The What’s Happening Roundup Series
Part “L” (of A-N)
Diversion Area Tragedy
Pomona, CA
He doubted it, but K.P. made the rounds in Pomona just to see if anything was happening with the Diversion. He found that nothing was. A strange situation was found at the Hamilton Blvd. grade crossing, though, the probably center point of the future big CP AL514 HAMILTON. One could not pass through the grade crossing because of police yellow tape.
Above, an eastbound slowly crosses Hamilton Blvd on the LA&SL side
On the near SP side two-tracks (at photo time without a train on them), someone apparently tried to hop a slow moving train to get on the other side of it and hop off and didn’t make it. That was from one of the many spectators that had gathered.
Which way the train was going is unknown, but it had left the area apparently unaware of the incident.
Unfortunately, not all have the safety awareness that both railroaders and railfans have.
K.P. did take the White Ave. underpass to get to the other side of the tracks, but even then Hamilton Blvd. was closed on that side too. As mentioned a bit ago, nothing was found to be happening with the Diversion.
Continued in Part M
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 “M” (of A-N)
Sunday, March 5, 2017 …
… Surprise Outlining
Mrs. K.P. was involved in a 5K walk in Redlands. Afterwards, K.P. checked out nearby Colton briefly. “K” Street had an unusual amount of cars parked on it. A church down the street had just gotten out and before the camera could be gotten out a bunch of cars left. There were plenty of cars still present when the shuttle button was finally pressed. Looking semi-west with the Colton Flyover visible.
The fenced Colton Signal Dept.:
A lot of stacked track was removed of late. The sand train is visible parked in the background.
Continued in Part N
Part “N” (of A-N)
East of La Cadena Drive, by “K” Street, a bunch of ballast (right) was by some equipment.
A westbound auto-rack train on the Mt. Vernon connector soon passed, likely heading to the Mira Loma auto facility.
The tail end going by those reduced panel tracks.
K.P. is not sure what new track arrangement is being installed at the Old Colton facility, but something is. Whatever it is, it won’t be the easiest to photograph. At least there is some activity in the absence of two-tracking on the Sunset Route.
This will conclude the series.
Back to the underpass/overpass discussion. In the United Kingdom they like overpass for the rail rather than the highway. There were a few cases where a wreck on the highway overpass fell on the train track with disastrous consequences. This can be prevented by the rail line using the overhead position. The delimma a comes with the railroad being responsible for all maintenance of the overpass rather than the highway department. Good question which way is best.
ccltrains (3-8):
Greetings, ccltrains!
I don’t think it really makes a difference whether an underpass or overpass is built. You mentioned autos crashing onto tracks from overpasses. Not too terribly long ago a motorist in the States was killed when a derailing train fell on his car that was traveling through I think an underpass. So, if one is in the wrong place at the wrong time, well …
It has been my experience that accidents are generally caused by someone doing something stupid. If society could figure out how stupidity could be prevented, that may be the answer, but I presently wouldn’t bet on it.
K.P. in the last post series mentioned a fatality by Hamilton Blvd. in Pomona, within the confines of the old CP AL514 HAMILTON (and future one too).
Not too long ago the citizens of Pomona, specifically those near Hamilton Blvd., requested an overpass NOT be built there. Previously, the powers that be had plotted for an underpass to be built, but UP claimed an underpass couldn’t be built with their track arrangement (and the proliferation of CP switches). Since the people didn’t want an overpass, planners decided to forgo a grade separation and make improvements to the existing grade crossings in the area.
In light of the recent tragedy (photo above), it has to be wondered if the people of Pomona will now request an overpass be built at Hamilton Blvd.
Of course, sometimes overpasses are counterproductive. Take for example at Bakersfield, CA.
That overpass has NO sidewalks. Matters of fact two overpasses have no sidewalks.
So, UP has to contend with the walking people of Bakersfield trespassing out of desperation to get to the other side of the tracks. Odd situation!
(For the enlightenment of those unfamiliar with Bakersfield, West Colton Classification Yard in Colton-Fontana, CA on the Sunset Route often sorts cars that are then routed to Bakersfield and further north.)
The newer overpasses (and underpasses) on the Sunset Route, ccltrains, are state of the art affairs. It is unknown if the U.K. has such advanced grade separations. I haven’t been there. My wife goes there once and a while and loves to visit the castles. That is her thing. But, I know better than ask her for an assessment of U.K. grade separations!
To All: Photobucket … and This Website
Problems with photobucket.com have been tolerated for some time. Very recently Photobucket seems to have renewed itself, and much of the problems seem to have gone away. Earlier today I did something I’ve learned not to do, have photobucket.com and trainsmag.com open at the same time. Earlier, Photobucket was a charm and worked flawlessly. Then, I opened trainsmag.com. Right away the computer started to malfunction bigtime. Eventually, I restarted the computer and only had trainsmag.com open and posting thereafter went moderately well.
In that light, I had thought maybe photobucket was the culprit, but one has to now wonder if the trainsmag.com website is the real problem!
Take care,
K.P.
Thanks for your great reply re under/over pass. In a prior life when I was gainfully employed I was going to London 5-6 times per year. On one of my last trips (12 years ago) a car pulling a camper trailer went aray and the trailer fell on the tracks. Less than a minute later a high speed train hit the trailer with disasterous results. Since then the English are a little leary of overpasses.
Cheers,
Dick Watkins
What is going to Happen to the Bridges?
This question involves (1) the two span single-track new SP bridge over Rubio Wash in the San Gabriel area …
December 12, 2016
… and (2) the first of two new LA&SL bridges over the 91 Freeway in Riverside …
July 25, 2016
… both in Southern California.
The San Gabriel one, the shoofly (which the bridge in question is on) will soon end as the track will be rerouted to inside the trench. Will those spans be used elsewhere on the Sunset Route, possibly nearby to replace an old bridge?
On the Riverside one, work seemed to have come to a halt after the original bridge collapsed during dismantling and a worker died soon afterwards in the hospital. Likely that is still in litigation. Some say the first new bridge will be scrapped while others believe it will be used where it is for a second-track bridging of the 91 Freeway, possibly to expedite Metrolink trains.
While the bridge spans in the San Gabriel area could easily be used elsewhere (and we should discern something real quick on that one), the 91 Freeway bridge is unique to that area, and likely would not be able to be used elsewhere.
This posting date marks the halfway point in the four week Walnut Grove Ave. street closure (San Gabriel Trench). It is unknown if the track in the trench is now in service or if (“if”) the shoofly will be removed between ends after the four weeks. There is a possibility K.P. can get out that way sometime next weekend, but things are up the air at this point.
Burbank Flyover and the San Gabriel Trench
K.P. has gotten an unconfirmed report that the Burbank Flyover (Burbank, CA, away from the Sunset Route) will be cutover soon, if not right now. Details as they become available.
The San Gabriel Trench was visited Friday, March 17, 2017, with a special emphasis on the Walnut Grove Ave. area in Rosemead, at the trench’s eastern end. Surprises were seen, but the activity there is painfully slow, surprisingly slow. A flagman with jurisdiction over the sidewalk was talked to, and that person indicated things would continue until mid-May, which seems more in line with what was seen onsite but conflicts with official releases.
The photos preparation processing is bogged down, but whenever the visit can be posted about it will. Seven sections are planned, that will include some surprise Ontario and Colton material.
Update as of Friday, March 17, 2017
Part I (of I-VIII)
The San Gabriel Trench and Non-Rail ..
… Shooflies (Plural)
K.P. visited the San Gabriel Trench (CA) construction on Friday, March 17, 2017, eventually with a focus on non-railroad shooflies. What is a “non-railroad” shoofly?
How about a non-railroad shoofly’s shoofly?
When a grade crossing is scheduled to be closed and there is no easy alternative, a road or sidewalk is laid AROUND the normal path, and that is destined to occur here too.
Another look at the present pedestrian sidewalk shoofly:
One would be surprised at the number of people crossing the track here, escorted by a construction flagman.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-VIII)
The path for the future rail path is more pronounced than last visit.
On the walkway bridge, looking east:
Looking west:
On the two views above, note the ballast laid where the track will be.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-VIII)
On the southeast quadrant of the Walnut Grove Ave. closed to vehicle traffic grade crossing:
On the far northwest side looking south, a bakery is present. If you visit the closed grade crossing, the bakery might make a nice, wet your anticipation stopover.
A nice lady in the facility said business has reduced significantly during the temporary street closure. In the third photo from the top construction equipment is seen though the display windows.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-VIII)
Looking south:
Another southward view from north of the track, and by that bakery.
A UP truck and trailer were on scene, at Walnut Grove Ave.
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-VIII)
The San Gabriel Trench
We leave Walnut Grove Ave. and go to the far western end, looking east from Chapel Ave. Equipment has its lights on, but no activity was seen.
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-VIII)
The South Milliken Ave. Grade Separation
Ontario, CA
The new South Milliken Ave. grade separation was found to be newly opened.
That is the one with the strange arrangement where the Mission Blvd. outer side lanes go straight through while the CENTER lines rise to cross Milliken Ave.
Looking northwest at the beginning of the center ramping with the LA&SL tracks in view.
Apparently, the overpass is so new those center ramps are still closed. (See orange cones on left of above last photo.)
Next year, 2018, will be the 25th anniversary of this LA&SL route being two-tracked. Back in 1992-1993 UP (LA&SL) was a bit more progressive than its then competition SP. Unfortunately, if UP and SP had known just a few years later they would merge they could have spent the money two-tracking the shorter SP route over the then future North Milliken Ave. overpass. That shorter SP route is still waiting to be two-tracked.
Continued in Part VII
Part VII (of I-VIII)
Nostalgia and Huge Giants
Colton, CA
By the Colton Signal Dept., where they park old, no longer needed equipment, the old electrical box that was at Congress Street in Colton, on the now gone Riverside Industrial Lead (RIL).
Very nearby it looks like one or two huge giants knocked the col-de-sac fence section down. Or, maybe a worker got careless with some equipment.
Continued in Part VIII
Part VIII (of I-VIII)
BNSF’s Valley Blvd.
K.P. made a pit stop at the local McDonald’s, but upon leaving saw a fascinated sight at the nearby BNSF Valley Blvd. grade crossing, a bunch of new grade crossing panels!
Each panel weighs 1800 pounds, 200 pounds short of a ton. A double panel weighs 3400 pounds!
Because of the revamping of the local streets in accord with the Colton Flyover agreement a few years ago K.P. had to traverse the grade crossing twice to get to those panels. Westward going over the north panels was OK, but the south panels have really deteriorated! It is now a horrendously rough ride, and half of K.P.’s dental filling came out. Well, maybe not that bad, but it was not desirable to repeat it.
Overall, it was an interesting trip, from San Gabriel to Riverside to Colton. There were a lot of surprises as discussed in this series, which is now concluded.
K. P. HarrierUpdate as of Friday, March 17, 2017 Overall, it was an interesting trip, from San Gabriel to Riverside to Colton. There were a lot of surprises as discussed in this series, which is now concluded.
K.P., you don't say! The overpass at South Milliken Avenue is very unique...
As for Burbank:
mvs (3-20):
Yes, that Mission Blvd. (UPRR-LA&SL) / South Milliken Ave grade separation CENTER ramps is a rather different design approach. But, it looks like designers had little choice, as the south side of Mission Blvd. (below aerial link’s bottom) has industrial access issues that really cannot be done any other way.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Swift+Transportation/@34.0325864,-117.5593785,398m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x80dcb5576f5ac0dd:0xadf1db3c96a2dc19!8m2!3d34.0242816!4d-117.5453881
The below photo was shot way back on November 19, 2015 and shows the many cars parking lot needing access and the southern part of the Milliken Ave. structure being built.
Obviously zoning people of the past had no foresight about the future, but the present planners did quite well under the circumstances.
Hey, mvs, this might interest you, about the “past” and “now.” It was over 50 years ago my dad took me on a fun bus ride on the RTD (SCRTD, Southern California Rapid Transit District), roundtrip from San Bernardino to Los Angeles and back. The bus was a Flexible brand creature, No. 5611. It traversed Milliken Ave., which was a TWO LANE road in the middle of nowhere back then. And, look at it now! My very first RTD bus ride was on 5608, and that bus had a stick shift and a clutch pedal for when shifting gears. It is amazing how things like that can be remembered. Anyway, a few days ago when I was in the San Gabriel Trench area for photographing the trench, in passing Rosemead I saw a rather new now MTA bus, of an unknown brand with an automatic transmission, No 5609, one number off from the first bus I rode over 50 years ago. I marveled! Oh, how times have changed indeed!
About the Burbank Flyover, sources are supposed to get back to me, so maybe I can convey some details soon. If it is now in service I hope (“hope”) to get out that way this coming weekend, which if I do, I might be able to visit the San Gabriel Trench again too. Trains have to be running in the trench SOMETIME!
A couple of quick comments:
The new Burbank Flyover got a test train on Sunday afternoon and yesterday was in service as the Saugus Local was seen on the new trackage.
Metro #5608 is a New Flyer Industries CNG bus.
Update on the Burbank Flyover:
All trains are now using the new trackage on the flyover. The old, shoofly track was being taken up (removed) yesterday when I passed by. They are wasting no time getting that track out of the way.
BNSF6400 (3-21/22):
You posts have been more informative than contacts have. It is wondered if the signals are up on the flyover as they were on the ground shoofly. The Burbank Flyover under construction at Buena Vista Street back on June 3, 2016:
It would give the signals good visibility if they were up on that Burbank Flyover, just as the ‘Up and Over’ future signals in the City of Industry area on the Sunset Route. View from March 3, 2017:
I should be out the Burbank way for photo taking sometime this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
And, thanks for the bus info.
K.P.,
Yes! There is a two-track cantilever on the Burbank Flyover right above where the signal mast on the shoo-fly was it. The base is on the side opposite the roadway/shoo-fly. Westbound (Lancaster) bound trains on each track have a single-aspect signal while Eastbound (Burbank) bound trains on the furthest track from road have a single-aspect signal and those on the track next to the road have a dual-aspect signal. There are a couple photos on Trainorders, but I can't repost them here.
mvsGround breaks tomorrow (3/21) on the Burbank Airport (North) Metrolink station, parallel to San Fernando Road (near where it goes over Hollywood Way)
By 'ground breaks' do you mean start of construction? My notes show that this station has been 'under construction' since 2013. Metrolink moves slowly and communicates poorly.
3/24 UPDATE: San Gabriel trench at Walnut Grove Ave.
The contractor has accomplished surprisingly little at this grade crossing, perhaps due to some unanticipated problem. A new track panel has been installed in the street about one foot lower in elevation. Adjacent track work is not complete, and one crossing gate hasn't even been relocated.
The biggest task looks to be some curb pouring and repaving on both sides of the tracks, a lot to do in the 'last' weekend of closure. Or, perhaps the closure will be extended. Also, a ballast train is staged between Rubio Wash and SG Blvd on the new track. Due to upcoming five weeks of medical treatment nearby I will be visiting frequently with a camera.
UPDATE to the update: the ACE website has been updated to extend the Walnut Grove closure to Friday March 31. No surprise.
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 mvs Ground breaks tomorrow (3/21) on the Burbank Airport (North) Metrolink station, parallel to San Fernando Road (near where it goes over Hollywood Way) By 'ground breaks' do you mean start of construction? My notes show that this station has been 'under construction' since 2013. Metrolink moves slowly and communicates poorly.
mvs Ground breaks tomorrow (3/21) on the Burbank Airport (North) Metrolink station, parallel to San Fernando Road (near where it goes over Hollywood Way)
Oh yeah, they had some ceremony back in 2013? But nothing had happened for four years. Metrolink is at the whim of the cities and counties in a way that other transit systems aren't.
K. P. HarrierHey, mvs, this might interest you, about the “past” and “now.” It was over 50 years ago my dad took me on a fun bus ride on the RTD (SCRTD, Southern California Rapid Transit District), roundtrip from San Bernardino to Los Angeles and back. The bus was a Flexible brand creature, No. 5611. It traversed Milliken Ave., which was a TWO LANE road in the middle of nowhere back then. And, look at it now! My very first RTD bus ride was on 5608, and that bus had a stick shift and a clutch pedal for when shifting gears. It is amazing how things like that can be remembered. Anyway, a few days ago when I was in the San Gabriel Trench area for photographing the trench, in passing Rosemead I saw a rather new now MTA bus, of an unknown brand with an automatic transmission, No 5609, one number off from the first bus I rode over 50 years ago. I marveled! Oh, how times have changed indeed!
K.P., that is neat. What strikes me the most, is that Milliken Avenue was two lanes, and undeveloped -- wow.
Update as of Saturday, March 25, 2017
Checking on Two Hot Activity Locations
Part “A” (of A-D)
San Gabriel Trench
Walnut Grove Ave.
L. A. County / Rosemead, CA
The new track actually across Walnut Grove Ave. was found to be still not in service, some type of covering on the rails across the road.
East:
The makeshift sidewalk was now on the west side.
Continued in Park B
Part “B” (of A-D)
Looking north:
Westward … Note the ballast cars in the background, by the San Gabriel Blvd. bridge.
A final southeastward view:
In that above view, the crossing gate (far side, right of center) has been relocated southward to allow a new alignment for the track.
Continued Part C
Part “C” (of A-D)
The Burbank Flyover
Burbank, CA
Bridging and cantilevered signals:
The bridge support locations are for three tracks, the northernmost one the siding, Main 1 (presently the Main), and an unbridged future Main 2.
The shoofly is seen in the above photos, but to the southeast the shoofly has been dismantled.
Continued Part D
Part “D” (of A-D)
An overview, inbound:
Outbound:
Outbound a bit, a cantilever signal is present.
Looking eastbound (physically southeast) from by that cantilever signaling just above, the cantilever signal structure in the distance by Buena Vista Ave.:
mvs (3-26):
mvs K.P., that is neat. What strikes me the most, is that Milliken Avenue was two lanes, and undeveloped -- wow.
If decades ago one was at the SP grade crossing at Milliken Ave. (now identified as the North Milliken Ave. Grade Separation), one could see the I-10 Freeway traffic. North of that I-10 Freeway was for the most part all vacant land. Eventually in the 1970’s between Milliken Ave. and Haven Ave. the California 500 speedway was built. A number of years later it went bust, and was torn down. Then, Ontario Mills Mall went in, and the spectacular building boom occurred.
On the southern LA&SL track, if I’m not mistaken, big trees north of the track(s) lined the track that followed Mission Blvd. There was an uncontrolled siding that westwardly ended several hundred feet west of Milliken Ave., and circa 1992-93 some kind track machine was being worked on, and a worker changed the oil by draining it right on the ground. Unbelievable! Then soon afterward, two-tracks covered everything.
As a kid I rode the famous City trains across (south) Milliken Ave. several times, and was mesmerized each time by watching from the domes green target signals (with vertical black shields) turn red AFTER all the E-units passed and just before the dome passed it.
SP and AT&SF signals weren’t that way, and turned to red almost immediately when passed. And, of course, UP bought SP, and all ex-SP lines, like in Arizona, have that same delay now in going from green to red when track shunted by the wheels.
When I look back I wish I would have taken a few photos with my Kodak 100 of the vineyard lined Milliken Ave. back in the 1960’s. But, when one is young one doesn’t think of photo documenting scenes, as the scene will always be there. I learned otherwise, and you, mvs, probably learned that too!
This might be of interest, but if one follows the LA&SL eastward on the paralleling Mission Blvd. two or three miles one come to Etiwanda Ave. Mission Blvd. mysteriously changes name to Van Buren Blvd. But, yet Mission Blvd. is seen on the map to the northeast. Why?
Fifty years ago the tracks straddled Mission Blvd. and about where the 60 Freeway bridges OVER Mission Blvd. that roadway curve lowered and went under the LA&SL with an underpass and continued pretty much on the alignment of the 60 Freeway. As time went on the 60 Freeway was built on that alignment, severing the two sections of Mission Blvd.
Once K.P. was pacing UP’s very fast City of Los Angeles, No. 104, but it started “mysterious” slowing down. It soon went in the Mira Loma siding and met its westbound counterpart, No. 103. What a show that was for an impressionable teenager!
Today everything is different, and Sunset Route trains often run over that alternate Sunset Route. Matter of fact, auto-rack trains on the Sunset Route often end their runs in Mira Loma on the LA&SL, backing their auto-racks over (on a bridge) Van Buren Blvd. to unloading ramps. When K.P. was a kid that present bridging over was then an abandoned grade crossing.
You said “wow” about Milliken Ave. 50 years ago. I say “wow” about that whole Milliken-Etiwanda area, as I saw and lived through all that 50 years of changes!
KP- A couple comments on your Milliken Avenue post.
Changing the oil directly on the ground: DART bought the Santa Fe yard in Dallas for their service/dtorage center. We spend over 10 million to remediate the soil.
Changing target signals: Several years ago my wife and I took VIA's Ocean from Montreal to Halifax. Rode in one of the Park cars which had four compartments (we had one), bar, and dome. Watched several signals change from green to red as the engines passed and shunted the rails. The target signals have red, yellow, and green lenses that are moved by magnets with the red in the center as a fail safe mode. When the magnets are deenergised the lens would swing to red. When swinging it would go through all three aspects for a couple seconds. I had a working old target signal at home and was impressed with the 100 year old technology built in to it.
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