Freight Traffic on the Chicago – Los Angeles Main Line in 1968, Part I: Westbounds

Freight Traffic on the Chicago – Los Angeles Main Line in 1968, Part I: Westbounds

In his article in the Third Quarter 2021 The Warbonnet Richard Eisfeller provided an overview of Santa Fe freight operations on the main line.  In support of his article, he provided examples of the paperwork and forms that the Santa Fe used to facilitate freight operations.

Page                           Descriptions

Page 7                        SF59N.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  SF59 runs Corwith (Chicago) to Richmond, CA.

Page 8                        55N.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  55N runs Corwith/KC to Amarillo, Phoenix, and California.

Page 10                     QLAO.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  QLA is SLSF Birmingham, AL to Floydada to Richmond, CA.

Page 10                     S53N.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.   S54 is Penn Central to Streator then Los Angeles.

Page 11                     TLAN.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  TLAN runs Temple, TX to Los Angeles.

Page 12                     LA53N.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  LA53 runs Chicago to Los Angeles.

Page 12                     49N.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  49 runs Corwith (Chicago) to Richmond, CA.

Page 12                     99O.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  Train 99 is the Super C.

Page 16                     43N.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  43 runs KC to Los Angeles.

Page 18                     HOLB TURN.  Wheel Report for Winslow June 8, 1968.  Holbrook Turn runs from Winslow to Holbrook and return.

Page 18                    2/49N.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  Second section of 49.

Page 18                    55O.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  Train 55 runs Chicago to Los Angeles.

Page 23                    GY33P.  Wheel Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  Local run Belen to Los Angeles.

Page 23                    599P.  Train Arrival and Departure Report for Winslow, June 16, 1968.  Belen to Richmond, CA.

 

Notes on reading a Santa Fe Wheel Report

Left-to-Right the columns are as follows:

  • Position of car in train from rear
  • Car reporting marks
  • Car contents if loaded.  First letter identifies type of car, 2d letter L is load, E is empty.
  • Station # of destination to turnover to other railroad, followed by initials
  • Gross weight of car
  • West of the contents if loaded
  • First three numbers denote city from which the wheel report originated
  • The consignee or customer is in the final column

Thanks to Richard Eisfeller for sharing this information.