THE SIERRA WESTERN
& SANTA FE RR

MASSI BRANCH & STAGING YARD

• The Massi Branch is a hidden 'branchline' which extends along Mill Creek and into the foothills east of Los Molinos. It passes through the town of Massi. A large gypsum plant and quarry has been located at Massi since 1923. The Massi Opinion Company is also located there
• The branchline continues east to a narrow, steep valley 7 miles east of Massi where it ends at a top secret military research facility. Major construction has been ongoing there for several years. Because of the classified nature of this project, no one knows when this project will be completed. Unclassified materials being shipped there include cement, steel, machinery, fuel oils, and standard assortment of heavy construction items. Classified shipments have only recently begun. It is rumored the research is focusing on developing alternate fuel and power sources for military use
• The sole purpose of modeling this controversial 'branchline to nowhere' and it's hidden staging yard is to provide an additional destination for car forwarding, dispatching and train scheduling. The yard is the holding area for traffic destined to or originating from the branchline
• The branch and staging yard is reached by taking the righthand track that leaves the mainline at the north end of Los Molinos. The track makes a broad curve to the left and then disappears through an opening in the facia to become the hidden approach to a hidden staging yard under the Sacramanto River bridge
  • The yard consists of 3 hidden staging tracks located underneath the Sacramento River between Los Molinos and Red Bluff. The center track is stub-ended and is kept clear to be used as the run-around track. The other two tracks are double-ended sidings, one on each side of and connect to the center run-around track. Each can hold fifteen 40ft cars. The center track extends beyond the two outer tracks to provide a tail-track long enough for three locos to clear the siding turnout
  • Normal operations would begin with a block of cars spotted on one of the hidden staging tracks, with the other staging track and the center run-around track left empty. The following steps are taken - the Massi Local:

    1) enters the staging track that has been left empty

    2) uncouples from it's train and pulls forward onto the tail of the center run­around track

    3) runs around it's train

    4) moves onto the staging track and couples onto the caboose

    5) removes the caboose and spots it on the tail of the center run-around track

    6) couples on to the rear of the cars spotted on the other staging track

    7) pushes the block of cars to the caboose in the tail track and couples onto it

    8) proceeds back onto the layout to Los Molinos at the appropriate time leaving the turnouts lined for the now empty staging track