Perhaps because industries tell a story. The real story of products moving America can be seen in action in these settings. I often enjoy visiting industrial parks and seeing all the ones with abandoned spurs and retracing what freight went where.
This is a phenomenal vid! Thanks for sharing without running commentary and narrative. Just plain ol' industrial switching at its finest in a great setting with some amazing power. Thank you!
Indeed the conductor that painted it did a great job! Although I'm sure he'd tell you it's a pain keeping it running. The fact that it doesn't have ditch lights is cool, and legal since they're just a switching railroad.
I used to be A truck driver for A company called Matgrano inc it was a Budweiser distributer in SF and our warehouse was right where you shot this video in south SF. I used to always drive my truck over these tracks leaving the warehouse everyday but I never got A chance to see the UP trains street run, and i always wondered if these tracks were active? Anyway cool video
tigersharkot ALCO 539T powered locomotive's can be run with virtually no smoke but it takes control at the throttle not to yard out on it before the engine responded. That engineer is simply letting the engine doing the work that and the fact it is well maintained. There have been several railroads and industrial switching operations Ford being one of the larger ones that take care of the engines and it shows in operation. As you need to advance the throttle you simply do it slowly after you take up the slack, done properly it results in very little black smoke nut still moves the cars around easily.
Yup. You'd be amazed how much stuff from those days is just lying around out there on the piers. There are some really neat old semis out there too. Thanks for viewing!
When and where are the best times to catch these trains? Google says that the SFBR has a freightyard near Islais Creek but its hard to tell how far they run locomotives away from it and when they run trains, as Google lists their operating hours as 8-5. I really would like to see an Alco road switcher in business service, though I hear the SFBR has relegated it to backup power.
I drive big trucks and those are the areas I hate the most to tight to unload at and a active railroad that close to warehouses. But I like trains to just not that close to me.
Just happened upon this video. I'm curious. Having lived by several Rail Yards in my lifetime, and having been a professional photographer and TV cameraman I'm curious what you had to do to get permission to video in the yard... thank you
Yes. It was converted to biodiesel years ago, however they usually run with a mixture of biodiesel and regular diesel. How much diesel is in the mix compared to biodiesel, I have no idea.
I don't know about solar cells, but there's entire wind farms located up on Altamont Pass. I'll have to get up there to film something eventually. In all seriousness, the contaminated dirt being moved by this railroad largely comes from construction sites around the Bay Area. The railroad loads it into unit trains to be hauled out to Utah for proper disposal. So all that dirt you're so appalled by isn't created, just taken from somewhere else to build someone's house. As for the "smoking dirty motor," more often than not, the most reliable and rugged workhorses are the ones that get dirty.
why....why do i love watching switching in the industrial area. And the older the area,the cooler i think it is
Perhaps because industries tell a story. The real story of products moving America can be seen in action in these settings. I often enjoy visiting industrial parks and seeing all the ones with abandoned spurs and retracing what freight went where.
@@Alwaystrains we are fuking geeks :)
@@daveyboy_ Hey speak for yourself man lol
Nostalgia puts the ZAP on ones head. That tough rustic feel of R/R transport. Hell i love watching intercity swithing...in Getto.
Agreed 100%
This is a phenomenal vid! Thanks for sharing without running commentary and narrative. Just plain ol' industrial switching at its finest in a great setting with some amazing power. Thank you!
Thanks! Glad to hear it.
Love the industrial switching - very well done video!
Me Too 😊😊😊
I always loved industrial railroad action more than just regular rail yard action
Cool • Cheers from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
Nice cab ride !
The 23 sounds solid and looks great.. Its good to see the 23 isn't blemished with ditch lights.
Indeed the conductor that painted it did a great job! Although I'm sure he'd tell you it's a pain keeping it running. The fact that it doesn't have ditch lights is cool, and legal since they're just a switching railroad.
I used to be A truck driver for A company called Matgrano inc it was a Budweiser distributer in SF and our warehouse was right where you shot this video in south SF. I used to always drive my truck over these tracks leaving the warehouse everyday but I never got A chance to see the UP trains street run, and i always wondered if these tracks were active? Anyway cool video
What a gem!! Must see!
Indeed it's something a railfan must stop to see when in San Francisco.
Great video! Thank you for sharing. If by any chance you could get out on some of older trackage it would be amazing
A most excellent video !
A busy day at the piers.....music to my ears!
Indeed it's sweet. The last bit of the old State Belt still living on, that's real heritage. Thanks for viewing!
What a gorgeous switcher. Excellent piece of rolling history
Indeed it's a fun operation to go watch. Glad to see that at least one shortline still believes in Alco power.
Fantastic video. Thanks for posting it.
Thanks! You're welcome, always glad to share.
An Alco without smoke? that's amazing :)
A big tip of the hat is owed to the group of guys that keep this unit running as efficiently as it does. The unit does have its moments though.
tigersharkot
ALCO 539T powered locomotive's can be run with virtually no smoke but it takes control at the throttle not to yard out on it before the engine responded. That engineer is simply letting the engine doing the work that and the fact it is well maintained. There have been several railroads and industrial switching operations Ford being one of the larger ones that take care of the engines and it shows in operation. As you need to advance the throttle you simply do it slowly after you take up the slack, done properly it results in very little black smoke nut still moves the cars around easily.
@@jamesshanks2614 This is exactly why she's not smoking. A good running 539 in the hands of an experienced engineer won't smoke at all.
Such a bummer these beautiful alcos are in storage now
Great video as always! Really like that purr of the S2
Thanks Scott! Hard not to love it.
Also, Mr. Engineer really knows how to carry a tune with that horn :P
The customised van @ 4:20 is a reminder of a more carefree time.
Anthony
Yup. You'd be amazed how much stuff from those days is just lying around out there on the piers. There are some really neat old semis out there too. Thanks for viewing!
Awesome catch! Love that S5T.
Thanks! Very refreshing to hear something that's not a K3 or K5 around here.
Yeah, I can agree with you there. where I am, NW Oregon, the PNWR has almost nothing but K3LA's, only a few stick out.
When and where are the best times to catch these trains? Google says that the SFBR has a freightyard near Islais Creek but its hard to tell how far they run locomotives away from it and when they run trains, as Google lists their operating hours as 8-5. I really would like to see an Alco road switcher in business service, though I hear the SFBR has relegated it to backup power.
For the fanrailroads like me man must see this nice movie..
Thanks gabriel!
well good video filmed
Thank you!
Wow. Surprised to even see trains (besides BART and Caltrain and MUNI) in SF!
You'd be amazed how much trackage the belt actually had in SF back in the day. This small yard is only a tiny piece of what they once were.
In the 70s there was a lot of rail traffic look at Illinois Ave in SF
Do these Alco's still run? Great video.
Wow I Think The SFBR Was Switching Out Some Dirty Dirt Cars
I drive big trucks and those are the areas I hate the most to tight to unload at and a active railroad that close to warehouses. But I like trains to just not that close to me.
Awesome!!!!!
Thanks!
Nice video!
Thanks!
Just happened upon this video. I'm curious. Having lived by several Rail Yards in my lifetime, and having been a professional photographer and TV cameraman I'm curious what you had to do to get permission to video in the yard... thank you
Thanks that was beautiful :)
Glad you liked it!
Was #23 converted to Bio Diesel when this was shot?
Yes. It was converted to biodiesel years ago, however they usually run with a mixture of biodiesel and regular diesel. How much diesel is in the mix compared to biodiesel, I have no idea.
Why is there a guy humping the train hopper at 7:50?
Because he thinks he's funny.
Because he loves trains as much as we do.
When do they switch
They work Monday thru Friday, though the times vary. The time they switch just depends on what they have going on.
How did you get in
What, in the cab? I know the engineer. Really chill guy.
Appalling and dirty. Where are the windmill mounts and solar cells? Is that a smoking dirty motor running? Do as I say, not as I do..
I don't know about solar cells, but there's entire wind farms located up on Altamont Pass. I'll have to get up there to film something eventually. In all seriousness, the contaminated dirt being moved by this railroad largely comes from construction sites around the Bay Area. The railroad loads it into unit trains to be hauled out to Utah for proper disposal. So all that dirt you're so appalled by isn't created, just taken from somewhere else to build someone's house. As for the "smoking dirty motor," more often than not, the most reliable and rugged workhorses are the ones that get dirty.
Where's aoc and her squad getting this dirty dirt put of green sf
boss
Thanks dude. Gotta hand it to ya, you really know how to carry a tune with the horn.
I am so sick of graffiti!
Why is there a guy humping the train hopper at 7:50?
That's their new conductor in training. Those who know him know that he's quite the character. He's just having fun at his job!
He's also making a joke when It means humping cars (bumping into cars and letting them move freely).