End of operational track, end of the day, end of the year.
This is the end of operational track on UP's Escalon Industrial Lead. Rails south from here into Modesto are out of service and what once was rail link between Turlock and Stockton is now a series of industrial leads off of UP's mainline rail system in the northern San Joaquin Valley. It's disheartening to witness the end of an era, but its also important to recognize that much of this former Tidewater Southern track has been rendered obsolete by urbanization and that key industries that fed the railroad are no longer operating because of the changes in land use from agriculture to housing. Sometime after this photograph was taken the rails and ties south of here were salvaged. A tail track, ending at the red flag, was left in place for switching the southern-most industry in Escalon. Christmas is fast approaching as indicated by the illuminated decorations along the strip of planted redwoods paralleling the tracks.
End of operational track, end of the day, end of the year.
This is the end of operational track on UP's Escalon Industrial Lead. Rails south from here into Modesto are out of service and what once was rail link between Turlock and Stockton is now a series of industrial leads off of UP's mainline rail system in the northern San Joaquin Valley. It's disheartening to witness the end of an era, but its also important to recognize that much of this former Tidewater Southern track has been rendered obsolete by urbanization and that key industries that fed the railroad are no longer operating because of the changes in land use from agriculture to housing. Sometime after this photograph was taken the rails and ties south of here were salvaged. A tail track, ending at the red flag, was left in place for switching the southern-most industry in Escalon. Christmas is fast approaching as indicated by the illuminated decorations along the strip of planted redwoods paralleling the tracks.