locomotives are split to power two dayshift jobs in Eugene. One is the Eugene Switcher, which works P&W- served industries throughout the city. The other is the American Turn, a local freight that works north on the OE District, primarily to serve the Cascade Pacific pulp mill in Halsey. Finally, there’s the Eugene Hauler,
which operates over the Union Pacific main line with UP power and a P&W crew. The Eugene Hauler runs north out of the UP yard every day except Monday, typically in the evenings. After swapping cars in Albany, which usually includes a trip across the Willamette River to pick up cars left by the Toledo Hauler at Ashahr Siding, the train returns to Eugene. There, after picking up cars from the Central Oregon & Pacific
as well as the Coos Bay Rail Link, it becomes a southbound Union Pacific drag freight for Roseville.
Photography Strategies While the P&W operates more than
20 different trains on most days, they’re scattered over a 500-mile system, much of which sees just two movements per day. If you want to photograph moving trains, bring along some patience, a radio
scanner to listen for track warrants, and a good map and a good book to pass the inevitable times of waiting. Cell service can be spotty on some of the more remote parts of the system, especially the Toledo Branch. The Toledo Branch is arguably the signature line of the P&W, and it’s an impressive piece of railroad with sharp curves, steep grades, wood trestles, and verdant mountains. Loads move both
RIGHT: The eastbound Toledo Hauler curves along the misty Coast Range near Eddyville on March 31, 2011.
BELOW: Still lettered for P&W predecessor Willamette & Pacific and wearing Southern Pacific-inspired “black widow” colors, high- hood GP9 no. 1801 (ex-SP 5830) leads the northbound American Turn near Halsey on December 21, 2009. The 1801 normally works local and yard jobs in Eugene.
34 MARCH 2016 •
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