Second Section
A few of the below photos appeared recently in the “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” thread. Near the Iowa Ave. overpass (that goes over the BNSF Transcon’s three mains), the future junction switch for the connection to the Perris Valley line was laying trackside.
The Perris Valley line goes over a culvert area just before the BNSF connection.
The switch will probably be inserted into BNSF Main 3 (foreground), where the right-of-way was made to widen (lower right) with new grading.
Above, the Iowa Ave. overpass in seen on the background left.
Conjecturally, the present new track-relaying by Mt. Vernon Ave. and the Box Springs grade will probably reach the above junction switch area by month’s end, making the new switch laying trackside presently quite timely.
Presently, the BNSF tracks are Mains 1, 2, and 3 (top to bottom, ABOVE photo) by Iowa Ave. Presently, too, Main 3 tends to be used by westbound BNSF’s, and Main 1 by eastbound traffic. K.P. envision three-tracks being extended northward (eastbound) to by the Barton Rd. overpass (camera position, looking south), so all three new truss bridges over the I-215 Freeway have a BNSF live track through them.
He also envisions the tracks rearranged, so Main 3 turns into Main 3 (above photo, forefront left). There presently is NO Main 2 between Highgrove (far background) and Colton (a few miles behind the camera), just Mains 3 and 1 (left to right). That way Main 3, while being available for freights, will have Metrolinks using Main 3 (and the Perris Valley Line connection) with little freight interference.
Time will tell if these things turn out that way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
I just got back from Perris - the crews were hard at work on the 4th Street crossing, looks like they're digging down two to three feet for the subgrade. Heard from a very reliable source that there will be a track connection to OERM.
Was pleased to see the "Tastee" stand still in place on 4th two blocks east of the Perris depot, remember seeing it back in the late 70's.
erikem I just got back from Perris - the crews were hard at work on the 4th Street crossing, looks like they're digging down two to three feet for the subgrade. Heard from a very reliable source that there will be a track connection to OERM. Was pleased to see the "Tastee" stand still in place on 4th two blocks east of the Perris depot, remember seeing it back in the late 70's.
I was also out there today; the OERM swap meet is always worth hitting.
You noted two pieces of good news from the town:
--Yes, OERM definitely is on its way to having a track connection at the old ATSF depot in Perris, where MetroLink will make stops. This should be a nice step forward for the museum.
--And the Tastee still stands, and serves up some good-tasting fast food. For someone my age (66), eating there is like a trip back in time.
Gary,
Didn't see anything that grabbed my attention at the swap meet this time, but did buy my first book in a number of years from the OERM bookstore - first bought a book from there in Dec 1976. Was fun running into some of the familiar faces as well.
OERM has run trains on the San Jac branch in years past.
- Erik
Upcoming Series Bate
Headway 1 (of 1-2)
K.P. was on the tentative lineup for either Monday or Tuesday, but as it worked out, the ‘dispatch coin flip’ ended up landing on the unexpected Sunday, March 8, 2015. So, though totally bushed, off he went … A more thorough findings report will be posted in a few days, but a few findings are presented to wet the forum’s ‘appetite’ (“appetite”).
This forumist has been anticipating a mast with signal heads on it being erected somewhere near where Poarch Road and Gernert Drive meet on the Box Spring grade, by Watkins Drive and the 60 Freeway. A previously shown photo of that location, looking outbound (east):
No signals were there. So he went east a bit, but didn’t find any signals either.
Returning to the grade crossing and looking east, TWO inserted, slightly staggered insulated joints were seen!
So, a mast will likely be erected here by the grade crossing, with one east side head for westbound trains, and two heads on the west side for eastside outbound trains.
But in working up this post, the first photo above was examined more carefully than before. Those insulated joints were present a few weeks ago! K.P. must be blind as a bat for not seeing them.
Continued in Headway 2
Headway 2 (of 1-2)
As mentioned by erikem, the high trafficked 4th Street grade crossing in downtown Perris was closed, and the new track and alignment was still being worked on even on a Sunday!
It was so chaotic on the roadways in downtown Perris because of the busy 4th Street road closure, the above photo had to be taken a block away from the track, to the east. Both erikem and garyla had mentioned in their posts of a tasty eating place called “Tastee.” K.P. conveniently parked there to shoot the above photo. To make their mouths water in front of their computers, a few photos of the eating place was taken too, and are posted herein. The first photo below was in close quarters, and hard to take and get most of the sign in the frame
K.P. hopes they (and everyone) have a full stomach when they look at the above photos … (The word ‘apatite’ in the first paragraph of Headway 1 was used deliberately and for obvious reasons … Hehehehe.)
Anyway, other photos were taken of the downtown Perris activity (at least what could be gotten to), and some trackwork as well that was taking place in the Blaine Street area of Riverside. A selection of the photos will be presented in two or three days.
The Blaine Street (Riverside) and …
… Downtown Perris Areas
Part “A” (of A-J)
This is the Blaine Street grade crossing, looking west. Railroad-wise, Perris is to the left.
The angled grade crossing, view towards Perris.
Above, in the background, one can see concrete ties, as below:
Looking northwest, inbound, concrete ties are staged. The track is still the old track here.
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-J)
Looking back southeast again, the lose rail can be seen being positioned, and more so as the crew is getting closer to Blaine Street.
(The tall, leaning Palm trees in the distance gives some of the above photos a distorted perspective, but the completely vertical light standards reveal the truth of what is vertical and what is not.)
Finished, the employees head back to get the other rail.
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-J)
Over at the staging area, the other rail is grabbed ahold of, and the process starts anew.
A couple of workers were seen doing something with a machine moving inbound.
K.P. went over to the nearby Mt. Vernon Ave. grade crossing, but while the track had been laid previously behind the camera, no track laying was present from here inbound.
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-J)
K.P. headed to Perris, and stopped at the Nuevo Road overpass. Camera is pointing Inbound.
Above, since the last visit, the shifting alignment looks more like a commuter speed one.
By the CP, there was track equipment.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-J)
Looking southish from Nuevo Road, in theory, the counterpart signal to the one by San Jacinto Road (around the background curve) should be positioned in the view just before the curve. But, no mast signal has been erected yet.
In downtown Perris, near the “Tastee” eating place, a look west towards the new grade crossing alignment. Traffic would backup, then clear for a bit, then backup again, and over and over this went on.
The activity at the closed and fenced grade crossing:
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of A-J)
Down by 6th Street, looking south to 7th Street (the PVL track is on the background left), the old track has all been taken up.
The 6th Street grade crossing still has the old tracks through it.
Continued in Part G
Part “G” (of A-J)
Looking north from 6th Street, the location where that manual switch is to be inserted has had ballast laid over the blacktop.
Just above, the new track by the Perris stop (background, upper left) coming towards the camera is seen.
The track is now through 4th Street (grade crossing panels just below the center of the photo), and goes all the way back in the distance to the curve by I-215.Freeway.
The construction plan seems to like water pond strips, as below. The Orange Empire Railway Museum (OERM) track should go just right of the water strip.
The area looks like a construction zone.
Continued in Part H
Part “H” (of A-J)
Up by the Perris stop now, looking south: The track has been laid through the station stop and on through 4th Street.
The Perris stop pocket for the OERM track.
Continued in Part I
Part “I” (of A-J)
The PVL track and OERM pocket are fenced off.
Concrete ties are through the Perris stop …
… but strangely have a section of wooden ties.
Continued in Part J
Part “J” (of A-J)
The exclusive transit bus road: Note the heavy equipment on the background right.
The Perris sign and the present chain link fence in the background:
A visit to the South Perris stop was made, but those concrete and I-beam bridges reported on previously (see posting on Thursday, February 26, 2015, Part J) are still just in the supports stage, and have NOT had the spans laid across them yet.
This will conclude the series.
I was told that part of the OERM "track pocket" was built four years ago and the balance finished two years ago. One of these days I should be able to get to the museum by grabbing the Coaster in Encinitas, changing to Metrolink in Oceanside, then changing trains in Riverside and finally hitching a ride on PE 717...
Stopped in Perris on 3/11/2015 and saw that both sets of rail and panels are across fourth st.
On the Loose Friday, March 13, 2015
Last weekend a quarter to a half mile section of track southeast of Blaine Street in Riverside was being redone. This weekend the section NORTHWEST of Blaine Street to Spruce Street was having the same treatment performed.
Along the paralleling Watkins Drive what a view of the valley below could be had! And, the PVL goes down, down, down!
Overall, from the short Alessandro siding beyond the top of the Box Springs grade to the connection with the BNSF in Highgrove the area was quickly reviewed. A report on the findings will be forthcoming in two or three days.
usmc1401 (3-14):
Closing 4th Street in downtown Perris is a nightmare for anyone concerned. Thanks for the info that the revamping of the grade crossing there is finished.
You might be interested to know that in the Friday, March 13, 2015 outing posted about after your post, two special things brought me to the Alessandro / Moreno Valley area. Both were because of personally troublesome Twilight Zone type things. The first one is so bizarre I won’t go into, but the second involves the SOUTH end of the Alessandro siding, and signals that WERE previously erected there but have already been taken down and removed! That will probably be one of the first matters brought up on the upcoming south to north post series.
Take care,
K.P.
Update as of Friday, March 13, 2015
The Alessandro to Highgrove Area
Riverside-Highgrove, CA
Part I (of I-IV)
The Alessandro Siding Twilight Zone
In the last year K.P. has seen new signals at the SOUTH end of the Alessandro siding, besides those at the north end. However in recent trips on the freeway, the south end’s signals seem to have vanished. The north end’s signals remain. The below December 19, 2014 photo on the north end was previously shown. Instead of one signal as in the photo, two are present today.
Below is a link to the SOUTH end’s trackwork, a siding and several spurs.
LINK:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/E+Alessandro+Blvd,+Riverside,+CA+92508/@33.9253055,-117.2891713,199m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x80dca59acad27f6f:0x149d83880fa68a0d
In the aerial, there are possible clearance problems for mast signals, or maybe line of sight issues were present. Since there are no signals there now (the new ones were removed), maybe cantilever structures have been ordered.
On the other hand, K.P. is always seeing freight cars in the Alessandro siding. Hardly a place to have commuter train meets.
Maybe (“maybe”) they will leave the Alessandro siding with signals on the north end, and make a new siding maybe a mile to the north. That would allow meets (even with freight trains), and allow the present Alessandro siding to be free for freight use, since it is chronically used that way now.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-IV)
The Box Springs Grade
Towards the top of the Box Springs grade, by the grade crossing in the vicinity where Central Ave. turns into Watkins Street, as noted previously, the grade crossing seems to be being rebuilt. A never before shown photo from last week of that area:
On this visit, nothing seemed to be obvious as to advancement.
Just down the ways a bit … photos were taken from Mansfield Street, of the newly laid track, ballast (far left), and slanted embankment, looking south.
Looking north:
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-IV)
Between Blaine and Spruce Streets
Between Blaine and Spruce Streets, the track was being completely removed, new ballast spread, CWR laid, and holes dug.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-IV)
Many stacks of ties were piled here and there …
… and equipment too.
The above photo’s slant is correct. Fred Perris who is said to have surveyed and laid out this ex-California Southern route had an almost 7 mile stretch of 3% line in Cajon Pass, on what is known today as BNSF’s Main 3 between Summit and Cajon. While K.P. is unfamiliar with the actual gradients on the ex-CS now Perris Valley line on the Box Springs grade, it wouldn't surprise him if it was around 3% also. Such should give Metrolink’s coming future 4700 H.P. F-125 diesels a good workout!
That downward grade here (and valley below) is impressive and stunning!
This will conclude the series, however a Second Section follows.
In the Highgrove-Riverside area, just east of the new Iowa Ave. overpass, a signal has been erected for eastbound BNSF-UP and Metrolink commuter trains.
Thus, there will be some type of wye arrangement in the Highgrove area, and it shouldn’t be long now before we can see what it will be.
The Blaine Street to Spruce Street area in the material of Parts II-IV just above is less than two miles in distance, and that area is currently having the track renewed, so it is not too long from now we should get some idea of how the track and signals in the Highgrove area will be.
Update as of Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Perris, CA
In an uncommon Wednesday dispatch deep into Riverside County, K.P. was able to check on the status of new track laying in downtown Perris. In a few days a short posting series will tried to be worked up, but the most glaring things was the new, manual, spring frogged switch was all assembled and more or less in place.
More details in a few days …
I would guess that the line to the left is the OERM track connection and the line to the right is Mterolink to South Perris.
I recently spoke with some of the people in charge over at
the OERM and they've told me something very interesting
looks like they have a major surprise on the way for all of
us once construction work on the perris metrolink station
is complete they are planning to bulid & run a Fully restored
and operartional 1930's Electric Street Car as shuttle service
between the OERM Grounds and old depot house's platform
located at the Metrolink Station on C Street & 4th Street
The Downtown Perris and South Perris Areas
Part “A” (of A-C)
With a northward slant, the newly installed switch is seen.
The slightly angled alignment goes straight through the 6th Street grade crossing at that slightly angled alignment, where the embedded rails are still in the grade crossing on a true north-south alignment.
Looking south, one can see the newly laid track in this distance stopping. The new alignment (when track is laid) will probably come towards the camera on the photo bottom center.
K.P. would imagine that above grade crossing will be next to be redone.
Part “B” (of A-C)
Looking north, the track between the 4th Street grade crossing and the new switch is still absent rail, but has ties laid.
Above, there was a little excitement as an eastbound (rightward) fire engine in Code-3 mode (lights and sirens) had to negotiate the 4th Street grade crossing. The grade crossing normally has four open lanes but this date was still down to only two-lanes because of the Perris Valley Line’s redoing of the area. The downtown area was a traffic nightmare for drivers.
Looking north with a telephoto, workers just south of the Perris stop (upper left) were having a meeting.
There was what appeared to be wood tied panel track stacked east of the new switch, possibly for the OERM track.
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