What happened to the Oil Cans, when they ended service in 1996? Did the trainset get scrapped or rebuilt for other service? What happened to the refinery? Did it close, or just get its oil from a pipeline or other means?
Hemi A new oil loading facility was built in Mojave, thus ending the trip over Tehachapi on Oct 31, 1996. The "cans" do still run.
A pipeline killed the need for the Bakersfield-Dolores run. However, a new operation up the coast started shortly after the original cans stopped; it runs from San Ardo to a refinery in Carson. Saw the oil cans staged at the refinery as I passed by it ovr the weekend.
So the Oil cans do still run, but it's not the DOBKU anymore... I got it now. Any shots of the new oil cans operation?
Here are a couple shots showing the power used on the "new" cans. These trains drew AC's for power. The days of 4x6 SD40's, Flares, and tunnel motors were long gone. The train had changed forever. These shots were taken when the Mojave facility was brand new. I have more shots with assembled trains, waiting to depart. Gotta find em! Thom
Nowadays, the "Coast Cans" get current-generation UP GE ACs for power, although it recently made several runs with SD70ACEs. The cars are still the same, although now most, if not all have vertical yellow reflective striping. I work a couple miles from Dolores; if I catch the cans while I'm on the way to work or home, I'll try to get some shots.
Does anyone have any GOOD pics of the refinery?? Specifically the cracking towers, cokers, etc. I am trying to model one that is more realistic than the Walthers. We don't have refineries here in South Florida so I have to ask for help. My email is sales@traincat2.com Thanks
I just looked at the refinery on Google Earth. It is very large. The location is right next to Dolores Yard and across from the ICTF yard. The oil cans pulled right into the refinery yard when they arrived. (I used to rail fan there a round 1992-1998
