Colton Flyover Report
Colton, CA
Part V (of I-VII)
The freeway onramp railing in relation to the flyover protective fencing:
The freeway onramp is a very tight turn off of Rancho Ave., and the new concrete-work now has much tire marks on it already.
As can be discerned just above, any that visits the Rancho Ave. Bridge over the Sunset Route should always keep one eye on turning vehicle traffic, but especially 18-wheelers.
The nearby “Cement Mountain,” as many locals call it, had a strange sight of it.
It didn’t look like a special agent’s vehicle, but K.P. can’t imagine what the precariously parked guy was doing.
Continued in Part VI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 VI (of I-VII)
A collection of three of the six final views …
The temporary flyover walling (left) and the permanent wall (right).
The buffer walling (and small meshed fence) and freeway onramp barricading (background):
An angled view from Rancho Ave.:
Continued in Part VII
Part VII (of I-VII)
The final three of six views …
A red board: Typically someone on site authorizes a train to pass it with some very specific wordage that a train crew will repeat back to him (or her).
Lastly (in two photos), there has been some question about the Main 1 masts (plural) on the east side of the Santa Ana River, as in the reshown view below (photo left).
On this visit, however, the headless mast seems to be gone.
K.P. has no explanation for a mast popping up, and disappearing soon afterwards.
This will conclude the series.
Surprise Visit to Track Laying-Ville
The Colton Flyover
Unexpected scheduling circumstances brought K.P. to the Colton Flyover Wednesday, May 29, 2013, and a two GE motive-powered concrete tie train was on the flyover right over the BNSF Transcon.
A train on top of a train was lowering ties onto the tie laying machine’s ramp.
The intention was originally to quickly check out the Colton Flyover progress, take a few photos, and head back to base. But, an extended stay ensued with 350 photos taken. K.P.’s schedule is very unclear for the next few days, but hopefully something (“something”) about Wednesday’s happenings will be able to be posted in a day or two. Things are so up in the air at this point, it is unknown if some (“some”) photos will have to be held over and presented to the forum next week or not.
eolesen (5-28):
A consistent observation has been that within a couple of weeks of a group of new signals being cutover, even though the heads are turned aside, those new signals are left lit, as they were at Sunshine Blvd. (M.P. 933.62) in Eloy, AZ on March 21, 2012.
Those turned aside lit signals even changed indications as trains passed them. It is like two signal systems operating at the same time, though the heads of one system are turned aside as mentioned above.
A week after that 2012 Arizona visit when the above photos were taken, the report here at the forum was that the new second-track was finally put in service. So, eolesen, if you see some of the new signals near Tucson that you have reported being erected actually lit, though the heads might be turned aside, I think it would be safe to say a cutover is imminent.
Best,
K.P.
A Special Announcement
K.P. is slated to be in Texas this weekend, and hopefully will be able to cover some loose ends photographically for this thread.
Thus, in order for the forum to at least “see” what has transpired at and by the Colton Flyover, an abbreviated flyover picture series (from La Cadena Dr. to Rancho Ave.) without commentary is presented below and the next two following posts …
Update as of Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Track Laying on the West Slope
Headway #1 (of 1-3)
Continued in Headway #2
Headway #2 (of 1-3)
Continued in Headway #3
Headway #3 (of 1-3)
A more comprehensive report may or may not follow in a week or two. (A 20-post rough draft had already been semi-worked up, but preparing the photos and transferring them to media is the time killer!) But, right now K.P. needs to focus on packing and other preparations for the quick Texas trip.
I will be looking forward to further news from Texas and the Colton Flyover. It just hit me now what do we call the old Colton Crossover?
The Colton Flyover? Grin
SO CAL's greatest success story for sure.
RickH
BarstowRick.com Model Railroading How To's
Question for K.P. What is the % grade on the Colton flyover?
Norm
Norm48327 Question for K.P. What is the % grade on the Colton flyover?
I'd be surprised if it's anything more then 2%. Pretty much the standard these days. Like you I'd be interested in knowing......for sure.
The Grade on the east side is 0.58% off the Santa Ana River bridge, This is the original grade. On the flyover itself on the east side it is 1.20% On the west side it is 0.80%. The less severe grade on the west is because the original grade from the diamonds is a steep 1.21% from the diamonds to Rancho.
John Kluender
Thanks John.
Back from Texas!
A total of 985 photos were taken June 1-3, 2013 on a California to Texas whirlwind round trip, with an emphasis on the following key areas:
California:
ONE: Bertram by Salton Sea through Niland to Iris.
TWO: An Offshoot from Niland, the El Centro trackage. Likely this material will be presented last.
Arizona:
THREE: The two-tracking WEST of Tucson.
FOUR: The railroad bridge removal area near Marsh Station Road. Only a handful of photos resulted, and at this point, the success of capturing the bridge removal site AREA is unknown. But, while at Marsh Station Rd., something occurred that K.P. never thought he would ever see at that location, and considerable time was devoted to documental that occurrence.
FIVE: The area of the Highway 191 overpass over the Sunset Route.
New Mexico:
SIX: The under construction many miles-long Santa Teresa, NM facility. While at the west end, a massive dust storm occurred! Later, some dramatic “storm lighting” photos were able to be shot!
Texas:
SEVEN: Sierra Blanca, where a key junction is located. Leaving that sunny area, 20 minutes later it rained so hard traveling at 80 M.P.H. (the speed limit for I-10 in that area) that everyone suddenly was traveling 50 M.P.H.!
Composing a presentation for the forum hasn’t started yet, but preliminary indications are that it will be on an east to west basis, from Sierra Blanca, TX to California, but one or two of those east to west presentations will be on a west to east basis, like for the Santa Teresa facility.
Schedule for the May 29, 2013 Resultant “Track Laying Over the Colton Flyover”
As a general rule, the Colton, CA presentation will be on an east to west basis, with the following schedule:
First: Thursday, June 6, 2013
Second: Saturday, June 8, 2013
Third: Monday, June 10, 2013.
350 photos were taken, but only 65 will be used, which is a sizable fraction.
Posts will be up BY 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time on the scheduled date, but likely much, much earlier.
Looking forward to this photoset -- especially out by Sierra Blanca. I'm a bit jealous of the 80 mph speed limit...
Update as of May 29, 2013
Track Laying Over the Colton Flyover
Part “A” (of A-G, Overall A-S)
We start looking north towards the La Cadena Drive underpass. From bottom to top: (1) the 1956-painted (probably built too) present Sunset Route multi-track bridge (foreground), (2) the high up I-10 walling and bridging (farthest back), and (3) the new flyover’s bridge (between the two). Yellow track equipment is visible.
Two-unit UP GE power over the BNSF with trailing (left) track laying related cars.
The above photo was taken from the southeast quadrant of Colton Crossing. By the time the camera had gotten to the southwest quadrant, the power had gone over to the east side. An eastbound BNSF Intermodal train is passing (right to left).
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-G, Overall A-S)
The bridging related to the BNSF Connecter (northwest quadrant transition track) at the Sunset Route seems relatively complete.
Even so, finishing touches were being worked on.
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-G, Overall A-S)
The tie laying train:
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-G, Overall A-S)
An eastward view from up on the Rancho Ave. overpass:
Some ribbon rails are in position now, aligned in preparation for the tie and rail laying equipment.
Those rails go through a guiding, advance piece of equipment.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-G, Overall A-S)
Train traffic continues to roll by.
The future Main 2’s rails end by the incomplete, missing flyover section presently blocked by the old Main 1.
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of A-G, Overall A-S)
Back at ground level again, by 3rd Street:
Continued in Part G
Part “G” (of A-G, Overall A-S)
The super slow track laying train had gotten westward to where that incomplete flyover section is at.
------------
Parts H-N will be posted by Saturday, June 8, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. PDT
Parts O-S will be posted by Monday, June 10, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. PDT
K. P. Harrier Update as of May 29, 2013 Track Laying Over the Colton Flyover Colton, CA Part “B” (of A-G, Overall A-S) The bridging related to the BNSF Connecter (northwest quadrant transition track) at the Sunset Route seems relatively complete. Agreed. The local building inspectors have already given the structure their seal of approval.
Agreed. The local building inspectors have already given the structure their seal of approval.
Impressive track laying equipment! Makes one wish they could be there to watch it in person. Keep up the good work.
Awesome pictures and reporting.
I'm starting to wonder how you get in so close to get those pictures.
Per the latest ACE project minutes, some kind of 'agreement' has been reached between Kinder-Morgan (tenant pipeline owner) and UP regarding previous (pipeline protection) issues. Design and K-M / UP work will proceed, followed by flood control box construction starting about spring 2014. AFAIK the affected work area is around Humane Way in Pomona, CA. If the agreement is applicable system wide, perhaps more deferred projects *cough*Kaiser yard area* will proceed soon.
ACE is also overseeing the Hamilton Blvd (Pomona) grade separation project, and they estimate that the design will not be complete in mid 2014. That will be one challenging shoofly ....
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! ***
Part “H” (of H-N, Overall A-S)
Slowly moving west still …
Continued in Part I
Part “I” (of H-N, Overall A-S)
That shuttling back and forth transporting-machine at its unloading point has to wait for the ties to be conveyed out of the way then the load is lowered.
The movement is progressively passing 3rd Street (leftward).
Another eastbound train passes.
As one can tell, we have returned to the Rancho Ave. overpass, looking eastward.
Continued in Part J
Part “J” (of H-N, Overall A-S)
Things seem to stop … and remain stopped. Nothing moves … everyone must be on lunch break.
Because of the unexpected, extended stoppage, K.P. got starved. He goes to a nearby fast food location and chows down.
Upon returning and hiking up onto he overpass a third time, lunch time for the workers seems to be continuing.
Continued in Part K
Part “K” (of H-N, Overall A-S)
Finally, workers start moving around again.
A water truck (left) starts watering that buffer type structuring by the freeway.
Yet another train comes by (westbound).
A yellow number patched SP unit normally on coal trains is now on an Intermodal freight.
Above, note the two rails that were laid reach almost all the way to Rancho Ave.
Continued in Part L
Part “L” (of H-N, Overall A-S)
A couple of workers hold a string-type item.
A variety of empty well cars makes for an interesting study. Workers (lower left) continued to move about.
Now, things have gotten down to brass tacks again, and the concrete tie laying train starts moving forward.
Continued in Part M
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