Update as of Wednesday, March 18, 2015
The Downtown Perris and South Perris Areas
Perris, CA
Part C (of A-C)
Not much was seen by the South Perris stop, EXCEPT where the stop will actually be at. The early stage of the concrete platform was in place, but had many more stages to follow.
Apparently, the South Perris stop will be a single-track affair, with signaled staging tracks just to its southeast.
This will complete the series.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
smileponys run a Fully restored and operartional 1930's Electric Street Car as shuttle service between the OERM Grounds and old depot house's platform
run a Fully restored
and operartional 1930's Electric Street Car as shuttle service
between the OERM Grounds and old depot house's platform
OERM has run trains to the Perris Depot in the past, though the wire never reached 4th street. Makes sense to use an old streetcar or interurban for the run as much less maintenance is needed for the electric cars.
Walt Abbenseth would have been thrilled to be able to ride Metrolink to Perris and then PE 717 from Perris to the museum.
- Erik
My pictures of the Moreno Valley Metrolink Station Site as of March 24th 2015
Hello Everyone i took these the other day and figured i'd upload them for all to enjoy i don't live very far from the Future Moreno Valley Station site and as i'm always carrying my camera so i couldn't just pass up an opportunity photograph it
the following 3 shots are some views taken from the alessandro 215 over pass with the long range focus of my sony handy cam it has a 2000x Digital Zoom 75X optical zoom
looks like the structure of the stations platform and staricase are begining to slowly take shape i was very surprised to learn that the staircase will be facing eastwards towards the freeway and March ARB instead of towards Meridian Parkway i can hardly wait to see how the finished product will turn out (Link is to Concept Image) http://perrisvalleyline.info/uploads/media_items/pvl-moval.png
i'm not certain but i beleive this was security guard patrolling the site
Ames Construction is making awesome progress and i heard form unconfirmed sources that the compeation of construction is slated for Sometime in July
was walking towards the main site entrance on Meridian Parkway when i saw this must be Water access for the site i presume?
a flatbed truck driving into the site with some equipment
pieces of signals how they are to be use and where anlong this area on the line i am not sure about yet but maybe KP has some ideas to help me fill in the blanks
well that's all of my pics for now
Note:
These were my Second set of Photo's the first set was taken on 03/20/15 but they got deleted by accident
KPs truly inspires me his photos are simply amazing and some day i hope i can masure up to his level of greatness
Went online and found this plan view of the moreno-valley-march-field station you included in this post.
http://perrisvalleyline.info/station-locations/moreno-valley-march-field-station
This site: http://www.perrisvalleyline.info/ also links to a map, a schedule, (Construction began in October 2013 and is expected to be complete in late 2015)
and plan views of the other stations. Also, found this (The estimated PVL cost is $248.3 million.)
K. P keep up the good work. As the micky D comercial say's "I'm loving it"
Whoops, While I thanked K.P. for this, The pictures were posted by smileponys. Thanks also go to you, sir.
smileponys (3-27):
Nice group of photos!
That cantilever flashers unit you photographed caught my attention.
smileponys pieces of signals how they are to be use and where anlong this area on the line i am not sure about yet but maybe KP has some ideas to help me fill in the blanks
Yes, I have a few ideas how they could be used. Since there are few grade crossings on the Perris Valley Line per se, the one that jumped out at me in my mind is the River Crest Drive grade crossing, just east of a weird “L” type “T” intersection on Box Springs Blvd., near where the 60 Freeway junctions with I-215 in the Riverside-Perris area.
LINK:
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9371271,-117.2934305,100m/data=!3m1!1e3
I was at that grade crossing way back on December 21, 2012:
Or, maybe the Blaine Street grade crossing would be a good candidate for a cantilever flasher unit.
I’ll bet my boots that that lying down signals mast …
smileponys
… will be erected sometime in the future by the Central Ave. / Watkins Drive meeting with the 60 / I-215 Freeway. I’ve been watching that grade crossing like a hawk, so when I saw the just above laying down signal photo it really registered with me!
Changing the subject slightly … About posting photos … A number of years ago when the “Cajon Pass Triple-Tracking Updates” thread was looked at often by many, I posted a SINGLE post that had maybe fifteen photos in it. Man, did I ever get flack for that! So many complained because it took so long for the page to load and all the photos to be seeable that I decided I had to post posts in the future much differently. I came up with posting just two to four photos at a time only, but posted more posts (Parts A, B, C, etc.) so all the photos could be presented. And everybody seemed to be happy with that. Your photos seem to load quicker than when I posted that bunch in the Cajon thread maybe six years ago and got all that flack for it. The trainsmag.com site mechanics undoubtedly were improved. Nevertheless, you might try spreading the photos out among many posts to avoid page overload and bogging the thread down.
I was part of a super weird experience in Moreno Valley several weeks ago, so much so that a colleague suggested to the City that they revamp a certain intersection striping. The City actually went out for a look. They emailed him just a few days ago that they HAD indeed revamp the intersection striping according to his very suggestion! I can hardly wait to see it for myself. There is talk of one of my infamous “deep into Riverside County” dispatches sometime (“sometime”) next week, so when I eventually get out that way it is planned to go and see what the City did striping-wise, and check out the Perris Valley Line as much as I can too. I wonder if that laying down signal will have been erected by then, maybe in the Box Springs Mountains area …
Anyway, it is super to have you on board, someone who can post photos, and photos are worth a thousand words they say!
Best,
K.P.
Thank you KP
i'll definitely be shortening the size of my post in the futuer less photo's per post is a good idea espcially if someone viewing this page has a slower computer or internet connection i started to do that on this last post but i hesitated i'm still new to this site and such a novice i took a lot of shots without fully understanding what everything i photographed was even but with your help it all worked out thanks for explaining about the cantilever and signals mast too your the best ^_^
your insight and advice was really valued and i'm really glad that my photo's were so well recived glad i could help
smileponys (3-28): Is Anyone Adventurous?
Now that I have a little (“little”) spare time … Your top of Box Springs Mountains photo of those antennas brought back memories of when I was a kid 50-55 years ago.
Back then my dad, who was a radio station nut (like we are of trains), took me up there on a winding dirt road, and we got to see those transmitters up pretty close. One isolated antenna location even had a live broadcast speaker blaring out the broadcast, with no one around manning it!
One of the cool memories I have of that time was looking down the mountain and seeing the Santa Fe San Jac Line’s Blaine Street and Mt. Vernon Ave. grade crossings. (Back then, there even was a grade crossing between them.) It was a mesmerizing view for sure, and the memories last till today. But, when I was out on a dispatch just the other day, I saw those transmitters up on the mountains and recalled my childhood experience. Then, you surprise-posted the above photo of some of those antennas! I thought it sure would be cool to get photos of the Perris Valley Line route from way up by those antennas! So, that is now on my big, long list of photos to take … unless someone beats me to it! (Hint, hint! Hehehe. Anybody?)
As much as I wouldn’t mind going up there, a few years ago I unsuccessfully tried to take an old shortcut through that way, and the roads were closed, and washouts were present, etc., etc., etc. Disappointing to say the least! Like I said, it has been 50-55 years since I’ve been up there, so a study of maps and aerials will have to be undertaken before I attempt such a journey.
Anyway, thanks for photo-rekindling some childhood memories from many, many years ago.
Take care,
it's funny that you say that KP i was just thinking about going up there on a hike the other day and i've been suggesting to my friends from church for sometime now that we should plan an outing up there one of these days a hike to the top ending in a round of songs and the reading of scriptures from our bibles a real awesome day of fellowshipping together surounded by the beautiful splenders of nature in the presence of god ^_^
also i've gotten to be really out of shape lately so i could use the exercise if i still go sometime in the next week or 2 i'll remember to bring my camera to snap some shots for the us both and maybe we can go up there on a hike together one of these days
also if you liked those pictures you should really check out these one's too i took them at last years open house day at the OERM in perris my friend Michael went with me and we had a total all access VIP Style blast of it got tons of amazing photos here's the link to the complete album on my facebook
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.339562592849810.1073741838.100003882158123&type=1&l=ee70598977
these 3 pics are just a few exampels of what's in this album there are 322 more images to enjoy so please visit the link above you'll be glad you did
almost for got to share this one as well we had a heck of a lot of fun on this day as well
Perris OERM 02-08-15 Railroad Bronies Meetup
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.502290133243721.1073741852.100003882158123&type=1&l=f86e6ffefa
Update as of Thursday, April 2, 2015
The Box Springs Area
Riverside, CA
Part “A” (of A-C)
The Gernet Road grade crossing, near the top of the Box Springs grade, was to be eliminated, but apparently the ‘will of the people’ dictated otherwise, and new crossing gates and flashers are being erected. A new intermediate signal has also been erected there.
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-C)
Looking inbound, what appeared to be an Ames red water truck went northward (rightward) over the grade crossing, and then backed over the track to align parallel it.
Above, look at those big, wide tires! Also, the truck seems to be a Kenworth brand truck, with KW on the nose grill. One gentleman over three decades ago told K.P. Kenworth engines have a unique property in that they will rotate backwards if they can’t rotate forward. He was a trucker, and it was presumed he knew what he was talking about. Anyway, with a quality truck and big tires, Ames seems to be using quality equipment in constructing the Perris Valley Line!
An overview, inbound view:
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-C)
K.P. just couldn’t figure out this temporary traffic sign just south of the Mt. Vernon Ave. grade crossing! (Hehehe.)
A center roadway divider was being put in.
The above grade crossing was closed on this Thursday date and it was WITHOUT the old crossing gates! Presumably, no trains were going to come by till Monday, and the crossing gates would be all hooked up and ready for trains.
This will end the series.
That truck driver on the engine may be wrong. Have heard of a tugboat engine from WWII that had no transmission and would run back wards every other start.
Fairbanks-Morse made a direct reversing (non-OP) engine used in Ferry and Tug applications.
smileponys (3-31): Signals!
IF you do go up on the top of the Box Spring Mountains area, and are as out of shape as you say you are, it is recommended that you park up by the transmitters and just take a walk for a block or two, or three, and not hiking ‘all the way’ in. We all don’t want you to have a heart attack in our behalf! (Hehehe.) Seriously, they say it is best to gradually work up to longer hikes.
Hey, smileponys, when I was out the PVL way last Tuesday, I saw a new outbound signal south of the downtown Perris stop, and that put the signaling in that area all in order. Next time I’m out that way I should be able to take some photos of the new signal. If the placement of that new signal wasn’t radical enough, wait till you see the signal they erected at the top of the Box Springs grade! The new grading on the east side of the single-track mainline and also the west side’s new single-head signal AWAY from the mainline is totally baffling! The signal is almost as one of UP’s “entrance signals” that they use on spurs connecting to the mainline, except this signal is full height and has one three light head. The next time I’m out that way should prove most photographically rewarding!
Enjoy life, if you can after hearing at least one mind boggling thing herein,
A Number of Things Seen on a Dispatch
On Wednesday, April 8, 2015, as expected, K.P. was dispatched from his base of operations in San Bernardino County to deep into Riverside County, and much of the Perris Valley Line was checked out on the way. A full photo report should be forthcoming in two or three days (hopefully). As a teaser … A wide angle photo view taken on the south side of downtown Perris, looking southish from 4th Street: A new color light signal (right) was erected with a single north side head to face north for outbound trains, plus an electrical box and crossing gate mechanism.
About that color light signal’s placement in relation to other such signals, K.P. has NOT seen that type of arrangement in decades! More in the report …
K.P. also checked out the status of the San Bernardino Line’s extension in downtown San Bernardino. That extension, in theory, could see an Inland Empire-Orange Country Line train or two traveling from San Bernardino to Perris and back, so a post or two will be included on that just for the forum’s awareness.
Update as of Wednesday, April 8, 2015
A Little Different from the Usual Things
Riverside-Perris, CA
Part I (of I-XIII)
This report will be on a geographically north to south basis, operationally, west to east..
At Highgrove, nothing has happened yet at the junction of the BNSF Transcon and the San Jac Line.
K.P. got falsely excited by the Citrus Street grade crossing, because it looked (“looked”) like the track had been taken up in preparation for a switch being inserted there, but it was only sand covering the rails.
When Marlborough Ave. was reached, the local was parked on the branch, the future PVL mainline.
Above, the lead unit is BNSF No. 159, a GP60, once in the 8700’s, but now in the 100’s like the GP60M’s. Several GP60M’s in the Nos. 100-162 were lost to wrecks early on in there carrier, and the latter numbers filled those gaps, allowing all the GP60’s to be renumbered into the 100’s latter half.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-XIII)
Another southward view:
A northward (inbound) view: Note the cement platform has a vertical curve in it.
Workers (far left and far right) were threading wires and cable into concrete holes. Sometimes workers could be heard, “We have two-thousand feet left.” Sometimes it was as only 1000 feet, etc.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-XIII)
Another northward view:
A southward view: It looked like a siding was going to be put in as the grading suggested it, but the tell-tale sign against that was a new cement culvert on the lower left of center.
Looking east on Marlborough Ave., note the steepness of the road and the background mountainous terrain.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-XIII)
Farther southeast, the Spruce St. grade crossing had flashing signs. Note the lengthy duration of the road closure!
From here, the Mt. Vernon Ave. grade crossing was visited, or attempted to be visited, but it was still closed. So, it wasn’t an extended weekend closure, but is as over a full week, like Spruce St. will be!
Now, we go over to a mysterious area, by the River Crest Drive grade crossing, M.P. 7. The track sure looks dilapidated! Looking inbound (sort of northwestward):
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-XIII)
A spur has been put in, that angles away from the future PVL main track.
Above, if one looks real carefully, a single-head mast signal is seen!
Another angle: A signal appears (“appears”) to be away from the mainline.
Just above, the I-215 Freeway can be seen in the distance.
The mainline curves, but the spur goes kind of straight. It is barely visible by the signal.
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-XIII)
There are a lot of boulder-rocks by River Crest Drive, and that signal mentioned above is visible. But, way in the background a two-headed absolute signal is present, for the CP that passes underneath Eastridge Ave.
The next time K.P. is out that way he hopes to take some photos northward and southward from the Eastridge Ave. overpass of the signaling thereat. But, it should be understood that the signal AWAY from the mainline (which mainline crosses River Crest Drive) does NOT conform to standard practice, and should theoretically have two heads in advance of the turnout capable CP. Because it doesn’t, it most likely is like one of Union Pacific’s ‘Entrance Signals” that confirms a dispatcher's verbal radio authority to enter the mainline.
Up and Over Flyover, City of Industry, CA
Mobile, AZ
This new spur track by River Crest Drive may (“may”) allow freight cars normally put in the Alessandro siding to be put here, thus allowing the Alessandro siding to be available for commuter train meets.
Continued in Part VII
Part VII (of I-XIII)
Coming southward, the last curve before the downtown Perris stop, on this trip there was a rail carrying quart-mile continuous welded rail buggy of sorts.
How such a beast is moved around K.P. has never seen, but this time it has one long rail on it.
From that same general photo location, two southish views, of a mast signal with south side inbound heads
Continued in Part VIII
Part VIII (of I-XIII)
At 4th Street in down Perris, south of the commuter stop, an outbound signal has been erected, crossing gates put up, and an electrical box put in.
Continued in Part IX
Part IX (of I-XIII)
Looking north on the OERM future track. Look at all that rubber marking on the NEW grade crossing panels!
The electrical box door was open for a good look at what was inside.
Continued in Part X
Part X (of I-XIII)
Thousands of feet of wires were being threaded:
The north side of the street has a combined cantilever flashers unit and an attached gate mechanism.
A last look at the 4th Street grade crossing, with the old Perris Depot in view:
Continued in Part XI
Part XI (of I-XIII)
The 6th Street grade crossing has been permanently closed.
The old grade crossing has been dug down for drainage, and an old crossbuck sign is lying down.
What the grade crossing looks like now. View looks east.
Continued in Part XII
Part XII (of I-XIII)
Looking southeast, a dump truck is unloading ballast. Note the drainage on the lower right.
A machine was working the ballast to the right height.
Workers adjust the wheel height.
Continued in Part XIII
Part XIII (of I-XIII)
The old wooden bridges have given way to the cement kind.
At the South Perris future Metrolink stop, no furthur advancement was observed in laying a cement platform.
This will conclude the series.
Electroliner 1935 (3-27):
Yes, that artist’s conception of the Moreno Valley-March Field stop is quite an impressive grounds layout. Different, but impressive!
The handicap ramping reminds me of the Industry stop on the Riverside Line …
… and, with an ironic twist of name coincidence, a stop for the MetroLink operations in St. Louis, MO area.
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