It is no secret the UP Valley Subdivision between Binney Junction and the Roseville Yard is busy, really busy. Trains from the Feather River Route (Highway 70 corridor) and the Shasta Route (Interstate 5 corridor), both use this line frequently. In addition, the Rocklin Rocket serves several industries along this trackage.With this high amount of rail traffic, Dispatcher 57 has to be strategic in how she uses the three sidings in this 35-mile stretch. In this shot, the UP 1004 is stopped in the siding at Ostrom while an empty dirty dirt train flies by on the main track. Soon, the UP 1004 and the Rocklin Rocket will be back on the move and back to work. Strategic dispatching is vitally important to the efficiency of the railroad. Poor decisions made by the dispatcher, especially on high traffic routes like the Valley Subdivision, can tie up the railroad for hours, days and sometimes weeks. Luckily, on this day, Dispatcher 57 was on her game, moving several trains through the area seamlessly.
