The Diversion Area, Pomona, CA
Part II, Section D (of A-E)
An Ominous Sign for Railfans!
State Route 71 will soon have an overpass constructed over Mission Blvd., and thus alleviate a major congestion spot. The project includes closing 2nd Street, which was used to gain access to S.R. 71 to shoot the above photos. The repercussions to railfan photographers are that such photos will be, within days, even harder, if not impossible, to obtain!
The bridge the photos in Sections A-C were taking from had a SIDEWALK on it, believe it or not. And, there were crosswalks leading to the bridge. Bicyclists and pedestrians at photo time could, and did, use the route ... But motorist en masse often zoomed by at 70 M.P.H.! What an environment to take documenting photos from!
Continued in Part II, Section E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 II, Section E (of A-E)
In downtown Pomona, the SP Main (lower right) alignment shifts to an old siding alignment and continues to CP ROSELAWN (out of view in the background left) and proceeds westward to Los Angeles on the LA&SL right-of-way. CP WEST POMONA is on the center right background, by the Highway 71 overpass.
A perspective shot: The signal on the far left is related to CP OAK, center signals in the background are at CP ROSELAWN, and the right interlocking is CP EAST POMONA
An eastward view looking at the west SP signals of CP HAMILTON. Shot from the dead end of Myrtle Ave.
Old dual-control switch motors have been freshly painted black with silver tops. These crossovers are of the 40 M.P.H. type, and are quite different from the new 50 M.P.H. types being put in for new two-tracking installations. Thus, until the West Colton Yard to Pomona section is two-tracked, CP HAMILTON likely will probably remain pretty much as is.
This will end the two-part "Diversion" series.
Thank you K.P. for the picture update!
If you look on the website for The ACE Project, they have the September 2009 minutes included in the October 2009 meeting agenda.
ACE says the Temple Avenue project is to be finished really soon - I have seen October or November. While they are making progress now, they still have some significant work to do.
They Didn't Really Do That, Did They?
The below photo shot Saturday, October 17, 2009 is a westward view from Temple Ave. in Pomona, CA, and appears somewhat odd!
From previous photos, it is known that two of the four uninstalled turnouts on location had concrete ties, while the other two had wooden ties.
If the second track from the left has concrete ties, WHY has one of the new turnouts with wooden ties been installed therein? Wasn't the third track from the left, with wooden ties, supposed to get BOTH wood tied turnouts and the second and fourth (yet to be laid) mains get the concrete ones?
Electrical Cable
Allot of signal cable of some sort has been used in the revamping of West Colton Yard. This photo looks northwest from Pepper Ave. at large, mostly empty wooden cable spools.
The New Highway Bridge in Fontana
The Cypress Ave. overpass construction in Fontana, CA (by I-10 and the Sunset Route) is progressing nicely. It is about a half a mile west of Sierra Ave. Sierra Ave. is at the western edge of West Colton Yard.
It is unknown YET if the line of sight for trains to the new signal bridge two blocks to the east (photo right) will be blocked or not by this new overpass.
MikeF90 By 'plain Jane' I'm thinking that UP could just rip out CP Oak and connect the 'new and old' LA sub mains to the existing ones at the east limit of CP Oak.
By 'plain Jane' I'm thinking that UP could just rip out CP Oak and connect the 'new and old' LA sub mains to the existing ones at the east limit of CP Oak.
MikeF90 (10-15):
Ripping out CP OAK in Pomona, CA would do the trick, for sure.
However, without a crossover between the old and new mains at CP OAK, there would be a great deficiency in transitioning capabilities between the LA&SL and SP routes. LA&SL Main 2 would essentially be cut off completely from the SP side.
As you know, there has been an uninstalled turnout laying just northeast of CP OAK for some time now, and grading for a second LA&SL main thereat as well. (See above photo.) If CP OAK is destined as a temporary single-crossover, that LEFT handed uninstalled turnout would have to be turned around, as it is currently facing the wrong way. The transition track between the LA&SL and SP would then seem to be of a questionably tight curvature. If, though, in reality, it is a RIGHT handed turnout (it would have to be turned around also), such would mesh perfectly with CURRENT alignments. (The current left handed south switch could pair with a right handed north switch with the transition track between the LA&SL and SP angling off like it presently does.)
This contributor has considered the uninstalled switch by CP OAK to be a left handed turnout. But, IF, in reality, it is a right handed turnout just lying there contorted out of true shape, then I have been fooled for months! But, that scenario now seems the most logical possibility.
Whatever the case, things should be very clear to us by the end of November (hopefully) ...
K.P.
K. P. HarrierHowever, without a crossover between the old and new mains at CP OAK, there would be a great deficiency in transitioning capabilities between the LA&SL and SP routes. LA&SL Main 2 would essentially be cut off completely from the SP side.
The main limitation with the existing CP Oak is the lack of an EB signal for one of the 'new' LA sub mains. Of course, after seeing the new switch install at 'West Temple' and the lack of new signal masts around Oak/Hamilton I'm pretty mystified about upcoming changes. Some track shifting will probably take place here just to fit everything in. Maybe. We'll see :-).
BTW the loss of the 2nd street 'sidewalk' will be bad for photography, but I'm not mourning the loss of the scary and dangerous 2nd St and Pomona Blvd onramps. Per the city project page they will be turned into cul-de-sacs.
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! ***
MikeF90 (10-23):
It is agreed that, in the absence of a crossover at CP OAK, CP GRAND (to the west) would have to be used to get trains from Main 2 to Main 1. But, such limiting of transitioning trains to only one track (Main 1) strikes me as an incredible waste of resources. Timetable-wise, that distance is about 4.6 miles. The fact that there is an uninstalled turnout lying by CP OAK suggests, to me anyway, that that CP will be CONVERTED to a single-crossover. All that is missing is a signal mast ... and track and ballast, or course.
In the below previously shown westward looking photo, CP OAK is on the far left. To put in a RIGHT handed turnout (normally in reverse mode) and run a second main alongside the north side of the present single-main should be simple enough. Not even the "red over" signal would need modification.
I'm not sure that I made it clear, but while the new CP just west of Temple Ave. is permanent, I believe a modified CP OAK would be only temporary until a NEW CP HAMILTON is put in somewhere down the distant road of time. CP RESEVOIR / CP WO TOWER, a mile or so to the east, likely will temporarily remain as well for months to come.
The previously shown photo in other posts of the two new CP boxes (presently in Colton) for CP HAMILTON can be misconstrued and is somewhat misleading. The two boxes are NOT normal size, but quite large. The new, future CP apparently will be so large and encompassing that it requires TWO large boxes, perhaps one for each end of the CP. The below photo of the Colton signal facility shows the two new boxes as viewed from the northwest side, and illustrates just how large those two boxes are.
As time permits, in the near future I hope to put together a diagram or two (conjecturally, of course) that may make things clearer for those at the forum.
Is This the New Breed of Sunset Route Signal Maintainers?
This coolly dressed ‘signal maintainer' seemed to have nothing to do and was just killing time until the DS radioed him the next assignment ...
Hey, guys ... Seriously. Give this trespasser credit. At least he did NOT have a can of spray paint and graffiti mark the whole signal bridge ...
Update as of Saturday, October 31, 2009:
The Pomona, CA Area
Part A (of A-B)
The area was revisited and limited progress had been found to have been made.
An additional wood tied turnout had been installed (photo lower right) west of Temple Ave. (Main C on a left to right, A to D basis), though there appears to be rail gaps in the installation.
In studying the above photo, note that the far left, lower signal head has finally been installed on the signal bridge. It is of the single-bulb type, thus indicating the signal for Main A will be an intermediate, whereas the multi-bulb lower heads to its right will be absolutes.
For an unknown reason, a long panel track of some sort was laid on TOP of the not in service yet leftmost track just west of Temple Ave.
You may remember the below flashing message sign advising motorists of the permanent closure of the 2nd Street access to the northbound lanes of S.R. 71 from October 28 onward ...
Inspection of the above site October 31 found the road was STILL open.
To the east, in the Hamilton Blvd. area, no additional work was apparent. The uninstalled turnout adjacent CP OAK is still uninstalled.
Part B (of A-B)
Below are the promised THEORETICAL track diagrams from Grand Ave. (City of Industry) and through Pomona. Tops are SP tracks, bottoms are LA&SL.
Grand Ave. (on the west) to Temple Ave.:
East of Temple Ave. to the Hamilton Blvd. area:
East of Hamilton Blvd. to the CP RESERVIOR / CP WO TOWER area (on the east):
While there is signaling and completed minimal grading for the Diversion WEST of the new signal bridges (west beyond Temple Ave.), it is uncertain how the track arrangement will be on the SP side (first photo diagram top).
----------------
For the morning of Tuesday, November 3: A brief look at the construction progress by Humane Way, Pomona
K. P. HarrierTo the east, in the Hamilton Blvd. area, no additional work was apparent. The uninstalled turnout adjacent CP OAK is still uninstalled.
BTW the ACE project September minutes show that finishing the grading for the fourth ('D') main is pending the removal of the Clear Channel billboard at Hwy 57.
MikeF90 (11-1):
Yes, that panel-like track on top of the new, but still out of service main west of Temple Ave. is strange.
One of the benefits of having the actual digitals over posted photos is that one can extremely blow the photos up. In doing so, the discovery was made that the panel-like track in question has ties of various widths. So, that track is USED! But, where it came from and why is unclear. Maybe it used to be where one of the new switches was installed west of Temple Ave.
The posted track diagrams were made, as many know, with Track Builder 3 put out by Signal Computer Consults, with the actual display for photographing from their Train Dispatcher 3 program. Those displays are typical of how a dispatcher would see a track diagram, and NOT necessarily how it actually is in the field. The posted illustration of CP OAK showed two left handed turnouts. As stated previously, I'm inclined to think CP OAK will have the original left handed turnout with the crossover counterpart turnout as a RIGHT handed one. But, time will tell ...
Thanks, MikeF90, for the info about the commercial sign by the 57 Freeway.
I was looking at that very sign while on Temple Ave. this past weekend and pondered that it could come down but wondered if it actually would.
Construction by Humane Way, Pomona, CA
The below wide angle photo view looking westward was shot October 17, 2009. Particularly note the ground immediately in front of and to the right of the signal bridge's right (north) support.
The below update photos shot October 31, 2009 show dramatic progress. It is unknown if the new trench-work is for a retaining wall to stabilize the tracks or not.
Continued in Part B
Construction at Humane Way, Pomona, CA
A closer-up view: Being next to a canal walling, the tracks need structural support. The current effort may be toward that end. Note the current thin ground for the signal bridge's north support.
An eastward view from Humane Way: Visually close to the graffiti painted signal head, are a line of apparent manholes that extend for only a few thousand feet adjacent the alignment for the fourth-track. The overpass in the background is S.R. 71.
________
For the morning of Thursday, November 5, 2009: Pomona Ave. Grade Crossing in Pomona: The Days Are Now Numbered, and It Shows!
Some Odds and Ends ...
Pomona Ave. Grade Crossing in Pomona, CA: The Days Are Now Numbered, and It Shows!
Looking west: The leaning over control box for the Pomona Ave. grade crossing gates is not very likely to be stood upright. The Pomona Diversion rerouting should be within a month, and the rails for it probably are somewhere behind the whitish crop watering on the photo left.
Pomona Ave. severely intersects the rail line here, as well as junctioning into Valley Blvd. in the background, which parallels the track.
Looking east: The days of these intermediates signals, as well as the crossing gate, are numbered too. And probably have less than a month left. Note the bent out of alignment flasher lights. Also, will the shown target heads be put in storage until signal transitioning during two-tracking between Pomona and Fontana, or perhaps used in like manner in Arizona?
In Arizona, scattered target heads were put on single masts so the signals would not interfere with second main construction (whenever it finally occurs), as in this previously shown Casa Grande dusk view.
Continued in Part B.
Will the View Be Blocked?
The below photo looking west from Sierra Ave. in Fontana, CA by West Colton Yard, shot October 31, 2009, shows the new temporary beam-work over the tracks to support the new Cypress Ave. bridge construction.
With the above evidence, it seems that if approaching eastbound trains (from the west, photo distant background) NOW have a line-of-sight problem ... that problem will only get worse as the bridge construction evolves beyond just thin horizontal I-beams to a full, thick bridge. Of course, the above Main on the right CURRENTLY uses a MAST signal, as evidenced by the below east facing photo that shows the Sierra Ave. overpass in the background.
But, wait till the second-main is put in and all the tri-lights ON the signal bridge are activated ... and being able to see those signals' indications is possibly greatly hindered by the new overpass!
Really great pics, and thanks for the updates in that area, one question, how do you get your pics so clear and to be so big when you post, yet it says it has been re-sized from 640x480, I posted pics in 640x480 and it kinda looked bad, any adivise?....also out here in Arizona, in Maricopa the UP is working east of Maricopa now, and have installed a switch off the main track, and are laying concrete ties on the "North" side of the old main, towards the Amtrak station, if they continue this path all the way to the station, Amtrak will have to redo their boarding area. Is this a permanent siding to load/unload Amtrak?, Because the second new main, looks to be planned for the "south" side of the tracks. UP will close SR347 and double track it on or about 11/21/09-11/24/09.
locomatt63Really great pics, and thanks for the updates in that area, one question, how do you get your pics so clear and to be so big when you post, yet it says it has been re-sized from 640x480, I posted pics in 640x480 and it kinda looked bad, any adivise?....also out here in Arizona, in Maricopa the UP is working east of Maricopa now, and have installed a switch off the main track, and are laying concrete ties on the "North" side of the old main, towards the Amtrak station, if they continue this path all the way to the station, Amtrak will have to redo their boarding area. Is this a permanent siding to load/unload Amtrak?, Because the second new main, looks to be planned for the "south" side of the tracks. UP will close SR347 and double track it on or about 11/21/09-11/24/09.
Here is a link to a story in this week's Maricopa Monitor concerning the rebuilding of the SR 347 crossing in Maricopa:
http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2009/11/09/maricopa_monitor/top_stories/doc4af34c5816dff379707560.txt
John Timm
Update as of Saturday, November 7, 2009
A Revision by CP OAK, Pomona, CA
Part A (of A-E)
Los Angeles & Salt Lake (UP) forces swarmed the CP OAK area this weekend in a TWO-day project. The LA&SL track was realigned, and the uninstalled turnout just northeast of CP OAK was dragged south slightly and inserted into place.
Look at the STRAIGHT alignment in the following previously shown photo taken from Hamilton Blvd. looking west on the LA&SL side. Note the uninstalled turnout by the signals.
The alignment was shifted north FIVE feet, then, a section of old track was cut out. Thereafter, the new turnout was dragged (shown) southward (leftward) into position.
The new altered alignment, looking west from Hamilton Blvd.
A Revision By CP OAK, Pomona, CA
Part B (of A-E)
Staged track equipment immediately headed east and started reworking the newly aligned track and turnout installation. Note how close the public street is immediate to the west of the realignment site.
The place was a beehive of activity. Notice how far the alignment has been shifted away from the paved city road.
Misc. views.
Continued in Part C
Part C (of A-E)
The track presumably will be bolted back together, and not welded. Note the bolt plate lying flat toward the right.
Equipment and workers were moving about everywhere.
A new switch machine was attached.
Continued in Part D
Part D (of A-E)
The new ballast was being watered from a water tank truck before (and as) it was being dropped.
Continued in Part E
Part E (of A-E)
A quarter mile to the west of CP OAK is a big mound of ballast, for when the big realignment between CP ROSELAWN and CP OAK takes place. Notice how the uninstalled track in the photo center ends. It will be the future LA&SL Main 2.
In talking with the super nice workers, the following information was uncovered:
The highlighted turnout's installation of this past weekend is just that: A single switch installation to NOWHERE. Its installation at this particular time had something to do with taxation purposes. So, its installation now could be somewhat misleading for observers. But, at least we now know what that switch northwest of CP OAK was about.
Workers will return in JANUARY 2010 and do more ... EVENTUALLY, what was placed this past Saturday will be part of THREE crossovers. This forumist, after pondering the matter, now interprets what UP workers related as "three crossovers" as three crossovers on the LA&SL side (and between sides), with at least two other future new crossovers on the SP side installed by SP workers. It should be remembered that the two large CP boxes presently at Colton are both identified as CP AL514 HAMILTON, which is an SP side CP nameplate identification.
Information sources also confirmed that [CP] ROSELAWN and [CP] OAK will soon be gone.
--------------
A side teaser ...
Seconds after the below photo was taken there was a humungous boom! Did a train wreck? A plane crash? Was a buried pipeline breached and explode? Was the sky falling?
Photos will answer that question Wednesday afternoon, November 11, 2009 ...
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)
Kudos to the "Forumist", K. P Harrier. This is, and has been, an outstanding thread! The pix and commentary are great! Thank you! I look forward to seeing more.
Re: the bolted joints. They await "Thermite welding". That takes almost two hours to do. There's gotta' be a better way! Any "Inventors" out there?
BTW, Warren Buffett just announced that he is selling Berkshire Hathaway's 9.6 million shares of UP, along with the 1.9 million shares of NS. "Uncle Pete" and "Funeral Train" afficianados, take note. Dunno what the stock will do... I am NOT "The Oracle"!
Hays
K.P., excellent coverage as usual!
K. P. Harrier A single switch installation to NOWHERE. Its installation at this particular time had something to do with taxation purposes.
K. P. HarrierWorkers will return in JANUARY 2010 and do more ... {snip} Seconds after the below photo was taken there was a humungous boom!
Speculation - moving the L.A. sub main north five feet may be to make room for a new eastbound signal bridge (just west of Oak Ave. where the ROW is wider?). To paraphrase the late Paul Harvey, we're waiting for UP to show us The Rest Of The Story.
@BNSFwatcher - check out Holland electric track welding at this link.
The Humungous Boom!
On November 7, 2009 during realignment of the LA&SL between Hamilton Blvd. and [CP] OAK, in Pomona, CA, shortly after the below photo was taken there was a humungous boom.
It was none other than a tire that had popped on the above equipment!
A replacement tire was called for, and within an hour a contracted tire service showed up and started putting on a new replacement tire.
In overhearing conversations at the site, it seems like this whole fiasco will cause the railroad to be billed close to $400. It is unknown if that was just for the tire company's services, or if it included the tire too. As chewed-up as the tire was PREVIOUSLY, I would say the railroad sure got its money's worth out of the old tire ...
About the 2nd Street Closure
You will recall this flashing alternating message sign advising that access to State Route 71 would end October 28, 2009
Well, October 28 came and went, and the access road is still open till this day, and the SIGN HAS BEEN CARTED AWAY!
It is an easy walk to the overpass ... Brave souls (or crazy ones) attempting railroad photograph from the highway overpass must deal with vehicles zooming by at 70 M.P.H. just 20 feet away ... In the few times this forum contributor has been up on the bridge, it was found that very early Sunday mornings are the safest, with virtually no motoring traffic at all. But, one can NEVER let one's guard down in such a situation!
It is unknown if locals caused an uproar about the signed closing or not, but the pedestrian route is still available to use. This poster is keeping his fingers crossed that it will stay open at least until a completed four-track Diversion-way can be photographed.
Construction By Humane Way
The November 7, 2009 visit to Pomona, CA also found much progress just northwest of the grade separation. In the below photo, the north support of the signal bridge is visible on the top left.
Wire meshing has progressed dramatically.
You may recall that this interfering construction work must be completed before the fourth track can be laid on the Pomona Diversion project.
Having been in the trucking business for a number of years I would bet that the $400 was just to change the tire on that piece of Construction equipment. New tires of that size probably exceed $1000 each and even recaps of that size must be close to $1000. The one thing that also needed changing was there underwear because they are certainly loud when they let go. Have witnessed a CHP officer assigned to a construction zone draw his weapon when a truck tire blew not 25 feet away.
KP when are you going to put a book together on the triple tracking of Cajon and the double tracking of the Sunset route. You will certainly sell one copy to me. I have enjoyed your photos from the beginning and inspite of the medical setback I gather you are doing well once again. For two years I have said I was coming down to take pictures of the two projects and try the new camera I purchased out. So far the camera has traveled to over two dozen Audit sites and one trip to San Diego but not one train photo as yet. I haven't even tken a rail picture in Stockton yet.
Anyway looking forward to your next installments.
Al - in - Stockton
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