My grandfather used to live there, and back then it was very nice., 40 years ago.

very nice😀

DPU alright!

Nice one Mark. This is my old stomping ground. Being from Fresno I could be offended by your description of the town but I have phrased it the same way in the past. Been to that location lots of times and always sketchy neighbors.

The Duplainville diamond in Wisconsin (western Milwaukee suburb) is a royal pain is the asp! Sets on a marsh. We have to raise it several times a year, by hand (hydrologic tampers). Check for missing bolts and broken parts several times a week.

Love to hear a train go over the diamond.

I love train spotting at this interlocking as well the one up north in Stockton and then the ones down here at Kern Junction and in Mojave

Hey Mark, just for the fun out of it I was able to locate the exact spot where you were taking this video on Google maps. It took a while but I found it to cure my insomnia!

There are a few good neighborhoods left in Fresno. Mostly they are islands surrounded by not so good neighborhoods. I grew up by the S.P. yard in Fresno. It was a fun place to gather back in the 60's and 70's and run from bull. He could never catch us kids. The ice plant down on Weber Avenue was still being used,it was a good place to go cool off as a youngster. Ashlan avenue didnt have a overpass and sometimes trains coming into the yard would backup the traffic a half mile long. The caboose track was just North of the Clinton overpass and they would lay out pallets of coal every winter.There were a ton of shops and buildings between the engine facility and the overpass. All are gone now. Fresno yard, just like the Bakersfield yard has been gutted.As I got a little older I would occasionally visit the railroad jungle just a little bit further north along Weber. I do remember the jungle being kept clean, unlike the street people of today. They always has some fascinating characters there and had a lot of good stories to tell. There was a big Grove of Eucalyptus trees there and a canal ran right by it. And just a little south of that was a small corner liquor store called Hobo Liquors or Hobo groceries, I can't remember. The S.P. owned the property and cut the trees down back in 77. In all my time I never did see not one train ever go onto the Biola branch, and I saw only one train divert onto the West side line going to Tracy. I have a ton of pictures of the S.P. starting from 1974.One of these days I'll have to figure out what to do with them. There is a aerial picture in the Fresno yard office of the yard right after it opened in the 50's, it was surrounded by orchards. Went to work for the R.R. IN 04 and retired last year out of Mojave. I haven't seen a Scarlett and Grey for a number of years now.

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

At age 12 in 1962 I used to ride my bike up Weber Ave. and park under the window of the ice plant in the summer. The SD and GP9s would be idling away, they never shut them off. At that time there were only Fig orchards north of Ashlan Ave. (grade crossing) and NO TRAFFIC north of Clinton Ave. Weber Ave. north of Clinton used to be named Espee Ave. The Biola Branch was abandoned by SP in the 1970s. There was one customer in Biola who got hoppers of plastic pellets. They complained to the state PUC to stop the abandonment but it didn't do any good. In steam days the Westside Hauler used the Biola line to go into the Weber Ave. Muscatel Yard instead of the old Fresno Yard downtown. The Biola line connected to the Westside line near Kerman. The 1919 Sanborn map of Fresno shows the wye on H St. did not exist yet. The Weber Ave. Muscatel Yard was built in 1929 for the PFE ice plant. That's when the wye had the third leg added so trains coming off the Westside line from Tracy could go direct to the ice plant. The old SP roundhouse was located on G St. across from where ABC 30 studio is today. I remember the old stock corral on Weber Ave north of where the ice plant was. Before 1929 the stock corral was located at H St. and Roosevelt Ave., which was then the north end of Fresno.

@barksatyoubarks

8 ай бұрын

I loved reading your comment. I'm 22, born and raised in Fresno. I really enjoy hearing about the history of both the rail lines through town!! Especially the SP, I love the scarlet and grey. If you find any way to digitize those photos I'd love to see them. I've been all over town piecing together what once was from the photos I can find and stories like yours. Thanks for your comment!!

They cross each other again at the stockton diamonds in a very bad part of south stockton.

I actually quite enjoy the sound of the click-clack. But this is a very neat location. Id love to check it out myself sometime if i get the chance.

Hi Mark, I worked for ATSF/BNSF as Conductor, Brakeman, Switchman, Training Coordinator, etc. etc., from 1973 to 2014, retired. I really enjoy your channel. I think I remember you giving me a ride one time, when my train had some trouble on the Tehachapi, and I thank you for that! And thanks for keeping me updated on what's happening nowadays on our old stomping grounds !

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

I gave many trainmen rides up there over the years, so we've probably met! It's my pleasure to keep sharing! Thanks for checking it out!

Seems that all X tracks Beat up the equipment. Let's take a closer look to see if there's room for improvement .

Great video! My dad worked right there in Calwa at the old Producers Cotton OIl plant in the 1950-70's - great memories for me. Thanks for all your work!

@kmcc01

Жыл бұрын

Had a friend that worked for Ranchers Cotton Oil. I think both are closed now? The big storage areas for cotton (California Compress) that was west of Rodding Park are gone. You hardly see any cotton fields in the valley any more.

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

@@kmcc01 They lost the federal crop subsidy. Back in the 50s and 60s there was lots of cotton grown around Fresno. Cal-Cot compressed and stored cotton in Pinedale. Today Cal-Cot makes their money from real estate. They still own the land in Pinedale. All of those businesses in the Palm and Herndon business park lease the land from Cal-Cot. Pretty smart, huh? There is still cotton being grown down around Bakersfield on the west side. Cotton seed oil is now said to be bad for your health.

Great catches at the diamonds. Oh I like your tripod.

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

Now if I can just find a flat spot to use and somewhere I don't have to lug it over hill and dale!

Busy location!!! Thanks for catching this for us.

Hi mark my name is mike, thank you for this videos and noise awesome noise i like trains all my life as a hobby im building one in my house ho scale greetings from Northern California

Such a cool sound they make going over a crossing

Mr Mark that is a great video my four uncles worked in the British Indian railway in 1925 to 1960. U bring back my childhood memories. They always tell us about different routes and travel stores. Thank you so much for your good work.

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! It's my pleasure to share!

They need to build a bridge here like they did at the Colton diamonds interlocking. Stockton and Fresno are two very busy rail interlockings

Well done mark . Love the Rhythm off the Diamond sounds I would park a Chair and hang out All day 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 . Be safe Robin out .

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

Bring earplugs! You can still hear the sound, it just doesn't hurt!

Pretty cool looking place to catch trains, Mark! (Dave).

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

Almost as good as Stockton Tower.

Looks great you will get better with your new toy.

Love the action great catches are you using a scanner to find out who is moving?

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

Yes, but when they're running on signals, they don't talk much, so a lot of it is still a crapshoot!

Another fantastic video Mark!! Love the info you give on different things around the crossover, Learning every time I watch your videos!! Be safe and enjoy the retirement!

Great action packed video! The last train was bookin! 🚂🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃💯👍🇺🇸

Awesome. Been same place you filming Fresno and Santa Fe way outstanding.

Outstanding, Mark! It looks to me that those semis are being loaded with Almond husks. Having lived in Manteca and Ripon for a number of years, that's what it looks like to me. Highball, Mark!

Calwa Jct in Fresno California was a SP/ ATSF Junction Awesome Footage of the Calwa Junction in Fresno California Mark And Keep the Train Videos Coming And You should Do a Video 📹 of Stockton Junction in Stockton California 💯💯💯💯💯💯👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

There are videos of Stockton Tower on KZread. It was torn down to make way for the high speed turnout that connects BNSF to the SP/UP line going to Sacramento. When you ride Amtrak from Fresno to Sacramento you change tracks where Stockton Tower used to be. The ACE Depot in Stockton used to be the SP Stockton Depot. The old WP in Stockton now uses the SP/UP track through downtown. Before Freeway 41 was built in downtown Fresno there was Fresno Tower interlocking where the SP Clovis branch line crossed the Santa Fe mainline. The Clovis Branch now connects to the Santa Fe mainline and goes north to Olive Ave. then out McKinley Ave to Clovis Ave.

Hey, nice catches there, Mark! That BNSF IM train has an S. Those BNSF IM trains with UPS have Q or Z. The Q stands for QUALITY, it's a guaranteed service IM. IM - Intermodal

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

The UPS trains through Fresno used to be 991 and 199. 199 usually came through westbound between 9:00 am and 11:00 am. 991 eastbound between 3:00 and 5:00 pm. When they still had cabooses I saw them do a rolling crew change at Calwa without coming to a stop, just creeped along at 1-2 mph.

@208Railfanning

Жыл бұрын

@@dfirth224 I'm not well versed in the railroad pre-1995. I'm pretty well versed in the railroad post-1995, but I could learn more though.

Nice video, Mark. Question, have you ever considered what you would do if a train derailed while you were standing next to the tracks recording it? Mark.

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

No more than I think about what I would do if a semi pulled out in front of me on the Harley, or if I started swapping ends on the KTM in the desert at 70mph. Life is filled with risk. In the 40 years I worked at SP/UP, and in the four years since retirement, I have never actually witnessed a derailment happen. That being said, I always have an escape route scoped out. Unlike a car or truck that can suddenly spin or swerve and hit you, trains (where I worked and shoot) take a bit to start moving away from the tracks, giving you time to react. Thanks for the concern though!

I used to call Fresno the armpit of California, but in fact, there still are a few nice areas around there...I think.

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, since the annexed Pinedale! Some of the older, upscale neighborhoods on the east side still look nice, or did last time I was out there. All the valley towns have some very terrible areas. Thanks for checking it out!

A StL Railfan just taught me this recently but does your tripod a bubble will make sure in the middle by getting into the middle does have the grips okay so unlock and close again all three then see if bubble centered only do this one grip the top one if necessary do the middle ones

That was pretty neat Mark... Wow I've run a few hundred trains thru there... it was just brutal in the middle of the night in heavy fog! btw I was at a friend's house last Friday, Dave Stanley's (KZread: Morada Belt Railway), doing a HO Model Train OP Session and all of us were Rails.. in fact one guy had just run up from Bakersfield to Stockton.. He is a BNSF Engineer... it was pretty fun... Stay Warm DD 😜

Are those shed housings stainless steel or aluminum?

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

Stainless. It's more durable

Gotta love it Magoo, there is no good side of town in Fresno

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

People in Fresno say the same about Bako.

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

That's why they annexed Pinedale!

I recall ATSF manifest trains chock full of ADM corn sweetener tankers rumbling through Fresno in the 1980s. Any idea where they were coming from/going to? They ceased appearing many years ago.

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

Corn sweetener is what put the sugar beets out of business. Read the label on your food products and you'll be surprised at how many use liquid corn sweetener. I think the corn sweetener contributes to the nationwide obesity problem. Your body reacts differently to it.

Saw a UP train heading west to the Cajon Pass yesterday. As I was filming it I mentioned your great video on the derail and put a link to it in mine. Hope you got more views.

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I always appreciate a shout out! I'll subscribe to your channel, and do the same for you !

@thatcurveguy

Жыл бұрын

@@MarkClayMcGowan Thanks

Awesome video thanks for sharing it

Excellent - wonder why the Amtrak was reversed coming out of the station?

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

Push - pull. Saves from turning the train around at Bakersfield. This is how commuter trains operate. Santa Fe used to charge Amtrak $1,000 each time they turned a train at Bakersfield. The last car (cab car) has operating controls for the one engineer. Diesel locomotives don't care which way they are moving.

@mikepate6404

Жыл бұрын

thanks - I didn’t realize that was a commuter train.

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

@Mike Pate it's not, they just use the same idea of dual end controls as there are no turning facilities at Oakland or Bakersfield.

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

@@mikepate6404 Other California Amtrak trains also operate push-pull. "Capitol Corridor" San Jose to Sacramento; "Coaster" LA to San Diego and SLO. ACE Stockton to San Jose. Metro-Link trains in LA are all push-pull. The only exception is the long haul Coast Starlite.

@mikepate6404

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info. I need to get out there and see all of this myself. Enjoy the the videos and the local natural scenery that goes with it.

Keyword: Buck Owens.

Mark did you take the Jensen exit to get there?

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

North Ave. goes right to this location.

The train at the end was flying what was the tracks speed there?

@centralcaliforniarail

Жыл бұрын

70 for freight, 79 for passenger

@Acehitman369

Жыл бұрын

@@centralcaliforniarail ok thanks 👍🏽

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

Not sure about BNSF tracks, but it's 30 on the UP track. I doubt that it is 70 and 79 over the diamonds and entering the yard limits, but that is just my opinion.

So exciting Mark…so much action at that site. Did the Amtrak California have permission to go through the inter lock? I didn’t remember you saying

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

Of course they did. There are about 8 Amtrak trains per day through Fresno. Most operate out of Oakland but a few go to Sacramento.

I've seen videos from this spot before, definitely looks industrial. (wouldn't want to around there after dark) What's your opinion of the CA. HSR project Mark?

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

Very negative! I'm planning to do a piece about it very soon.

CALWA (CALIFORNIA WINE ASSOCIATION)

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

Seriously? I always wonder where they get the names for some of these locations. Thanks!

@richardtaylor5948

Жыл бұрын

@@MarkClayMcGowan hahah yeah seriously. Your channel is good stuff. Keep on keeping on.

If the government waste the money for that High-Speed Rail will people use it?

@dfirth224

Жыл бұрын

Not a waste of money. In the 60s many people said the space program was a waste of money. Big projects like HSR take 20 years. People don't realize that before any track can be laid all of the underground utilities have to be moved. Gas, water, sewer, telephone, etc. They have been working on those projects for the last 5 or 6 years.

When you're on the gravel and not on the road pavement you're on private

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

I'm a 40 year SP/UP retiree in good standing. I know what is what and where, but thanks for your concern.

Thanks Mark, for all you do! Love your channel and all your video productions. Good God, how fast was that last consist moving? He was haulin' balls !!!! Have a good week. Best wishes from Oklahoma City.

@MarkClayMcGowan

Жыл бұрын

The speed limit on both roads is 35 for freight and 40 for passenger. He seemed to be doing every bit of that! Thanks for the compliments and for checking it out!