Huey P. Long Bridge

In this first picture from May 1984 our train is headed east out of the former SP yard and approaching West Bridge Jct tower in Avondale. The track crossing the double track main from left to right and going behind the tower is the UP line going towards Westwego, LA and on to Algiers. The turnouts from the main to the left route traffic into and out of the the UP (X-MP) yard. If you look up ahead you will see the track makes a turn to the left.
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This east bound makes a turn as it meets US90, in the foreground, on the West Bank on Nov 13, 1999. The train will parallel US90 eastward all the way to the highway traffic circle. Just past the circle, the train makes a turn to the left and enters the bridge superstructure as it crosses over the Mississippi River.
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This east bound meets a UP train near mid span, being pulled by x-Conrail and MKT power. Looking ahead you can see the summit of the bridge. The smaller gauge track in the middle of the main track is to prevent the train from going to the right or left in the event of a derailment. In all my years of watching trains over this bridge I have only seen one derailment. Normally, during the week, there is a lot of bridge work going on and the bridge is reduced to single track. It is not unusual for trains to head east and get stuck in a traffic jam for several hours on the East Bank. There are times when you can see 2 or 3 trains parked on the bridge waiting for permission to head on to the CSX or the NS along "Mainline Metairie."
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UP's 8444 hauls a World's Fair train to the riverfront in New Orlean on Mar 15, 1984 shot.
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After exiting the bridge lattace work, the train begins it's decent onto the East Bank. This Aug 1, 1988 show provides a hodge podge of power and colors on this CSX train headed from the SP to the CSX yard in Gentilly. You can see the bridge's superstructure sparkling in the background. Painting was a 365 days a year chore back in the 80's, but not any more.
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Usually the last stop for trains headed to the Belt (NOPB), the NS or the CSX is at Central Avenue in Jefferson, LA. On this day, Nov 15, 1999, the BNSF train did not have to stay too long before it got the green light to proceed to the NOPB tracks at East Bridge Jct tower, just a quarter of a mile away. It is not unusual to see trains sit here for hours. Central Avenue is a major junction point where the IC, Amtrak and KCS all cross.
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Another view of a eastbound train coming off the Huey P. Long bridge at Central Ave. The engineer, seeing I was trying to get some pictures, leaned out the window and asked if he stopped the train in a good spot to take pictures. Yes, you did VD, and many thanks for a great shot. This shot was taken on January 21, 2001 with one of the UP's biggest (6000 HP), baddest, and newest on the point.
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Once the tower operator at East Bridge Jct lines the switches, eastbound trains can leave the bridge and head for one of several locations (NS, CSX, or NOPB). This Southern local on November 28, 1981 is leaving the Southern (NS) yard at the foot of the Huey P. Long bridge just next to the train in the above picture. The track the Southern local is on, as well as the track in the foreground are owned by the NOPB. The track behind the tower is the ICG mainline, today shared by Amtrak, IC, and the KCS.
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The following 6 pictures follow a variety of west bound trains from East Bridge Jct. to West Bridge Jct. This is an afternoon shot of a westbound SP transfer run from the CSX crossing Central Ave just past the signal. The overpass in the background is part of the Earhart elevated expressway. Note the streetcar sign to the left of the picture.
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Back in Aug 1988 a SP train with freshly painted Tunnel Motor 6842 is headed west around the first curve on the Huey P. Long bridge. The parking lot where this shot was taken has been closed to the public for some time now.

SP 7557 an SD45 in "Kodachrome" colors, towers over the traffic along Highway 90 (US90) in Bridge City, LA. A lot of people ask me where is Bridge City, well this is it in this Nov 18, 1993 shot.

This afternoon shot is just a little ways further down the bridge by the LADOT offices. It is just down the bridge from the previous shot. DRGW 3002 is westbound and headed back to the SP in this Oct 26, 1993 shot.

Waiting for the bridge tender at West Bridge Jct to align the switches, this UP westbound pauses in this Nov 23, 1998 shot.

An Operation Lifesaver special coast westward toward the West Bridge Jct and the MP yard in Avondale, LA on February 7, 1984. Trains magazine did not publish the picture saying it duplicated what was on file or did not meet their high standards. On the other hand, Railfan published the picture in color on the inside cover. The train consist had one of the freshest KCS units I have ever seen as well as an assortment of UP, SP and MP passenger cars. The CSX, Amtrak and the NS had their own Operation Lifesaver on the other side of town.

Aligned for the SP yard in Avondale, LA, SP 8027 leads this westbound train into the SP yard in Avondale, LA. The track in the foreground leads into the UP yard.