Yesterday (1/15/13) while driving down Interstate 5 I saw a BNSF business train heading compass south through Metrolink's Stuart Mesa facility around 2:30 in the afternoon. What was the occasion for this train and who was riding in it? I did some quick searches on Google but was unable to find anything current. Also there was a Metrolink train not more than half a mile ahead of this train but I don't believe they were on the same track. I thought that was some what odd.
Seeing such a train, kingbee33, is kind of rare, considering BNSF has for all practical purposes forsaken San Diego and the Surf Line … Sorry I can’t provide any information on the train you inquired about.
Where exactly is the Metrolink Stuart Mesa facility?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
K. P. HarrierWhere exactly is the Metrolink Stuart Mesa facility?
EDIT: found a post on another site referring to this as BNSF Engineering inspection train O-SDGRIC2-16A. Quite a detour to inspect their yard just south of downtown.
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Thanks for the replies guys. I thought it might be an inspection train but it had around half a dozen cars so I thought it was some sort of business train. In terms of freight the Surf line is pretty dead other than the one auto rack or manifest that typically runs at night/early morning.
Here's where the facility I was referring to is https://maps.google.com/?ll=33.243004,-117.413764&spn=0.006837,0.01545&t=h&z=17 I believe the Pacific Sun Railroad also uses the yard. I always see an engine or two parked there with some covered hoppers.
kingbee33 (1-17):
Thanks for the map link. Got the location picture! Man, has it been awhile since I’ve been out that way!
In the link aerial, to the southeast just a bit, what looks like a crane is present, by the bridging over a wash or river. That view obviously wasn’t satellite shot yesterday. Was a second bridge put in as with two-tracking that portion of the line? Or, perhaps the old AT&SF Bridge replaced?
Take care,
K.P.
I drive by the location about once a month and have been since August of 2011. I believe a second bridge is being built for double tracking. Construction is still in progress and has been for the past year to year and a half or so. The old bridge is still in place and I imagine it will stay in service once the new bridge is completed.
Also there will be signal replacements as well. Just north of the facility a new modern cantilever signal bridge was installed with hood signals but they are currently wrapped up and face perpendicular to the tracks. South of the facility there are new hood signals as well but they are wrapped up and facing away from the tracks too. Those new signals have been like that for quite a few months. The old search light signals and signals with three lights arranged in a triangular pattern are still operational. (sorry for my lack of proper signal terms but I'm not too familiar with all the technical stuff regarding them)
kingbee33 (1-18):
Thanks for the info about adding a second bridge northwest of Oceanside, CA.
My guess is that the original bridge will remain. Two such cases come to mind. (1) Benson, AZ in the last century …
… and (2) in the triple-tracking of Cajon Pass.
In the latter photo above shot in 2008, the left bridge was put in in 1913 – 100 years ago this year!
In aerials of the Stuart Mesa vicinity, the cantilever signals look unlike what BNSF and UP are installing these days. BNSF in Cajon Pass …
… and UP in the Loma Linda area …
Concerning signals being erected and not being put in service, in Cajon Pass in my local area, new color light upgrade signals were erected, and it has been a year and a half and they still are not operational!
In the below link, just southeast of the new bridging (upper left) discussed above in the Stuart Mesa area is an old junction (right).
LINK: The Fallbrook Jct. Area
The line (then called the California Southern) from San Diego originally took that branching off route, passed through “Railroad Canyon” in the Lake Elsinore area, through Perris, to Colton, and eventually passed on the Cajon Pass track in the photo just above on its way to Barstow.
In Perris is the Orange Empire Railroad Museum …
… on that original route just spoken of. That museum has an immaculately restore UP E-unit, and they operate it too!
Metrolink trains will this or the next year actually visit Perris on its future Perris Valley Line, but not the Museum.
It is unknown how much of this you already knew, kingbee33, but I thought you might (“might”) have some interest in it. It is funny that I was pondering and looking at aerials of the Fallbrook Jct. area just before I first checked this thread …
Now that I’ve totally hijacked it by getting off topic, I’ll turn it back to you …But, it doesn’t look like anybody else saw the BNSF special train that you saw and posted about, so you might have something on the rest of us!
Santa Margarita River bridge project information indicates it is a bridge replacement project and double-track fill-in between the little yard north of the river and the double track south of the river. Scheduled completion is mid 2013, they say. Drove by there a few months ago and a lot of the double-track roadbed preparation was very well along, at least as visible from the southbound I-5 lanes.
There is also a fact sheet on the project.
Thanks for the links Chuckcobleigh. In regards to the track fill, new track with concrete ties has been laid south of the bridge. After reading the link you provided I now remember seeing that the new bridge was made to accommodate two tracks. That little detail escaped my memory when writing my previous reply.
I don't find your addition of information to be a "thread jack," K.P., as it has relevance to the original post. I found some of the information interesting. Especially that bit about the Fallbrook Jct. I remember reading somewhere about Metrolink running trains to Perris in the future.
-Matt
kingbee33 In regards to the track fill, new track with concrete ties has been laid south of the bridge.
In regards to the track fill, new track with concrete ties has been laid south of the bridge.
When I last came through there right after Labor Day, I think, a lot of those concrete ties were stacked up waiting to be put to bed.
Filling that one-mile single-track gap gives the route a five-mile double-track stretch, between the San Luis Rey river bridge and the NB rest area, it looks like. That will probably help the dispatchers out a little bit on that fairly busy route.
ChuckCobleigh (1-19):
Reference the below quote …
ChuckCobleigh Scheduled completion is mid 2013, they say.
Scheduled completion is mid 2013, they say.
… where did you see mid-2013?
Best,
K. P. Harrier ChuckCobleigh (1-19): Reference the below quote … ChuckCobleigh Scheduled completion is mid 2013, they say. … where did you see mid-2013? Best, K.P.
On the "Schedule and Budget" tab at the "Project Info" link. It was originally 2012 on the fact sheet, but as they say, "The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglay."
ChuckCobleigh (1-22):
Ah, got it! Thanks.
I drove by the location again the other day (1/22/12). There wasn't much going on in terms of construction of the new bridge or tracks. The area was empty. Although there were some workers at the new signals just north of the facility. Also I saw a picture of the what I believe to be the same inspection train in Fullerton, minus a few cars though.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151444764122292&set=pb.147660362291.-2207520000.1359101211&type=3&theater
The picture was posted by BLMA Models. They make detail parts and scenery objects for those unfamiliar with the company.
Hey there;
The same train went eastbound through Soda Springs, CA, this afternoon on the UP mainline through the Sierra. We saw it at milepost 189.99 on track one; a new GE (ES44AC?) and six business cars...wish I had gotten the details on all the equipment. Don't know if it was business, inspection, or customer appreciation. Nice looking consist!
TOM APPELBAUM Hey there; The same train went eastbound through Soda Springs, CA, this afternoon on the UP mainline through the Sierra. We saw it at milepost 189.99 on track one; a new GE (ES44AC?) and six business cars...wish I had gotten the details on all the equipment. Don't know if it was business, inspection, or customer appreciation. Nice looking consist!
Unless you are a insider that is 'in the know' at BNSF, no one knows if it is business, inspection or a customer oriented trip.
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Or maybe the owner is just out for a joyride getting to see some pretty scenery. Note to Warren Buffet- You can pick me up at our rail spur, at the crossing near my house, or at the railyard in town. I'm pretty flexible. Call me!
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Murphy Siding Or maybe the owner is just out for a joyride getting to see some pretty scenery. Note to Warren Buffet- You can pick me up at our rail spur, at the crossing near my house, or at the railyard in town. I'm pretty flexible. Call me!
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
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