BNSF - Orange Co., Calif. - Grade Separations - 2 of 7 Planned Now Under Way

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Link to a brief article from yesterday on the above - they will be in Anaheim, Fullerton, and Placentia:

 http://www.progressiverailroading.com/prdailynews/news.asp?id=28507 

  My first thought was that our good friend and dedicated correspondent K.P. Harrier will continue to be busy and a frequent poster here, as he'll have no lack of material for another of his excellent and informative series' for the next several years !     

- Paul North. 

[K. P. Harrier]

Paul D. North Jr. (10-22):

Arresting thread title for sure.  Perusing your initial post, I found my name!  Was I flattered!  But, that's NOT my area, Paul ... However ... my oldest boy now is employed in Santa Ana, just down the street, and recently moved over there.  I guess I now have a reason to prowl around in that area.

I haven't railfanned down that way in years, and would probably be surprised what's down there now.

When I was a kid riding in the back seat of my parent's car, we drove across a Santa Fe single-track main in that area.  I've never been able to locate that grade crossing we crossed.  There was absolutely nothing around it.  Now, that area is all wall to wall buildings everywhere!

The volume of trains on the Transcon there is stunning.  On average there is one every 20 minutes.

UP's triple-track Central Corridor in Nebraska often average one every 10 minutes ... even with grade crossing and trackwork in progress.

And, the San Diego Trolley on some lines averages crossing gate activations every 7.5 minutes!

Thanks for the tipoff on Orange Country (CA), Paul.  In the future, maybe something will be able to be posted.  What should such a thread be called? Maybe:  "BNSF Orange Country, CA Transcon Grade Separations Updates"?

I guess I have to get down that way first ...

Best,

K.P.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

I thought that might surprise you, K.P. !  Glad you took it so well.  I'm glad I posted it - for sure it's closer to you than me !  With your son now in the area, perhaps it's your destiny ? ("karma")  For the moment, I like your suggested title, too. 

Here are the Lat./ Long. coords. (per ACME Mapper 2.0) for the first two crossings mentioned in the linked article:

S. Placentia Ave. - N 33.86732 W 117.88089, about 0.1 mile west of of Orange Freeway (Rt. 57), and 0.1 mi. north of W. Crowther Ave. 

Kramer Blvd. -  N 33.86857 W 117.86312, at E. Crowther Ave., about 1 mile east of Orange Freeway (Rt. 57). 

Link to the OCTA webpage for the projects - note an upcoming meeting on Oct. 26th:

http://www.octa.net/OCBridgesOverview.aspx 

(The supposed link to a webpage for these projects (only) - www.OCbridges.net - goes back to the same page)

And note the interesting list of projects in the 'drop-down' menu under "Plans & Programs" at the top right of this page - "Pacific Electric Right-of-Way Study" ?!?  http://www.octa.net/index.aspx 

- Paul North. 

[K. P. Harrier]

Paul D. North Jr. (10-23):

Yes, quite a big closer!

The Pacific Electric right-of-way you mentioned is an interesting piece of old right-of-way.  Metro's Blue trolley line is a north-south property, whereas the Green line is an east-west trolley line.  It is the latter that the old PE would supposedly connect with.  If you study the following aerial link ...

The Old PE Line

... it shows the old right-of-way crossing the Alameda Corridor trench.  On the upper left of the old PE line, as you can see, housing is now on the old right-of-way.  If you drag move eastward, the old line is now covered by a freeway, and beyond that the old right-of-way being discussed begins.  It is pretty much a good path southeastward for miles, but does run into things built on the right-of-way, which would obviously cause the effort problems.

In Pasadena, just north of Los Angeles, and home to the annual Rose Parade and Rose Bowl, the old Santa Fe Railway right-of-way, the old Super Chief route, is similar, but housing too now forever blocks the way.  (Note the right house is right angled with the street, but the left house is right angled with the old Santa Fe right-of-way.)

I can't help but think, Paul, of all the Hollywood starlets and famous male actors that decades ago road on the Super Chief right through where that left housing is now.  Talk about a nostalgia trip!

Obviously, the right-of-way in Orange Country doesn't have such a glamorous and noteworthy background, but if the study findings are positive, the line may, in the future, assist with the Los Angeles freeway congestion.

Interesting history for the area of this thread.

Take care,

K.P.

[MikeF90]

Not to take away anything from this great forum, but the upgrades along the BNSF San Bernardino Sub (and most of the LOSSAN corridor - link) have been covered 'tag team' style on WCRF (link) for quite a while. Look for Orange County related topics and also DT Junction and Santa Fe Springs. You might even recognize one of the screen names .

The (lack of) Placentia area grade separation progress is characterized by common suburban politics - a grandiose plan with no 'plan B' or anywhere near enough money. Being the west end of the BNSF Southern Transcon, it has very heavy freight traffic with some commuter rail (SCRRA/Metrolink) in the mix. Ten years ago local gov'ts spent a lot of taxspayer $$ on 'studies' - Placentia's plan 'A' was to 'trench' the whole ROW for miles - the host railroad was not amused.

The same situation exists to the west on the UP LA Sub in Montebello (LA County). The city supports one (extremely expensive) plan only and therefore the ACE project, while recognizing their needs, has deferred their participation. See the latest ACE agenda (link) for some good lists of rankings and estimated costs - the city of Montebello gov't preferred option is about three times the cost of any of the others!

BTW the LA County grade separations and triple tracking on the SB Sub are progressing but a bit piecemeal due to the usual funding issues. The Passons Blvd separation in Pico Rivera is under construction and the Valley View Ave separation (link) on the LA/OC border is just under way.

EDIT - Being my back yard I'm willing to start a 'LOSSAN corridor upgrades' topic but (unlike the UP Sunset Route) being almost entirely publicly funded means the duration and pace will exceed 'paint drying' by several orders of magnitude. Maybe a yearly update schedule, willed to our younger relatives?  Other LA/OC/SD county posters with cameras - sound off!