(Continued) Electroliner 1935 (1-5):
By the electric substation, the right-of-way is now trackless, but the rails were left in grade crossings (see rail on photo bottom).
Looking west:
East:
Continued …
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Looking north up Escondido Ave. The power plant is on the right.
The electrical facility is now called Edison International.
The now gone grade crossing is way in the distance on the right in the just above southward view.
So, Electroliner, that was probably more of a reply than you expected, and more of a reply than I originally thought.
Take care,
K.P.
While K.P. was in Cajon Pass …
He Drove Over to Summit the Back Way
At the roadway overlook west of the Summit crossovers an eastbound happened by.
Thereat is a marker, presumable a surveyor’s makeshift one.
From thereat, too, in the distance earthmoving was taking place.
Above, for those unfamiliar with Cajon Pass, just west of the Summit tracks, a westward view of the tracks further down the hill is had.
A few other views of the winding road to be eliminated up by Summit:
This will conclude the posting of photos taken January 6, 2017.
K. P. HarrierSo, Electroliner, that was probably more of a reply than you expected, and more of a reply than I originally thought.
Oh K.P. you are a master of the understatement. So quick and so thorough. WOW. Yes the response exceeded my expectations.
I suspect that the utility paid for the installation of the siding and then didn't choose to retain it.
When I was a regular at Cajon Pass while stationed in CA (1985-1992) SP regularly would cut off helpers for trains heading towards Mojave after they had made it all the way up the pass with the train past the Hivolt spur. Sometimes the helper power would be parked in Hivolt spur and sometimes it would head back downgrade to Colton.
With trains headed towards Colton helper power would often wait in Hivolt and tie onto the train. That was normal procedure if there was a long train in the siding at Hiland and the helper pocket at the east end was blocked by the train.
During my time in CA it was more common to see helpers added or dropped at Hivolt than at the east end of Hiland siding.
Thanks, Vern.
The Highway 138 Reroute and a Crane
Part I (of I-II)
K.P. was in the heart of Cajon Pass Sunday, January 8, 2017 specifically to photograph a big crane by the present severely winding roadway.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-II)
While by that crane and curvy road, some other curvy road and related shots were had. In the first view below, note the cantilever signal structure on the upper right.
Just above, note the vehicle on the right.
Exactly how the rerouting of Highway 138 will be is not clear yet, but K.P. fears it will be BELOW track level by the present just west of CP SUMMIT overlook spot.
In just a few days dramatic progress has been made in grading the reroute.
This will end this posting.
So is BNSF rerouting the track or realigning it?
ATSFGuy (1-10):
No, the BNSF tracks won’t be affected in any way. The Highway 138 reroute is totally a Caltrans project.
However, at this time, it is unclear exactly how the highway relocation will affects views on the BNSF triple-track mainline.
Best,
The North of I-15 Highway 138 Progress
Friday, January 27, 2017
Progress on the Highway 138 reroute seems to be presently moving quite rapidly, with bridge rebar cylinders on the left and grading, crane, and it looks like a pile driver on the right.
Note the vehicle on the present Highway 138 on the far lower left, and a BNSF eastbound (rightward) above photo center, likely on the newer Main 1.
The east slope of Cajon Pass, even with the economic downturn, from time to time sees congestion and trains backing up. It is too early in the Trump administration to tell if any incentives will come to BNSF to triple-track the east slope or part of it.
If You Visit Cajon Pass and take …
… Highway 138 North of the I-15 Freeway …
… Watch Out for the Morgue Zone
Please study the roadway in the below January 8, 2017 sequential photos, the second one has never been shown before. Traveling eastbound one traverses through the first photo on the lane on the left and goes around a very sharp curve to the right lane in the second photo.
On the visit of January 27, 2017 photos were taken from the same spot as the above January 8 photos. But, this forum contributor saw one of the scariest things he ever personally saw. With difficulty an eighteen wheeler negotiated the curves in the first photo and rounded the sharp curve to the second photo. But his trailer completely fowled the opposing traffic lane. While this contributor takes the curve more conservatively than most, what if the typical hotrod-type westbound traveler came around that curve and suddenly saw that trailer taking up his lane? What if another hotrod type was following him right on his tail? Too horrible to think about!
If you visit the Pass before Highway 138 is rerouted to a swooping arrangement, please be mindful of THAT curve … and stay alive!
The curves just before the summit on 138 were one of the highlights of a day at Cajon for me. But I guess the traffic increase over the last 25 years does make things more hazardous for people engaged in "spirited driving" along that road.
Progress takes away another favorite thing. Hopefully gains in ease of access and new views of rail activity will be worth what's going to be lost.
Vern MooreThe curves just before the summit on 138 were one of the highlights of a day at Cajon for me.
I've driven that stretch of SR-138 many times and 'highlight' wasn't the term I was thinking of. There are many sharp curves and not all of them banked the helpful way. I say 'good riddance' !!
Caltrans classifies that route as 'Yellow' - King Pin to Rear Axle advisory', KPRA over 30 feet not advised.
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! ***
I last visited the area in June 2013.
There was a regular traffic of heavy rigid trucks, with three axles (dual rear under the tray) which had a strange fourth axle which was retracted when the truck was empty but which extended a few feet behind the truck when extended, and was fitted with steering. Presumably this was needed to meet axle load restrictions when loaded.
Anyway, I shot a westbound BNSF some time after one of these trucks headed down the hill. About half way to the interstate I saw the truck lying on its side, conveniently clear of the road on the right side on one of the dirt roads leading towards the rail tracks. It looked as though the driver had got out OK, so I headed down to Cajon on the BNSF for a couple more photos. The road was closed for some hours while the truck was recovered.
Peter
The Status of the Redoing of Highway 138 …
… in the Summit. CA Area
Part “A” (of A-B)
Progress on bridge cement work for rerouting Highway 138 is progressing rapidly. An overview: There is that dangerous sharp curve on photo bottom!
A BNSF approaches Summit on the steep 3% line.
Continued in Part B
… in the Summit, CA Area
Part “B” (of A-B)
The new bridgework:
At this stage the new future routing seems unusually steep. Is that an illusion or is there a surprise ahead for travelers? And, at this point in time it still is not clear about if the view of the BNSF’s triple-track line will be enhanced or made worse.
This will conclude the series.
KP:: Any truth to reports that track #3 on Cajon has water over track and mud over the highway ? UP & BNSF cannot get a break in California.
You May Never Ralfan in Cajon Pass …
… Again After Seeing this Video!
On the I-15 Freeway the fire engine’s crew got out safely south of Highway 138 after the Freeway undermined under them, and then the fire engine disappeared!
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-live-powerful-storms-moving-l-area-fire-truck-takes-a-tumble-in-the-cajon-1487412924-htmlstory.html
As a "local" I didn't think the rain was that bad ... until I saw the video!
Was it a Coincidence or because …
… of the Recent Rains?
The very recent rains wreaked havoc with both the BNSF and UP tracks through Cajon Pass. On Monday, February 20, 2017 a track (Main 2) on the BNSF line was found to be being reworked east of Blue Cut. It is unknown if that was a schedule project or resulted from the recent rains. But K.P. is inclined to believe it was a scheduled project.
During the recent rains, the UP (ex-SP) Palmdale Cutoff (top right of the bottom photo above) had trains tied down at Hiland (Cajon’s Summit area), Wash, and non-Palmdale Cutoff Oban and Ansel, plus even the non-DS controlled Fleeta siding! Only Denis, Palmdale (formerly Palmdale No. 2), and Phelan were unoccupied and available to the DS. On the southern part of the Palmdale Cutoff, Canyon, Dike, and Slover did NOT have trains tied down in them. Those last three sidings are also used by LA&SL trains that transition to or from the BNSF at Silverwood, thus those sidings are used more frequently and were kept free of tied down trains.
K. P. HarrierDuring the recent rains, the UP (ex-SP) Palmdale Cutoff (top right of the bottom photo above) had trains tied down at Hiland (Cajon’s Summit area), Wash, and non-Palmdale Cutoff Oban and Ansel, plus even the non-DS controlled Fleeta siding! Only Denis, Palmdale (formerly Palmdale No. 2), and Phelan were unoccupied and available to the DS.
The Tehachapi mountains have received a lot of rain recently and Tehachapi Creek near Caliente has caused a road closure. UP is probably inspecting nearby trackage closely for issues. Currently ATCSMon is not showing any trains between Bena and Oban, very unusual. Not sure, but BNSF may be holding westbounds at Barstow.
Will the Cajon Pass Summit be nuked?
Almost, and THIS Month Too!
On the visit of Wednesday, March 1, 2017, a highway reroute project roadway electronic sign advised that Highway 138 will be closed March 21, 2017 to April 4. An onsite source indicated the roadway area as we know it at Summit will all disappear! A preliminary path is already present where Highway 138 will eventually be. (See photo bottom)
It is not clear what elevation the new roadway will be in relation to the three BNSF tracks (above photo’s upper far right), but the source seemed to believe Highway 138 will be close to the same elevation as the three tracks.
Fifty-seven photos were taken, way more than expected, and a selection is hoped to be posted sometime by next week.
For those that follow the “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” thread, a few photos taken Wednesday at the Cajon Pass Summit OF TWO TRAINS are believed to have a specific application to the Sunset Route, but where on it is not known. Sources may or may not be of help in this. Hopefully, something on this can be posted soon in that thread.
Two questions for you, KP:1. Is Route 138 open to traffic during all of this, and is it permissible to travel through there (weather and wildfire problems were hampering things, last I heard)?
2. Is Hill 582 safe?(I doubt that we'll be able to get there by car on our trip to California this month, and I'm not sure it will be light enough when our train goes through).
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
CShaveRR (3-2):
Hi, Carl!
It has been my experience Highway 138 from I-15 to beyond Summit of late is generally open, but is closed occasionally for unknown reasons, likely for rain damage and storm cleanup. That section will be closed March 21 to April 4, 2017 for super radical earthwork that will forever change the Pass beyond anything we have ever seen.
It sounds like your trip west might be during that time. It will be something to witness that one might never again see the likes of in Cajon Pass. And, at this time, I don’t know if the public will somehow be able to witness it.
Very strange things are happening now and being seen that is going to take some time to investigate. For example, the CLOSED for years Summit BNSF grade crossing was found to be open last Thursday!
While I didn’t have time to check that road out, I suspect it is open now so locals can get around all the construction in the area. I hope to return soon to get the facts
As for Hill 582, it must be confessed your question was super difficult to interpret. Did you mean is it safe to be there? Is it safe from earthmovers? And, I suppose a few others interpretations as well. I personally have not been to Hill 582 for maybe 25-30 years, so, I guess I am not the one to ask on that. In roving the dirt roads in the area in the recent past, I believe (“believe”) Hill 582 might be best reached now from the west side (from the I-15 end). When I have some time it is hoped to find out more on this.
It is hoped, too, the above satisfies your inquiries, CShaveRR, and that you are doing well.
Thanks, K.P.! I was asking about whether the hill was somehow in danger of being bulldozed. I've only been in the area once (thanks to the Popcorn King and his dad; I've forgotten his name...sign of old age), so I can't remember how close to 138 it was. We'll be westbound on Amtrak through there on the morning of March 8; we'll be assisting our daughter's family through about the 27th. I don't know if we'll be able to borrow her car for a drive down that way (quite a trip from Lompoc), but we'll probably return the same way we come out.I finished with my own radiation five days ago, and may be slowly recovering from its effects. Radiation for me was feeling worse than the actual cancer did. I might be safe in referring to the cancer in past tense, as my PSA is now considered "undetectable". I still have a semi-annual hormone shot to get for at least two years, and more tests to take after we get home.
CShaveRRthanks to the Popcorn King and his dad; I've forgotten his name...sign of old age
Would that have been Chad Thomas? I know I haven't seen him posting for quite a while.
ChuckCobleigh CShaveRR thanks to the Popcorn King and his dad; I've forgotten his name...sign of old age Would that have been Chad Thomas? I know I haven't seen him posting for quite a while.
CShaveRR thanks to the Popcorn King and his dad; I've forgotten his name...sign of old age
I recall he posted in January of this year..
He must be staying pretty busy?
Big Changes to the Roadway …
… in the Summit Area Soon!
Part I (of I-V)
The alerting, scrolling message sign at the western limit of the Highway 138 relocation project …
… indicates that the highway will be closed from March 21 to April 4, 2017, just a few weeks away.
Already earthmovers are grading right in the Summit area.
Part II (of I-V)
The way it was explained to K.P. by someone familiar with the project was that Highway 138 will go right through here, but much, much lower than presently.
No longer will the cut be precariously along the roadside, but all this will go within a month! (Upper right)
The east side of the Summit area has preliminary grading. As K.P. understands it, the whole right side of the below hill will be cut away.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-V)
That preliminary east side of Summit grading in relation to Highway 138:
Be careful if you visit. Eighteen wheelers seem to have attacked Highway 138, and in quantity too!
K.P. believes a new sign is present at Summit Road. (Left)
Continued in Part IV
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