
Here is a comprehensive chase of the BNSF Y-WAT1011 "First Watson" running on the Harbor Subdivision from Watson Yard in Wilmington to the Chevron Refinery in El Segundo, CA, using a trio of Geeps - GP60 196 in the venerable Sante Fe Yellowbonnet paint, a GP60M-3, and a unique GP40X serve as power for this local. Prior to the construction of the Alameda Corridor, the 26-mile-long Harbor Sub was the primary route for the Santa Fe to get from the Ports of LA to the transcontinental mainline. The Alameda Corridor, completed and opened for rail traffic in 2002, is used by both BNSF and Union Pacific and is a means to move more trains more quickly and with higher capacity, relieving congestion on surface streets above through the use of the trench which spans 8 miles from Vernon to Compton. Since the opening of the Alameda trench, the Harbor Sub was closed to through rail traffic, only seeing regularly-scheduled local trains and occasional autorack/double stack repositioning trains on parts of the route. The Harbor Subdivision is now split into two sections, with the southern portion extending from Watson Yard to just south of LAX Airport, and the northern section from Redondo to stopping just south of the Malabar Yard in Vernon. The middle section was abandoned and converted into right-of-way for the brand-new Metro Crenshaw/LAX Line which opened in early 2023, and a rail-to-rail bike bath currently under construction along Slauson Ave. The southern Harbor Sub portion will soon be converted into right-of-way for the Metro Crenshaw Line extension into Torrance, meaning in a few years the scenic shots at Lawndale will no longer be possible, with fencing going up and the majority of the landscaping being torn out. This video compilation features various locations, including Watson Yard, "The Jungle" in Torrance, Monaco Hill in Lawndale, the truss bridge over Aviation/Rosecrans, the El Segundo Wye and yard, and various other locations along the right-of-way for a comprehensive overview of the Harbor Subdivision territory. Unique features such as mechanical crossing bells, numerous crossings, heavy grades, and scenic viewpoints make the Harbor Sub a one-of-a-kind gem and a true railfan favorite.
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