The California-Arizona Update Travel Series
Part IV (of I-VII), Section A (of A-E)
The Casa Grande Siding (East Switch) to Downtown
So, from downtown Maricopa, AZ eastward there will be double crossovers at CP SP899 EAST MARICOPA, CP BON (likely name), and CP SP917 CASA GRANDE.
The above CP box is the second box back from the Thornton Rd. grade crossing in the below photo that looks westbound.
This is the new switch (30 M.P.H.) that desertdog rather recently reported replacing the previous old, dilapidated switch (25 M.P.H.).
Continued in Section 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 IV, Section B (of A-E)
An eastward view from Thornton Rd.: Main 2 will be on the right.
A telephoto eastward view, looking towards the downtown area of Casa Grande:
In Casa Grande proper, at Sacaton St., the situation of the previously shown night photo of a future conversion to two heads on a single mast ...
... now has two separate masts, the north one a bit shorter.
Continued in Section C
Part IV, Section C (of A-E)
By Sacaton St. is the signal dept. yard, a portion of it fenced.
But looking west from Sacaton St. one currently sees truck trailer after truck trailer that apparently has brought signal equipment to the signal dept. yard.
Equipment like ...
Continued in Section D
Part IV, Section D (of A-E)
... Like parts to assemble signals! A block further east, at Florence St. and Main Ave., was the largest assembly of new masts K.P. has ever seen!
The masts have specific head stem numbers on them.
Continued in Section E
Part IV, Section E (A-E)
The masts also have specific model numbers and picture diagrams on their bottoms.
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Part V is scheduled for posting the morning of Saturday, March 26, 2011: Downtown Casa Grande to Red Rock.
Looks like your upgrade rates precast concrete foundations. The foundations and footings for our signal bridges up here are assembled from block-sized components (perhaps because a single-piece footing for a signal bridge would be a lot heavier than that for a single mast).
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)
K. P. Harrier The California-Arizona Update Travel Series Part IV (of I-VII), Section A (of A-E) The Casa Grande Siding (East Switch) to Downtown [snipped] This is the new switch (30 M.P.H.) that desertdog rather recently reported replacing the previous old, dilapidated switch (25 M.P.H.).
[snipped]
K. P. Harrier The California-Arizona Update Travel Series Part IV, Section E (A-E) The Casa Grande Siding (East Switch) to Downtown The masts also have specific model numbers and picture diagrams on their bottoms.
Note that there are a total of 5 bases stencilled with "3071" in the above 2 photos - the 1 on the right in the top photo, and in the photo immediately above, the bottom 1 on the left, and all 3 on the right. Yet the stencilled icon is for a single 2-head mast ? Are we sure those numbers are model nos. - or could they be MP/ CP location ID nos. ?
Also, the triangle-shaped 'stirrups' are only on the 4 in the lower photo - and then only on 1 side - but not any on the 1 in the upper photo ?
What does the text below the CAUTION on the sticker say ? (I can't read it, even enlarged)
Somebody has to have gone to a lot of effort to coordinate this. Kid's toys that adults have to assemble should be done so well . . . it would be interesting to hear the 'background story' of the purchase orders, shop drawings, approvals, and scheme that was devised to accomplish that - just another asect of the 'logistics' skills at work in the construction business.
Thanks again for your efforts and time in taking, labelling, and posting these, K.P. !
- Paul North.
Paul_D_North_Jr K. P. Harrier: The California-Arizona Update Travel Series Part IV (of I-VII), Section A (of A-E) The Casa Grande Siding (East Switch) to Downtown [snipped] This is the new switch (30 M.P.H.) that desertdog rather recently reported replacing the previous old, dilapidated switch (25 M.P.H.). So what was the train or locomotive doing ?
K. P. Harrier: The California-Arizona Update Travel Series Part IV (of I-VII), Section A (of A-E) The Casa Grande Siding (East Switch) to Downtown [snipped] This is the new switch (30 M.P.H.) that desertdog rather recently reported replacing the previous old, dilapidated switch (25 M.P.H.).
So what was the train or locomotive doing ?
Paul,
Since K.P. was actually there at the time, he is in the best position to answer correctly. However, having been to Casa Grande countless times to watch trains--and more recently, to observe construction activity--I will hazard a guess as to what the train / locomotive is doing.
It looks to be a GE product. If that is the case, I submit that it is involved with the current construction. Local switching is performed exclusively by EMD products: GP38-2, GP40-2 and even an occasional GP60. The Casa Grande Hauler, which can be enormous at times, is more often led by a pair of SD60M's with occasional help from SD70M's as shown below in a photo taken a few weeks ago:
On the other hand, the construction-related trains can be handled by just about anything in the UP stable, including even very recent vintage GE's. Also, from K.P.'s photo, I note that the consist is on the farthest track to the left, which is where the cars with construction materials are usually parked.
John Timm
Inclement weather could cause delays so please take note of posted signs and detours on or around the construction zones.The first crossing closure is scheduled on Anderson Road near Maricopa from 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 30, through Friday, April 1. A second closure of the crossing is planned from 7 a.m. Monday, April 11, through 4 p.m. Friday, April 15. The recommended alternate route is White and Parker Road to Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.The second crossing closure is planned at Peart Road at the southeast edge of Casa Grande from 7 a.m. Friday, April 1, through 4 p.m. Saturday, April 9. The recommended alternature route is Keeling Road to Jimmie Kerr Boulevard.Drivers are asked to be alert to possible traffic delays, and to obey the speed limit and all posted signs and barricades while traveling through these construction zones.Up-to-date road information is available on Pinal County’s website, www.pinalcountyaz.gov."
Meanwhile, another article, this time from the Maricopa Monitor. Lots happening around here all at once:
http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2011/03/24/maricopa_monitor/top_stories/doc4d839efb0d61b624249799.txt
What I find most interesting is the news that various parties are looking into relocating the Amtrak station. The goal is to get it as far away from SR347 as possible to alleviate traffic congestion, pending the construction of an overpass.
The Arizona Department of Transportation has announced that all lanes of Interstate 10 will be closed in both directions on April 8, 2011, so the old Marsh Station Road highway overpass bridge can be removed.
Eastbound traffic will be required to use I-10 exit 281 and proceed south on State Highway 83 to State Highway 82 at Sonoita, take Highway 82 east to Whetstone, then Highway 90 north back to I-10. Westbound traffic must use exit 302 and use State Highway 90 south to Whetstone, then west on Highway 82 to Sonoita, and north on Highway 83 back to I-10. This is a 90 mile detour.
Highways 82 and 83 are two lane and very narrow, with 35 MPH speed limits in mountainous locations. Motorists are being advised to allow two extra hours if their travel plans include having to make this detour. Based on my travels on Highways 82 and 83 when there is little traffic, I'd say two hours is a very conservative estimate.
cacole Eastbound traffic will be required to use I-10 exit 281 and proceed south on State Highway 83 to State Highway 82 at Sonoita,
Eastbound traffic will be required to use I-10 exit 281 and proceed south on State Highway 83 to State Highway 82 at Sonoita,
Maybe stop there and get a good steak, if that steak house on the south side of the road is still going strong.
desertdog Meanwhile, another article, this time from the Maricopa Monitor. Lots happening around here all at once: http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2011/03/24/maricopa_monitor/top_stories/doc4d839efb0d61b624249799.txt ACTIVATED What I find most interesting is the news that various parties are looking into relocating the Amtrak station. The goal is to get it as far away from SR347 as possible to alleviate traffic congestion, pending the construction of an overpass. John Timm
ACTIVATED
Part V (of I-VII), Section A (of A-F)
Downtown Casa Grande to Red Rock
Laying a second main through Casa Grande will be on the challenging side because there presently is a switching track to service industries along the way: Looking west from Florence St.:
Looking east:
Part V, Section B (of A-F)
Towards the east of town, beyond the switching lead, track is again being laid. Looking west from Trekell Rd.:
Part V, Section C (of A-F)
Now from Pearl Rd., looking westbound: More industrial tracks, but NO switching lead alongside the main to contend with: Track laying stops in the background.
Looking east: New intermediate signals.
The above signals as viewed from the south side. The masts have east side (right) westbound lower heads for the future CP SP917 CASA GRANDE way back west a few miles at Thornton Rd. (the present east end of the Casa Grande siding).
Part V, Section D (of A-F)
At Toltec, where UP has a set out track away from the Main, many pre-stressed bridging sections were stored. Boxcars (right) were being unloaded of wooden ties and stacked at the site. Picacho Peak is in the distant background.
Part V, Section E (of A-F)
This is, from newspaper maps of the area, the location of the future Red Rock Yard.
A view with a westbound slant where the yard reportedly will bend as the roadway does: The grading for the second main is visible this side of the present single-track.
With an eastbound slant:
That area of a couple of highway bends is near the foot of Picacho Peak, a landmark in the area, just to the west of those highway bends.
Continued in Section F
Part V, Section F (of A-F)
In the community of Red Rock itself, a westbound view from Park Link Drive. Previous views from two to three years ago do not have the second-track grading as the site does now.
An eastbound view, with the Red Rock siding on the left:
As I-10 does at West Colton Yard in California ...
... so too I-10 will be right by Red Rock Yard in Arizona.
Red Rock yard may end somewhere to the right in the above photo, and on the camera side of the track. It is unknown if it will end right at Park Line Drive or a mile or two to the west (right).
Part VI is scheduled for posting the morning of Monday, March 28, 2011: The Rillito River and Cienega Creek Bridges.
K.P., thank you for this amazing photo series! I am enjoying every picture and the progress that is being made.
Here is a question for K.P. or the Arizonans:
mvs K.P., thank you for this amazing photo series! I am enjoying every picture and the progress that is being made. Here is a question for K.P. or the Arizonans: What is the name of the mountain northwest of Maricopa that can be seen in K.P.'s west-looking photographs from Maricopa to Casa Grande?
MVS,
I believe it is part of the Estrella Range and is called "Montezuma's Head." Along with Picacho Peak to the east, the mountains along the Gila in this area make a nice photo backdrop.
Part VI (of I-VII), Section A (of A-D)
The Rillito River Bridge and Cienega Creek Crossings
This is the Rillito River's new future Main 2 Bridge. It may or may not be complete now. View is from the railroad southeast side.
South side views of the new bridge:
Part VI, Section B (of A-D)
A third side photo of the new graffiti painted bridge.
Compare the last three photos with the below previously posted view from earlier times, before the second-track bridging was installed and in place.
When K.P. arrived on scene March 13, 2011 to photograph the bridge for this post series, he was actually confused and thought the new bridge spans hadn't been positioned yet, because something so new surely wouldn't be struck by graffiti paint cans this soon. It was only after studying the ugly bridge spans and how THEY were resting on the NEW supports that he became convinced he was actually seeing the new bridge! What an unbelievably sad situation.
Part VI, Section C (of A-D)
The great Cienega Creek Bridge of Main 1 with Main 2 underneath it:
K.P., in the past, actually thought Main 2 went underneath here.
But, Main 2 proved to go underneath the bridge on the west and not the east side.
Even with protective wire railing, the bridge must make for a spooky walk for a conductor walking his train checking why his train lost its air!
Part VI, Section D (of A-D)
The public roadway is nearby (right).
But, that roadway is very narrow ...
... and NOT conducive to photographing trains or the big bridge from it.
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Part VII is scheduled for posting Wednesday, March 30, 2011: The Main 2 Relocation by Marsh Station Rd.
Slightly , but some here may be interested anyway - kinda surprised no one has mentioned it yet . . .
Picacho Peak is where the westernmost combat - actually, more of a skirmish - of the Civil War occurred, on April 15, 1862. For more info, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Picacho_Pass
K. P. Harrier The California-Arizona Update Travel Series Part V, Section F (of A-F) Downtown Casa Grande to Red Rock In the community of Red Rock itself, a westbound view from Park Link Drive. [snipped] An eastbound view, with the Red Rock siding on the left:
In the community of Red Rock itself, a westbound view from Park Link Drive. [snipped] An eastbound view, with the Red Rock siding on the left:
I don't know for sure if this tank is left over from the SP steam locomotive days, but I am inclined to believe that it is - perhaps it is the main or only source of water supply and storage for this little community, and so SP either just left it up or sold it to them, etc. I have seen 1 or 2 others up and down I-10 and some other roads in this area, but can't recall exactly where.
And congrats to K.P. for getting this thread to the significant milestone of 100 pages ! Mostly his text and photos, too. That's quite an accomplishment - it could be the basis for a pretty comprehensive book chronicling this improvement to the line.
Along with others, the SP donated the tanks and water wells at Red Rock and Maricopa to the local communities. The one at Maricopa is still in operation as far as I know.
Yes, K.P. has done a masterful job of photo documentation and deserves kudos.
Paul D. North Jr (3-28):
Paul_D_North_Jr K. P. Harrier: And congrats to K.P. for getting this thread to the significant milestone of 100 pages !
K. P. Harrier: And congrats to K.P. for getting this thread to the significant milestone of 100 pages !
Unreal, isn't it?
I was amazed when the view tally crossed 10,000. Now, it is 170,000!
K.P.
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