Action at the Colton Diamonds

This is where the BNSF double tracks and UP double tracks meet, few miles east of the West Colton Yard near San Bernardino. The traffic here can be busy, as it goes to Cajon Pass, UP's Sunset Route, and most of Southern California.

Expecting BNSF Dash 9 double stacks and UP manifests feeding the West Colton Yard, I was surprised instead with a BNSF manifest led by 4 axle units: B40-8W (#513), GP60B (#333 & #328), GP60 (#8739), and a B40-8 (#8632). Soon after, I got another surprise with a westbound UP doublestack train, including the Bay Area native GP40P-2 (3rd unit, UP #1375, ex-SP #3199) which used to pull the Peninsula Commute train.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Colton
• Diamonds
• GP40P-2
• GP60B
• B40-8
• Union
• Pacific
• BNSF
• JACBAR

[aaron13133]

a 2-axle dash nine? wtf?

[cchan006]

It's a 4-axle Dash 8, but it sure looks like a Dash 9 when it's coming right toward you.

[Railfan19960]

Woah, so it is rare. lol, So how many trains go though there?? How many Gp40P-2's did they have before they went retire?

[cchan006]

Only 3 GP40P-2's were made, all for SP's commute service between San Francisco and San Jose. I've ridden behind several as a kid way back when, so this was a reunion. I'm hoping the 2 units are still in service somewhere now.

[CRPULSE300]

@cchan006 They are all in service. Two with UP and the other (x-SP 3197) went to the Indiana Harbor Belt as its 4010.

[cchan006]

@CRPULSE300: Yup. See my more recent video of UP 1373 (ex-SP 3198) in action near Pueblo, CO. I went down there specifically to catch it.

[TheUnknownRailfan]

The sound of train diamonds are pure music!!

[mjet401bnsf]

music to my ears keep it up

[RailfanJunction]

I saw that doublestack with the GP40P-2, I'll post a video response.

[RailfanJunction]

That was the JACBAR. It used to go down the San Jacinto industrial lead and come up through the Box springs to go to Barstow.

[Barricade360]

i love the b40 that is leading nice catch

[bnsfwarbonnet]

ive seen ihb 4010 many times

[michal9857]

This was a very long train

[73Pawel]

Very nice video. Super turnouts. 5*****

[thetrainman407]

@aaron13133 - ATSF ordered a series of 83 GE B40-8W in the early 90's as to be designated on their "Super Fleet" Series along with the GP60Ms. They were originally assigned road numbers 500-582. Like the GP60Ms, ATSF was the only railroad to purchuse them (With the exception of a GM demonstrator) With the Exception of ATSF 561, 562, and 583 which were sold to the Providence and Worcester Railroad in Massachusetts, I believe that all of the B40-8Ws are still opperating on the BNSF system.

[The40MAC]

Cool the 2nd and 3rd units are both ex SP...great catch:)