Article: Idle rail cars in San Gabriel Valley draw graffiti, ire: Port slowdown forces Burlington Santa Fe to park unused freight cars.(SHIPPING)

IF in doubt as to how much the economic downturn has slammed trade, look no further than a three-mile stretch of unused freight cars marooned in the San Gabriel Valley.

Because of declining shipments from the local ports, the Burlington Santa Fe Railway has parked 180 rail cars along a track that stretches from Arcadia to Irwindale--attracting graffiti and community outrage.

"It's quite an eyesore," said Arpi Kizirian, a manager at the Arcadia office of the Auto Club of Southern California, which has a direct view of the tagged rail cars. "Some of our members have come in here and complained about how it ruins their view and makes the city look bad."

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