High Green for the Triple-Track’s Full Potential
The Western Slope of Cajon Pass
Devore, CA
Part “A” (of A-D)
Between Summit and San Bernardino, grade crossings are few and far between. One grade crossing, Glen Helen Parkway (former Devore Road) at M.P. 71.0, has been a thorn in BNSF’s side, and has reduced the full potential of Triple-Track between Keenbrook (M.P. 69.4) and Verdemont (M.P. 73.9).
Dispatchers often communicate with trains advising them of an impending run around (i.e., they will get a red signal ahead), and advise them to stop before Glen Helen Parkway so the road won’t be blocked for a few minutes to an hour or more. Such reduces the effectiveness of triple-track and how many trains could be stacked up in that area.
The long awaited overpass is now becoming reality! This series is an effort to document the current status of the overpass construction progress.
Looking south, the incomplete south slope:
Looking north: The restaurant southeast of the grade crossing is now gone, and many construction workers' vehicles are parked in the vicinity of where the restaurant once was.
Above, the first grade crossing is UP’s Palmdale Cutoff, and BNSF’s Transcon is the background grade crossing.
As one can discern from the above photos, the overpass alignment is west of the present road, probably between a few hundred and five hundred feet physically to the west, both railroad north (UP) and east (BNSF).
Continued in Part B
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 “B” (of A-D)
The Transcon and the overpass north slope that is now forming:
More shoveling:
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-D)
A BNSF comes.
There are cranes and other equipment at the site.
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-D)
More activity:
What big rebar columns for the overpass!
At this point it is unknown to K.P. if the overpass will have one or two sideways (or even none), but in light of the area often being host to many big singer concerts, a sidewalk on each side would be just fine for railfan photographers!
So, that is the present status of things thereat, and it has been photo documented for reference for hopefully years to come.
Fire Update
That fire in the Glen Helen / Devore area is reportedly 80% contained, and should be fully contain by Thursday night.
K.P., a great report that brings some unexpected nostalgia. Behind the camera in Part C is the site of the former Country Corner Cafe, a great hangout for watching trains with a great burger and cool adult beverage.
Apparently Caltrans goofed by threatening the property owners along Glen Helen Parkway with eminent domain takeover; the major, $300M plus I-15 / I-215 Interchange Reconfiguration project has caused the grade separation to be moved north! Grrrrr ....
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! ***
MikeF90K.P., a great report that brings some unexpected nostalgia. Behind the camera in Part C is the site of the former Country Corner Cafe, a great hangout for watching trains with a great burger and cool adult beverage.
Ah yes, wasn't it once called Joe's Cafe? Quite the atmosphere at that place.
This grade separation is definitely needed, especially on concert nights at San Manuel Amphitheater.
I loathe that comment about "coffee shop types." Who died and put you in charge of knowledge and the interest in railfanning? I go to AZ every spring break. Does that make me a "coffee shop type?" (whatever that obtuse vernacularism is supposed to mean). Does that mean if one does not constantly go to Cajon and take pictures that one is coffee shopping instead of railfanning? How about some of us actually researched the topic and know its history. Kill the attitude on an avocational topic.
Replies – Part I (of I-II)
UChicagoMatt (10-18):
Hi, Matt!
When I first read your post about your taking offense at “coffee shop types” I wondered WHO said something derogatory about those that patronize literal coffee shops. A word search was undertaken at the forum, and it was discovered that I had said “coffee shop types” back on August 18, 2007 in the originating post of this thread or topic.
At that particular long gone time the “General Discussion,” of which this thread is under, had active topics with “Coffee Shop” in their titles or otherwise implied. Those topics were understood by the majority to mean, not a literal coffee shop but like the socializing that often takes place in one, a hodgepodge type place (thread) at the forum to discuss anything appropriate, including the weather, good and bad things that happened in individual posters’ lives, etc.
It was hoped back then that this thread would be a focused thread for those at the forum interested in the Cajon Pass triple-tracking, and not drift away from that theme. For the most part it has remained focused or dealt with closely related Cajon Pass issues.
Others Replies
Deggesty (7-3):
Yes, derailing on a bridge would be worse than in a tunnel, and because of the latter your Amtrak trip some time ago was severely delayed. To reduce the risk of jackknifing derailments on bridges, the bridges normally have paralleling rails to keep the truck wheels more or less in a straight line on a bridge even if they are riding the ties.
It is unknown if you have been following the Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates thread or not, but in Colton, CA the new Colton Flyover is now open and trains traverse it on two-tracks. On the west slope of that flyover (and just the west slope), it has derailment rails between the rails, as seen in the three progressive time sequence photos during construction.
Presumably (“presumably”) they are to keep errant cars in a straight line too, because if they did jackknife they would likely go onto Interstate 10, which would be a disaster in itself. So, derailment rails are kind of worth their weight in gold, as simple and unappealing as they are to observers.
Continued in Part II
Replies – Part II (of I-II)
John Simpkins-Camp (7-14):
Thanks for the link address.
For the benefit of the forum, that link address has been converted into an actual link so interested parties don’t have to paste the address:
http://www.trainmaster.ch/XC-11.htm
Periodically I drive through the back way on the east slope of Cajon Pass. I still can’t believe the Ranchero Rd. underpass seemingly came out of nowhere for me. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be spooked to find out Highway 138 in Cajon Pass is now a big Interstate!
MikeF90 (9-27):
Oh, yes … Nostalgia! Over the years I never really did patronize the café or whatever it was called, but did leave a few bucks there every once and a while.
I can remember how things were BEFORE Southern Pacific’s Palmdale Cutoff had come along.
And, I’ve often wondered where the old Santa Fe Devore depot was, like the corners and doors, etc. I know its general area, but it is hard to visual something not actually there anymore.
Years and years ago I never imagined the old Santa Fe line would be triple-tracked as it is now. And it just blows my mind that some of the bridges are 100 years old this year! Like the steel one below (not the concrete one) that was put in in 1913.
When one takes a broad overview of the rail line through Cajon Pass, it is hard to believe the old California Southern went from San Diego, through Perris, Colton, Cajon Pass, and unto Barstow. Fred Perris, the surveyor who laid out the line in the early 1880’s, was both a genius and a fool. He is the one who discovered the east slope route of Cajon Pass, but also had a whole bunch of his track totally washed out soon after it was laid between Oceanside and Perris.
Nostalgia has both its cool and sad sides … I wish I had a time machine …
While I have you, Mike …I’ve in recent weeks made efforts to find the old, abandoned California Southern right of way. In Fallbrook some of the old line right-of-way is visible, like below:
Above, Cajon Pass is far away to the right. The photo shows an apparent wye location.
But trying to locate some of the line is impossible today. Mr. Perris MUST have been a genius, because he fits the category of such. He was both brilliant and, well, the type people wonder about (remember the whopping amount of his track that was washed out in the late 1800’s?) …
mvs (10-5):
You said, “This grade separation [in Devore] is definitely needed.” I’ll say!
Cajon Pass is kind of local for this forum contributor, and I know the roadway shortcuts. Especially on Fridays everybody and his uncle is trying to get to Las Vegas, NV for a gambling weekend, and the freeway becomes jammed and traffic slows to a crawl. Smart K.P. in those cases gets off the freeway, zips over the BNSF and UP tracks, gets on the other freeway, and gets around the log jam. Oh, it feels so good to be “smart.” But, the last three times long trains were found blocking the grade crossing … Now I don’t feel so smart. Oh, yes, that overpass will be a miracle for motorists!
Take care, everyone,
K.P.
Matt,
Maybe you had a really bad day before you took to the keyboard. I have only seen informative and gracious posts written by KP. To comment on a phrase that began a topic that is 6 years old and has nothing to do with the topic leads me to believe that you did not follow your own advice concerning research. I am only replying because I want KP to know I appreciate his sharing the hard work, time, and talent it takes to post.
KP please keep up the good work.
Donald
Agree.
Update as of Thursday, November 20, 2013
The Glen Helen Parkway Overpass
Part “A” (of A-B)
A visit to the Glen Helen Parkway overpass construction site in Devore was made on the above date, and much progress was found to have transpired. But, K.P. had never seen the type of bridge construction now going on there …
Looking physically northwest, the south support (left) and the center piers (right):
Above, the track visible is the UP’s Palmdale Cutoff.
The south support so far is strangely just I-beams!
The center supports … the BNSF Transcon is in the background.
The BNSF Transcon and the overpass north supports and all the dirt piled up.
Part “B” (of A-B)
A closer view of the north support I-beams.
Some of the equipment present. Note the heavy blocks now onsite in the foreground.
A westbound BNSF comes and goes by the north I-beams …
… and crosses Glen Helen Parkway.
One usually cannot visit the site of the Glen Helen Parkway overpass construction, even for only a short time, without a train passing on the Transcon.
--------
1110111
Construction-Orama
Devore is becoming a total construction zone. Not only is the Glen Helen Parkway grade crossing being eliminated with an overpass, but the revamping of the I-15 / I-215 Interchange has begun too. The following photos are from the evening of Wednesday, November 27, 2013.
From Cajon Blvd., I-15 and Kenwood Ave.: Right (south) of the eastbound onramp’s two rows of whitish barricades, a new onramp is being graded.
Cajon Blvd. is supposed to become a thru-highway again and the upper part will meet up with the lower part.
A view of the Keenbrook Connector between BNSF’s triple-track mains and UP’s Palmdale Cutoff.
Above, note the freeway white barricades in the distance.
The times of no train activity are few. In K.P.’s passing through, a BNSF westbound approaches the freeway construction zone.
K.P. doesn’t know of any new triple-tracking planned for Cajon Pass. The lessor gradient east slop probably can make do with two-tracks, at least for a while. The west slope of Colton to Martinez is triple-tracked, and the free flow of rail traffic thereon is marvelous. One hears very little radio traffic in recent times, which proves BNSF got its money’s worth out of triple-tracking the west slope.
Announcing …
A Timetable Place that Doesn’t Exist Made Stunningly Wondrous!
The below November 30, 2013 photo was taken at Ono, CA towards the bottom of the west slope of Cajon Pass. The view of empty Intermodal cars on holding tracks is only three to four miles from the place that doesn’t exist!
And, are four mainline tracks instead of three in the future for the place that doesn’t exist? A photo will make one wonder!
A multipart series on all this should be posted within a week, and it includes auto roadways that go every which way!
Part I (of I-III)
Historically, years and years ago there was a timetable location called Highland Jct., at M.P. 79.4. That “junction” technically was located today on the middle track where it begins to curve on the two photos below.
The concept of a junction stems from the location years ago actually being a junction, with a track going straight north from the beginning of that center track’s curve. That going straight track was related to the Redlands Loop, a line that went to Highland (hence, Highland Jct.), Mentone, Redlands, and back to San Bernardino where it junctioned back into the mainline from Cajon Pass just east of the San Bernardino Depot.
In the latter 1960’s a freeway overlaid the old right-of-way out of Highland Junction, as seen before.
LINK: The Redlands Loop (259) and the Line to Cajon Pass (by I-215)
The Cajon Sub, back in days before 1972, was called the First District, and only “double track” (each track signaled in only one direction). From 1972 on, the line was CTC, and was “two-tracks” (each track signaled in both directions). Around 1993, a third track out of San Bernardino cut in just this side of the right double crossover in the above photos. Then, in the 2000’s, the line was three-tracked.
In the last few years, the I-215 Freeway was completely rebuilt, widened, and still has a short time to go to finish the construction revamping.
Part II (of I-III)
I-215 is incomplete on the lower left, with the 259 Freeway (lower right) from the I-210 north of here
The BNSF tracks are on the upper right, with a vertical dark area just below them on the far right, which is the I-215 off ramp roadway area, as below:
More view:
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-III)
On the new 16th Street overpass bridge, looking west:
Looking northwest:
Finally, looking southeast: While the right-of-way south of here is narrow, a fourth track could (“could”) be laid approaching the bridge (right).
There has been some question about the possibility of a derailment landing on the freeway. From K.P.’s actually traversing the freeway, there seems to be a sufficient buffer zone width so a derailment would not land on the actual freeway. That is not true about the much less traveled southbound off ramps.
As time permits, K.P. hopes to document that buffer zoning for a future short posting, and perhaps a view or two of the 259 Freeway that is on top of the old Redlands Loop right-of-way.
This will end this series … However, a Second Section follows
Second Section
It is understood three-tracking is going on presently in the Santa Fe Springs area, through DT Junction between Los Angeles and Fullerton.
And, concerning the I-215 Freeway widening in the Grand Terrace area, most closely associated with Highgrove on the San Bernardino Sub, the construction for the three new single-track truss bridges thereat is going super slowly, only digging has ever been seen, but not now, surprisingly. Two April 16, 2013 photos … That was over 7 months ago and everything looks pretty much the same today!
It seems the new, wider freeway will be ready before the BNSF bridges will, which would halt the freeway construction. Maybe (“maybe”) everyone is rethinking the whole BNSF bridging matter for whatever reason …
(In K.P.’s opinion a fourth-track Metrolink / UP / BNSF Flyover and I-215 bridging would work miracles, if the reader can read between the lines ...)
At this point in time, it is unclear how these three-tracking efforts tie in with the Cajon Pass three-tracking, but the ultimate goal might (again, “might”) be to triple-track from Los Angeles to Daggett (where the LA&SL junctions in) about 6 miles east of Barstow.
Finishing Up Some Lose Ends
San Bernardino, CA
Part “A” (of A-C)
On Tuesday, December 3, 2013 K.P. was in San Bernardino again on some quick business. Afterward, photo documenting some loose ends was ensued.
Looking south from the 9th Street overpass in San Bernardino. The BNSF triple-track line and the I-215 Freeway:
Above, the sloping dirt already has gullies. To K.P.’s knowledge, BNSF (Santa Fe) never had a series derailment in this stretch, but the closeness to I-215 seems questionable. Of course, before the freeway was rebuilt, it was right next to the tracks.
The foreground alignment of Mains 3, 2, and 1jugs in the distance by 5th Street to the original alignment of Mains 2 and 1in two-track days.
Looking north: Mains 1, 2, and 3: The new Baseline southbound I-215 onramp in right of center.
Part “B” (of A-C)
Looking northwest from the 16th Street overpass.
A northward view of Highway 259: Somewhere in these lanes the old Redlands Loop in ground level once traversed, and curved rightward in the far distance as the freeway now does.
I-215 and S.R. 259 meet behind the camera.
Part “C” (of A-C)
Main 3 is still close to the freeway, but again the main auto traffic has a slight buffer zone in case of a train mishap.
The new overpasses have that small wire meshing fencing that hinds railroad photography.
K.P. happened to have a second, smaller lensed camera with a lens that partially fits through that small wire meshing, making the photos for this series possible.
This will conclude the series.
Semi-related … Westbound out of San Bernardino, in the M.P. 6 area, the Transcon goes over the I-215 Freeway in the Grand Terrace / Highgrove area. The freeway is being widened, and its walling sides are being rebuilt. That side walling is proving to be more railroadish than originally thought.
Even a wide-cab GE freight unit is molded onto the walling. But, during the construction, taking photos is extremely challenging, if not impossible in most cases.
Forum poster SP657E44 in the Sunset Route Two-Tracking Update thread first alerted K.P. to the freeway decorative walling.
Didn't realize till seeing the latest Trains that there are now four tracks up the pass, 3 for the old AT&SF line and one for the SP's Palmdale cutoff.
- Erik
erikem (1-7):
Hi, Erik!
Yes, four tracks now! But, when one considers sidings, in some places there are five tracks!
The below train is on the Palmdale Cutoff, and by the Canyon siding, so is such a five tracks place.
I’ve seen five trains moving at once before from the McDonalds fast food place.
A view where all lines are discernable and five trains at once can be seen:
I’ve counted 16 trains just within an hour or two on both the BNSF and UP lines at Summit / Hiland, and that was before BNSF triple-tracked their line. That makes one wonder what the tally count could be now!
Happy train watching,
K. P. Harrier erikem (1-7): Hi, Erik! Yes, four tracks now! But, when one considers sidings, in some places there are five tracks! The below train is on the Palmdale Cutoff, and by the Canyon siding, so is such a five tracks place. I’ve seen five trains moving at once before from the McDonalds fast food place. K.P.
The "Subway" restaurant, part of a gas station on the stub end of the old Cajon Boulevard junction with 138 on the Western side of the Interstate, allows photos much like that above while seated eating one of their quite good salads...
Since it is much closer to the track than the well known hamburger place, and on 138 for a quick getaway in the direction of Summit, it is currently my favourite local restaurant.
M636C
The Devore-San Bernardino, CA Area
On Wednesday, January 29, 2014, a very brief visit to the Glen Helen Parkway (Devore Road) overpass construction site was made. Walling construction and overhead I-beams are present now.
Such is not present yet by the triple-track BNSF side.
Palm Ave.
The planned overpass has started construction, and has had dramatic ramp grading progress.
It is hoped a few photos of it can be taken next week.
Palm Ave. is location within CP VERDEMONT, timetable listed as at M.P. 73.9 on the Cajon Subdivision.
Update as of Monday, February 3, 2014
Overpass Constructions
Glen Helen Parkway and Palm Ave.
Between Keenbrook and Verdemont
Part I (of I-II)
At M.P. 71.0 …
The south walling is coming along nicely.
The north walling (by the BNSF’s three mains) is not nearly as advanced (right).
The present Glen Helen Pkwy (formerly Devore Rd.) is physically east of the new overpass, but railroad west of it.
While K.P. was on site for just a few moments, this was one of the few visits that NO trains passed!
Part II (of I-II)
At M.P. 74.0 …
At Cajon Blvd. and Palm Ave., the Palm Ave. overpass is finally under construction. The north ramping is seen on the right
The center pier-work is well along. The triple-track universal crossovers railroad east westbound cantilever signal bridge is visible on the left.
The south ramping dirt is forming, but no concrete work yet is present. It looks like the overpass will be over a five lanes wide Cajon Blvd.
Nor has any concrete-work started for the north sloping.
It seems just a month or two ago K.P. was by here and no anticipated construction had started, so progress is moving quite fast.
K.P. was onsite a little bit longer than at Glen Helen Parkway, but no trains came either at Palm Ave.
Update as of Saturday, March 8, 2014
Glen Helen Pkwy and Palm Ave. Overpasses
Devore / San Bernardino, CA
The Glen Helen Parkway overpass is coming along just fine, but no I-beaming over BNSF’s Transcon has been placed yet.
At Palm Ave. the overpass construction seems to be moving forward quickly.
It is unknown why there is a space between the north piers (left) and the north side walling (right).
The distance between piers on each side of the Transcon seems wide enough for two or three extra tracks!
Update as of Thursday, April 3, 2014
Two Overpass Constructions
San Bernardino and Devore, CA
Part “A” (of A-E)
The under construction overpass at Palm Ave. in the far northwest reaches of San Bernardino, at M.P. 74.0, now has much overhead temporary steel I-beams in place.
The south end’s roadway will loop around and connect to Cajon Blvd. at a “T” intersection, unlike today’s crossroads type arrangement.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.