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SPRR Yuma District - The East Line SEGMENT
4: NILAND to 03/15/91 Introduction
Through the next 67 miles exist some of the most desolate stretches
of the whole Sunset Route. Not
only do few humans live out in this portion of the
Before wandering out into these parts, make sure that you and
your vehicle are in excellent working condition and that you are prepared
for any eventuality.
In the summer, the weather along this portion of the route has
two settings: hot and really hot.
Temperatures can exceed 120 degrees in the shade; on the ground
it may be 200 degrees. During
the winter the temperatures are much more moderate with only a few nights
where the freezing point is reached.
The winds can roar across the
One oasis of life (if you can call it that) is in Glamis, where
for several miles in each direction you will find dune buggies, motorcycles
and four-wheelers tearing up the desert and making an awful racket. State Route 78 crosses the right-of-way
at Glamis (MP698.3), making it the only paved road between Niland (MP667.8)
and Ogilby (MP716.7). And
unfortunately for the avid railfan, SR78 runs at right angles to the
railroad, preventing it from being of much utility except as an escape
route in case of emergency.
All in all, it's a grand, glorious piece of desert. Isolated, it is especially scenic in the
winter, when the sun is always low on the horizon and the colors are
rich and full.
665.5
West Switch NILAND Siding (CAL117B5)
EB/WB Absolute Signals
Siding Length: North 12169'; South 8548'
Speed Limit: EB 70-65 MPH; WB 70 MPH
The south siding leads into the Niland Interchange Yard and eventually
to the Calexico Branch of the Southern Pacific, which separates from
the mainline up ahead and arrows its way into the heart of the
The north siding is the one used most for passing movements,
since there is no contention with yard traffic. 666.0
-165' AMSL; +0.4% EB 666.1
Bridge over 666.2
Bridge over Pike 666.6
20' Bridge over Marshy 666.9
50' Wooden Bridge over
Community of Niland
A dirt path leads from Route 111 along the east side of
The switch marked 0594 provides access from the south siding
to the west end of the interchange yard. 667.0
-140' AMSL; +0.3% EB 667.3
667.4
WB Absolute Signal Bridge
667.5
NILAND Station
CALEXICO BRANCH Junction
West Leg NILAND Wye
Railroad Maintenance of Way Station
Southern Pacific Niland Communications Facility
250'
Site of Old Water Tank
Just south of the Niland interchange tracks rests the placid,
terminally-baked little town of
Today, little happens in town; there is a Niland Turn that runs
out from West Colton occasionally, and during harvest season (which,
in the Imperial Valley, is a regular event) quite a bit of produce makes
its way onto the mainline at Niland.
The Calexico Branch was constructed around the turn of the century;
the Southern Pacific was confident in the ability of the
The Calexico Branch passes through
The railroad's Niland Communications facility augments the railroad's
radio coverage locally with a 161.550MHz road channel repeater. This facility is connected via microwave
to the main SP radio trunk at
The water tank stood along the south side of the railroad, surrounded
by the once-scenic cluster of now-dead palm trees. All that remains now are the concrete footings. 667.6
Trackside Equipment House 667.8
Beal Road Grade Crossing
About 4 miles northeast, along 667.9
East Switch NILAND Wye
The east leg of the Niland wye and the east approach to the Calexico
branch makes a sweeping turn to the southeast to join to the mainline.
There is a good access road that parallels the railroad to the
east. Access to this road
is available from a rudimentary dirt grade crossing just west of the
east end of the Niland Wye; the path leads from the paved road over
the east leg of the wye and then continues east along the south side
of the tracks. 668.0
East Switch NILAND Siding (CAL117C5)
EB/WB Absolute Signals
-125' AMSL; +0.5% EB
A Southern Pacific Pipe Lines tank farm borders the south side
of the road; this facility gets fuel from the major pipeline that parallels
the railroad and stores that fuel in the tanks visible. Agriculture in the
The railroad continues southeast on a tangent for the next 12
miles. 668.2
20'
A low-headroom road passes under the trestle bridge, providing
access to the land along the north side of the railroad and a connection
to 668.6
Wooden Bridge over Sylvia Wash
669.0
-100' AMSL; +0.3% EB 669.3
Block Signals: EB 6694 - WB 6693 670.0
-80' AMSL; +0.4% EB 670.4
Private Grade Crossing
This crossing allows access to the Fish Breeder facility about
0.5 miles north of the tracks. 670.5
Dragging Equipment / Hot Box DETECTOR - Speedometer 670.8
Block Signals: EB 6708P - WB 6709
Eastward signal 6708 also indicates the condition of the high
water detectors mounted under the bridge over
For the next 0.5 miles the road surface is rather soft in patches. Take care and don't get stuck. 671.0
-60' AMSL; +0.8% EB 671.3
Bridge over
Community of Flowing Well
The East Highline Canal pulls water from the All-American Canal
east of Calexico, about 40 miles south, and distributes this water to
the farms along the east side of the Imperial Valley.
The canal ends about 10 miles northwest of here near Wister.
The station of Flowing Well(s) appears on maps as far back as
1891. There are still springs and seeps in the
immediate area.
The access road that leads in from the end of
This bridge incorporates a high-water detector; if activated
by flood levels on the canal, the eastbound signal 6708 and the westbound
signal 6729 will be set to a stop indication. 671.5
Low Powerlines Cross Railroad 671.6
Along the south side of the road, south of the tracks, is the
672.0 -15' AMSL; +0.9% EB
Flowing Again along the south side of the access
road, this time the Flowing Well cemetery.
The monument reads: "FLOWING
WELL Once a tiny desert
railroad stop, Flowing Well became the gateway to Sometime after
this plaque was dedicated there were the inevitable ravages of time
and vandals; a later inscription states: "Monument
restored and re-dedicated by the Native Daughters of the Golden West,
the Native Sons of the Golden West, and the Imperial Valley Historical
Society November 18 1989". 672.1 High Tension Powerlines cross Railroad 672.2 Sea Level! Rising gently though the otherwise nondescript
landscape, the railroad now leaves the below-sea-level world of the
Salton Sink as the tracks continue their gradual climb up onto the 672.7 Trestle Bridge over wash This 16-span, 150'-long trestle bridge
includes a high-water detector that, when triggered, causes a STOP indication
to be displayed at signals EB6708 and WB6729. The detector is on the north side of the
bridge next to the first trestle at the west end. The Espee Timetable, by the way, also indicates
that this bridge is at MP672.9; according to the stenciled marks on
the west end of the bridge, this is actually MP672.79. The reeds and heavy tamarisk growth indicate
plentiful ground water; some of this water usually trickles to the surface
just to the south of the railroad bridge, next to the road. 672.8 Block Signals: EB 6728 - WB 6729P Westward signal 6729 carries a protection
(P) plate; this indicates to train crews (via the Timetable) that the
signal is also controlled by the high-water detector on the bridge immediately
west. 673.0 No Mileboard Visible
30' AMSL; +0.8% EB The mileboard (the sign that has the number
stenciled upon it) has vanished; the milepost is the fourth pole east
of the signals at MP672.8. The
lower half of the pole, as usual, is painted white for identification. 673.1 Ancient Shoreline of 673.2 A low cut takes the rails up onto the 673.3 Remains of Sand Fence A low, wooden-picket fence fronts along
the north side of the tracks for a few dozen feet. 673.7 150' The railroad
spans a wide, deep, tamarisk-choked wash with a two-span steel deck
trestle bridge. Downstream are farms; upstream, a dirt road passes under
the bridge and provides service to the Coachella Canal about a half-mile
east. 673.8 West Switch IRIS Siding (CAL117C6)
EB/WB Absolute Signals
Siding Length 8475' 674.0 75' AMSL; +0.1% EB The milesign is in very poor condition;
one of these days soon the wind may blow it far away. 674.1 West-facing 1175 Spur There is a 100-yard-long equipment spur
along the north side of Iris siding.
The spur is in fairly poor repair but probably isn't used very
often. 674.4 IRIS Station A long time ago, Iris siding was a mere
107 carlengths long, approximately 4700 feet. 675.0 125'
80' AMSL; +0.6% EB A few tenths of a mile west and maybe two
hundred yards south of the access road, out in the scrub, stands a dilapidated
windmill that may still actually work. Truth is always stranger than fiction. 675.7 East Switch IRIS Siding
EB/WB Absolute Signals The following mile or so includes a few
twists and turns for those intent on following the right-of-way. Up ahead is the 675.8 Bridge over old This steel deck-girder bridge, installed
in 1941, is only single-track width; the bridge piers, however, are
built to carry a double-track bridge.
There is no evidence that a second track was ever in place. In the early 1980's, the old, unlined canal
was abandoned while a new, concrete-lined replacement was constructed
just upgrade.
110' AMSL; +0.6% EB There are three paths east that vary in
difficulty. The north path
is available by crossing the tracks and continuing east. The trail is wide and sometimes gravelled
and makes it to at least Mammoth Wash at MP680.0. However, the path can range to a few hundred
feet from the railroad. I
have not driven this path. To continue along the south side of the
tracks there are two choices: the first is to proceed east from this
point along the silty, dusty access road bordering the desert growth
along the south side of the right-of-way.
The other alternative is to continue along the Coachella Canal
Access Road to the big siphon about 0.5 miles south.
Here the road winds its way down to a dusty, silty dirt path
that travels along the east side of the wash and heads back toward the
railroad tracks. Both of these south trails meet along the
right-of-way at MP676.6. 676.1 A concrete tunnel carries the canal under
the tracks. The water is
flowing from south to north. Don't
go for a swim: the walls are steep, the flow strong, the man-eating
pirahna vicious and quick (at least that's what I heard...) 676.5 Bridge Over 676.6 South Side Access road rejoins Right-of-Way The main road, coming up from the crossing
of the Coachella Canal at the siphon, joins with the dusty, silty path
leading along the tracks from the west at MP676.0. Continuing east, the trackside road is
generally firm, sometimes a bit dusty.
Note: immediately off this path, the soil is very fine and deep
and the unprepared driver will sink quickly, soon to become a permanent
part of the old desert. 676.9 Block Signals: EB 6768 - WB 6769 Along to the due south, a few miles off,
lie the northern tendrils of the Sand Hills, a complex of dunes that
extend northwest from the Mexican border over 40 miles distant. 677.0 145' AMSL; +0.6% EB 677.7 70' Bridge over 678.0 Dragging Equipment DETECTOR
175' AMSL; +0.4% EB I suppose if it's going to be "Diggins",
this should be called "Draggin" Equipment Detector... 678.4 Block Signals: EB 6784 - WB 6783 This marks the location, more or less,
of the west end of old Tortuga Siding, a 5700-foot long siding displayed
on a 1955 USGS map called " 678.5 Old 678.6 15' Wooden Bridge over 678.9 20' Wooden Bridge over 679.0 Abandoned Signal Box for old
195' AMSL; +0.5% EB The station name 679.1 25' 679.9 Block Signals: EB 6800 - WB 6799 680.0 200'
Signpost EB 79-65 MPH
Speed Limit: EB 79-65 MPH; WB 70 MPH
212' AMSL; +0.2% EB Note that the 680 Milepost marker is located
at the far west end of the bridge while the bridge itself is stenciled
"679.98"; therefore the milepost marker is a bit west of where
it really should be. Mammoth Continuing east, a tamarisk grove along
the immediate south side of the tracks now partially hides the railroad
from the access road. Another
grove of the trees is planted along the south side of the access road;
both of these groves protect the railroad and service road from incursions
of sand blown from the Sand Hills a little to the south and west. The tamarisk groves will end around milepost
683. Remember: Most all the 680.8 The northernmost fingers of the Sand Hills
stretch to within a half-mile or so of the railroad. There are a few soft spots on the service
road for the next few miles, but the tamarisk grove does a fair job
of keeping the path clear. 681.0 225' AMSL; -0.2% EB During holidays or pleasant weather, recreational
offroaders (dirt bikers, etc.) will set up camp in the lee of the Sand
Hills in a cove immediately west.
They generally stay to the west, up in the Sand Hills, but occasionally
one will wander down toward the tracks. 681.3 West Switch
EB/WB Absolute Signals
Siding Length 8472'
681.3 681.6 Southern Pacific
Two 250'
West-facing Spur
Water Tanks There is a 100-yard long equipment spur
along the north side of The microwave radio link from Niland Communications
Facility connects to the Tortuga Facility; The USGS Tortuga map shows a grade crossing
for the 681.7 For the next forty miles, there is a series
of triangular dikes scraped onto the desert floor along the north side
of the railroad, as is seen on the topo map. Where the junction of two dike walls approach
the railroad there is a culvert or bridge on the railroad to allow runoff
a controlled route across the right-of-way. Nearly every one of the culverts or bridges
to MP723 are located at one of these drainage points. 682.0
Signpost WB 70 MPH
210' AMSL; +0.1% EB 682.3 682.5 682.8 682.9 East Switch
EB/WB Absolute Signals 683.0
215' AMSL; +0.5% EB The bridge is marked 683.01; the milepost
itself is a hundred feet or more east. The tamarisk grove along the south side
of the tracks ends. 683.3 Niland-Glamis (Ted Kipf) Road Grade Crossing The Some newer maps show the name of this path
as the "Ted Kipf" Road.
The Ted Kipf Road leaves the south side of the railroad tracks
at California 78 in Glamis and continues along the railroad all the
way to Ogilby, paralleling the tracks about three-tenths of a mile north. 683.4 Remains of Gravel Quarry Spur Long ago there was an east-facing spur
that branched to the north from the mainline and led to a gravel quarry
about one mile due north. This
quarry may have been used to supply local gravel as ballast in the 1905-1907
project to block the Colorado River leak into the 683.5 684.0 245' AMSL; +0.5% EB 684.1 684.3 Block Signals: EB 6842 - WB 6843
684.6 Old AMOS Station (CAL117D7) From 1891 until 1928, a station called
"Mammoth Tank" was located somewhere nearby. On a 1928 map, however, is the first use
of the name "Amos" for a station. This station exists also on the 1956 Amos
Topo map, which shows a cluster of small buildings and the cemetery. There are a few bits and pieces of what
was; the concrete slab for the trackside section house, complete with
embedded rails, lies just south of the right-of-way. A survey marker is next-door. Amos Siding was about 4300-feet long, beginning
at MP683.8 and ending just east of this point. 684.7 685.0
270' AMSL; +0.3% EB The bridge that is a few hundred feet east
of the 685 Milepost is stenciled 684.95. 685.1 Two Concrete Bridges over 685.9 Dragging Equipment DETECTOR
Block Signals: EB 6858 - WB 6859 |
