The Union Pacific Tidewater Subdivision
The "Tidybowl" Today
The last scheduled run down Ninth St. Nov. 27, 1999
Operations in 2003
Today, the north end between Stockton and McHenry is typically
served 3 days a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The current shippers are a mix of old customers and some new. The industrial park just south of Ortega is served by yard engines when needed during the week and by the noth end job
on Saturdays. The train generally draws 2 engines, usually GP38/40 type power. Train length varies but a dozen cars is about the average. The current shippers are:
The south end is served as a local out of Rogers and by unit grain trains directly off the former SP Fresno line. Aside from the grain silos just west of Turlock, there is a shipper on the stub of the former main toward the
Tuolulmne River bridge, the chemical plant at Chemurgic and the IWP Wood Products plant in Turlock. A GP9 owned by a grain silo is used to shift cars brought in by the unit trains. There may be some other shippers in the Turlock
area as well. The SP connection in Turlock is once again out of service.
-north end information courtesy of Michael H. Adamson
Modesto Rail Trail
With the retiring of the Tidewater's route through Modesto, the city has begun a project to reuse the northern part of the route as a recreational trail and park. The project will run from
Needham Avenue, a few blocks east of the the line's northern entrance, and continue north to Bangs Ave. This encompasses the former station site of Aurora, once the electric to steam or diesel transfer point. The rail was removed north
of 9th Street in April of 2003, although the UP still serves the line north of Bangs Ave (McHenry Station) out of Stockton and south of Modesto (Rogers) to Turlock. The early plans call for numerous historic markers devoted to
the Tidewater and its role in the development of Modesto. TS caboose 305 has been acquired by the city for restoration and display on the right of way and additional equipment may also be displayed. The four phases will include the four-mile trail
itseld, following the former route of the Tidewater Southern mainline. Other aspects of the project include pedestrian/bike bridges at Briggsmore, Standiford and Pelandale Avenues.
Another section of the TS that has become a park/trail is the former Manteca Branch, which is now the Tidewater Bikeway.
information courtesy of Ted Benson, the Modesto Bee and the City of Modesto