Google earth has updated their overhead photo of Needles, CA. The construction of the BNSF 3rd and 4th main tracks is very visible. I was surprised to see that the new tracks follow an old jug handle alignment near Golf, rather than the newer construction which cuts across and straightens out this feature. I assume this was done to control the grade.
Have not read anything on the Emporia sub 2MT project lately, but the new Spokane River bridge work is underway: https://www.railwayage.com/mw/bnsf-rebuilds-one-bridge-begins-another-in-the-northwest/?RAchannel=news Refurbishment of the older bridge near Sandpoint is progressing well and may be complete this year to add the second main track.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
[quote user="MikeF90"]
kgbw49 it will be intersting to see what capacity improvements BNSF undertakes on the former MRL.
[/quote]
Friday, Mar.10th,2023: I cannot speak to its' destination; but about 11.15 AM this morning.
There was what appeared to be a large,[possibly, a 'double' section(?), self-unloading, Contractor's Ballast Train; [ E.Bnd at Mulvane(Main 3) Eldorado sub. ]
I'd guess, it's destination is, possibly, the subject of Mike F90's, and kgbw's, preceeding, Thread discussion? (They've [BNSF(?)] also had staged here in Mulvane,(a couple of weeks now). A 'heavy' railroad crane, equipped with a long boom, which was moved down from the construction area(?).
So the 'signs' seem to point, in the direction of the prjected bridges; and causway being 'pushed' to a 'compleation' out towards Eldorado Lake area(?).. Maybe, the short sections aroud Augusta, won't be too far off in the future?
kgbw49it will be intersting to see what capacity improvements BNSF undertakes on the former MRL.
Absolutely! When I get motivated to track down a recent MRL timetable with siding locations and lengths, I will update my Northern Transcon map according; then maybe I can offer some speculation about possible improvements.
The STB has approved of BNSF reacquiring the former Northern Pacific back from Montana Rail Link for $2 billion.
That restablishes the complete Northern Pacific transcontinental route under one corporate entity.
it will be interesting to see what capacity improvements BNSF undertakes on the former MRL.
The bing maps photo shows construction at Cedar Creek.
https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=9d49f065-8264-434c-afaf-3f49f16d0272&cp=38.36154~-96.484814&lvl=18.815332&style=a&pi=0&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027
SD60MAC9500Concerning the Mulvane-Ellinor section. We have three bridges: The bridge that's a part of the Lake El Dorado Causeway, Rock Creek at Bazaar, and Cedar Creek just southwest of Ellinor. The former is already good to go for 2MT. However does anyone have the heads up on the latter two?
I'm not onsite with a camera but IMO the Cedar Creek bridge should long be done as that section is operational 2MT. Rock Creek should be well on its way as that part of the sub upgrade should be complete 'next year'.
Anyone tracked down some newer aerial photos? Harder to get than Ukraine for some reason.
Concerning the Mulvane-Ellinor section. We have three bridges: The bridge that's a part of the Lake El Dorado Causeway, Rock Creek at Bazaar, and Cedar Creek just southwest of Ellinor. The former is already good to go for 2MT. However does anyone have the heads up on the latter two?
Rock Creek-https://www.google.com/maps/@38.2651348,-96.5384785,254m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0
Cedar Creek-https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3616008,-96.4846166,334m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0
Grading is pretty active on the Emporia sub 2MT project west of Matfield Green. Pictures are available at The Other railfan site. To see full screen you have to have a membership.
kgbw49What do you think will be left to do after the Flint Hills to get the Southern Transcon to 100%?
As has been mentioned previously, a new bridge at Sibley MO and the lesser span at Alva OK are the only single track sections known. I haven't yet come across what, if any, track changes will be done for the new Barstow facility.
Maybe they will add a third span so that they continue to have a service road along side the rail?
With the investment at Sibley, it sure seems BNSF is committed to 100% double track or better between Chicago and Hobart.
There can't be that much left after the Flint Hills project is completed.
'F90, you are likely one of the best, if not the best, resources on the topic. The Swami of The Southern Transcon and Nostradamus of The Northern Transcon.
What do you think will be left to do after the Flint Hills to get the Southern Transcon to 100%?
Thank you in advance for any insight!
kgbw49Right now double track is in place approximately 70% +/- across El Dorado Lake and the bridge is a double track bridge with one track laid across it.
Yeahaah OK, it still looks pretty narrow for two tracks. Spacing must be pretty tight like 16.000 ft I've seen on older ATSF ROW.
Right now double track is in place approximately 70% +/- across El Dorado Lake and the bridge is a double track bridge with one track laid across it.
Single track stretches from just east of the El Dorado Lake bridge down to the City of El Dorado.
There is one road overpass of the railroad at Myers Road, with the railroad passing beneath that bridge.
It is hard to tell from Google if that overpass has the span to have a second track laid underneath it or not.
It looks like filling the gap between double track will entail widening the west 30% or so to the causeway over El Dorado Lake and dealing with any issues at the Myers Road vehicle bridge as the two most complicated tasks of the project.
MikeF90 SD60MAC9500 Also as per kgbw the bridge across El Dorado Lake is certainly ready for 2MT. Until I see some actual pictures of new construction along the El Dorado Lake causeway (not a bridge) I believe there is some confusion about this location. An expensive bridge is needed to fill the short causeway gap and allow plenty of reservoir water to move by; steel culverts would probably not be accepted by the reservoir authority. The east part indeed has two tracks but IMO that was a questionable decision to put a CP there; if a derailment happens it will be much more expensive to clean up!
SD60MAC9500 Also as per kgbw the bridge across El Dorado Lake is certainly ready for 2MT.
Until I see some actual pictures of new construction along the El Dorado Lake causeway (not a bridge) I believe there is some confusion about this location. An expensive bridge is needed to fill the short causeway gap and allow plenty of reservoir water to move by; steel culverts would probably not be accepted by the reservoir authority.
The east part indeed has two tracks but IMO that was a questionable decision to put a CP there; if a derailment happens it will be much more expensive to clean up!
Yes a causeway with a short bridge section.
Having a CP there is not really a big deal especially if it reduces the length of a single track section between 2MT.
https://earth.google.com/web/@38.08891119,-96.79105382,-35248.79009712a,40989.28111933d,35y,-0.95248033h,28.37234771t,359.9989r?utm_source=earth7&utm_campaign=vine&hl=en
Doesn't look like a new bridge section is needed in the casueway when the exisitng bridge already has room for another track.
F90, from this snip from the BNSF press release, it sounds like double track will extend over the Spokane River:
"In the Pacific Northwest, BNSF will begin a multi-year project to add double track near Spokane, Washington, including over the Spokane River..."
kgbw49BNSF is starting the second bridge at Sibley MO and a second bridge over the Spokane River in 2023. Those are two more significant capacity expansions. https://www.bnsf.com/news-media/news-releases/newsrelease.page?relId=bnsf-announces-plan-for-2023-capital-investments
Those are two more significant capacity expansions.
https://www.bnsf.com/news-media/news-releases/newsrelease.page?relId=bnsf-announces-plan-for-2023-capital-investments
Beat me to it!
The Spokane River bridge project has been in the engineering and permitting phase for quite a while. I think they may be close to moving dirt. Any info on whether the new bridge will be single or double track would be appreciated.
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/@47.6904722,-117.2326389,17z and see Northern Transcon link below in sig.
Reportedly 'legacy' trackage west of the river will be rearranged with better crossovers for WB yard access. Not sure how this will line up timewise with the Pines Road grade separation project.
East of the river the Barker/Trent road interchange and grade sep project should be about done. For RR ops benefit this will give more trackage for 'nofitters'.
SD60MAC9500Also as per kgbw the bridge across El Dorado Lake is certainly ready for 2MT.
BNSF is starting the second bridge at Sibley MO and a second bridge over the Spokane River in 2023.
samfp1943 01/11/2023: Just a quick update: On my F.B. page, just rcently, there was a conversation by a poster fom [Kasas Railfans and Railroads]. His topic was fishing around the railroad that crosses Eldorado Lake. {specifically; BNSF's line in the Flint Hills, ['Our subect']. The interesting part, IMHO, was photos of some of the 'cuts' under the rail line.. To the sides of those cuts, it appeared that a large quantity of rock was dumped; possibly, to indicate that the railroad was 'preparing' the area to be double tracked; at some point in the future? Which, might make some sense, in light of some of the 'announcemets' that have been made, recently?
01/11/2023: Just a quick update: On my F.B. page, just rcently, there was a conversation by a poster fom [Kasas Railfans and Railroads]. His topic was fishing around the railroad that crosses Eldorado Lake. {specifically; BNSF's line in the Flint Hills, ['Our subect']. The interesting part, IMHO, was photos of some of the 'cuts' under the rail line.. To the sides of those cuts, it appeared that a large quantity of rock was dumped; possibly, to indicate that the railroad was 'preparing' the area to be double tracked; at some point in the future? Which, might make some sense, in light of some of the 'announcemets' that have been made, recently?
Yes that rock was dumped for 2MT. Also as per kgbw the bridge across El Dorado Lake is certainly ready for 2MT.
SFbrkmnLatest goal time is having the DT project on the Emporia Sub done in September. We shall see.
What year? BWHAHAHAHA !!
SFbrkmnSitting @ Mulvane watching the sun set for a fleet of Zs on all DT to the west and everything is chocked up.
You betcha! As I type watching the Wichita VR cam one EB is stopped while another EB one passes....
Very strange that the project manager didn't make the longer 14 mile single track section upgrade a priority; some new DT would enable passing/staging of those nofitters.
Projections & deadlines change, and this likely will. Latest goal time is having the DT project on the Emporia Sub done in Septembe. We shall see. Sitting @ Mulvane watching the sun set for a fleet of Zs on all DT to the west and everything is chocked up.
That bridge between the two causeways on Eldorado Lake sure looks to be two tracks wide already, but with only one track laid.
kgbw49Assuming the Flint Hills double-tracking is completed this next year, do we know if that leaves just the Missouri River bridge at Sibley, MO and the Salt River bridge at Alva, OK as the last single-track segments on the Southern Transcon?
I just corrected the completion year (2024). Those single track sections are what I know, but I do not know BNSF's priorities.
samfp1943's post about the El Dorado Lake 'gap' is intriguing. I always assumed that it would be too expensive to fill in that short distance, but we'll wait and see.
'F90, your maps are a fabulous reference! Thanks for sharing them over the years!
Assuming the Flint Hills double-tracking is completed this year, do we know if that leaves just the Missouri River bridge at Sibley, MO and the Salt River bridge at Alva, OK as the last single-track segments on the Southern Transcon?
samfp1943Two segments opened in 2022; two more, of 5.7 and 8.9 miles, are slated to be completed in 2023, with a 14-mile segment in 2023-24..."
Good eye, samfp1943! Newswire is good for something occasionally.
The 2023 segments mentioned match the El Dorado - Chelsea and Matfield Green - Bazar lines on my map. The remaining 14 miles for 2023-2024 looks like the East Jct - West Augusta section nearest you.
For reference: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1VRnODytoJvQobOqykJUwAH2FU4w&ll=37.595465100000006%2C-97.0890117&z=12
MikeF90 Tunnel What is the status of building the 2nd MT and bridge at Alva, OK? Unless some sharp-eyed reader has found something, I haven't seen any new project start words from BNSF. Perhaps their CapEx announcement around Jan 2023 will shed some light. That single track segment is slightly less than three miles so it's not much of a bottleneck.
Tunnel What is the status of building the 2nd MT and bridge at Alva, OK?
Unless some sharp-eyed reader has found something, I haven't seen any new project start words from BNSF. Perhaps their CapEx announcement around Jan 2023 will shed some light. That single track segment is slightly less than three miles so it's not much of a bottleneck.
"With the railroad not yet ready to offer its 2023 capital plan, Rasmussen reviewed three significant projects that saw major progress in 2022 and will continue into 2023. The first of those involves 50.7 miles of new track on the Emporia Subdivision between Elliinor and Mulvane, Kan. It is part of the continuing effort to complete double-tracking of the Chicago-Los Angeles main line, save for a river crossing near Kansas City [see “Double tracking the Transcon,” Trains Magazine, February 2022]. Two segments opened in 2022; two more, of 5.7 and 8.9 miles, are slated to be completed in 2023, with a 14-mile segment in 2023-24..."
Being an old, retired geezer, I've had a chance to watch the passing 'traffic' by here. Various work trains with ties, ballast, and the like. There has also been a BRANDT-style,truck, MOW, hauling some of the 'ballast cars by here as well... I have not had a chance to get out, and go see what they are doing East of here. I suspect they are somewhere between Agusta, and Ellinor(?).
TunnelWhat is the status of building the 2nd MT and bridge at Alva, OK?
What is the status of building the 2nd MT and bridge at Alva, OK?
kgbw49 Other reports also said some track alignment work has to be done around the historic Sandpoint Railroad Station to fit in double track at that point and in that area. That work is supposed to be going on simultaneously with the upgrade work on the original bridge so that when the original bridge is reopened, the double track all the way through Sandpoint will also be fully open. https://keepsandpointrolling.com/project-updates/
Other reports also said some track alignment work has to be done around the historic Sandpoint Railroad Station to fit in double track at that point and in that area.
That work is supposed to be going on simultaneously with the upgrade work on the original bridge so that when the original bridge is reopened, the double track all the way through Sandpoint will also be fully open.
https://keepsandpointrolling.com/project-updates/
To minimize disruptions to Amtrak, a new platform will be built north of the station. This will actually serve the existing track (Future Main 2), but will be constructed so that the part that is in the way of Future Main 1 can be quickly and easily removed.
Once the new platform is in place, the existing platform can be removed and the roadbed for the new track can be prepared where it used to be.
All of this (and some other stuff as well) has to happen before the tracks shift at Sandpoint Junction, which also has to happen at the same time as the cutover of the new double crossover between the big bridge and the station. Like I said, it will get busy there again in the spring.
The new platform will be fully ADA compliant but it won't have all the features Amtrak wants for new construction. My understanding is that, after the dust settles on the double-track project, Amtrak will likely build a new permanent platform south of the station (where the existing one is), and then the new platform on the north side will be removed.
Dan
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