A Trip On The Plaster City Narrow Gauge
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
- The first comprehensive railfan video covering the entire 26-mile Plaster City Narrow Gauge Railroad. This is the last exclusively freight-hauling three foot gauge railroad in the United States. The overall uniqueness of this operation demonstrates what a modern, 21st Century American narrow gauge railroad might look like had the national industrial transportation industry not taken such a turn years ago. The locomotives, designated DL-535E, were built by MLW/Bombardier in 1982 for the White Pass & Yukon, however, they were never delivered. The units are powered by an ALCO 251D prime mover producing 1200hp. The Gypsum train makes anywhere from 1-3 round trips to the mine and back depending on the demand for ore used in the production of drywall at Plaster City.
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Just love the old Alco sound. Like an old harley, nothing sounds quite the same
Its a ge locomotive
@@richharris9489 no it’s a alco all right
@@richharris9489 It's an ALCo designed Bombardier built locomotive.
What a GREAT video. I’m working in the railroad industry for 50 years and got to ride on my first narrow gauge in Portland, Maine. Examining the rail, it looked like the rails were standard weight
Great coverage of a really unique operation. Also, 16:30 had me laughing a little on the inside. Great video.
Great job documenting this unique operation. I'm not a big narrow gauge fan, but I really would like to see this little short line in person.
Good to see clean equipment not ruined by vandals.
First thing I said (to myself lol) was that sure sounds like an Alco. Then checked the description. Thanks for sharing 👍
With a little imagination that looks like the SP narrow gauge in the Owens Valley. Great video!
This is an awesome video. I didn’t think Narrowgauge still existed. Thanks for sharing.
This is really awesome. I've spent a lot of time in Ocotillo and Anza Borrego, and one night during a survey we decided to see what the lights in the distance were and found plaster city, still as the night.
Great footage of really unique train. Thanks!
5:53 despite spending 2 days out there - I annoyingly did not get up on that ridge both days. Definitely want to get back for that…glad to see other perspective from there
The engine really sounds terrific in spite of the wind noise... nice video, thank you!
great suprise ! dad and i went to plaster city about 1970, if remember right there was porter and g e locos.
This is one clean machine.
Really cool footage, thanks for sharing 👍😎
I go camping at Superstition with friends. We ride out to that grafiti tressle. Seen the train a few times. Nice to have info on what it's doing for campfire stories. Thanks!
Excellent video
I always go out to Imperial County with my family for camping and riding ATVs and we always take the 8 that passed by the rails that run through the refinery. My dad told me that they still ran rail operations there, but I never realized how it worked until I decided to do a little more research
Excellent footage!
Very cool
Didn't know about this railroad and thought 3' was exclusively used on heritage railroads only these days.
But this is a full freight hauling enterprise.
It does remind me a bit of a desert train on the narrow gauge somewhere in Africa, where several lines of this type exist.
I've been there twice but as a flatbed truck driver love looking at 111 and 112, would love to see them dumping the loads.
Great vid!!!
I'm just curious about why the first car is empty on the inbound train?
act as a buffer car
Loco looks like a shunter. In Australia, we have heaps of narrow gauge lines and they carry heavy loads. The gauge comes in very useful in hilly terrain, where standard gauge becomes expensive to build.
Here in Malaysia - Our Alco Ircon YDM4 is a shunter actually but we use it for long distance passenger services, either for day train services or overnight sleeper train services
Nice Jarod, Would like to see this
A Former White Pass and Yukon Railroad MLW locomotive built in Canada.
William H. Baird Ordered and painted for the White Pass & Yukon, never delivered or owned by the White Pass & Yukon. Therefore technically not former White Pass and Yukon units ;)
They did have a #113, but surprise surprise, the unlucky number got the engine in a wreck, so they got #111. And it was around that point that #114 was sent to the White Pass, since it had just restarted.
I feel more comfortable with 5ft gauge for industrial operations at a large gypsum quarry and the large gypsum plants. Although timber logging and peat extraction operational sites widely utilizing less than even 3ft narrow gauge NG 750mm~29.528in. The majority of 750mm NG rail roads already have long suspended their operations due to lacking demand for peat. The children's NG rail roads are quit popular among all post soviet states. Such recreational rail roads also serve as a place for internship for students of vocational schools. Much better to grasp knowledge and hone skills, when you work in a real place.
She's a beauty 🤩
Excellent video, nice equipment. They could use some flange lubricators there... If it wasn't for the sparse vegetation around you'd think you were looking at photo of the surface of Mars. Wow! Not far from the Mexican border there. Cheers, AC.
Great video. Why theres a empty wagon right after the loco on 13:20.
The first car is left empty so there is a buffer zone between the locomotive and the loading chute. There isn’t sufficient clearance for the locomotive to fit under the chute so leaving the first car empty provides enough space so the locomotive will not crash into it.
Actually one of these locomotives is currently on the White Pass & Yukon route, I think its unit number 114
Railroad,Preserver,2000 You are correct. See my cab ride video of WPY 114.
USG ==United States Gypsum???
Would make a wonderful HOn3 layout!!!
With a decent size HO switching layout connected to it. There is a large yard and a cut nose GP9
Even 2 footers are useful in a lot of applications.
Actually, aDL-535E was delivered to the WP&Y, numbered 114. If at any point this operation shuts down, I can see these locomotives making it to Skagway, especially of the WP&Y is serious about restarting freight operation.
BNSF1995 Watch my previous video for a cab ride on WP&Y #114. Unlikely that USG will shut down this operation in the near future. There’s still 50-70 years of ore at the mine and the narrow gauge is still the most cost effective mode of transportation to the plant.
wait White Pass & Yukon is starting freight?
@@SouthernPacific8984 I picked up a load from there this last monday and the forklift driver said the current mine has at least a 100 year life span and that USG had purchased more land behind the mine.
Nice Video! I have been wanting to get out there and see them, what schedule do they usually run if you know?
Coaster3001 No set schedule. It all depends on the gypsum demand at the plant. Normally they run at least 1-2 trains each weekday. The best bet would be to go out to the plant early to mid morning on a weekday to catch something at the plant. If the hoppers are missing on the runaround, you know the train is out at the mine.
@@SouthernPacific8984 Thank You! Didn't know they did two runs a day, always assumed they just did one.
Sounds like a new contracted switching operation. Ok thanks.
what year did they build the line
Any word from pacific imperial railroad that suppose to run on the old desert line?
Mario Campos THE FAM Pacific Imperial Railroad filed for bankruptcy and dissolved several years ago. All assets including the contract to operate the Desert Line were awarded to the Baja California Railroad, which currently operates the Mexican portion of the line between Tijuana and Tecate. Like its predecessor, BJRR is supposed to rehabilitate the line through to Plaster City. Goals were set and a project plan was published, but so far no significant work has been done on the line.
Is a ex White pass locomotive ?
Here is an Insane idea that most likely will Never Happen:
All the 3ft Gauge Railroads in the USA combine to form a Mega narrow gauge Railway.
The engineers don't wave from the trains anymore, like they did back in 1954.
Why is there a platform with handrails on top of that tanker?
That's for the safety of the person who fills up the tank car . It's used to bring potable water to the mine site they don't have any water source there
This, I should send to Knut Ragnar Holme!
I'm surprised this railroad is still narrow gauge! Where on the line is their locomotive shed?
MrBnsftrain Plaster City.
What's in the tank car?
Potable water.
Does American Railroads still operate these trains or USG employees?
The narrow gauge operation was always operated by USG directly. The standard gauge switching at the plant is contracted. It’s currently WAMX.
What state is this in?
California
So it makes these trips daily?
AsianPerson3 Yes. Sometimes 2-3 round trips daily.
@@SouthernPacific8984 Awesome. Thanks!
Whos making / refurbishing all this narrow gauge equipment? Some company must be keeping this old stuff going. I would think that any 3 foot stuff would be largely considered obsolete as far as replacement parts etc..
The locomotives were built in 1982 by Bombardier and the cars were built in the early 2000s by Trinity. Other than wheels, many of the components are the same as modern standard gauge equipment so there is a lot of support for maintenance and repair.
So why a three foot gauge?
economically feasible
What type of locomotive is that ew
Richmond Railfan Bombardier DL535E
Do you need need permission to chase the train or is most access public?
The line from Plaster City to the Quarry cuts through BLM land, so it’s publicly accessible. If you are hanging around the plant, it’s a good idea to check in with the front office so security knows you are just there to watch the train.
Where is this ??
Richard Harris Jr. Plaster City, which is approximately 20 miles west of El Centro, California.
Thanks thats far away im in Massachusetts
The rail line runs from Plaster City to the gypsum mine which is located in Fish Creek, I've been camping as a youngster by the mine, would watch the train come in and load a couple of times a day. Access is from Ocotillo Wells in San Diego County, Plaster City is in neighboring Imperial County.
lil atomic locomotive
I was under the impression that narrow gauge only required 15’ to 25’ right of way hence Durango Silverton. Standard gauge requires 50’ minimum right of way. Seems they could have built this line in standard gauge?
They could have, but it was built in 1922 and narrow gauge equipment was much more economically feasible at the time, especially for industrial applications.
Im the Driver
Really?
Why would you want narrow gage now days?
Narrow gauge allows for smaller radius curves