Chris Guss
Tracing the past
A BNSF westbound slogs west up the 1.4 percent grade on Main One just east of Ash Hill, California, on one of several grade separated areas of the CTC Two Main Track Needles Subdivision.
To the right is a portion of the original Main One alignment, which after reviewing aerial maps appears to have been almost completely realigned from Siberia to Ash Hill. Many cuts, fills, bridge abutments and old tie plates can be found with a little exploring.
Main Two from here eastward to Siberia breaks off just to the right and uses a more direct and steeper (2.3 percent) grade that's about two miles shorter than Main One between the same two points.
Tracing the past
A BNSF westbound slogs west up the 1.4 percent grade on Main One just east of Ash Hill, California, on one of several grade separated areas of the CTC Two Main Track Needles Subdivision.
To the right is a portion of the original Main One alignment, which after reviewing aerial maps appears to have been almost completely realigned from Siberia to Ash Hill. Many cuts, fills, bridge abutments and old tie plates can be found with a little exploring.
Main Two from here eastward to Siberia breaks off just to the right and uses a more direct and steeper (2.3 percent) grade that's about two miles shorter than Main One between the same two points.