West Isle Line
Encyclopedia
The West Isle Line
is a private railroad and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Farm Service. The line is operated by a contractor and the line does not have any employees. The line began service on January 7, 1998 after being acquired from the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway. The line runs for 5.25 miles from Alpaugh, California
to a connection with the BNSF Railway at Stoil (milepost 936 on BNSF's Bakersfield Subdivision). Western Farm Service is the only customer on the line.
Western Farm Service bought the line from the BNSF in order to avoid having the BNSF's "Alpaugh Branch" abandoned. The line was formerly part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
and was constructed by the ATSF in 1914.http://historynet.com/we/blallensworth/index3.html
The railroad, as of 2001, averages 400 carloads per year, primarily chemicals used for fertilizer
.
(serial number 21332) that was manufactured in February 1956 for Southern Pacific Railroad
. It is presently marked in a green paint scheme with yellow marking as "West Isle Line" engine number "3399". It was formerly known as SP 3399, 3472, and 5639.http://www.trainweb.org/westernrails/ca/
West Isle Line
The West Isle Line is a private railroad and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Farm Service. The line is operated by a contractor and the line does not have any employees. The line began service on January 7, 1998 after being acquired from the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway...
is a private railroad and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Farm Service. The line is operated by a contractor and the line does not have any employees. The line began service on January 7, 1998 after being acquired from the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway. The line runs for 5.25 miles from Alpaugh, California
Alpaugh, California
Alpaugh is a census-designated place in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 1,026 at the 2010 census, up from 761 at the 2000 census....
to a connection with the BNSF Railway at Stoil (milepost 936 on BNSF's Bakersfield Subdivision). Western Farm Service is the only customer on the line.
Western Farm Service bought the line from the BNSF in order to avoid having the BNSF's "Alpaugh Branch" abandoned. The line was formerly part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
and was constructed by the ATSF in 1914.http://historynet.com/we/blallensworth/index3.html
The railroad, as of 2001, averages 400 carloads per year, primarily chemicals used for fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
.
Motive power
The West Isle Line has one EMD GP9EMD GP9
An EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division in the United States, and General Motors Diesel in Canada between January, 1954, and August, 1963. US production ended in December, 1959, while an additional thirteen units were built in Canada, including...
(serial number 21332) that was manufactured in February 1956 for Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
. It is presently marked in a green paint scheme with yellow marking as "West Isle Line" engine number "3399". It was formerly known as SP 3399, 3472, and 5639.http://www.trainweb.org/westernrails/ca/