Chasing UPY 686 on the LPA-18 1/9/2012, Watertown semaphore

I got a tip from Justin (Trainmasterkreks) that the Jefferson Junction-based local job that works this Union Pacific branch line had a GP15-1 for power, instead of the usual GP38-2. Given the perpetual small size of this train, I'd wondered why they didn't use a smaller locomotive much in the past.

Our first runby on this breezy Monday in early January is the UPY 686 running light northward on the south side of Watertown. A fixed aspect semaphore signal still stands as the distant signal for the diamond crossing with the Canadian Pacific main line to the north.

We catch up with the light engine again as it enters the south side of Clyman.

On the north side of Clyman is Clyman Junction, where the branch line joins the UP's Adams Subdivision main line. The two former Chicago & Northwestern lines used to cross at a diamond here, when the Clyman Sub was a north-south through route between Janesville and Fond du Lac.

The Y686 crew gets a warrant to access the Adams Sub main to pick up and switch out their cars in the shadow of the old C&NW coaling tower. Eight cars are awaiting pickup, five boxcars for the Seneca plant on the south side of Clyman, and three cars for industries in Jefferson.

The Seneca cars are placed at the short hood end of the locomotive so they can be shoved the mile or so south into the north-facing spur switch. Only three cars can fit inside the plant at a time, so the other two are pulled over the crossing and left on the spur for later spotting.

With this set-out complete, the little train clatters over County Highway JM a couple miles south of Clyman.

We leave this train with one more runby at the CP diamond in Watertown.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• train
• railroad
• railway
• railfan
• Union
• Pacific
• UP
• UPY
• EMD
• GP15-1
• locomotive
• semaphore
• signal
• branch
• line

[GenesisSanctuary]

Excellent video, Andy. I like the second shot, though maybe I'm just a sucker for crossing shots like that.:) This looks like a pretty cool operation, and the K3LA on 686 sounds awfully similar to the ones on Morristown & Erie's ALCOs. In fact, this operation is surprisingly similar to how I've seen ME operate, with cars on both ends of the engine. The only difference is that ME still blasts the horn for crossings even when running like that.