posted
I noticed after looking at some of the railroads' websites that many have tracks in the same area as each other. For example, both BNSF and Union Pacific have a lines north-south through Northern California that are virtually parallel to each other. Has the Starlight ever been rerouted over BNSF's tracks?
George Harris Member # 2077
posted
I believe it has been as a detour a couple of times. The line is much slower. Part of the BNSF route is on trackage rights of the former Southern Pacific and on the former Western Pacific. It is in a word fairly complicated.
Portland OR (mp 0.0) to Wisram WA (mp 106.1) BNSF's former SP&S, a very fast piece of track, route of the Empire Builder's Portland Section.
Wisram (mp 0.0) to Bend OR (mp 152.0 back = mp 0.0 ahead) to Chemult (mp 67.8 = SP milepost 503.3) is on the former Oregon Trunk, maximum speed 35 mph north of Metolius (mp 1090.7), 50 mph from there to Bend and 49 mph south of Bend, with quite a few curve restrictions.
At Chemult, begin trackage rights on the former SP. This is 326 miles from Portland via BNSF and 267 miles from Portland via UP, so we have laready traveled 60 extra miles.
On UP's former SP trackage rights from Chemult (SP mp 503.3) to Bieber Jct. at Klamath Falls (SP mp 427.8). This is the same route normally used by the Coast Starlight.
On the Bieber Extension, also one time called the Inside Gateway from Bieber Line Jct. (mp 0.0) to Keddie Wye (mp 202.8) This is a very slow piece of railroad due to curves and grades. Even though the nominal speed limit is 49 mph, most of it is 40 mph or less, including over 50 miles at 25 mph.
From Keddie (WP mp 282.3) to Stockton WP mp 92.7), BNSF has rights on UP's former Western Pacific Line. From mp 282.3 down to mp 227 the speed is 25 mph due to the curves, and not over 45 mph until below mp 201. The rest is mostly 70 mph territory.
Sacramento is at mp 139.8 on this line. Sacramento is at mp 88.8 on the SP line, with the crossing of the WP lime at 90.4.
Therefore, the Amtrak route on the UP is 331 miles (there is a 6.9 mile equation) and on the BNSF route is 341 miles, if I have added correctly, surprisingly little difference.
The BNSF route is probably slower due to the lower speeds due to curvature.
South of Stockton, you are on the San Jouquin Valley line of BNSF used by Amtrak.
Railroad Bob Member # 3508
posted
George, beautiful piece of writing. Thanks for your explanation of the arcane world of pre/post mergers, acquisitions, MP numbers, etc. on this as you accurately say "fairly complicated" piece of railroad.
posted