Pacific Imperial Railroad Updates

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This page is about Updates about the Pacific Imperial Railroad.

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Updates

December 2018

June 18, 2004 CZRy Gorge derailment coverage by Ch. 10. https://youtu.be/zzHT6OPAqRM

October 2018

Long-awaited desert rail line, touted as regional economic boom, continues to clear hurdles http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-tijuana-railroad-20181013-story.html

January 2018

https://www.openrailwaymap.org/?lang=&lat=32.71017776445046&lon=-116.14883422851562&zoom=11&style=standard

Will century-old Impossible Railroad finally thrive, delivering billions in economic activity? http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/environment/sd-me-desert-line-20171221-story.html

Devember 2017

Rocks east portal of tunnel 8. Abandoned Tunnel Carrizo Gorge Railway https://youtu.be/0-A3dyy-b2k?t=3m38s

July 2017

A Ride to Goat Canyon Trestle in Carrizo Gorge, San Diego,CA Published on May 2000, Dec 11, 2007 Santa Maria Rail Car https://youtu.be/lTuGCgSjLd0?t=7m26s

June 2017

West of tunnel 8. fallen rocks on track https://goo.gl/maps/8YnKgYFDSdo and at 9:30 rocks blocking east end of tunnel 16 https://youtu.be/MAHG82GKA2c?t=3m45s

Aprii 2017

Science Channel’s “Mysteries of the Abandoned” episode on Goat Canyon railway trestle WTF?? https://www.sciencechannelgo.com/mysteries-of-the-abandoned/nazi-ghost-town/

For the record: Filming was a challenge, say producers of the Science Channel’s “Mysteries of the Abandoned” episode on Goat Canyon railway trestle in southeast San Diego County. It aired April 20.

The biggest problem “was the harsh environment — the remoteness, the searing heat, no roads to speak of, filming at altitude and the constant threat of landslides,” notes producer Henry Scott, of Like A Shot Productions, which worked with the Science Channel. “Access involved a six-hour drive, followed by a two-hour hike with all our equipment.”

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum folks escorted them for 17.5 miles in their service train engines, says Scott. “Even on that rail journey, our trains had to stop and clear away fallen rocks from the tracks. … We were constantly worried that another slide could start at any moment.”

Nevertheless, Richard Pennick, a volunteer with the Southwest Railway Museum in nearby Campo, wants to correct a few inaccuracies.

The trestle, which contains some nails and is actually 633 feet long with a 15-degree curve, may not be the largest wooden trestle in the world, as the Science Channel and others claim, Pennick says.

While that “likely is true among all of America’s public common-carrier railroads,” Pennick explains, the “list does NOT include private industrial railroads such as logging railroads that often built immense wooden trestles.”

Plus, contrary to the TV series’ title, the trestle isn’t truly abandoned, he and other railway historians point out.

The trestle portion of the line is “out of service” because the current freight train contractor, Pacific Imperial Railroad, hasn’t done the necessary restoration work.

Also, the trestle wasn’t part of the railway’s original link to Arizona but, due to a rock slide and tunnel blockage, was constructed in 1932 as a more reliable pathway across the canyon.

Despite their filming hardships, the project was well worth it, Scott concludes, because they have captured “one of America’s most amazing bridges” on film should anything happen to it in the near future. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/columnists/diane-bell/sd-me-bell-20170425-story.html

Railroad Vehicle #flickr https://flic.kr/p/e3pafe

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Ft21.com.mx%2Fferroviario%2F2017%2F03%2F15%2Fbjrr-adquiere-bienes-pacific-imperial-railroad&edit-text=

March 2017

Judge clears way for Pacific Imperial asset sale | Trains Magazine http://bit.ly/2vzcjvD

Hike the Carrizo Gorge Railroad https://youtu.be/1sUr6lM_sAU

Goat Canyon Trestle Mortero Palms trail https://youtu.be/D8On9SDE6ZA

Steam Railroad Series 28 - Corrizo Gorge Railway 1947 https://youtu.be/qAexYC4PatE via @YouTube

Rock Pile at the Mouth of Tunnel 16 #flickr https://flic.kr/p/T3wDAs

Rock Fall Near Tunnel 8 - [Gorge Ride 2017 Series] #flickr https://flic.kr/p/RMLAx1

The Collapse of the East Portal of Tunnel 16 - [Gorge Ride 2017 Series] #flickr https://flic.kr/p/RQsDpa

February 2017

Inside Tunnel 16 #flickr https://flic.kr/p/SVXJNo

Tunnel #8 east blockage at 'Spring' Abandoned Tunnel Carrizo Gorge Railway https://youtu.be/0-A3dyy-b2k?t=3m40s

El Cajon to Dos Cabezas https://goo.gl/maps/67AUqLFdHC52

January 14, 2017, there was 1 tunnel that had collapsed at the entrance, but it wasn't completely blocked off.. just had to climb over a big pile of rocks and debris https://www.reddit.com/r/socalhiking/comments/5ozrnu/finally_can_mark_this_off_my_bucket_list_goat/ https://youtu.be/AMogBVLjvGQ

The Bushman Track Traveler - "Tunnel #6 Collapsed!" https://youtu.be/Kat4P6-Mrk8 via @YouTube

Likely not the last binational railroad story. Lawsuits fly among Desert Line executives. By Dorian Hargrove, Feb. 2, 2017 http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2017/feb/02/ticker-likely-not-last-binational-railroad-story/

December 2016

Goat Canyon Trestle rock scrambling from Mortero Palms https://youtu.be/ZxkWpNgQh0U

Goat canyon trestle on a motorcycle https://youtu.be/S8spo9sSMqc

October 2016

Pacific Imperial Railroad opts for bankruptcy. Metropolitan Transit System plans to ride along with troubled company. By Dorian Hargrove, Oct. 27, 2016 http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2016/oct/27/ticker-pacific-imperial-railroad-opts-bankruptcy/#

October 28, Desert Line railroad leaseholder files for bankruptcy. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sd-me-pacific-imperial-bankruptcy-20161028-story.html

Eastbound Cab Ride Through Carrizo Gorge HD ♛ 2016 - HD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eIXGvegKCM

Westbound Cab Ride Through Carrizo Gorge HD ♛ 2016 - HD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBGjE5AQIr8

June, 2016

Pacific Imperial Railroad, KUSI Interview, June 9, 2016, Cali-Baja Sublease https://youtu.be/rJgmE1IK70M

Improvements to cross-border railway to begin in summer. http://www.10news.com/news/san-diego-border-railway-to-link-tijuana-factories-to-us-facilities

Border rail line to connect U.S., Mexico. New operator, repairs in store to bring defunct railroad back to life. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/jun/09/desert-line-gets-new-operator-repairs-starting/

Railroad Companies Reach Binational Agreement http://www.kpbs.org/news/2016/jun/09/railroad-companies-reach-binational-agreement/

February, 2016

Carrizo Gorge tunnel 8 https://youtu.be/dPhy8Yh27d8?t=5m14s via @YouTube

Close UP on San Diego Business Welcomes and featured Pacific Imperial Railroad Published on May 12, 2015 Close up on San Diego Business Host Barry Waxler interviews Donald Stoecklein from Pacific Imperial Railroad. https://youtu.be/f7-H9CSd6fM

The Desert Line Published on Oct 21, 2015 https://youtu.be/3VevmRiIAwM

January 2016

The long-desired transnational railroad Latest incarnation as bizarre as its predecessors http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2016/jan/27/citylights-long-desired-transinational-railroad/?page=1&

December 2015

Many of you have been asking the situation on the Tijuana-Tecate railway regarding PSRM reinstituting the trip. Since the collapse of tunnel 3 in 2009 and it's recent daylighting, I've decided to make a summary of what's been going on. Click on this video to get a first person view of the situation. Stay tuned! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFOUYX2iQqk

October 2015

A judge has ordered the president of the company trying to restart the Desert Line railroad east of San Diego to pay $73,000 to the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle a penalty imposed for his role in a stock scheme two decades ago. Donald Stoecklein, president of Pacific Imperial Railroad, was ordered to pay the amount on Oct. 23 by U.S. District Judge John Houston. It stems from a September 1995 consent agreement Stoecklein made with the agency over stock sales the SEC contended were a sham. Oct. 30, 2015 http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/oct/30/railroad-boss-must-pay-old-fine/

Pretty quiet for a railroad Desert Line president doesn't respond to court summons By Dorian Hargrove, Oct. 29, 2015 The wild ride continues for owner and operator of Metropolitan Transit System's Desert Line, Pacific Imperial Railroad. On October 19, the California Labor Commission ordered the fledgling binational railroad company to pay $90,152 in unpaid wages to former corporate secretary Jennifer Trowbridge. According to the complaint, Trowbridge worked from February 2013 to January 2015 as a full-time corporate secretary for Pacific Imperial Railroad. During that time, Trowbridge reportedly earned $2000 a month plus vacation pay. But checks were never sent in the mail. Near the beginning of her employment, Trowbridge as well as Pacific Imperial's executives agreed to collect their wages at a later date, when the company was financially stable. A year later, however, Trowbridge discovered that other executives had received wages. At the time, the legal counsel and president of Pacific Imperial, Donald Stoecklein, told Trowbridge, according to the complaint, "that there was not enough money to pay all of the executives and that the other executives were a higher priority." Trowbridge and an attorney appeared before the labor commission on August 31 of this year to protest the unpaid wages. However, no representatives decided to show for the hearing. In fact, the company and its president, Stoecklein, failed to answer the complaint or respond to the summons. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2015/oct/29/ticker-pretty-quiet-railroad-pacific-imperial/#

Pacific Imperial Railroad's new owner to rebuild Desert Line. nvestment company Conatus Capital Group Inc. has acquired a majority interest in Pacific Imperial Railroad (PIR), and named Arturo Alemany as president and chief executive officer. Alemany has more than 25 years of experience in international business development and operations in the United States, Europe and Latin America. He has 10 years of prior railroad experience with Amtrak, and is president and CEO of Alemany and Associates. 10/29/2015 http://www.progressiverailroading.com/short_lines_regionals/news/Pacific-Imperial-Railroads-new-owner-to-rebuild-Desert-Line--46277

Pacific Imperial Railroad Announces Majority Ownership Transfer and the Appointment of CEO and President Arturo Alemany October 28, 2015 http://pacificimperialrailroad.com/2015/10/30/pacific-imperial-railroad-announces-majority-ownership-transfer-and-the-appointment-of-ceo-and-president-arturo-alemany-3/

September 2015

Pacific Imperial railroaded me. Investor in Desert Line sues, says executives were aware of problems. By Dorian Hargrove, Sept. 15, 2015 http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2015/sep/15/ticker-pacific-imperial-railroaded-me/?page=1&

August 2015

Clearing the Way for Reconstruction http://pacificimperialrailroad.com/2015/08/12/clearing-the-way-for-reconstruction/

July 2015

July 17, 2015 Pacific Imperial dreams big with intermodal. by Don Jones SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System board voted this week to empower its CEO to renegotiate terms of the lease for the so-called Desert Line, with lessee Pacific Imperial Railroad Inc. The changes push back a contract milestone that called for the entire line to be brought up Class 1 standards by August of this year. The changes proposed by Pacific Imperial will emphasize reconstruction of the easternmost 9.5 miles of the line between Coyote Wells and the Union Pacific connection at Plaster City. A yet-to-be-constructed intermodal facility at Coyote Wells would permit containers to be trucked there and transferred to rail for delivery to UP and subsequent movement to the east. Talk is of assembling 100-car trains daily, providing an alternative means of shipment out of the many factories in northern Baja California, most of which ship by truck to intermodal facilities in the Los Angeles and San Bernardino areas. Additional modifications to the agreement require Pacific Imperial to bring the remainder of the line to Class 1 standards and commence test train operations by mid-May 2017. http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2015/07/pacific-imperial-dreams-big-with-intermodal

July 8, 2015 MTS proposes to ease rail deadlines. Border railway was supposed to be running test trains by Oct. 1. MTS is now proposing a new schedule. It would divide repair work into two sections of the track with separate deadlines for each. The first would focus on the eastern 9.5 miles of track and be completed by March 1, 2016, with a test train running by April 2016. The second is the remaining 60 miles that would be completed by April 2017, with a test train set to run in May 2017. The new time frame will not push back the deadline of getting full-scale repairs done and operations underway by January 2018, according to a MTS staff report outlining the new deadlines. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/jul/08/pir-delays/

July 7, 2015 Border railroad makes its MTS payment. Partners also announce agreement for talks with Mexican company http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/jul/07/pir/

April 2015

Railroad exec to SEC: Too late to collect. By Greg Moran1:26 P.M.APRIL 21, 2015 The president of Pacific Imperial Railroad says it’s too late for the federal government to collect more than $70,000 stemming from a 1995 settlement regarding his role in what the Securities and Exchange Commission described as sham stock transactions. Donald Stoecklein, the president and public face of the rail company that was given a 99-year lease to revive and operate the Desert Line freight railroad along the U.S.-Mexico border, said in court papers that he should not have to pay because the legal time limit for seeking the money has passed. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/apr/21/stoecklein-response-sec/

March 2015

March 19 Old debt arises for border rail boss. SEC asks Stoecklein to pay fraud settlement from 1995, with interest. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/mar/19/stoecklein-pir-mts-sec-fraud/

March 12 San Diego Metropolitan Transit System's Board of Directors meeting final package http://www.sdmts.com/MTS/documents/2015-03-12.pdf

March 11, Donald Stoecklein, president and former lead counsel for the troubled binational railroad known as the Desert Line, has run into trouble in the form of the Securities and Exchange Commission. On March 11, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint against Stoecklein for failing to pay a 1997 settlement agreement over "ill-gotten gains" he received in the sale of stock in a Nevada-based company known as SoftPoint Inc. The complaint is the latest development in the saga involving the Desert Line. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2015/mar/11/ticker-donald-stoecklein-trouble-sec/

February 2015

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Feb. 26, 2015 Sabotage on the railway? Derailment of abandoned train cars "is a major public safety issue" By Dorian Hargrove, http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2015/feb/26/ticker-desert-line-derailment-carrizo-gorge/

FEB. 21, 2015 Rail investor faces fraud allegations. Member of new ownership group for border line says SEC charges are wrong. By Greg Moran 7:09 A.M. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/feb/21/pacific-imperial-new-investors-kinsell-victorville/

Feb. 18, 2015 Desert Line grit. New management of railroad includes old faces in San Diego County. By Dorian Hargrove, http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2015/feb/18/ticker-new-management-desert-line/#

Rail partners face federal inquiry. Agents are asking about circumstances behind MTS border line lease. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/feb/07/rail-partners-face-federal-inquiry/

Feb 04, 2015 Desert Line remains shrouded in secrecy. Council member David Alvarez calls for transparency on railroad restoration. By Joshua Emerson Smith. Alvarez asked for an update on a feasibility study of the Desert Line, as well as a financial audit of Pacific Imperial Railroad (PIR), the contracted company. MTS officials have yet to respond. However, answers to Alvarez’s questions likely exist. In order to begin freight operations, according to MTS records. Sections of the 100-year-old tracks would also need to be upgraded. Since entering into a 99-year contract with MTS in 2012, PIR submitted a business plan, which both entities have refused to make public. In 2007, MTS did a study of the rail line, which it also declined to release. But, in a legal declaration from 2012, MTS general counsel Karen Landers said the study found “costs to bring the Desert Line into a state of good repair were informally estimated at more than $100 million.” http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/article-13870-desert-line-remains-shrouded-in-secrecy.html

January 2015

Carrizo Gorge_Jan 2015 snow https://youtu.be/Bmm_703NO50

January 27, 2015 San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railway Company (SD&AE) Board of Directors Meeting http://www.sdmts.com/MTS/documents/2015-1-27SDAEFINALPKG.pdf

ref

MTS Meeting Schedules and Minutes: http://www.sdmts.com/MTS/MTS_board.asp