February 1995 ewsNo. 375 · FEATURES 18 West Side Story An all-too-familiar saga of modernrailroading: The journeyof Southern Pacific's West Side Line from secondary main line to branch line to shortline spinoff Ted Benson 28 Images: Off the Main Line Don Marson The West's short lines are incredibly varied; this two-decade tour illustrates some of the region's most-photogenic, but least-known, railroads DEPARTMENTS Vic Neves 4 Editorial 5 PRN Letters 38 8 Expediter 10 Chicago 8.North Western Railroading from the Inside 12 CP Rail System The general manager of the Louisiana & Delta Railroad shares his personal story of Southern Pacific Lines running one of Southern Pacific's earliest shortline progeny 14 18 Burlington Northern Forrest L. Becht 50 Focus California 52 Santa Fe 54 Kansas City Southern 42 58 Union Pacific Idaho, Northern & Pacific 58 Transit An in-depth look at one of Union Pacific's recent spinoffs-a railroad whose main 59 Short Lines purpose is hauling timber products between several Boise Cascade mills 80 Amtrak/Passenger Wayne Monger 82 Regionals 82 PRN Advertising Index 84 The Last Word 50 88 PRN Classifieds Focus California: Sierra Railway ABOVE:INPR Cascade Local, Banks, Idaho, Sept. 28, 1994. Once, there were several shortline railroads meandering into the Sierra foothills; COVER: A Rarus Railway train, led by GP7 No. 102, nego­ now there are but few, including this endearing Baldwin-powered carrier tiates former Butte, Anaconda & Pacific trackage in Sil­ Vic Neves and Brian Solomon ver Bow Canyon, Mont., Oct. 19, 1990. Vic Neves photo PACIFIC RAILNEWS (ISSN 8750-8486) is published monthly by PClltrex, Inc., 2652 E. Walnut. Pasadena, CA 91 107. Second-class postage paid at Pasadena, CA 91109 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: PACIFIC R,,"_NEWS, P.O. Box 9491 I, Pasadena, CA 91109. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $30 (U.S.) for 12 issues, S58 for 24 issues. Foreign add S6 for each 12 issues. Single copy 55 postpaid from Pasadena office (subject to change without nOtice). CHANGE OF ADDRESS: The Post Orficc does not regularly forward 2nd Class Mail and PACIFIC RAILNEWS is not responsible for copies not forwarded or destroyed by the Post Office. Replacement copies/P.O. nOlifieations will be billed. Please allow us at least four weeks for any address change. ADVERTISING RATES: Contact PACIFIC RAILNEWS, P.O. Box 379. Waukesha. WI 53187: (414) 542-4900. MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE: For all subscription problems and inquilies call: (800) 210-2211 or outside U_S. (818) 793-3400. EDITORIAL iRailNews' PACIFIC RAILNnvs and PACIFIC NEIVS Tired of merger muddle? are registered trademarks or Pentrex, Inc. PUBLISHER: Michael W. Clayton Get off the main line EDITOR: Don Gulbrandsen ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Brian Solomon ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Carl Swanson it's time to get off the main EDITORIAL CONSULTANT: Mac Sebree line and back into the CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Greg Brown, heart of railroading. Thus Elrond G. Lawrence, Wayne Monger, Dick Stephenson the purpose of this issue. In dismissing shortline ART DIRECTOR: Tom Danneman railroading for its sup­ ADVERTISING MANAGER: Richard Gruber posed lack of heart­ pounding excitement, I think I've missed the point. Short lines actually appeal more to my person­ al values. I'm a strong be­ RAILROAD COLUMNISTS liever in the vitality of AMTRAK/PASSENGER-Dick Stephenson small business-and why 444 Piedmont Ave. #128, Glendale, CA 91206 not? Wo rking for a small AT&SF-Elson Rush 379, 53187 company provides me P.O. Box Waukesha, WI BURLINGTON NORTHERN-Karl Rasmussen with my livelihood. Small 11449 Goldenrod 51. NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448 IIIIiIlamene & Pacific's Corvallis Local switches the steam-pow­ businesses-be they short CN NORTH AMERICA-Mike Cleary ered Hull-Oakes saw mill at Dawson, Ore. Greg Brown photo line railroads or magazine 1395 W. Jessamine #206, 51. Paul, MN 55108 publishing companies-re­ C&NW-Michael W. Blaszak 've got a confession to make: When it member why they exist. Like large COl'pO­ 21 I South Leitch A ve., La Grange, I L 60525 CP RAIL SYSTEM-Karl Rasmussen comes to railroading, I'm basically a rations, their main goal is to turn a profit, 11449 Goldenrod 51. NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448 I mainline kind of guy. Give me a double­ but it's how they make those profits that ILLINOIS CENTRAL-Greg Sieren track thoroughfare and lots of trains-fast differs. Small businesses truly serve their 6117 S. 31SI. ApI. 12, Milwaukee, WI 53221 ones, powered by the newest locomotives­ customers-they ask them what they want KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN-Michael Hasbargen and I'm happy. I want a roar so loud you and then they find a way to give it to 1718 King Eider Drive, West Lafayette. IN 47906 can't hear yourself, exhaust so thick it MEXICO-Clirrord R. Prather them-and they realize that every cus­ P.O. Box 925, Santa Ana, CA 92702 chokes you and ballast flying in all direc­ tomer is important, even if they only ship REGIONALS-Dave Kroeger tions-now that's railfanning. When the one boxcar load, or buy one magazine, per I 15 Sugar Creek Lane No.7, North Liberty, IA 52317 trains pass, and silence takes ovel; you really year. Everything is so much more personal; SHORT LINES WEST-Wayne Monger relish it, and you've got a few minutes to col­ when you deal with a small business you 14091illman 51., Suisun City, CA 94585 73563,2652 lect your thoughts and talk with your friends can dial a phone number and have a good CompuServe SHORT LINES MIDWEST-Bob Thompson about what you just saw-but you know that chance of talking with the railroad's gener­ Route 6, Box 207, Paris, TX 75462 another train is going to show up and repeat al manager or with the magazine's editor. SP/SSW-joseph A. Strapac the chaos and the excitement all over again. Try that with a Class I railroad, or with P.O. Box 1539, Bellflower, CA 90707 Some people love branch lines and some big publishing company. SP (D&RGW)-Richard C. Farewell short lines. The railroading So this month, we're go- 9729 W. 761h Ave., Arvada, CO 80005 TRANSIT-Mac Sebree is thoughtful, personal, ing to pay tribute to an oft­ IIIII NW 191h Ave., Vancouver, WA 98685 even pastoral. Trains are overlooked part of railroad­ UNION PACIFIC-Wayne Monger few and far between and In dismissing ing, from several different 14091illman SI., Suisun City, CA 94585 when they do run they take perspectives. Ted Benson CompuServe 73563,2652 their time. When you rail­ shortline rail­ traces the sad slide of a sec­ SUBMISSIONS: Articles, news items and pholographs are fan off the main line, you ondary main to little-used welcome and should be sent to our \Visconsin editorial of· flee. When submitling material for consideration, include re­ travel at a different pace; branch-a story with a turn envelope and postage if you wish it returned. PACIFIC chaos is traded for relax­ roading for its happy ending as the line is RAILNEWS does nOI assume responsibility for the safe relUrn ation and excitement is re­ revived by shortline compa­ of material. Payment is made upon publication. placed by introspection. lack of excite- nies. Wayne Monger looks EDITORIAL ADDRESS: Submit all photos, arlicle submis­ Personally, I have other at how a relatively new sions and editorial correspondence to: PACIFIC RAILNEWS, P.O. Box 379, Waukesha, WI 53187 hobbies that provide me ment, I think I've Class I spinoff is faring in (4t4) 542-4900, FAX: (414) 542-7595 with the relaxation I Idaho and Oregon. Forrest CompuServe: 76307,t175 America Online: Pentrex need-I like railroading for missed the point. Becht offers us his personal its visceral effects. Give me insight from eight years of Submissions sent via UPS. Federal Express or similar courier must go to the following Slreel address: the main line any time. running a shortline system PACIFIC RAIlNEWS, 923 Friedman Drive, Waukesha, WI 53186 Except for now. For the discarded by the SP. Vic Magazine Subscription Service: Address all correspondence re­ last three months, I've been bombarded Neves' special Images section reveals the garding subscriptions (including new orders and renewals) to: with almost-daily fax transmissions from diversity and beauty of the West's short Union Pacific, Santa Fe and Burlington lines. And our Focus section profiles one of Pacific RaiiNews Northern as the three Western titans the West's unique, independent short lines. P.O. Box 17108 North Hollywood, CA publicly engage in an epic merger struggle. For one month at least, it's time that we all 91615-7108 In the process, satisfying egos and maxi­ learned to slow down and appreciate rail­ For all subscription problems and inquiries call: mizing stockholder profits have seemingly roading off the main line. (800) 210-2211 outside the U.S. (818) 793-3400 overshadowed serving customers and mov­ ing freight. I'm tired of it all. Now, I think Don Gulbrandsen © 1995 Penlrex, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited . 4-February 1995 READERS RESPOND Letters Readers Give Thumbs Up to New Look As the former publisher of this magazine, I Avard to Amarillo) runs four days per week in place of the AVBA. There is also a Q-BHCV Congratulations on the super new look for thought, naturally, that it was incapable of fur­ the publication. I support de-emphasizing of ther improvement. Now I pick up an advance (quality service train between Birmingham, Ala., and Clovis, N.M.) that began running in August the word "Pacific" in the title, and feel "Rail copy of the January 1995 issue and find my eyes that replaced a Q-TLCV (Tulsa to Clovis) that ews" is a good-and accurate-title for dazzled with a very great improvement indeed.