The ‘Secret’ Perris Valley Line Continues
Headway No. 1 ( of 1-3)
During a presently rare dispatch to Hemet, K.P. was able to have much free time between Hemet and the relatively nearby Perris area, and the South Perris stop was visited. The stop is still rather deserted, but had much more vehicles present than last time.
The shade covered area was focused on (note the monitor screen on the upper right).
The monitor said two trains were in the relatively near future, one arriving and the other departing, though of the same train set.
Continued in Headway No. 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
Headway No. 2 (of 1-3)
At that, an arrival was seen to be soon. So, Nuevo Road was gone to, and why a separate track was built alongside the old freight track was seen too. (A freight was noted to be occupying the original line.) The outbound train soon came.
After discharging its passengers at the South Perris stop, the train then moved over to and laid over by the crew building (right).
Later, when the train left for Riverside, K.P. stationed the camera a few blocks from the downtown Perris stop, by the curve south of the stop.
Back at the South Perris stop, a photo of the ‘designer’ semi-greenery just had to be photographed …
Continued in Headway No. 3
Headway No. 3 (of 1-3)
The new F125 power still hasn’t been put in service anywhere on the Metrolink system. But, as the below link’s photo shows, unit 905 was used for testing activation of crossing gates on the Pasadena Sub presently used for a local a day except weekends.
http://railpictures.net/photo/619582/
In that light, maybe something will start getting exciting on the Perris Valley Line soon …
For the first time ever K.P. ventured onto an unseen territory to him between Hemet and Perris. The ex-Santa Fe line is in deplorable shape.
That above spur photo was shot not too far from the South Perris stop. While only a spur, the mainline often looks pretty bad, with rails sometimes severed!
From South Perris to Hemet via rail is probably (“probably”) 20 miles. In K.P.’s estimation the line if rebuilt could support 79 M.P.H trains, and if Automatic Train Stop (ATS) equipped, 90 M.P.H. seems feasible. It is mostly straightaways and just a couple of big, swooping curves, and in a very rural setting.
It almost looked like the line is abandoned, or will soon be. Whether or not the PVL will be extended to Hemet in the future is not known, but that deplorable line was photographed too at key locations on the Friday visit. It is hoped to post photos next week. It is a strange sight compared to most of Southern California’s well-manicured mainlines, and even some fairly decent branch lines!
Stay tuned.
The “No Line” of the San Jac!
Part “A” (of A-E)
The AT&SF train called the “San Jac” got its name from a run between San Bernardino and San Jacinto (CA). This status report is of the current track situation beyond the South Perris Metrolink stop and to near Hemet.
We start at a street called “Cawstone” at M.P. 33.25, looking outbound towards Hemet.
Looking inbound: Note the disjointed rail and greenery (?) growth on the rails and ties.
We now go towards a ‘dead’ siding-like area.
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-E)
At Winchester Road, M.P. 28.95, cantilever roadway flashers are present.
Outbound:
Inbound, and an industrial siding (left) not timetabled for meets.
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-E)
At Briggs Road, unknown milepost, looking outbound:
Inbound:
Above, one has to wonder how the left rail got bent towards the right one.
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-E)
At Menefee Road, in the M.P. 24 area, an outbound view:
The southeast grade crossing flashers are mast-hanging and facing the tracks and not the roadway.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-E)
About a block or two west, or inbound, is a branching off spur that is undermined.
The spur goes to what looks like an electric utility.
At South Perris, the new, ‘good’ track is present. Even so the outbound signal thereat only clears with flashing red over red, or red over flashing red.
Above, note the bottom lamp is off in its red over flashing red mode. While K.P. did not see it when the DS lined the signal, it apparently was red over flashing red for at least 45 minutes before being knocked down by the commuter train
So, there we have it, a disjointed, dilapidated line that trains cannot currently pass over. It would seem that a Metrolink extension to Hemet would be a good idea. It is unknown if Metrolink thinks so too. But, word is that ‘transit” will not fare well under President Trump. Time will tell on all this.
NOTE: This photo series and the mileposts therein are in conflict with previous statements of the distance between Perris and Hemet, which were bases on information from Google Maps. Mileposts don’t lie, so apparently the distance from SOUTH Perris to Hemet is much less than thought.
This will end the series. However, a brief Second Section follows.
Second Section
The “D” Street grade crossing that is south of the Downtown Perris stop and near that curve, seems to have a visual problem for motorists.
It would seem an early-on inbound trip out of the South Perris stop COULD have that trip very disrupted with a collision at “D” Street. It would seem a cantilever south side flashers would be a safety enhancement here.
South Perris – Saturday, July 7, 2018
Two F125’s Facing Each Other!
On a dispatch deep into Riverside County, K.P. stopped at the Metrolink South Perris end of the line, at the servicing facility, and found TWO F125’s there, and as he had never seen before, one train set was in reverse, with the power (Engine No. 910) on the inbound end.
Usually ALL the power parks at the end of line, but this visit a cab car was at the end of the line. Typically, all power leads up the grade in the Box Springs area, but No. 910 PUSHED the train up the grade this time.
On another line, No. 910 has been photographed running a train previously in the reverse mode for some reason.
There does not appear to be any effort to increase the low ridership on the Perris Valley Line.
On the Saturday mentioned, the line was dead, as NO Metrolinks run on Saturday or Sunday on the PVL. A freight train, however, was seen switching on the line.
K. P. HarrierSouth Perris – Saturday, July 7, 2018 There does not appear to be any effort to increase the low ridership on the Perris Valley Line. On the Saturday mentioned, the line was dead, as NO Metrolinks run on Saturday or Sunday on the PVL. A freight train, however, was seen switching on the line.
K.P.:
Good to hear from you, as always. Sad to hear that ridership isn't increasing that much. I don't know what to think -- are the commuters in that area all going down the 15 to San Diego? Are they going up the 15 to San Berdoo?
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