsibilities. More *will* be coming! Thank you for asking. -DeAnn
Well, the pandemic has forced some changes - because of distance and family responsibilities. But... we are not done with SMC&T! More *will* be coming! Thank you for asking. -DeAnn
Yes. Still here. Just running around...working on so many things. I was out of town for awhile...and then got sidetracked. Sigh. More soon!!! -Thanks for asking. -DeAnn
Sorry for the late reply. Unless the slowdown in coal traffic recently has caused the operation to cease,it is my understanding that this is still(or was until very recently) active. -Tim
