Posting of May 29, 2018
Part “B” (of A-B)
A Marvelous Road … and a Warning!
It is now a marvelous drive through the hills of Cajon Pass. But, strangely, one area towards the west end did NOT get any route modifications, and a rather hairpin curve remains. Warning signs are much better now than previously, and the speed limit has been reduced even more, to 20 M.P.H.
A close-up of all the brake marks on the curve shot Monday, May 28, 2018 from a semi-hiking in!
The brake marks in a straight line suggest, miraculously, no head-on collisions took place, at least as of photo time.
If this post could have been posted right away Saturday night and not Tuesday morning awaiting post approval, any at the forum could have known that the total reroute of the roadway was NOW OPEN and that venturing out on Highway 138 near Summit was very dangerous! I truly hope no one from the forum got killed during that delay, like from swerving, a rollover, or worse, a head-on thereat!
So, if you are visiting Cajon Pass and out that roadway reroute way, watch out for that curve! And be judicious in where you park. Please stay alive and with us!
This will conclude this series’ posting.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 “A” (of A-B)
State Route 138 through Summit is Open Now!
After Highway 138 being closed for four days for realignment construction, the highway was reopened about 7:00 P.M. Thursday, May 24, 2018, and my colleague witnessed the opening firsthand. I got to see the road open on Saturday, a couple of days later. Summit from the east slope looking westbound:
Above, note the train on the right, and the TOP of the old background ground just right of the 55 M.P.H. speed limit sign. Quite a difference in height from the old overlook area! Unfortunately, no provision was made to accommodate railfans or railroaders driving through for a look. There is sufficient room to park, but bringing kids with you is inadvisable with cars zooming by at 55 M.P.H. or more! And, be careful opening your door, as you definitely don’t want your door taken off in a split second! For your own safety, it may be good to just pass on stopping in the Summit area.
In the Summit area, on the west side of the old, now gone parking stop and lookout on Monday, May 28, 2018:
A Thought about Triple-Tracking
About triple-tracking itself, west of Belen, NM on the southern Transcon BNSF is presently in the process of adding a third-track for about 10 miles. Adding a third-track on the east slope of Cajon Pass for about three miles would seem to be a good candidate. But, the big difference between the two areas is Belen, NM is a crew change point and trains back up even with eight pads! Cajon Pass is somewhat more fluid, but when things back up with westbounds on the east slope, things really back up. In that light, when the New Mexico triple-tracking project is finished OR likewise with the multi-tracking in the Needles, CA area, it seems that the three miles on the east slope of Cajon Pass would be a good candidate for future triple-tracking.
Presumably the economy will still be purring at that time. Maybe (“maybe”) the New Mexico triple-trackers or Needles multi-tracking teams will gravitate to the east slope of Cajon Pass …
Continued in Part B
Don’t Get Comfortable – A Warning
Cajon Pass was visited Sunday, April 22, 2018 in behalf of another thread, but since the Highway 138 upper reroute was so close by, it was checked out too.
The NEW, long and big swooping curve was photographed. One kind of actually gets lost in the curve, and confused as to where one is at.
Eastbound: A train is on the BNSF tracks.
Westbound:
The Summit area looks more developed now. At this point in time, it still is not clear what level the road will be in comparison to the BNSF three-track mains.
A warning and a reshown photo towards the western end of the roadway reroute. The 25 M.P.H. yellow sign for westbound vehicle travel means just that!
In traversing that above location eastbound, the sun at the time did not make markings on the road prominent. However, westbound, there were all kinds of brake and skid marks seen! Apparently people are getting too comfortable driving the road, and in a la-la land state screech right off the road at speed If a vehicle is met going the other way while screeching off the road, bad news! Very, very bad news!
Be very, very careful if you visit the pass!
Amazing they are only building a two-lane road with all that work.
Upper Highway 138 Partial Reroute Open …
… But a Safety Word to the Wise
A major portion of the Highway 138 reroute is open as of Saturday, March 24, 2018, but the part by the really curvy Summit area very top is still in the construction stage.
The reroute seems to have three new bridges, the longest one constructed with a twisted bend upward in it. From the longest roadway bridge’s east side looking westbound, with the three separate railroad alignments in the upper background top:
The top unfinished part immediately west of Summit can now be photographed, looking eastbound: The triple-track BNSF Transcon is on the left.
The near and west of Summit roadway straightaway is steep.
From the east side of Summit, the detour road is still in use, but the reroute is now taking shape, and looks to be being graded through a new cut that might (“might”) block a view of the tracks.
That blocking a view of trains may or may not be leveled out of the way.
A photo towards the far western end of the reroute, showing the wide shoulders all along the reroute which should safely accommodate picture taking railfans wishing to park.
Just above, the view is basically the western end of the reroute. Sadly, a near hairpin BLIND, sharp curve at the end of the reroute will very likely keep the highway with a very high fatality rate, probably even more of a fatality rate than before unless it will be modified. That is ironic because the purpose of the reroute was to make Highway 138 less deadly. K.P. visited the new reroute twice on the above date, but the likely deadly curve inspired him to drive to Hesperia the back way the second time and passed through the area ONLY westbound. When eastbound, there simply is NO defense against being hit head-on from an out of control westbound vehicle … a word to the wise. Otherwise, the finish part of the reroute is marvelous!
In other matters, west of Belen, NM word is that about ten miles of the line is being triple-tracked. That should relieve congestion on the west side of town, a major crew change location. In Cajon Pass there is congestion often on the east slope as well. It seems the east slope of Cajon Pass would be a candidate for triple-tracking too, but NO word has been heard on that, and probably won’t be heard either.
It is Unclear What to Make of It
The Caltrans District 8 website indicates Highway 138 from the I-15 area past Summit to Summit Valley Road is to be closed from February 7, 2018 to February 17 for a big realignment. The far north side of the pass was visited Saturday, February 10 and a view of the railroad Summit could partially be had. It is uncertain exactly what is going on, but a week remains for the road closure. Below are two photos taken earlier this date.
Other key, important construction areas WEST of Summit are inaccessible, at least not easily.
The area is hoped to be visited towards the end of next week, and perhaps more obvious of a situation will be present then. The Caltrans website indicates next Saturday about 6 A.M. the Highway 138 will be opened.
Highway 138 Roadway Signs as of Friday …
… February 23, 2017 and Graders at Work
Lit signage indicated between March 7 and 17, 2018 Highway 138 will be closed, presumably between Interstate 15 and Summit Valley Road. Presumably, too, the closure will be to modify Highway 138 at the highest point some more at Summit
An afternoon visit on the above date showed a couple of grading equipment working on the future alignment at Summit.
The present detour is on the far left of the below photo of Summit now starting to be changed forever.
‘S[tate] R[oute] 138 WILL BE CLOSED 03/07/[20]18 TO 03/17/[20]18’
The camera shuttle was too fast to capture the actual lit lights.
Within a month, then, the forum should see dramatic changes at Summit, and some views we have never seen before!
MikeF90Fortunately, Caltrans has posted some high resolution photos on their project web site: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist8/Project-SR-138-East-Realignment.html In addition, Google Maps now shows the beginning of ROW construction activity.
Several trains in a couple of those pictures, looks like an EB BNSF stacker in one and another BNSF stacker and a UP manifest in another one. Some nice empty track shots in a couple more of the pictures. Click on the pictures and it will bring up the high-res version (in a new tab in Safari and IE as well). Oh, and there's some road stuff, too.
In view of the decent weather we've been having recently, I'm surprised that a certain local hasn't updated the slightly-OT topic of SR-138 East widening.
Fortunately, Caltrans has posted some high resolution photos on their project web site: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist8/Project-SR-138-East-Realignment.html In addition, Google Maps now shows the beginning of ROW construction activity.
Still trying to figure out some alternate views of Summit, but the above photos give a glimmer of hope for future railfan photography. With the new wider shoulders, I predict more instances of sudden railfan vehicle breakdowns.
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! ***
Status of the Highway 138 Reroute …
… in the Summit Area
The Evening of Friday, August 11, 2017
Overall, nothing popped out this visit, EXCEPT the two new bridges on the west slope seemed to have had the concrete poured, at least some of it.
At Summit itself, the general area seemed the same.
Calendar-wise, we should have only eleven more months of the reroute construction.
On this visit there was an incredible amount of trains passing, with none stopping at Summit!
MikeF90 The same company that posted that fine Tehachapi railroad video has also created one on the Cajon Pass area: Great ground side and drone work!
The same company that posted that fine Tehachapi railroad video has also created one on the Cajon Pass area:
Great ground side and drone work!
Agreed .. It is amazing what can be seen with the drone coverage .. thanks for sharing.
When the drone goes high and takes in the whole train, it is awesome. That a two man crew is controling all that mass. And what a magnificant piece of railroad has been constructed. When the camera is at track level, it looks like the track has been gromed for inspection. I eagerly await future productions by this outfit.
Update as of Saturday, June 10, 2017
Status of Highway 138 in the Summit Area
Summit was visited on the above date. From Highway 138 and the old post office road, the old Summit roadway lookout is closed (right) and cordoned off, but Highway 138 has been temporarily relocated (left).
K.P. had been hoping to shoot some final Summit overlook shots from Highway 138, with the row of security night lights visible, but that possibility is now gone.
Looking west from the west slope’s first pull off spot, the future road grading is coming along.
The day before, on Friday, June 9, K.P. was involved in an all-day exploratory dispatch to the Hemet area. He passed I-15 and Highway 138 a little before 7:30 A.M. At that time, approaching the I-15 Freeway’s EAST onramp, in could be seen that the Highway 138 roadway to Summit was completely barricaded, and there was a Highway Patrol present guarding the closed route … K.P. returned to Cajon Pass on the way back from Hemet in the evening, almost 14 hours later, and Highway 138 was then open and NO barricades were present.
RickH
BarstowRick.com Model Railroading How To's
Status of Highway 138 Reroute Construction …
… in the Summit Area as of Sunday, May 7, 2017
On the west slope, by a turnout with a phone box, l looking upward to the new reroute road with the BNSF tracks in view (upper left), a strange wall with kind of rock forms on the lower right is now present.
The cement columns are still buried, likely bridging to be built on the elevated earth, then when completed that earth dug out.
The future road seems awfully steep.
Now, on the east slope at Summit itself, much has been dug down
Just above, note the old road has the earth dug down SOUTH of it, or left. The BNSF tracks are out of view on the right of the present road.
Weather was very strange. It was raining off and on, and very cloudy. In returning to base K.P. even encountered snowflakes falling! Strange indeed!
This will conclude the status of the road rerouting report.
This may be on the wrong K. P. Harrier thread but his San Bernadino story has a stated test operations.
Highway 138 Status as of …
… Saturday, April 1, 2017
Part VIII (of I-VIII)
More security area Summit views:
If K.P. understands matters correctly, eventually this whole Summit area by the cantilever signals will come down, possibly to track level.
At this point in time it is unknown when the next round of grading will take place, but, as one can see, a lot more is in the future.
This will conclude the series.
Part VII (of I-VIII)
Now, we return to Summit, and prowl around. That old post office road seemed to be open, and while the BNSF shack seemed manned, nobody said boo thereat.
Continued in Part VIII
Part VI (of I-VIII)
Perhaps a mile further west, a stop was made to photograph another area. Note the rebar in the photo center.
A shot from the same area but looking west so viewers familiar with the area can get a sense where the just above phot was shot at.
Continued in Part VII
Part V (of I-VIII)
More on graders:
Continued in Part VI
Part IV (of I-VIII)
The graders:
Continued in Part V
Part III (of I-VIII)
More Summit overlook shots, these looking east.
Train time at Summit.
Continued in Part IV
Part II (of I-VIII)
Westward from the present Summit overlook area:
Continued in Part III
Part I (of I-VIII)
At Summit and the old Post Office Road, the cutting away of the hillside is prominent, it looks like at a 45 degree angle.
On the previous visit, it appeared the cutting way (above) AND the actual altering of the old lookout spot were separate, probably will come together as time marches on. More EAST side photos will be posted in just a bit.
At the Summit overlook area.
Continued in Part II
Access Finally Gained!
On Saturday, April 1, 2017 Highway 138 in the Summit area was found to be open. Much grading had taken place in the last few weeks, but the road layout of Highway 138 was found to basically be the same.
Photos, report, and assessment will be posted in a few days.
Great New … But the Hard Facts
For days the Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) website has stated Highway 138 at Summit would reopen at 3:00 P.M. March 31, 2017. 3:00 P.M. came and the website said there were NO longer any road closures for Highway 138.
So, K.P. zipped over to Highway 138 and I-15 and discovered he had been screwed by Caltrans.
After the photo and with the camera put away, a heavy piece of equipment showed up, and K.P. inquired of its drive. The worker said later tonight Highway 138 would be opened. Afterward, he took his heavy piece of equipment and took one of several k-rails away.
So, it is presumed the construction worker knew what he was talking about. Obviously the Caltrans website didn’t know what it was talking about. With Caltrans, K.P. now sees the agency’s left hand not knowing what is right hand is doing! Is it any wonder California is having financial problems?
Are SIX Tracks in the East Slope’s Future?
K.P. knows of nothing official railroad-wise on this, but hear and reason this out. Not too far from the BNSF tracks south of Summit Valley Road and north of Highway 138 and north of Silverwood Lake, a 16,000 home landscape (!) was approved by the City of Hesperia over a year ago.
http://www.vvng.com/massive-tapestry-project-in-hesperia-approved/
http://vvng.victorvalleynews.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Screenshot-2016-01-27-09.40.01.png
What will that do for the security of BNSF westbounds on the east slope that lug up the hill? Some trains stop because of a train ahead. Will three-tracks fan into six-tracks so a bunch of westbounds can be parked under night floodlights and not have to stop in the darkness adjacent Summit Valley Road and possibly be broken into? Highway 138 is being revamped now at Summit, but will it become maybe Interstate 815 in the future? Cajon Pass may prove to be more interesting that we have ever imagined!
There was in the latter part of the last decade a very large housing developement on the western side of Beaumont (CA), the southern part of that housing track was adjacent the Sunset Route. San Timoteo Road (now Oak Valley Parkway at its eastern end) was revamped and rebuilt, making taking photos along that stretch very difficult. Two July 18, 2009 views:
In that light, while the new houses will be for the most part away from the BNSF tracks on the east slope of Cajon Pass, the railroad may start thinking of actions for protecting its property soon, and as in Beaumont thwarting thievery, and as a side consequence make photos of trains very difficult. And, if there is further triple-tracking it likely will be on that east slope. If any go out that way for a look and / or to railfan, be careful, as roadway parking locations are limited and people seem to think that Summit Valley Road is the Autobahn!
K.P.,
Note that this 7 day closure is just the first of at least six, short (7-10 day) closures planned to move dirt from that giant hill at the top to low spots on the realignment. There will be a six-eight week closure this time next year when they go the final earthmoving at the Summit and try everything together. It will be an exciting year for those that like to watch earthmoving and heavy construction work.
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