Signaling Theories Confirmed as New Reality
Part “C” (of A-C)
About and over one and a half miles east of the new CP SP538 RANCHO is CP SP540 MT VERNON that has BOTH absolutes and intermediates associated with it. The east side of the Santa Ana River WESTBOUND absolute signals (the Main 2 and the Ice Deck siding) each has a lunar bulb on the lower heads, but NO green bulbs.
The west side of the Santa Ana WESTBOUND intermediate (for Main 1) only has yellow and lunar bulbs, no red or green (left side of far left signal):
So, those signals are capable of displaying yellow over lunar.
While most westbound trains that crossover west of Rancho Ave. at the new CP SP538 RANCHO would get a yellow over yellow at CP SP540 MT VERNON, a few go up onto the Palmdale Cutoff (below, the top track that swirls downward), and it is those trains that get a yellow over lunar at or by CP SP540 MT VERNON
K.P. has not personally seen those displays, but very reliable sources have seen them, so this material was posted with confidence.
Things Happening All at Once
On Sunday, October 20, 2013 a portion of the Alhambra Sub of the Sunset Route was completely out of service for many hours in the Montclair-Ontario, CA area, and trains were going via the LA&SL instead. K.P. got wind of that occurrence, and the next day made an onsite area inspection. Crossing protection at two grade crossings were altered, and the North Ontario siding is now history, and out of service
Above are the cutup sections of the turnout at CP AL520 NORTH ONTARIO. The old siding was on the south side of the Main, but the switch sections are now laying on the north side east of the CP. Note the switch’s motor on the section closest to the closest mast signal.
In the next two to three days K.P. hopes to multi-post a report on his visit’s findings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
K.P.:
Thank you for your thorough response. Your photos of the Victorville I-15 bridge, with its similarly high sides, got me to thinking.
The extensive use of guard-rails on the Victorville bridge-- both on the approaches and the bridge girders themselves-- suggest (perhaps?) protection for the freeway in the event of a derailment.
The Riverside bridge has similar height where the girders cross the freeway. And, the height is way out of proportion to the extra length of the girders when compared to the length of the original bridge. Could this be to provide protection during a derailment?
The Victorville bridge seems to also carry an auto roadway (as suggested by the satellite view--Quarry Road-- and the boards between the rails) which might warrant the extra protection; but both the bridges have the same height protection on their sides and both cross a major freeway. Could this be the reason for the extra height of the Riverside girders?
Thank you for indulging my curiosity!
JOHN
Update as of Monday, October 21, 2013
A Burst of Two-Tracking Activity
Pomona to Ontario, CA
Part I (of I-X; Overall I-XIX)
K.P. was tipped off in an email from MikeF90 that on Sunday, October 20, 2013 the Alhambra Sub on the Sunset Route was closed for many hours, and all through trains were going via the Los Angeles Sub, i.e., the Los Angeles & Salt Lake (LA&SL) through Riverside between Colton and Pomona. An investigation was pursued, and this resultant series is about what was found.
We start at CP AL514 HAMILTON in Pomona, specifically the west side eastbound signal (center) that aligns with the present LA&SL Main 1 (the assumed future SP Main 2). It was found NO alterations have been made to the signal. Theoretically, the top two-bulb head should soon be changed to a three-bulb top head.
At San Antonio Ave. (Pomona), east of the roadway there was two very long pieces of concrete tied track, maybe each 300 to 400 feet long. They may (“may”) be used as SP-side grade crossing track replacements.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-X; Overall I-XIX)
East of that San Antonio Ave. (Pomona), the future SP-side Main 2 still has NOT been connected.
While there were NO trains the day before, numerous ones were running Monday, and a flashing yellow over red was seen.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-X; Overall I-XIX)
At Monte Vista Ave. new cantilever grade crossing flashers were found to have been erected. It seems just last month new grade crossing units were erected, and already they were replaced or altered. The north side looking west:
Looking north:
The LA&SL track just a few hundred feet south has not had the treatment.
Just above, State St. (paralleling the LA&SL) crosses Monte Vista Ave. While we are by State Street … that intersecting has long been one of the hardest in the whole area to get across. Visitors beware …
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-X; Overall I-XIX)
As seen from under the Mountain Ave. overpass, another new mast signal was observed to have been erected (left).
Above, towards the photo bottom, that hand throw switch back to back with a dual-control one is present.
From San Antonio Ave. (Ontario) looking westwardish toward the Mountain Ave. overpass, that new mast signal is seen in the background.
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-X; Overall I-XIX)
Between Vine Ave. and San Antonio Ave. (Ontario), Main St. was just loaded with UP trucks and equipment. As K.P. was arriving, a number of trucks left before they could be photographed.
Looking west on Main St., the North Ontario siding east side westbound signal is seen (right).
Above, the siding (right) has been severed from the mainline, but has not yet been connected to the new Main 2 (left).
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-X; Overall I-XIX)
Eastward from San Antonio Ave. (Ontario): That siding (center background) in relation to the future Main 2 (center foreground):
A wider angled view:
Other views of the severed track:
Continued in Part VII
Part VII (of I-X; Overall I-XIX)
From San Antonio Ave. (Ontario), north side of the tracks, looking west: Note the new, thick cantilever overhead structure on the right.
A new counterpart one has been put on the new south side base.
Continued in Part VIII
KP Isn't the original LA & SL route the old ATSF Pasadena route now used by the Metro-rail Gold Line?
Have fun with your trains
Part VIII (of I-X; Overall I-XIX)
The new south side counterpart:
Apparently the extra flashers need more juice (assumedly) and a trench was dug for new wires.
Continued in Part IX
Part IX (of I-X; Overall I-XIX)
The new trench seems to go to the new CP box.
There was no shortage of UP workers.
Reals of cable were on a trailer too at the site:
Continued in Part X
Part X (of I-X; Overall I-XIX)
The old west end North Ontario south side siding switch is all cut up into large pieces on the north side of the tracks, just east of the east side westbound signals.
The spring frog section:
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Continued in Parts XI-XIX plus a Second Section all scheduled to be posts by noon Pacific Daylight Time on Friday, October 25, 2013.
A Reply to vsmith (10-24):
Greetings!
The answer to your question is NO.
There are FIVE east-west lines in the area: From south to north: (1) BNSF (the ex-Santa Fe Third District via Corona, CA some distance to the south of Pomona), (2) the LA&SL via CENTRAL Pomona, (3) the SP Sunset Route paralleling the LA&SL in CENTRAL Pomona, (4) the ex-Southern Pacific Baldwin Park branch (west) / ex-Santa Fe now Metrolink line in NORTHERN Pomona (east), and (5) between Pomona and Pasadena the ex-Santa Fe Super Chief line, which is being rebuilt into the Gold Line Foothill Extension between Azusa and Pasadena.
The below photos of that ex-Santa Fe Super Chief route between Azusa and Pasadena are shown so thread readers from outside the area can visualize what you inquired about.
The LA&SL and SP (Sunset Route) are completely separate from and a few miles south of those above photos.
It is hoped that ‘five routes’ concept adequately addresses your inquiry and clears-up matters for you, vsmith.
Best,
K.P.
Several years ago while living in the northern panhandle of West Virginia we had a railroad bridge with high sides and guards extending away from the highway. The track on the bridge carried Weirton Steel's molton slag cars to the dump. The bridge was built like this to prevent the hot slag from falling on the road in the event of a problem. Based on the photos of the bridge being discussed here I do not think hot slag will be a problem.
KP
Just got back from the East Texas Council of Government's Rural transportation committee meeting, of which I am Henderson county's representative, and the following paragraph dealing with rail transportation from Lousiana to Dallas was handed out
"TEXAS LOUSIANA RAIL COALITION
Growing out of an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) and the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), the Texas -Lousiana Rail (T-L Rail) Coalition (TLRC) was formed in early 2011 in an effort to coordinate and cooperate on potential passenger rail linking East Texas and Lousiana with the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The TLRC is made up of policy leaders and technical staff from agencies and municipalities along the corridor and is focused on implementation and development of a funding strategy for future passenger rail investment in East Texas."
A bunch of governmental speak and I do not think it will come to fruition in my lifetime.
Part XI (of XI-XIX; Overall I-XIX)
A point was made, since San Antonio Ave. (Ontario) was visited, to show the forum what the LA&SL grade crossing looks like. It has old cantilever flashers.
It has FOUR tracks laid in it.
But we should not real anything into that, as there was long ago a shipper on the east side of the street.
Continued in Part XII
Part XII (of XI-XIX; Overall I-XIX)
And, the west side of San Antonio Ave. has half those tracks blocked off with a makeshift fence will rails as poles..
Continued in Part XIII
Part XIII (of XI-XIX; Overall I-XIX)
At San Antonio Ave. (Ontario) still, a northwestward view of a bunch of ties stacked up by all that new trackage just to the west. The Mountain Ave. overpass is in the background.
From State St., just west of San Antonio Ave. (Ontario), the makeshift signal department yard is devoid now of cantilever structures.
Note the above yellow track equipment in the background on the SP-side.
Continued in Part XIV
Part XIV (of XI-XIX; Overall I-XIX)
That yellow track equipment on the SP-side is just west of San Antonio Ave. (Ontario).
Continued in Part XV
Part XV (of XI-XIX; Overall I-XIX)
We move east to Bon View Ave, at the new CP between Bon View and Cucamonga Avenues., where a westbound happened by, a rather insignificant westbound, so K.P. thought. But, it kept passes, and passes, and passing, and K.P. took several photos of it because of its length.
And the mid-train helps came.
After the mid-train helps, the train kept passing, and passing, and passing. Finally, the last set of intermodal platforms passed.
It is unknown if that was some kind of test again or not, but surely it would not have fit in any Alhambra Sub siding.
Continued in Part XVI
Part XVI (of XI-XIX; Overall I-XIX)
Now, back to business …
Looking west from Bon View Ave. track equipment was present. The new second Main has not been connected to the old North Ontario siding at the present CP AL521 NORTH ONTARIO.
Looking east from Bon View Ave.: Typical. But there was much activity by the east end, by Cucamonga Ave.
Continued in Part XVII
Part XVII (of XI-XIX; Overall I-XIX)
Apparently UP finally installed the switch that had been assembled some time ago.
A bunch of ballast and a water truck was nearby.
From the Sunset Route looking south, an LA&SL train passes westbound maybe three blocks away.*
Continued in Part XVIII
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* Just a quick side story about numbers for those that might be interested in such frivolous things …
That last photo above of a UP westbound train on the LA&SL had UP SD70ACe No. 8433 on the point. That number is somewhat (“somewhat“) personal for K.P. Many moons ago the Mrs. and I saw the movie “The Jazz Singer” staring Neil Diamond, the well know singer. In that movie Mr. Diamond was seen getting off a Greyhound bus. That bus was No. 8433. A few years later K.P. actually saw that very bus westbound on Foothill Blvd. getting on the southbound I-15 Freeway in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. So, seeing UP 8433 (a locomotive) in Ontario brought back memories … (I said it was frivolous)
Part XVIII (of XI-XIX; Overall I-XIX)
Just west of Cucamonga Ave., from Main St., looking northward: Familiar equipment was temporarily parked.
Ballast was being dropping from the south side, then the dropping equipment would go around to the north side, pick up another load of ballast, and repeat the process on the south side. Then it mysteriously stopped. Was it maybe camera shy? Anyway, note the difference of track level with and without ballast.
Continued in Part XIX
Part XIX (of XI-XIX; Overall I-XIX)
The area is a very strange place, with trees, but no houses. Looking west down the north sidewalk of Main St., with the Sunset Route about a half a block to the north (right).
Looking east, with yellow equipment moving by the cross Cucamonga Ave. The residence is boarded up with signs implying it will not be lived in again.
UP seems to own all this property north of Main St. to the tracks. Will something rail related be put in here, with rail access east of the CP and Cucamonga Ave.? If in the cards, it can’t go east more than a few blocks because of the Grove Ave. underpass.
LINK: Aerial of the area and immediate east (Sunset Route is the top track)
So, this particular area might be one to watch.
This will conclude the series. However, a “Second Section” immediately follows.
Second Section
The scene by the Colton Flyover was checked out, and noting obvious was seen, except …
A short section of the future Track 112 that will single-track across the BNSF Transcon is present. The Transcon is seen in the background by the mast signal and its lower head.
This will conclude the “Second Section.”
K. P. Harrier Second Section This will conclude the “Second Section.”
KP, thanks for a most interesting series. From the vantage of Google Earth [using the "Historical Imagery" viewing option -- it gives more up to date (15 March 2013) imagery], it appears that when this sudden burst of activity is done, UP will have itself a two-main-track railroad stretching from, roughly, South Hamilton Boulevard in Pomona in the west to a point between South Campus and Bon View avenues in Ontario in the east, a distance of some 7 and a quarter miles. Does this jibe with what you see?
Thanks again for sharing with us what's going on. -- billio
Hi, billio! K.P. must be out taking more pics. Thanks for the Google Earth tip, the satellite pictures are slightly newer than the ones currently seen in Maps. Your mileage estimate looks good; coincidentally I plotted that segment on my SR overview map (link). Technically the west end of the new Alhambra sub #2 should be at CP Oak (LH turnout next to Oak Ave).
This should be temporary until the Al sub 'diversion' and 'ultimate' CP Hamilton reconfiguration happen. Upgrade of the latter CP was halted pending resolution of other issues and the design may change further due to the upcoming grade separation there. Sudden Burst Of Activity, indeed.
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, Exciting Things, and a Rarity
On Sunday, October 27, 2013 MikeF90 posted to billio that “K.P. must be out taking more pics.” Not that day, but the day before, Saturday, October 26. The visit was to the Colton Flyover and its immediate surroundings within Colton, CA, and the efforts thereat went remarkable well! Super well, matter of fact!
The mysterious putting in of pot signals at BNSF’s CP29 GONZAES has taken a surprise twist!
The ground-level Track 112 immediately south of the flyover is now being laid between Rancho Ave. and the BNSF Transcon.
And, K.P. finally photographed a diode lights signal displaying yellow over lunar!
Those and a few other goodies will be photo-posted about in a few days.
KP ... It looks like all the homes in that area were purchased by the City of Ontario with FAA funding for noise control from the ONT airport.
http://www.ci.ontario.ca.us/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=1303
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