Whats up with the Sunsert out of NOL.
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George Harris
Engineer
And you would lose. The railroad ownership is BNSF between Avondale (just west of the Mississippi River bridge) and Iowa Junction (about 10 miles east of Lake Charles). That is mileposts 10.2 to 205.4.If I were a betting man as to the cause, it would be on two letters: U P
The delay might even be at the Huey Long bridge itself. Remember, the state of Louisiana is adding two new truss lines and replacing the raodways. They may tend to forget about a train that ony shows up three times a week.
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I did some research and I learned a railroad line once linked Lafayette and Opelousas. You can still see the rail bed on maps live.And you would lose. The railroad ownership is BNSF between Avondale (just west of the Mississippi River bridge) and Iowa Junction (about 10 miles east of Lake Charles). That is mileposts 10.2 to 205.4.If I were a betting man as to the cause, it would be on two letters: U P
The delay might even be at the Huey Long bridge itself. Remember, the state of Louisiana is adding two new truss lines and replacing the raodways. They may tend to forget about a train that ony shows up three times a week.
That 20 mile link could help delays in both freight and passenger service if it was rebuilt.
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Because of UP it's DOWNIf I were a betting man as to the cause, it would be on two letters: U P
:lol: Even though I had a laugh at UP's expense, George is Correct
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p&sr
OBS Chief
Yes, former Southern Pacific, 22 miles long.
When was it ripped up? please don't tell me in the 90's after UP took over.
ourlouisiana
Service Attendant
I may be incorrect but from SP745's journey I think I remember that from West Bridge Junction (the Huey P Long bridge) to Live Oak (just west of the UP Avoldale yard is UP territory. BNSF takes over to Live Oak to Iowa Junction (almost Lake Charles). Another source for delay are bridges - boat traffic has priority (???) and an open bridge will delay them.
From Live Oak, the Sunset usually makes good time all the way to Live Oak, barring any crossing incidents. BNSF disparchers are great in keeping the mai open and Amtrak moving.
Sunset does use UP tracks when there are incidents such as barge hitting bridges, or derailments. Route goes thru Eunice and Opelousas, then into Livonia and down to Avonadle on the west side of the Mississippi River.
Lafayette Opelousas line was abandoned and ripped up many years ago. Don't remember exactly, think it was still under SP control. I do remember a big push to turn it into Rails - Trails but the adjacent property owners fought tooth and nail to keep the "undesirables" out.
If we had to guess, our bet would be UP or bridge traffic.
From Live Oak, the Sunset usually makes good time all the way to Live Oak, barring any crossing incidents. BNSF disparchers are great in keeping the mai open and Amtrak moving.
Sunset does use UP tracks when there are incidents such as barge hitting bridges, or derailments. Route goes thru Eunice and Opelousas, then into Livonia and down to Avonadle on the west side of the Mississippi River.
Lafayette Opelousas line was abandoned and ripped up many years ago. Don't remember exactly, think it was still under SP control. I do remember a big push to turn it into Rails - Trails but the adjacent property owners fought tooth and nail to keep the "undesirables" out.
If we had to guess, our bet would be UP or bridge traffic.
George Harris
Engineer
I have a copy of two pages of the 1976 SP ETT and it gives the following:
.....New Orleans UPT
..........5.8
.....East Bridge Jct.
..........5.3
10.5 West Bridge Jct.
..........0.8
11.3 Avondale
It also says:
NOUPT Railroad - NOUPT station to Southport
ICGRR - Southport to East Bridge Jct.
New Orleans Public Belt RR - East Bridge Jct. to West Bridge Jct.
Recent UPRR ETT shows "Avondale Sub"
10.5 West Bridge Jct.
14.6 Live Oak
14.9 BNSF Connection
However, the recent BNSF ETT shows
10.2 West Bridge Jct. (this probably should be 10.5. 10.2 is the milepost on the old T&P now UP Livonia Sub.)
12.1 Avondale
14.8 Live Oak
19.1 Salix
It has a note "CTC in effect MP 14.3 to 14.8 (Controlled by UP Dispatcher . . )
This area appears to be UP's only shot at controlling movement of the Sunset east of Iowa Jct.
There are 5 drawbridges in the BNSF section but only one is east of Schriever. The Mississippi River bridge is a high level fixed bridge.
The bridges are:
milepost / stream name
..32.1 Bayou Des Allemands
..73.3 Bayou Boeuf
..80.5 Atchafalaya River (approx. A-chaf-a-le-ya)
104.1 Charenton Canal
180.3 Mermentau River
Even though it is near dead flat other than the 1.25% up and down at the Mississippi River bridge, this is not an easy piece of railroad.
I might say I worked a few months out of Port Barre in 1981, and in many ways it was like being in another country altogether, and that is compared to my usual at that time stomping grounds of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama. It is just a different world down there in the swamps.
.....New Orleans UPT
..........5.8
.....East Bridge Jct.
..........5.3
10.5 West Bridge Jct.
..........0.8
11.3 Avondale
It also says:
NOUPT Railroad - NOUPT station to Southport
ICGRR - Southport to East Bridge Jct.
New Orleans Public Belt RR - East Bridge Jct. to West Bridge Jct.
Recent UPRR ETT shows "Avondale Sub"
10.5 West Bridge Jct.
14.6 Live Oak
14.9 BNSF Connection
However, the recent BNSF ETT shows
10.2 West Bridge Jct. (this probably should be 10.5. 10.2 is the milepost on the old T&P now UP Livonia Sub.)
12.1 Avondale
14.8 Live Oak
19.1 Salix
It has a note "CTC in effect MP 14.3 to 14.8 (Controlled by UP Dispatcher . . )
This area appears to be UP's only shot at controlling movement of the Sunset east of Iowa Jct.
There are 5 drawbridges in the BNSF section but only one is east of Schriever. The Mississippi River bridge is a high level fixed bridge.
The bridges are:
milepost / stream name
..32.1 Bayou Des Allemands
..73.3 Bayou Boeuf
..80.5 Atchafalaya River (approx. A-chaf-a-le-ya)
104.1 Charenton Canal
180.3 Mermentau River
Even though it is near dead flat other than the 1.25% up and down at the Mississippi River bridge, this is not an easy piece of railroad.
I might say I worked a few months out of Port Barre in 1981, and in many ways it was like being in another country altogether, and that is compared to my usual at that time stomping grounds of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama. It is just a different world down there in the swamps.
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