Lakewood Industrial Lead - Union Pacific
This view shows a wye on the Lakewood Industrial Lead, which was approved for abandonment in late 2002/early 2003. The spur behind the camera served Douglas Aircraft (later McDonnell Douglas, and now Boeing). Photo from January 2003, courtesy Mike Palmer.
This line was part of the original UP branch from Los Angeles to the ports in Long Beach and Terminal Island. In the early 1930s UP opened a line that diverged from the original track at Douglas Junction and bypassed the city of Long Beach, and a 2+ mile segment of the original route remained as the Lakewood Industrial Lead. (The tracks south of this segment ran mostly on city streets and were abandoned when the bypass opened).
A separate spur served the Douglas Aircraft plant (hence the name Douglas Jct.) adjacent to the Long Beach Airport. The main stem of the branch was used as a team track. Covered hoppers were spotted at the end of the branch; auto rack cars were stored on sidings.
The south end of this track has been approved for abandonment in late 2002/early 2003. It does not appear that any trains have used this segment in some time.
