UP LA area ops question

Just as a matter of curiousity, was wondering what percentage of the UP trains heading South over Tehachapi go down the Palmdale Cutoff through Cajon Pass to West Colton vs go down the Saugus line directly into LA. I think there are at least some Intermodal trains that take the Saugus line. Any info would be appreciated, thanks!

There are some Union Pacific freight trains that run on the Saugas Line, mostly during the overnight hours. Metrolink runs about 20 trains a day between Lancaster, CA and Los Angeles, CA. Every so often the Saugas Local runs between Burbank Junction (where the Saugas Line and Coast Line split apart) northbound to Saugas, CA.

Union Pacific has about 15 trains a day that operates over Tehachapi, most of the traffic is to/from West Colton. There is joint traffic between BNSF and UP between Mojave and Kern Junction (Bakersfield). In a 24 hour period between both roads there are about 30 trains.

I think it's running 2 or 3 to 1 in favor of going to West Colton.

Most of the UP traffic bound for Los Angeles and or Long Beach operates on the Coast Line between Oakland and Los Angeles/Long Beach and one or two to West Colton. There are 8 - 10 Freight trains (all UP) that run along the Coast Line every day. The "oil cans" have one train in each direction between Wunpost and Long Beach, one quality merchandise train in each direction between Roseville and Long Beach, one manifest train in each direction between West Colton and Portland, OR with the rest of the traffic being intermodal on the Coast Line evry day.

The Saugas Line travels on the north edge of Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport with the Coast Line on the South edge of Bob Hope Airport.

There is some intermodal traffic on the Saugas Line, but it usually runs during the night hours.

BNSF runs double stack trains on the Tehachapi Line. This is traffic between Richmond, California and Barstow, California. BNSF runs their trains during the day and there is some UP traffic to/from West Colton during the day light hours as well.

The UP traffic between Bakersfield and West Colton sees action over Cajon Pass and Tehachapi.

Isn't most of the Coast Line Freight at Night?

Thanks for the info!

The QRVDO (Roseville to Dolores quantity merchandise) usually arrives at Gemco Yard in Van Nuys around 9:00am to set out and pick up before heading to Long Beach. The MWCPD (West Colton to Portland manifest usually takes the siding at Chatsworth around 11:00am for a southbound passenger train. The ILBOA (Intermodal Long Beach to Oakland) train passes by about 1:00pm at Chatsworth. The IOALB (Intermodal Oakland to Long Beach) train passes around 2:00pm at Chatsworth. All the other freight trains passes by during the night hours.

Also on the Coast Line between Los Angeles and Moorpark there are about 20 Metrolink passenger trains per weekday. Between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Amtrak runs about 10 passenger trains daily.

As far as the locals go; the Saugas Local works out of Gemco Yard and switches the Saugas Line from Burbank Junction to Saugas during the day. The Northridge Local switches the Coast Line from Burbank Junction to Santa Susana (about 20 miles west of Burbank Junction). The Leesdale Local switches the Coast Line between Santa Susana and Oxnard. The locals all work during the day. The Van Nuys Local was terminated a couple years ago when the Burbank Branch was removed from service. The track was removed for high speed bus service where the Burbank Branch had been located.

As kind of a foot note on the empty oil cans, they head northbound to Wunpost and usually meet Amtrak train #14 around San Luis Obispo.

This is more of an after thought, but the Coast Starlight trains #11 and #14 no longer stop at Glendale, California. The reason being with the Metrolink trains coming and going Between Los Angeles and Moorpark on the Coast line and Between Los Angeles and Lancaster on the Saugas Line the station at Glendale is too busy. The Starlight in place of Glendale now stops at Gemco Yard. Gemco is about 7 miles west of Burbank Junction.

The General Motors plant has mpved out and has been replaced by a shopping center. The yard tracks and office have remained. Amtrak has also put in a ticket office at Gemco as well.