SLO Boes rail hoppin' train page(San Luis Obispo, CA Hoboes Page)
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SP Detector, mile post 248.2
Located just west of the bridge, at mile post 248.2 (or Goldtree), is one of Southern Pacific's many hot box detectors. These detectors scan each passing train for overheating axle bearings and dragging equipment. Tune your scanner in to 160.320 MHz and you will hear the detector's female voice announce:
"SP detector, mile post two-four-eight point two. Two-five miles per hour. No defects. No defects."
Click here for an audio WAV file
In the event of a problem you might hear something like:
"SP detector, mile post two-four-eight point two. Stop your train! Stop your train! Two defects. First hot box, left side, near axle one-five. Stop your train! Stop your train!"
Click here for an audio WAV file
History at Stenner Creek
The rails cross Stenner Creek near the bottom of Cuesta Grade at the North end of the Cal Poly campus. Descending the last of the ten mile stretch the track extends into the Chorro Valley forming a long horseshoe over 8000 feet long. Here it is possible to stand between the tracks and watch the same train go by in two directions at once. Stenner Creek itself is spanned by a 935-foot long steel bridge manufactured in Pittsburgh by the National Bridge Company and installed in 1894. Located at the last unfinished stretch of track leading into town it was here that over 100 feet of track was laid every five minutes the day before the first train arrived in San Luis Obispo, May 5, 1894.
