The Future Perris Valley Line
The purpose of this thread is to share update information on rebuilding a portion of Southern California’s ex-Santa Fe Railway San Jacinto Branch, commonly called the San Jac …
… to become the new Perris Valley Line of the commuter agency Metrolink.
The Metrolink Colton maintenance facility
The commuter line will run from Riverside (as a continuation of the 91 Line) to Perris. That commuter agency is most closely related to Los Angeles, perhaps 60 miles to the west.
An official Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) website on the project:
LINK: Information ... and Photo of Metrolink in Perris
A detailed overview of the present old line is to follow, in THREE multi-sectioned parts. Part I will be presented Monday, January 28, 2013; Part II is scheduled for Wednesday, January 30, 2013; and finally Part III on Friday, February 1, 2013. All presentations will be posted by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time on the scheduled date, but most likely much earlier.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Really looking forward to this thread. Hopefully the construction contracts are bid upon and issued sometime soon; that is a remaining hurdle to this project.
Not sure if I posted this on the Sunset thread: http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/perris/perris-headlines-index/20130119-perris-planning-commission-approves-metrolink-station.ece
How It Was In December-January 2012-2013
Part I (of I-III), Section “A” (of A-I)
We start actually away from the San Jacinto Branch, in downtown Riverside, where the Los Angeles to Riverside “91 Line” (named after the nearby 91 Freeway) currently ends, at overnight tracks with bumper posts.
A telephoto of those overnight tracks, with the Riverside stop in the background upper right:
The triple-track BNSF line with the overhead pedestrian bridge for accessing both sides of the tracks: The main station is on the right.
Pot signals are used in tight clearance areas.
Note the background signal bridge when the AT&SF line was originally triple-tracked in the early 1990’s. When Metrolink put up the overhead walkway bridge to additional platform space (left), the Main 3 signal (left) on the signal bridge was deleted and pot signals were necessary because of close clearances.
The above photos were shot from Mission Inn Ave. (BNSF San Bernardino Sub, M.P. 9.8). Mission Inn Ave. years ago used to be named 7th Street.
Continued in Section B
Part I, Section “B” (of A-I)
An eastbound view from Mission Inn Ave.:
An eastward September 30, 2012 view from Iowa Ave. (BNSF M.P. 7.3):
On the upper right of the above view, a branching off curve to the San Jac Line will be put in.
From Villa St., a first look for the forum of the San Jacinto Branch (photo bottom) as a BNSF eastbound passes.
Continued in Section C
Part I, Section “C” (of A-I)
Intermodal trailers from the train in the last photo of Section B passes left to right. Somewhere in the green grassy area underneath those cars (most likely on the upper left) a future track will curve to out of view on the left bottom track.
Looking south (westbound under BNSF, likely eastbound under Metrolink) on the San Jac Line, the wye track should cut in somewhere in this view. The track and ties have deteriorated considerably from years past. The track is now reportedly owned by Metrolink.
Just a side note, looking the other way, north, one can see the San Jac’s junction with the BNSF Transcon (and that same eastbound train in Part B) going into the distance.
At this point in time, it is unknown if Metrolink trains from San Bernardino will go to Perris too, maybe on weekends, and use the just above bottom track.
Continued in Section D
Part I, Section “D” (of A-I)
From Marlborough Ave. looking north
Looking south:
Continued in Section E
Part I, Section “E” (of A-I)
There used to be until very recently a diamond here, but no more. View looks physically southwest on the alignment of UP’s old Riverside Industrial Lead.
The above diamond removal was in conjunction with the I-215 widening and the Colton Flyover construction.
Continued in Section “F”
Part I, Section “F” (of A-I)
We now move over to Blaine St. in Riverside. Northward views … and the lower elevation in the background:
A southward view: Note the ancient insulated joint on the lower left.
K.P. 40 years ago used to be employed just down the street, and when on the A.M. shift, regularly saw Santa Fe’s San Jac heading to the community of San Jacinto. When on the P.M. shift, regularly saw the train returning to San Bernardino.
Continued in Section G
Part I, Section “G” (of A-I)
A close-up of one of the archaic insulated joints:
The above insulated joint is a far cry from today’s mainline insulated joints, as the below 141 pounds per yard rail joints with eight bolts each on Union Pacific’s Sunset Route at Casa Grande, AZ.
A southward telephoto:
Continued in Section H
Part I, Section “H” (of A-I)
A northwestward heavy telephoto from Mt. Vernon Ave.: Note the jointed rails.
Southeastward views: The Box Springs Mountains are in the background. The rails are now of the continuous welded rail (CWR) type.
Continued in Section I
Part I, Section “I” (of A-I)
The track then curves and goes up the mountainous terrain.
Only a mile or two more of climbing:
It is difficult to comprehend all this climbing trackage WAS the ‘Transcon’ (sort of, anyway) of the latter 1880’s! From San Diego, Colton was reached by the California Southern in 1883 and via Cajon Pass Barstow in 1885. Southern Pacific had built a line from Mojave to Needles in 1883, meeting up with the Atlantic & Pacific from Albuquerque, NM. Eventually, Santa Fe owned all this trackage. San Diego was actually reached, then, BEFORE Los Angeles was reached by non-Southern Pacific track builders!
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Continued in Part II to be posted on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 before 9 A.M. Pacific Standard Time.
Part II (of I-III), Section “A” (of A-I)
By the 60 Freeway, we come to a dramatic view of how high up the line has reached in a short distance.
A broader view of the above photo:
The only crossbucks protected dirt road grade crossing of a ‘Y’ nature (the foreground roads come from the left and right) has a well-traveled look, and an unbelievably high volume of users! Metrolink will undoubtedly put crossing gates in here when rebuilding the line.
Looking the other way, the line continues snaking up the hill.
Part II, Section “B” (of A-I)
The line is now nearing the top on the canyon, and will go under the 60 / I-215 Freeway.
Where the line goes under the freeway, there is plenty of road and freeway construction, making taking photos impractical at this time. Sorry guys.
It levels off to a flatland .appearance.
In the above photo, note the speed sign on the right – 15 M.P.H. for the steep descent! Wonder what Metrolink commuter trains will be authorized at?
The above and below photos were shot from the River Crest Drive grade crossing, M.P. 7. The crossing gates are modern. K.P. can remember when all this was vacant land, and there was a wig-wag somewhere in this area.
Part II, Section “C” (of A-I)
Looking the other way …
… the line “S” curves. Just above the phone box on the center pole, the line can be barely seen going the reverse way.
Part II, Section “D” (of A-I)
As the rail line soon gets close to Alessandro Blvd., in a line relocation it curves to avoid recently built freeway on and off ramps.
Somewhere in the curving, supposedly a Metrolink station stop will be built, probably on the south side behind the camera.
The below link shows an aerial of that curving by Highway 395 / I-215:
LINK: Track Curving, Freeway, and the Old Highway Frontage Rd.
Before that freeway was built, the old AT&SF San Jac Line went straight
The old Alessandro Blvd. grade crossing base:
Part II, Section “E” (of A-I)
From Alessandro Blvd. looking north along the abandoned right-of-way:
Looking south, with the old track’s pavement fill lines on the lower portion:
A view as the new track comes back to the old alignment.
Continued in Section F
Part II, Section “F” (of A-I)
The line straddles I-215 for a number of miles, with many railroad customers served. Freeway overpasses are not plentiful, and there are little or no grade crossings. The Van Buren overpass, which K.P. had hoped to take some key photos from, is having construction taking place, and thwarted the photo effort.
It apparently is not like the old days when a whole crew rode either the power or caboose. These days, a crewmember rides in a van and is able to quickly throw switches, couple or uncouple rail cars.
Darkness had loomed twice before, and was threatening again! A couple northward views from Orange Ave. (north of Nuevo Rd.) on the north side of Perris:
Part II, Section “G” (of A-I)
The above cross street does not go through.
A southward view:
A very heavy southward telephoto with heavy photo doctoring to bring out the details because of the low light: Note the rollercoaster aspect of the present rail line.
The line all along this area, according to the Environmental Impact Report, will have a fast Metrolink line built totally anew, parallel to and away from the present track which is said to remain. The old and new tracks will probably junction together somewhere in the above view. Thus, switching the industries in this stretch can take place unhindered as commuter trains race by.
Part II, Section “H” (of A-I)
From the key street in the town of Perris, 4th Street, looking north, with the old AT&SF depot on the right: Note the small white thing behind the fence on the far left.
Just north of the depot is a west side transit mall, with white buses in it. Adding commuter trains to the mall should work perfectly. Metrolink trains may (“may”) stop there instead of the depot.
A northward telephoto:
The heritage of the old depot is still evident.
Part II, Section “I” (of A-I)
A public transit bus heads west on 4th Street.
Two views looking south at strangely jogging track
The San Jacinto Branch continues on the upper left. The track on the upper right is the original Cajon Pass to San Diego California Southern (CS) route.
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Continued in Part III to be posted on Friday, February 1, 2013 before 9 A.M. Pacific Standard Time.
Part III, Section “A” (of A-I)
On the south side of that jog, at Seventh St., looking north:
(The inconsistency in street signs, 4th (numeral) vs. Seventh (spelled) is the community’s doing, not K.P.’s!)
Another northward view, a telephoto:
The old line once from San Diego, looking north:
Part III, Section “B” (of A-I)
The line to San Jacinto curves southeastward.
When this whole line is rebuilt, it would seem a more swooping curve arrangement more in line with fast commuter service will result.
Going the other way, south-southwestward, is the original California Southern route that once went to San Diego.
As seen in the last two photos above, catenary is strung. The Orange Empire Railway Museum (OERM) is in the background. Old trolley equipment is on site, and on some weekends and special events rides are given.
Part III, Section “C” (of A-I)
The museum has signals, trolley cars, and some spectacular power!
A great place to visit!
Part III, Section “D” (of A-I)
Back at the Seventh St. grade crossing again, looking north: Watch your step!
At the “D” Street grade crossing, looking northwest:
LINK: Where there are Now Apartments ... Once a Track Triangle
Part III, Section “E” (of A-I)
Looking southeast:
Part III, Section “F” (of A-I)
A heavy telephoto looking back at Perris, from near the I-215 Freeway as seen in Section G.
A northwestward wide angle view.
Part III, Section “G” (of A-I)
Three southeastward views: The overpass is the U.S. 395 / I-215 Freeway.
Part III, Section “H” (of A-I)
Exactly where a Metrolink stop (the end of the commuter line) will be built is unknown, but looking several differing ways there are problems in this kind of rural area.
The land strip is narrow.
Farmland is present.
Because of the nearby freeway and roadways, the land is rather confined.
LINK: Aerial of Mapes Rd. and I-215 Area
Part III, Section “I” (of A-I)
Green markings and a dug up roadbed were present near the Mapes Rd. grade crossing, near I-215.
What an old grade crossing control unit and battery box!
The left flasher lights must have replaced a knocked down one previously, because it has large flasher lights, whereas the right unit had small lights from years and years ago.
As seen above, this grade crossing presently does not even have crossing gates … at least not yet.
This will conclude the “How It Was in December-January 2012-2013” series.
The photos shown of the trolleys were at the ORANGE EMPIRE RAILWAY MUSEUM. oerm.org Various types of power is in operation every weekend and once a month live steam. The plan is to extend the rails to the old Perris station.
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