Now Building the Foothill Extension
Part “P” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
By Highland Ave., more multi-piping is observed.
There were a whole lot of concrete ties stacked up by the 605 Freeway, among other things.
It seems there was other stacks of concrete ties, a little to the east, possibly by Irwindale Ave.
Continued in Part Q
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Part “Q” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
Between Irwindale Ave. (left) and Virginia Ave. (right) is the railroad bridge over the 210 Freeway.
AERIAL: I-210 and the ex-AT&SF
At the railroad bridge over the freeway, an interesting thing was there: The east end of the siding was on the bridge!
AERIAL: Railroad Bridge over the I-210 Freeway
In the latter AT&SF days, most freight trains were westbound over the bridge, with the counterpart eastbound trains going via Corona. But that siding was relatively long – 6165 feet – and most meets could be made there.
In Azusa, at the Virginia Ave. grade crossing, near Sixth St., the grade crossing sidewalks were closed, so trackside photos could not be had.
Overall, the miles and miles of construction on the Foothill Extension is something more than the ordinary, and is something to see in person. It is hoped the limited photo views conveys in some small way what is happening now.
Update as of Sunday, August 25, 2013
The Foothill Extension
Part I (of I-VI)
Arcadia, CA
At Santa Anita Ave. where the old Santa Fe Second District crossed the main street years ago …
… things are now a changing!
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-VI)
One of the more far reaching of the changes is a track overpass being put in. Looking eastbound, a new bridge end construction is seen. Also, half of Santa Anita Ave. is newly graded and paved, while the old ‘over the old tracks’ part is still present. Compare the foreground roadway with the background roadway.
A close-up of the west bridge end’s new concrete-work:
From a west side business parking lot west of Santa Anita Ave., an eastbound view showing the back side of the new concrete end structure.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-VI)
At Santa Clara St. and First Ave., the diagonally going through the intersection old Santa Fe Main and side track has been paved over, likely after the tracks were removed.
Looking northwest, the station stop is taking shape.
In the last photo just above, note the Santa Anita Ave. bridgework taking shape on the far right.
The old all sides protective crossing gates are still standing from the Santa Fe days of the Super C and Super Chief.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-VI)
Monrovia, CA
From Myrtle Ave. (by the old Monrovia Santa Fe station) looking westbound:
Looking east:
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-VI)
Irwindale, CA
At the old Irwindale Ave. bridge over the old Santa Fe track and siding, the siding has been shortened drastically, and no longer extends eastward under the overpass bridge.
A close-up view of the ties to the west:
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-VI)
Looking east from the Irwindale Ave. overpass, a bunch more concrete ties are seen. Also, there is no siding now (left). The old siding used to go east all the way to the I-210 Freeway, where it turned into the Main on the railroad bridge OVER the freeway.
The bridge over the track has a sidewalk on only one side, but the chain link fencing allows a small lens through it. Note the new signal on the right!
The new signal, its shadow, the fence’s shadow, and the shadow figure of yours truly …
A close-up of the new color light signals on a single mast
Note the above signal number plate. The new signals are number plated according to the OLD Santa Fe Second District mileposts, and those mileposts started at 0.0 in Barstow in the High Desert of Southern California. Because of government regulations, the line cannot be converted to “dark” territory without government approval. Because the Gold Line will have signals, likely the powers that be never applied for personal to convert the line to dark territory.
Some color aspects the signal is technically capable of no train will ever see, since only a BNSF local traverses the line once a day if even that.
This will conclude the series.
Update: Gravel base is down, and they are laying concrete sleepers starting at the Brewery
Have fun with your trains
vsmith (12-16):
Well, the laying of concrete ties is good news!
I thought I might be able to get out that way this past Tuesday, but things didn’t work as expected.
Hopefully soon, though.
Best,
K.P.
These guys (peacocks) look a lot better than they sound; the first time I heard one, I had to be told that it was a bird; I cannot describe the sound, except that it was bad.
Johnny
They're putting rails down inside the maintenance yard, looks like track is going to be going down eastward from the yard towards the brewery. Its definetly moving along.
Deggesty (12-30):
I am sure glad the peacocks were quiet when I saw them!
vsmith (1-2):
You may be interested to know that K.P. spent hours photographing the Foothill Extension construction from Arcadia to Azusa on Friday, January 3, 2014 and took over 350 photos. Workers and equipment were everywhere!
A multipart post series on this should be ready for posting in a few weeks.
Take care all,
Photo News Update Report
On Friday, January 3, 2014 for hours K.P. extensively photographed the Foothill Extension construction between Arcadia and Azusa, CA
Key photos will be shared with the forum on the following schedule, by (“by”) 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time:
Tuesday, January 21, 2014: Part A -- Arcadia-Monrovia
Thursday, January 23, 2014: Part B -- Duarte-Azusa
Saturday, January 25, 2014: Part C -- Foothill Blvd. Area of Azusa
Monday, January 27, 2014: Part D -- More Azusa
Part “A” (of A-D), Section 1 (of 1-7)
Arcadia-Monrovia
We west to east start at Santa Anita Ave. in Arcadia. Nothing popped out as different from the August 25, 2013 visit, and the future overpass supports cement-work appears the same.
Looking south, the east (left) and center (right) supports:
Looking west, the center support (left) and the west support (center and right).
Ramps have not been put in on either side yet. The west support is seen (left).
Signs, orange cones and markers are all over the place.
Continued in Section 2
Part “A”, Section 2 (of 1-7)
Half a block away, to the east, looking westbound (inbound):
Looking eastbound (outbound):
The background seems to have dirt forming as the early stages of a ramp for the overpass a block behind the camera at Santa Anita Ave.
Continued in Section 3
Part “A”, Section 3 (of 1-7)
It should be noted in the last two views above (in Section 2), a block away to the southeast the old Santa Fe line diagonally crossed the intersecting of Santa Clara St. and 1st Ave., as in the below never before shown to the forum April 27, 2013 southeastward view:
That intersection / grade crossing is now totally closed off for about a half a block away in all directions. Likely, the electrical arrangement inherent in this type of commuter operations …
… has required such an installation road intersection closure.
According to reference material available to K.P., the speed limit for both freight and passenger trains through here in Santa Fe days was 40 M.P.H. Even that, what a windy experience that must have been for stopped downtown pedestrians!
Continued in Section 4
Part “A”, Section 4 (of 1-7)
We now go over to the Monrovia area, at Myrtle Ave., and the old Santa Fe Monrovia depot, where supply containers are present.
Two westbound (inbound) views:
Continued in Section 5
Part “A”, Section 5 (of 1-7)
An eastward (outbound) view:
As seen above, the bases for the catenary poles between the future tracks are in.
An interesting PR sign:
Continued in Section 6
Part “A”, Section 6 (of 1-7)
At Mountain Ave. looking directly west:
The grade crossing still hasn’t been improved, but the catenary pole bases are in place.
Looking east, an electrical base is being installed.
Over that above truck, the catenary bases go far back.
Continued in Section 7
Part “A”, Section 7 (of 1-7)
Looking westbound again, it almost looks like a crude path has had cement poured into it.
Remnants of the old Santa Fe Mountain Ave. grade crossing:
-------
Continued in Part B, Duarte-Azusa scheduled for posting Thursday, January 23, 2014 by 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
Part “B”, Section 1 (of 1-5)
Duarte-Azusa
At Buena Vista Street, the old grade crossing gates and flashers are gone.
But, short sections of Gold Line Foothill Extension grade crossing tracks are in.
Westward views:
Part “B”, Section 2 (of 1-5)
Eastward views from Buena Visit Ave.:
In the middle photo above ... Duarte Rd. (right) parallel-follows the future Gold Line Foothill Extension for a ways.
Part “B”, Section 3 (of 1-5)
At the Highland Ave. grade crossing, the west sidewalk is closed.
The station center platform is looking like a platform now. View looks west:
But, there is much left to do:
Part “B”, Section 4 (of 1-5)
An eastward outbound view from Highland Ave.:
Ribbon rail is now present.
Above, the 605 Freeway overpass is seen.
Part “B”, Section 5 (of 1-5)
That big storage area of concrete ties with a rinky-dink fencing protecting it on April 27, 2013 …
… now seems to have better quality fencing put up. It almost has a concrete ties fencing look.
-------------
Continued in Part C, Foothill Blvd. Area of Azusa scheduled for posting Saturday, January 25, 2014 by 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
Part “C”, Section 1 (of 1-8)
Foothill Blvd. Area of Azusa
On April 27, 2013 when K.P. was last by the Virginia Ave. grade crossing in the City of Azusa, nearly 9 months ago, the grade crossing, including sidewalks, was closed.
The grade crossing was found this trip to be open, but much work surrounded it, including when looking westbound that the old Santa Fe mainline had been relocated.
Part “C”, Section 2 (of 1-8)
Looking eastbound …
… both the south side …
… and the north side is all tore up.
Part “C”, Section 3 (of 1-8)
A telephoto looking eastbound from Virginia Ave.: The old Santa Fe mainline had jointed rail even in the early 1990’s. The bridge is over Foothill Blvd., the famous Route 66.
That jointed rail is definitely on borrowed time with Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) lying on the right-of-way now.
This is that Foothill Blvd., looking east, and the old Santa Fe bridge over it.
K.P. can remember being in the back seat of his parents’ car as a kid 50 to 55 years ago, and going under the bridge several times over the years. Back then, the bridge was silver and wondrous, but never a train was seen over it The Super Chief / El Capitan used to go over the bridge westbound (#17) in early morning or eastbound (#18) in the evening.
It took a while, but the above view was taken during a lull in traffic. A lull?
Part “C”, Section 4 (of 1-8)
That ex-Santa Fe owned bridge is having another bridge built to its north.
This is why a “lull” in traffic was waited for!
The four lane road is down to two lanes, one in each direction, during the new railroad bridging construction.
Part “C”, Section 5 (of 1-8)
OK, K.P. was going to try going under the bridge.
On the other side, and K.P. now as pedestrian, a Foothill Transit bus that was in the log jam crawls by.
Another bridge is being built on the south side.
Wow, just above, there was another lull in traffic!
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