10-01-2011, 06:41 PM
Coil steel is unloaded at the joint LAJ/ATSF (now BNSF) Fruitland Team Track in Vernon CA. Here's a link to a few pix: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/107389354387456095061/LAJINFO8ATSFFRUITLANDTEAM">https://picasaweb.google.com/1073893543 ... ITLANDTEAM</a><!-- m -->
The first one is by Chris Walker of West Coast Rail Forums. The next two are from the 10/03 Warbonnet article on the J. Note the caption says the the crane is in the "A Yard" but think it's really at Fruitland. The covered gondola is the one in the pic blown up. Next two pix show the crane & the last two show coil cars to be unloaded. Got those pix during a visit w/ Reinhard Peters, Russ Billinis last July 20. Since my layout will be operated in '50s thru '80s eras have been collecting both covered gondolas & coil cars. Have even made a few covers for 40' & 52' 6" gondolas out of extra boxcar roofs to give me as little more variety. The WP had 27' gondolas (not covered) to haul coils from UT to CA. Their reasoning was since the coils only rode over the trucks the space in between was wasted. Have also learned that the New Haven used to ship brass (coils, ingots & pieces in their covered gondolas. Brass is used for silver plating so there must be someplace in LA that needs it.
The first one is by Chris Walker of West Coast Rail Forums. The next two are from the 10/03 Warbonnet article on the J. Note the caption says the the crane is in the "A Yard" but think it's really at Fruitland. The covered gondola is the one in the pic blown up. Next two pix show the crane & the last two show coil cars to be unloaded. Got those pix during a visit w/ Reinhard Peters, Russ Billinis last July 20. Since my layout will be operated in '50s thru '80s eras have been collecting both covered gondolas & coil cars. Have even made a few covers for 40' & 52' 6" gondolas out of extra boxcar roofs to give me as little more variety. The WP had 27' gondolas (not covered) to haul coils from UT to CA. Their reasoning was since the coils only rode over the trucks the space in between was wasted. Have also learned that the New Haven used to ship brass (coils, ingots & pieces in their covered gondolas. Brass is used for silver plating so there must be someplace in LA that needs it.
Andy Jackson
Santa Fe Springs CA
ATSF/LAJ Ry Fan & Modeler
Santa Fe Springs CA
ATSF/LAJ Ry Fan & Modeler