For those in Southern California, many remember nearly a decade ago the line to Perris was rebuilt and is single-track CTC. A second track has been reported, and construction is now in progress! My wife was out that way today.
There is nothing like Perris in the spring.
https://www.rctc.org/projects/metrolink-double-track-project-moreno-valley-perris/
https://catc.ca.gov/-/media/ctc-media/documents/programs/local-partnership-program/competitive/cycle-3-project-fact-sheets/15-lpp-c-fact-sheet-riverside-co-rctc-metrolink-double-track-project-moreno-valley-to-perris
They are also adding 2.15 miles of double track in Simi Valley.
Check out the project timeline.
https://metrolinktrains.com/globalassets/score/project-pics/simi-valley/final-simi-valley-factsheet.pdf
To kgbw49 and other interested in the Perris Valley Line:
For those following the news activity on the Perris Valley Line, this contributor finds the current construction unbelievable! Especially, the track SOUTH of the Moreno Valley / March Field stop!
The arrangement is projected that the two-tracks will come together briefly and then two tracks will resume southward. That tells me that section will not be used much for commuter trains. And will be only used for the morning rush to Riverside and the even rush to Perris.
It must be said that the promotors of the concept have shown themselves quite adept in getting Federal funds and making things look wonderous. I guess we’ll all find out next year how wonderous or not wonderous things are.
As far as this contributor knows, the track to the rail museum still has not been connected, and bicentennial AT&SF SD45-2 No. 5704 is still in Los Angeles.
I thought the Perris line crossed lots of land that was unstable, and the Santa Fe didn't build further because of it.
The Perris Valley Line is a mighty good road.
The Perris Valley Line is the road to ride.
If you want to ride it you have to ride it where you find it.
Get your ticket at the station in downtown LA.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jdt0SKvk874
Gramp I thought the Perris line crossed lots of land that was unstable, and the Santa Fe didn't build further because of it.
My understanding is that it was the line beyond Perris thru the canyon to the coast line that had the problem, and was eventually abandoned. This was the original mainline to San Diego.
The most serious problem was the first few miles of line between Temecula and Oceanside. The grade was barely above the streambed and got washed out two or three times before the Santa Fe built the Surf Line. The line through Railraod Canyon was removed in 1927 in preparation for the construction of Railroad Canyon Reservoir.
Here is about 15 minutes of Metrolink operations on the Perris Valley Line.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eJbOFEeo4DY
Gramps:
A cursory look at the results of Fred Perris’ surveying effort on his San Diego-Barstow line, one gets the distinct impression perhaps he was paid by how fast he could survey the line.
As an example, take the Cajon to Summit 3% route. Several decades later a 2.2% grade second track was added. So, Mr. Perris chose expediency over good work and sound practices! Fallbrook locals advised Perris he should build the line up on higher ground, but that didn’t fit his expediency timetable. The fact that someone suggested that they obviously had a surveying background. Less than a decade later, west of Fallbrook was washed out, so severely washed out the line was abandoned.
One has to wonder if someone has a grandiose scheme to build a commuter line Perris to Oceanside, this time building it correctly, and not by expediency. There is a super amount of real estate land out there, and visionaries could make a killing a thousand times over!
kgbw49:
Thanks for the links with videos of the Perris Valley Line.
In one video, it showed a ride Perris to Riverside. Of special interest were views of a ride down the Box Spring grade that eventually crossed Mt. Vernon Ave. in Riverside. There was considerable controversy at the time about putting fencing up for protecting the right-of-way and keep children going to school off the tracks. I guess Metrolink prevailed because fencing is shown in a video! A person would need qualities like Wonder Woman to jump over such fencing!
Used to live in SoCal in another time in another life.
Been to those areas numerous times back in the day. Still have relatives in that area so get back occasionally.
Interesting to see the growth of the wine industry in the Perris area over time.
kgbw49They are also adding 2.15 miles of double track in Simi Valley. Check out the project timeline. https://metrolinktrains.com/globalassets/score/project-pics/simi-valley/final-simi-valley-factsheet.pdf
OvermodDid they get that from watching Thomas the Tank Engine episodes?
You may be closer to the truth than you think...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Interesting how rail lines evolve
This will consider about 10 miles of both (1) the old California Southern (Santa Fe, now Perris Valley Line) and (2) the Union Pacific Sunset Route (ex-Southern Pacific) as related to highways.
First the old California Southern. In the last fifty years, Santa Fe tolerated a shrinking customer base, and pretty much went along with the desires Caltrans presented AT&SF. Thus, today, Metrolink built the PVL with relatively high speed straightaways but only moderately high speed curves (55 MP.H.). Remember, Santa Fe didn’t envisioned the track as a commuter line!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rMNMBocJRgmJQcQdA
Conversely, the Southern Pacific in the Colton-Fontana stretch was always thought of as heavy freight and generally built on straight alignments. And everything else had to take the roundabout way. So, today, with offramps, the freeway swings away from the tracks and comes back to them!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/TU4boFyrcpt7QTSN8
For the local clan … Second Main
will be put in service this Saturday
The new control point will be put in service this Saturday (June 22, 2024) and will be identified as CP MARCH, obviously a reference to March Air Reserve Base east across the I-215 Freeway
The Perris Valley Line is a seven day a week operation, with a reduced schedule on weekends.
Occasionally, large military aircraft are seen going around and around on touch and go landings and takeoffs.
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