ATSF - BNSF San Bernardino West

[JohnS]

In my opinion it would be neat to have the ATSF - BNSF San Bernardino West route done. I feel it would be great to link the Pacific Surfline route to the Cajon Pass. Linking Hobart to San Bernardino.

[Bananarama]

aka: ATSF = 3rd District / BNSF = San Bernardino Subdivision.

[JohnS]

aka: ATSF = 3rd District / BNSF = San Bernardino Subdivision.

Yes exactly.

[BoostedFridge]

A portion of this is covered in Tomcat's upcoming '3 Track Cajon' route. From Highgrove to San Bernadino yard.

[Tomcat]

A portion of this is covered in Tomcat's upcoming '3 Track Cajon' route. From Highgrove to San Bernadino yard.

It's a very small portion of the San Bernardino sub that I have in place. I had looked at the entire run at one point and wow, what a job it would be. One would have to be really dedicated to this subdivision to do it any justice but it would make one heck of a route. What stopped me from doing anything with it was the enormous variety of warehouses that one would need to prevent it from becoming just the same 10 or 15 structures over and over and over again, not to mention that even with Pacific Surfliner and Miami-West Palm beach assets there would still be a remarkable gap in what would be needed of proper California housing.

A new set of 10 to 15 houses in shades of beige or other common California colors with several different shades of terracotta rooves (all the way from a very light tan to a deep, rusty red) would go a long way towards making it a more attractive project... not to mention a dozen or two light colored warehouses or industries. Steven's Pass has a decent mix of industrial buildings but they are, for the most part, in gray, green and brown which are not prevalent colors you would see in Southern California.

Another problem would be what I call 'anchor structures'. Take, for example, why I chose to redo Cajon... San Bernardino Amtrak Station, Casa del Desierto, Barstow Tower, Cargill, the cement plants in Victorville and Oro Grande already existed and make the route unique and identifiable. I don't know what unique structures exist along the San Bernardino sub but I'm sure there must be some that would be necessary to give the route a prototypical feel.

All in all, a fine route to wish for but I think we could all be wishing for a very long time. I'm not even sure that it is within the capabilities of any one route maker to create in anything less than 4 or 5 years, at least not using my own speed as a gauge.

[JohnS]

A portion of this is covered in Tomcat's upcoming '3 Track Cajon' route. From Highgrove to San Bernadino yard.

It's a very small portion of the San Bernardino sub that I have in place. I had looked at the entire run at one point and wow, what a job it would be. One would have to be really dedicated to this subdivision to do it any justice but it would make one heck of a route. What stopped me from doing anything with it was the enormous variety of warehouses that one would need to prevent it from becoming just the same 10 or 15 structures over and over and over again, not to mention that even with Pacific Surfliner and Miami-West Palm beach assets there would still be a remarkable gap in what would be needed of proper California housing.

A new set of 10 to 15 houses in shades of beige or other common California colors with several different shades of terracotta rooves (all the way from a very light tan to a deep, rusty red) would go a long way towards making it a more attractive project... not to mention a dozen or two light colored warehouses or industries. Steven's Pass has a decent mix of industrial buildings but they are, for the most part, in gray, green and brown which are not prevalent colors you would see in Southern California.

Another problem would be what I call 'anchor structures'. Take, for example, why I chose to redo Cajon... San Bernardino Amtrak Station, Casa del Desierto, Barstow Tower, Cargill, the cement plants in Victorville and Oro Grande already existed and make the route unique and identifiable. I don't know what unique structures exist along the San Bernardino sub but I'm sure there must be some that would be necessary to give the route a prototypical feel.

All in all, a fine route to wish for but I think we could all be wishing for a very long time. I'm not even sure that it is within the capabilities of any one route maker to create in anything less than 4 or 5 years, at least not using my own speed as a gauge.

What a great perspective on the route Tomcat. Thank you for the insight into what it would it take. I guess I'll just watch the Pentrex video "Santa Fe into LA" and dream lol. Thank you

[Bananarama]

I live less than a mile from the tracks through Riverside, so it would come down to whether the route is modern or historic. No iconic structures ever existed along the route, except perhaps the various packing houses that dotted the line from Highgrove to Corona and the depots in downtown Riverside. It's all now double tracked, and the only thing through here is several dozen daily stack trains, Metrolink, and of course Amtrak's Southwest Chief. Although the players have since changed, the number of industries along the line has remained fairly stable, with fruit packing giving way to lumber, chemical, and food warehouses. Most industry is still concentrated between Atwood and Fullerton, but there's still plenty of action in Corona.

[JohnS]

I live less than a mile from the tracks through Riverside, so it would come down to whether the route is modern or historic. No iconic structures ever existed along the route, except perhaps the various packing houses that dotted the line from Highgrove to Corona and the depots in downtown Riverside. It's all now double tracked, and the only thing through here is several dozen daily stack trains, Metrolink, and of course Amtrak's Southwest Chief. Although the players have since changed, the number of industries along the line has remained fairly stable, with fruit packing giving way to lumber, chemical, and food warehouses. Most industry is still concentrated between Atwood and Fullerton, but there's still plenty of action in Corona.

I would say fairly modern times would be good. Gives the chance to run Metrolink trains.

[Bananarama]

I would say fairly modern times would be good. Gives the chance to run Metrolink trains.

Except that leaves out the ATSF and UP freight, passenger and mail trains. If you include the old Riverside Industrial Branch, you can also throw SP into the mix.

[JohnS]

I would say fairly modern times would be good. Gives the chance to run Metrolink trains.

Except that leaves out the ATSF and UP freight, passenger and mail trains. If you include the old Riverside Industrial Branch, you can also throw SP into the mix.

How about 1995 era? I'm just trying to get the best of both. I see on the Metrolink system map that they have 2 ways to San Bernardino. One is straight I'm guessing that's on the Union Pacific and the other runs down to Fullerton and other on the Santa Fe. The route we are discussing is the Fullerton to San Bernardino right? I don't know much history other than it was single track and now is double. I'm a fan of Santa Fe not so much BNSF. I do like the commuter trains mainly because I was a commuter engineer for a while on NJT.

[anavelgato2004]

I live less than a mile from the tracks through Riverside, so it would come down to whether the route is modern or historic. No iconic structures ever existed along the route, except perhaps the various packing houses that dotted the line from Highgrove to Corona and the depots in downtown Riverside. It's all now double tracked, and the only thing through here is several dozen daily stack trains, Metrolink, and of course Amtrak's Southwest Chief. Although the players have since changed, the number of industries along the line has remained fairly stable, with fruit packing giving way to lumber, chemical, and food warehouses. Most industry is still concentrated between Atwood and Fullerton, but there's still plenty of action in Corona.

You left a lot out

M-WATBAR/M-BARWAT daily manifest

M-LACBAR/M-BARLAC 6 days a week Wb. 5 days Eb manifest

M-SDGBAR/M-BARSDG manifest also know as Daygo

V-SDGCLO/V-CLOSDG vehicle trains out of San Diego

H-BARWCL/H-BARWCL

Ethanol unit train

Steel slab train

La Miranda local out La Miranda yard

Corona local out Porphyry yard

San Jacinto local also know as sanjac

also you would have UP vehicle trains the yard at Mira Loma, CA


legend

BAR = Barstow, CA

CLO = Clovis New Mexico

LAC = Los Angeles, CA but origin is from railyard in Vernon, CA

WAT = Watson, CA but origin is from railyard in Wilmington, CA

WCL = West Colton, CA

[Bananarama]

You left a lot out

I wasn’t prepared to write a book on the subject. Besides which, I think you’re missing the point (and timing) of the discussion.