sp exeter branch operations

[dezertracer234]

Hello everybody. I have a few questions about the former SP Exeter branch. Living up here in Tulare I often go out that way for various things and as I do I see alot of things that spark my curiosity. What I want to know if anybody has any knowledge of is how far the SP had this line signaled to , or from to where, and when they took out the signals. What kind of jobs there were out there over the years and how many. There are quite a few books and publications on the exeter branch but it seems they barely touch on any of these subjects. As far as I can see there are old signal foundations from ducor sporadically into Exeter, but did they go further north or what. Also is there anybody out there in railfan land that has a good library of photos of SP and SJVR operations of this line. Thanks EL

[Myfordbrowning]

The Automatic Block Signal system extended from Famoso at the junction with the mainline to Exeter. The ABS was cut back to between Ducor and Famoso sometime after 1952 and the system was taken out of service shortly before the SP sold the line in the early 1990s.

The Santa Fe had trackage rights on the Exeter Branch between Famoso and Ducor.

In the last years of operation of the Exeter Branch, the SP used three locals. The Ivanhoe Local worked between Fresno and Ivanhoe (8 miles east of Exeter). The Terra Bella Local worked the Visalia Branch and Exeter Branch between Exeter and Terra Bella (interchanges with the Visalia Electric at Exeter). The Earlimart Local worked the west end of the branch from Famoso to Ducor (rarely went beyond Richgrove). It work the Jovista Brancg from Richgrove to Jovista. Note that there were unoperated gaps: Ivanhoe-Exeter and Terra Bella-Ducor. The Ivanhoe and Terra Bella jobs worked three days aweek and were daylight trains. The Earlimart ran I think 6 day a week from Bakersfield and was an afternoon-night job.

One last comment on the Exeter Branch. It was considered a mainline until I think about the 1940s.

It would be interesting to know what the operations on the Exeter Branch were like when large volumes of perishable were shipped by rail.

Cliff

[jeff]

Didn't the Owl or the Lark (or both ??) operate on this line back in the 30s, 40s, 50s ??

~ jeff

[Myfordbrowning]

jeff Wrote:Didn't the Owl or the Lark (or both ??) operate on this line back in the 30s, 40s, 50s ??

~ jeff

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:The Owl at times operated between Fresno and Tracy via Los Banos (the Westside line). It was using this route at the time it was discontinued in 1965. I do not recall that the Owl runing via Exeter, but it could have used the route at one time.

The Lark used the Coast line.

Through train did use the line via Exeter into the 1930s. The line was considered a mainline and not just a branch line by the SP for many years. Near the end of passenger service on the line via Exeter, motor cars plus an extra car ot two was the mormal type of train. An interesting operation in the last years of passenger service on the Exeter line was The Sequioa which ran from Oakland to Porterville. The train left the Bay Area as a steam powered train and, without a notation in the timetable, passenger had to transfer to a motor at Fresno for the final part of the trip to Porterville. The westward run has The Sequioa running only between Porterville and Fresno where a connection (several hours later) with the Owl was made for the continuation to Oakland (without the name The Sequioa).



Cliff

[Des-Lab]

Well I am new to Tulare myself. I haven't had time to do a whole lot of exploring, but one of these days I will. I too would be interested in more info on this line.

[Myfordbrowning]

Here is a shot of the Santa Fe local at Richgrove with the ABS signals in service. The date is 9-26-90 and the train is coming off the Jovista Branch. The ABS was taken out of service by 3-8-92 when I take photos of the turned signal heads.

Cliff

[samreeves]

Question here for Virlon, or other rails who might know.

Why are the searchlights marked for 295.1 even though it's sitting right next to Milepost 295? Shouldn't it be 295.0?

[SLOCONDR]

Samuel, if you look at any search light signal where there are two of them, one facing east and one west, the 295.1 would be the east bound signal and the 295.0 would be the west signal. Remember, even east, odd west. Seems like both would have the same exact number, but they were distinguished by east and west with the 1/10th mile number.

V

SLOCONDR







[user=1159]samreeves[/user] wrote:

Quote:Question here for Virlon, or other rails who might know.

Why are the searchlights marked for 295.1 even though it's sitting right next to Milepost 295? Shouldn't it be 295.0?

[scph]

More on the Exeter Branch here:
http://coastdaylight.com/esl/cncph_esl.html

[Myfordbrowning]

Here some more photos of the Exeter line.

There is a lumber mill at Terra Bella that shipped car loads of lumber and wood chips. It seemed that they would use rail at times and at other times they would ship by Truck only


By March 8 1992 the ABS system was out of service

The SJV and the Tulare Valley Railroad that took over the AT&SF branches removed about 10 miles of the Exeter Branch in about 1998

Last, a shot of a SJV train west of Strathmore that is symbolic of the east valley branches - orange trees and reefers

Cliff