General Discussion

'Reference Photos' for This Reply Post

From this poster's files ...

From S.R. 347 in Maricopa, AZ, looking west.

Looking east. The graded alignment shift is easily seen from the background left to the foreground right.

Looking south. The second main should cross somewhere in the area of the crossing gate (which will have to be moved back farther) and the ambulance.

Now, the Replies ...

desertdog (11-9):

The newspaper item you linked was very helpful. Thanks.

One thing in the material that caught my attention was UP rep Zoe Richmond's statement that the second main would be put in service this Spring. So, apparently, just a grade crossing panel track will be installed into Highway 347, and obviously the crossing gates moved accordingly. Why three or four days of road closure would be consumed for that kind of simple task baffles me. It is assumed that the unconnected track will be laid at UP's leisure thereafter to the future CP a few thousand feet east of Highway 347, and remain unconnected and unused until Spring.

So, if I understand matters correctly, half the trains will still be traveling slowly across Highway 347 because of the slow speed turnout just west of that highway, at least until Spring.

Desertdog, does all this sound right?

Locomatt63 (11-8):

Between yours and desertdog's reports from being on-site, the forum is getting a better mental picture of what is going on (and will go on) in the Maricopa, AZ area.

As seen in the east facing photo above, the alignment shift should leave the Amtrak Station stop unaffected; thus, I doubt there will be an Amtrak siding. New track laying toward the camera will merely alignment shift from the north side (left) of the present main to the south side (right).

About digital photography ... Exactly why you've had sizing problems is unclear. There does not appear to be a uniform standard that companies and host outfits adhere to, so mismatched settings may be part of the problem you've reported having. Without the digital photos in hand, so to speak, it is difficult to trace your problems for a possible successful resolution.

I've owned some of the best FILM based cameras, such as Nikon and Hasselblad. The Hasselblad brought surprisingly disappointing sharpness results, though. At this time I have no experience with high end digital cameras. The nonprofessional digital cameras of my wife that I've used at this forum have given surprisingly clear and rather sharp results.

If you cannot end produce clear and sharp photos of standard sizes and contrast, you may want to look into investing in a new digital camera. My wife's two cameras cost $100 and $150 (on sale) respectively, so they were relatively inexpensive. You can buy a nice digital Nikon or Canon for $600-$1000. If you have a spare pricy car to sacrifice, you can fork it over to a camera shop for a new digital Hasselblad. But, I know I sure don't ...

A word of caution, though, about low end purchases. I've gotten away with using unprofessional cameras here at the forum because documenting 'still' scenes is what unprofessional digital cameras are all about. When I press the shutter button, a DELAY up to a second of shutter response has occurred before, but not always. Such is NOT conducive to fast moving railroad photography. A pricy Nikon Coolpix is of a very unprofessional camera line, and I recommend staying away from them. On the other hand, Nikons and Canons, and what ever else there is out there, that are CAPABLE of taking fast, MULTIPLE PHOTOS PER SECOND mesh well with normal fast action railroad photography.

It is hoped all this helps in some way.

A Photo Word to Everyone Interested ...

I tend to carry TWO digital cameras in my documenting travels. One has a somewhat normal, traditional size lens. The other has a very physically small design. That latter one comes in handy for overpasses with the newer petite wire fence messing. The traditional size lens cannot fit though such meshing to obtain unobstructed photo views!

The above photo taken in Tucson, AZ was such an occurrence. With a physically small lens of a second camera, I was able to stick the lens through a super small mesh opening in the long bridge's long fencing, and presto, documenting the Tucson view was accomplished!

K.P. Harrier wrote: 

"One thing in the material that caught my attention was UP rep Zoe Richmond's statement that the second main would be put in service this Spring. So, apparently, just a grade crossing panel track will be installed into Highway 347, and obviously the crossing gates moved accordingly. Why three or four days of road closure would be consumed for that kind of simple task baffles me. It is assumed that the unconnected track will be laid at UP's leisure thereafter to the future CP a few thousand feet east of Highway 347, and remain unconnected and unused until Spring.

So, if I understand matters correctly, half the trains will still be traveling slowly across Highway 347 because of the slow speed turnout just west of that highway, at least until Spring.

Desertdog, does all this sound right?"

K.P.,

Apparently it will be spring, and in some ways I can see why.  As you have noted in the past, there are two sets of crossovers and a relatively large amount of signalling needed that has to be wired in, tested and cut over.  Another thing to keep in mind is that spring arrives in Arizona a lot earlier than most other places.  They will want to get things pretty much done by the end of March because you can get 95-100 degree days in April.

As to why the SR347 crossing takes four days to accomplish, all I can say is that Arizona takes its good natured time when it comes to road projects.  Unlike the north where they rush to get roads done while they can between the spring thaw and the fall freeze, here they seem to have no such sense of urgency. 

I found the mention of a "derailment" rather curious.  I don't know why that location would be any more prone to a derailment than any other given the current configuration.  My guess is that they played the derailment "card" with the State in order to get things moving faster.  Again, just a guess.

If I can't see what is going on when I head to Tucson Sunday evening, I'll pass through again on the way back Monday.

John Timm

desertdog (11-12):

Thanks for confirming that I was on the right track ... or, rather, understood the matter as you did.

In some ways UP may have played the derailment card in that news article you linked. I think, though, the PR person was trying to show the tracks were deteriorating to the point that there could be a derailment, and such could be devastating if it occurred at S.R. 347.

Of course, the UP definition of bad track probably varies considerably from mine ... To me, bad track is what Milwaukee Road had in its last days ...

What I'm curious about now is whether or not UP will at least continue laying the second track eastward past Cowtown to the next double-crossover somewhere in the east. If they don't, laying a second track over S.R. 347 will hardly relieve public irritation.

Take care. 

K.P.

Hey John, thanks for the photo tips, I have not been in Maricopa proper in 2 weeks, hoping to drop in there this weekend and check on how much more progress has happened.   I was there on Tuesday the 3rd, and crews were still setting up more concrete ties going west from the new switch towards the Amtrak station.   Today I was coming from a customer near the airport (Sky Harbor) and the UP Phoenix Sub (and yard) are right close to this customer, anyway, after leaving, took the SR143 to get back to I 10, and on the siding was a LONG MOW train sitting in the siding, trucks, busses, tractors, heavy equpment etc.   Not sure where this is going to go, but I hope it is still there this weekend and get some pics and hopefully some info on where all this equipment is going.

locomatt63:

Hey John, thanks for the photo tips, I have not been in Maricopa proper in 2 weeks, hoping to drop in there this weekend and check on how much more progress has happened.   I was there on Tuesday the 3rd, and crews were still setting up more concrete ties going west from the new switch towards the Amtrak station.   Today I was coming from a customer near the airport (Sky Harbor) and the UP Phoenix Sub (and yard) are right close to this customer, anyway, after leaving, took the SR143 to get back to I 10, and on the siding was a LONG MOW train sitting in the siding, trucks, busses, tractors, heavy equpment etc.   Not sure where this is going to go, but I hope it is still there this weekend and get some pics and hopefully some info on where all this equipment is going.

 Again, I posted a while back that there is a long line of ribbon rail next to the Phoenix Line proper through Tempe and Mesa up to the Mesa siding @ Extension road.  This track is currently laid with stick rail that dates back to 1953.

Well then it sounds like it could be an Arizona area wide "Blitz", to upgrade/replace the Phoenix line, and maybe move out onto the Gila Sub and start double tracking east from Maricopa while the weather is nice...will keep railfanning the area and see what happens

Update as of Friday, November 13, 2009:

Pomona, CA

Part I, Section A (of A-D)

Last weekend LA&SL work forces converge upon the CP OAK area, installed a switch, and realigned the track. The following documents what the site looks like a week later.

From Hamilton Ave. looking west, the five-foot realignment's warped track has all been returned to a well manicured shape, and track speed restored.

In the above photo, note the background signal on the upper left, and how it aligns with the parked cars on the road. To install a future signal just beyond the new switch, whether it be of a mast or bridge design, it is clear now the track had to swing to the right briefly to go around whatever will be installed there.

Note, too, the alignment of that new switch above. The background track and the foreground track obviously aligns, but note how the straight part of the switch slightly angles to the right.

A west side view, looking east. Because of the alignment shift, theoretically, there should be less ballast falling unto the street (lower right).

New markings on the southwest side of the Hamilton Blvd. grade crossing.

Not photographable were many UP (?) workers that were working between [CP] OAK and [CP] ROSELAWN, and maybe further west too. They had parked their autos alongside the tracks just west of [CP] OAK

Continued in Section B

Update as of Friday, November 13, 2009:

Pomona, CA

Part I, Section B (of A-D)

The walling by Humane Way is coming along well. Note the newly poured, wet cement in the extra temporary framing.

Continued in Section C

Update as of Friday, November 13, 2009:

Pomona, CA

Part I, Section C (of A-D)

A west view from Humane Way. At times, there were a constant stream to trucks ...

... hauling thinly ground sub layer.

The thinly ground sub laying was being put on the new grading EAST of Humane Way and eastward toward [CP] ROSELAWN.

Continued in Section D

Update as of Friday, November 13, 2009:

Pomona, CA

Part I, Section D (of A-D)

The grading under Highway 57 and several hundred feet west has started to progress well.

Fill-in dirt is being poured east of Temple Ave. now.

It appears a serious effort is now being made just east of Temple Ave. Staking and fill dirt is present.

Watering trucks periodically pass. This forum contributor could look down into the hole on the tank top and see a full tank of water swishing around ...

Part II is scheduled for Monday afternoon, November 16, 2009. We will finish off on what is occurring west of Temple Ave. Also, other items of interest in the Pomona area will be looked at.

Great pics K.B, looks like they are really moving along and getting things set for more trackwork.  Sorry I gave credit for the info on photos to John, but again to you I say thanks for the pic information.   Here in AZ, things are happening at Maricopa again.  UP is setting up trackwork to cross SR347 next weekend grabbed some "before" pics, and when they are done, I will show the "after" pics...

Ok, cant get pics to post, so lets try this link and see if that works to post pics....

http://westcoastrailforums.com/view_topic.php?id=3238&forum_id=73

locomatt63:

Ok, cant get pics to post, so lets try this link and see if that works to post pics....

http://westcoastrailforums.com/view_topic.php?id=3238&forum_id=73

these were taken on Saturday 11/14/09, they photo 1 shows the cleared area leading where the new second (south) main will cross SR347 next weekend, panel tracks with concrete ties are nearby and ready to be dragged/lifted into place. 

The 2nd photo shows the new switch coming off the north (old) main on the north side of the main and proceeds towards the amtrak station, but stops approx 1000ft from the platform. I looked around the platform and at the west end of platform there are marking for utilities or where they will cut the asphalt of 347.

The 3rd photo shows the switch stand of the new switch, I just believe that it makes sense to have a siding for amtrack and get them off the mains while loading/unloading, now that 2 gons and the flat with concrete switch materiel sitting at CP Mobile, could be brought towards Maricopa and placed west of the 347 crossing near the old SP water tank.   So will they "triple" track 347?  Next week will tell the story.

Picture link http://westcoastrailforums.com/view_topic.php?id=3242&forum_id=73

Passengerfan (11-11):

Thanks for relating your firsthand "trucking business" experience about the likely costs for tire replacements for that tire that blew. Such clarifying knowledge broadens our awareness that things in the railroad business and things to keep it running are not cheep by any means.

K.P.