Here is a video compilation of the 1st and 2nd Watson Local jobs (Y-WAT1011 and Y-WAT2021), focusing on Ex-Santa Fe GP60 number 194, one of the last remaining GP60s still painted in the famous yellowbonnet paint scheme. The Watson Jobs operate on the southern section of the BNSF Harbor Subdivision from Watson Yard in Wilmington to the Chevron Refinery in El Segundo and typically use four-axle EMD power such as the GP40X, GP60, and GP60M-3. Prior to the construction of the Alameda Corridor, the 26-mile-long Harbor Sub was the primary route for then-Santa Fe and now-BNSF trains to get from the Ports of LA to the transcontinental mainline. The Alameda Corridor, completed and opened for rail traffic in 2002, is used by both BNSF and Union Pacific and is a means to move more trains more quickly and with higher capacity, relieving congestion on surface streets above through the use of the trench which spans 8 miles from Vernon to Compton. Since the opening of the Corridor, the Harbor Sub was closed to through rail traffic, only seeing regularly-scheduled local trains on parts of the route. The Harbor Subdivision is now split into two sections, with the southern portion ending just south of LAX Airport, and the northern section stopping just south of the Malabar Yard in Vernon. The middle section was converted into right-of-way for the brand-new Metro Crenshaw/LAX Line which opened in early 2023. The southern portion is in danger of being converted into right-of-way for the Metro Green Line extension into Torrance, meaning the scenic shots at Lawndale may one day no longer be possible, with fencing going up and the landscaping being torn out. This video compilation features various locations, including Watson Yard, "The Jungle" in Torrance, Monaco Hill in Lawndale, the BNSF-UP Diamond El Segundo, and various other locations along the right-of-way for a comprehensive overview of the Harbor Subdivision territory. Mechanical crossing bells, numerous crossings, heavy grades, and scenic viewpoints make the Harbor Sub a one-of-a-kind gem and a true railfan favorite.
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