Farewell, Feather River Intermodals

As of November 2009, Union Pacific will end operations of double stack trains in the Feather River Canyon, as intermodal traffic is moved to Donner Pass. Some say the future of railroading in the FRC is looking dismal, and the end of the age of intermodals on this line will be the downfall of the Canyon. Others say there is still hope and this will be a change for the better, with a new age of train traffic on this revered line. As for myself, the railfan of the Feather River Route, I have mixed feelings and beliefs about all of this. And until recently, I had not discovered just how much the intermodals meant to me, how much I enjoyed watching a stack train pass by. After all these years, I thought I had grown tired of them, but in this case, I suppose, you don't know what you have until it is gone...and until it seems as though it's dust in the wind. At this time, no one knows exactly what the future holds in store for the FRC. I guess only time will tell. And until then, we'll let this video stand tribute to the "Feather River Intermodals".


Soundtrack: "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• union
• pacific
• intermodals
• double
• stack
• train
• feather
• river
• canyon
• farewell
• tribute

[C60AC]

@kekedog It is if he's going uphill.

[kekedog]

@Alwaystrains with the heavy-loaded train,snow is not a problem,haha

[Alwaystrains]

Dont worry, everything will work out. Although Donner Pass is the more ideal route for intermodal traffic, I am certain UP will still keep the FRC line open. There are still manifest and dirt trains that run through the area regularly. Not only that, but if there were ever a problem on Donner, such as a derailment or too much snow, UP will need this route to keep all of their trains moving. Like the huge derailment on Donner last August that forced all freights over the FRC. I am not worried.

[N330AA]

FRC has a much lower ruling grade than Donner, so i'm sure it'll have a future still.

[bnsf7676]

at the end of your video where is that yard and do you have any photos of it going to model the feather river canyon in HO and need information about what's there.

Jimmy

[C60AC]

Yes, supposedly. Funny how things come back around, I told James about it! LOL. Thanks for the heads up. I'm keeping James updated as to when I start seeing/hearing an increase in traffic so he can go out to Gerlach and catch some rerouted intermodals out there. I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen though, at this point the whole thing is still only hearsay. No one has any solid facts about this happening. I first heard it from a source in Portola.

[hoorider13]

@C60AC Newsflash, James (aka Coaststarlight11) says UP will once again run stackers through the FRC as well as autos and heavy haulers.  The Donner will be shut down for freights for maintenance. Only AMTK #5 and #6 will be regular runs while CTC is installed.

[trainboy94]

Right now the canyon is really dead during the day due to major track work, after this work is done Donner will be strictly Amtrak and intermodal and everything else will go through the canyon

[BNSF7776]

Sucks to hear that. I'm sure they will reroute Intermodal traffic through FRC on those occasions. Great video 5/5

[trainboy94]

My friend who works for UP said that all heavy westbound trains will take the canyon