The city of Mesa, AZ was founded in 1878 and soon became a major junction for the Copper Basin Branch (which is now the current mainline) and the Second Southern Pacific Mainline. The Original Mainline used to diverge from the current route at Tempe and remains intact until Chandler Blvd Railroad Crossing, where it bends East to serve some factories and warehouses.
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The 1910 mainline diverged from the current mainline at McQueen Junction and continued almost perfectly south towards Riggs Rd Railroad Crossing, where it veered 45 degrees east and continued until it reached Coolidge, passing a Native American farm and its pesticide company (defunct as of 2017.)
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What's left of the original mainline is now the Chandler Industrial Lead Branch Line
(colloquially referred to as the Chandler Branch.)
The current mainline bends almost 45 degrees East at McQueen Junction and continues in that direction before making a slight turn and finally turning almost perfectly South at Magma.
The track south of Magma was constructed in the 1960s to meet back up with the original mainline just north of Coolidge Trestle.
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There is a runaround siding located north of the Junction where the KK30 Freight Train
(the Chandler Local) leaves its cars there for pickup.
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(See map below for detailed picture of junction)
McQueen Junction
KK30 crosses Baseline Rd Crossing with Mr. Brandon, a friendly Conductor, in the Cab.
KK30 Stops and awaits permission to proceed to the mainline.
KK30 approaches the junction being powered by UP GP60 1035 and UP GP40-2 1451.
UP 7238 Leads an Autorack Train through the junction.
The Chandler Local begins its day at Mesa with GP60 1047 and GP40-2 1494.
UP 1451 and 1545, two GP40-2s, lead the Northbound Chandler Local to Mesa.
The LKK30 heads to Mesa to perform additional switching before returning to McQueen Jct. to tie up for the day.
The Chandler Local's crew disembarks from the locomotive at the junction.
Engineer - Jim
Conductor - Brandon
Brakeman - Douglas
Assistant Brakeman - Kevin
Mr. Jim, the engineer, sets the handbrakes on UP GP60 1016 and UP GP40-2 1451.
A picture of me and Mr. Jim standing next to the engines is the perfect way to close out the year 2022!
One final shot of 1016 and 1451 as the final Chandler Local of 2022 ties up.
LKK30 shuts down its engines at Baseline.
Me and Engineer Jim and Brakeman Doug hanging out before they start their day.
UP 2538 meets UP 1545 at McQueen Baseline Jct.
UP 1545 and 1451 head to Mesa to pick up their consist.
UP 1451 heads south towards Chandler.
The last car of the LKK30 clears the crossing.
The Chandler Local awaits permission to enter the Phoenix Sub and proceed to Mesa while an inbound passes on the mainline.
UP GP60s 1035 and 1016 depart Baseline and head north to Mesa.
The Chandler Local arrives back at Baseline and will drop off its cars from Chandler and pick up the ones headed to Queen Creek and Gilbert.
The KK30 passes Baseline and will drop off its cars at the McQueen Runaround Track.
After a long day of work, the Chandler Local's two locomotives return to Baseline and tie up for the day.
Mesa Yard
1451 and 1545 shove a loaded boxcar to a lumberyard in Mesa.
The LKK30 prepares to head to McQueen-Baseline Junction where they will tie up for the day, or in this case, the weekend.
The Chandler Local crosses S McDonald Road crossing, running light.
The LKK30 begins assembling its consist putting each car on the correct siding. Some cars will be going to Queen Creek and others to Chandler.
Now finished, the LKK30 backs down onto its consist and prepares to depart for Chandler.