Update as of Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Out and About … And a Future Post Series
The assigned time was 3:15 P.M. in San Bernardino (CA), and arrival was right on the dot! K.P. left several hours early to check out things in the Colton-Riverside area, and found much to report on, mainly with grade separations, and the two-tracking and lack of two-tracking implications of those grade separations. A report will be forthcoming in a few days.
The above is NOT just another photo of the east side westbound signals of CP SP538 RANCHO, and the Rancho Ave. overpass in Colton. For those that have been up on the overpass, or have plans to, the place may not be as safe as it looks! If one looks real good at the overpass fencing it is rather tore up! The place recently had a very, very wicked encounter with what is believed to be an 18-wheeler! A few report photos will show the aftermath of that encounter …
A Little Off Topic
Bad Omen for the Nikon World of Train Photographers!
As some know, K.P. has been using for years a simple Sony to document the two-tracking of the Sunset Route. Recently, a Nikon was purchased with two lenses The wide angle end was blissful, the telephoto side was so-so, with the Sony running circles around Nikon in blowing up or enlarging a scene. To overcome the handicap, a more powerful zoom lens was attempted to be purchased. That was ‘attempted.’ The Nikon people refused to UPS to my physical address because the physical address wasn’t a recognized mailing address. We have NO mail delivery here, so we use a P.O. Box. For over twenty years UPS and FedEx have delivered packages to the physical address, and bills and mail via the P.O. Box. But Nikon refused accept that!
There were ways of getting around that, like shipping the more powerful zoom lens to my father-in-law many of miles away. The old expression “there is more than one way to skin a cat” seemed to apply. But, I was encountering trouble in ordering other necessities, with ‘out of stock’ notices. Even Nikon was out of stock on things. I couldn’t win. Thus, the decision was reluctantly made to return the Nikon, as a stated option on the purchase receipt.
It is unknown if Nikon as a company is in financial trouble or not, but when a company can’t pay its bills it oftentimes drastically cuts back its sales stock, especially the not so bread and butter support stuff.
Canon’s offerings were looked at as an alternative, but reviews told me loud and clear their lenses were inferior to Nikon’s. So, in six to eight months I’ll check the Nikon offerings (and likely lower prices too), and if they have gotten their act together, maybe I’ll seriously look at Nikon again. Until then, the old, terribly run through the mill Sony will have to suffice for K.P.’s documenting of the two-tracking of the Sunset Route.
More off Topic
Longevity of Life, Walmart, and When Posting Is Not So Much Fun
Nearly four decades ago, during a necessary physical for employment, the doctor said I had slightly low blood pressure, and because of that, I should live to be 100 years old! Decades later, because of other issues, K.P. has to take certain medicines and those medicines tend to increase blood pressure. Because blood pressure medicine had an adverse effect on me, my then doctor gave me a tip on how I could control my blood pressure WITHOUT medicine. It simply was a daily dose of garlic! Simple and it has worked for years!
But something weird happened in the last several months. The garlic mysteriously stopped working! Enter Walmart …
Example of Walmart: Their store in Maricopa, AZ by the Sunset Route, in the neighborhood of M.P. 900 and the Porter Rd. grade crossing. The above photos were taken September 4, 2009 while the two-tracking in Arizona had been put on hold.
For a number of years I’ve been purchasing two-packs of garlic gels, 1000mg each gel, and took one a day. But, after pondering the situation of the garlic gels not working anymore, an investigation ensued. I discovered Walmart apparently changed the two-packs from 1000mg gels to 10mg gels, which is basically nothing dose-wise. No wonder I felt so bad! So, with the situation rectified, things are returning back to normal, and posting should become more fun again.
If you take medication for high blood pressure and have undesirable side effects, you might want to consider checking with your doctor and see if 1000mg gels of garlic in lieu of traditional medicine might eliminate some of the bad side effects of the blood pressure medicine.
OK, back to the Sunset Route two-tracking updates …
Best,
K.P.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Nikon is most likely still having problems from the West Coast port slow down. We are still having delays on parts from Japan.
Now that the equipment and forms have been moved away, Riverside avenue is indeed double-track width. Further study of the rock cut reveals that the only tight section is from west of Olivewood (and it's bridge) around the curve to the straight between the apartments heading toward the freeway. While it is possible to remove enough rock for clearance the debris from such work will land on the track meaning for either a closure or short work windows. And a new bridge .... After monday I'll be gone for a spell, play nice while I'm away.
A10
Happenings in the Riverside-Colton, CA Area
Part “A” (of A-H)
BNSF in Highgrove: Re-grading the New Grading
To set the stage, please bear with this … In a previously shown March 2, 2015 photo, the west (“west”) BNSF switch area (“area”) of the future CP for the wye track leading to the Perris Valley Line, which area is technically in northern Riverside, but just south of Highgrove.
On March 13, 2015, this photo was taken: Especially note the grading on the far right:
From the same date, a never before shown view: Again, note the grading on the far right, how it is NOT as far towards the camera.
And, a northeastward view alongside the three tracks, with just a small walk path between Main 3 and the sloping. View not previously shown:
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-H)
On the April 22, 2015 visit, the area was found to have been re-graded, with a large walk path.
The not installed switch is still lying where it has been since being unloaded from a gondola.
Why everything wasn’t graded before is not clear, but the signal people may have just graded what they had to do for the signal boxes, and the track people did their part later.
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-H)
A Stunning Development about the LA&SL Bridge …
… over the 91 Freeway in Riverside
The future permanent bridge (left) and the temporary new reroute bridge (right):
Both bridges are different, in that the permanent one has some type insert where the track will be laid.
In the past, an onsite worker of unknown reliability said eventually there would be TWO bridges over the 91 Freeway. However, as has been said by a forum poster among us, the walling cuts and center of the freeway support-work suggests only one bridge in the end will span over the freeway.
HOWEVER, a number of hours ago (like maybe two thirds of a day), that forum contributor posted an update that stopped K.P. in his tracks, which in return delayed posting this series many hours for accessing that report.
That forum contributor, SP657E44, also said the new, still being constructed railroad bridging over the Riverside Ave. underpass to the west, around an “S” type curve, is for TWO tracks! K.P.’s report painted the picture that that bridging was un-definitive TO HIM, but deductive reasoning suggested that it is for two-tracks, with side by side separate bridges. K.P. will go with SP657E44’s report, though K.P.’s onsite observations were un-definitive and posts in this series reflect that uncertainty, but there is little time now to rewrite the post.
That brings us back to the shoofly 91 Freeway Bridge, especially in the light of SP657E44’s fine, enlightening post. K.P. thinks that he now has all that figured out, and the “V” ANGLING of both new bridges, the permanent one and the temporary one, but the forum will have to wait till K.P. has some time to compose some thoughts on that for the forum.
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-H)
The LA&SL Bridge over the Riverside Ave. Underpass
Riverside
From the northeast side … Plywood are atop the deep buried concrete filled rebar columns, undoubtedly to protect the curious, like children in this residential area. The new bridging is in the background, across the top.
The I-beam bridging with the now in service rails on top of them. The north side (this side) shoofly is gone.
In the above two views, just above the bridge I-beam is wood acting as a restraint, holding the ballast in place. That temporary restraint may (“may”) be until more of the SAME bridging is added to (i.e., the full bridge width finished), or for a distant future additional main’s bridge as a contingency.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-H)
The Streeter Ave. Underpass
The east side underpass lanes are paved and in service, but overall more work needs to be finished. The roadside signs still show a completion of ‘5-2015.’
The Clay Street Underpass
Much has been accomplished at the site, with the side walls well along.
The concrete-work for the bridging over the roadway has started.
Both above, the more than half way design curving in the concrete baffles K.P. Will a second bridge be put in with a counter-curving, or will the bridging be only for one track?
Also, based on the bridging for the track being in service, the strength of the cement-work would have horizontally withstand the pressure of a train’s downward weight until the shoofly was done away with and the underpass finished.
The counterpart southwest side (left), with the southeast side walling visible on the lower right.
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of A-H)
The Old but Revised Rancho Ave. Overpass
Colton
Assumedly, an 18-wheeler caused this while trying to do the impossible.
As in the last photo above, while K.P. was on the north side of the eastbound entrance to the freeway onramp, a very large 18-wheeler was preparing to turn right onto the freeway onramp. K.P. thought to himself: “Is this guy crazy?” No he wasn’t, but smart, and turned the steering wheel back at the last moment and keep going straight! I almost though I was going to see a repeat of a crunching, and that fencing getting wiped out more!
Continued in Part G
Part “G” (of A-H)
More views:
At least one can still walk up on the overpass and see the Sunset Route. View looks east.
That tickler photo announcing the series:
In the light of what has happened, railfans that visit the overpass for great views of the Sunset Route need to be vigilant of their surroundings, and what is going on, and not let a crunch bite them!
This happening might be a bad omen for the future, as likely the bridge and onramp will be modified to avoid that in the future. In light that many, many students from Colton High School, just two blocks to the north, use this sidewalk, the great view for train watchers may be on borrowed time. Undoubtedly, a fine wire mesh fence is in future of a revised onramp.
Continued in Part H
Part “H” (of A-H)
The Laurel Ave. Future Underpass under the BNSF
Normally things off the Sunset Route or its alternate are not covered in this thread, but so many LA&SL trains to or from Las Vegas, NV and Salt Lake City, UT transition to the Sunset Route just a mile away to the south, the Laurel Ave. underpass construction is covered here.
The shoofly within the even more whopping long BNSF CP RANA (short a’s) is in service.
And construction is now going full sway!
So, that is what is happening, at least what can be seen, in the Riverside-Colton area.
This will conclude the series.
I looked for the boss on the freeway bridge but amazingly for a thursday at 2:30pm found nobody on either side to see if any revisions had taken place.
The Sasquatch Footprints are
Unmistakable!
Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, is a Pacific Northwestern U.S. creature that Wikipedia says is part folklore, part misidentification, and part hoax. The mysterious bridges situation over the 91 Freeway K.P. is calling a Sasquatch of sorts. On Saturday, April 25, 2015, after posting an update, went and revisited the vicinity of the LA&SL bridges over the 91 Freeway, and came to some rather surprising opinions about those bridges. The most noteworthy is that K.P. now believes BOTH new bridges are permanent, which takes the mystery out of the matter.
The important stuff is NOT in the photo center
When you see (AND UNDERSTAND) the photos you will undoubtedly come to the same conclusion that K.P. did. Seeing is believing, they say!
On the area visit K.P. checked out a number of things SP657E44 very recently posted about. You may come to the same conclusions that he did when you see the photos of areas that SP657E44 mentioned.
A photo series about all this should be posted in or within three days.
Some replies should be gotten to soon too (hopefully).
Take care all,
Looks like they may have one track going north and one track going south given the angle between the bridges in your shot KP
A Quick Memo to Super Hunky (4-26):
You came up with something I had never even thought of, one track going north and another going south, as if there would be a wye type arrangement. Unfortunately, the southeast walling would preclude a wye leg going south.
You might be interested to know that a very different photo angle than the one above will show up something about both the track and walling that strongly suggests what the future will be.
Stay tuned,
PS: The coming presentation text is finished, and only the photos need to be prepared and uploaded to photobuck.com. Things are progressing more quickly than I thought they would.
Just heard some interesting radio traffic and cross checked with ATCSMon, UP appears to be using the new main track one between CP Acolita and CP Mesquite at this time. Hopefully we'll hear more from Clyde Acolita on this development ....
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! ***
Focusing on Each Side of the Two New …
… LA&SL Bridges over the 91 Freeway
Riverside, CA
Part I (of I-VIII)
In the last few months the BNSF CP called WEST RIVERSIDE, which is the junction between the BNSF and the LA&SL, has had a number of good sized piles of ballast positioned here and their throughout the CP. K.P. took the below photos because this was the first time he had ever seen the westbound signal to enter the LA&SL territory hard yellow!
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-VIII)
In the recent past some felt the difference in the angle of the two bridges was evidence that the right new bridge would be torn down when its temporary purpose was over.
On this investigative trip, however, it was observed that the angle of the southwest lower right fencing did NOT match the present LA&SL track through the bridge!
The focus then was on the east side of the freeway, where the LA&SL track straddles the walling. A previously shown October 24, 2014 view:
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-VIII)
As with this photo, views from the northeast side looking westbound were, in the past, inconclusive.
But, K.P. focused on finding an angle where the truth could be seen, and found this angle from the Cridge Street grade crossing.
So, above, the present shoofly track does NOT match the walling and fencing (the whitish vertical poling just below photo center)! The implication is that the new southern bridge’s track will swing over to BNSF’s Main 1 and connect to it SOUTH of Cridge Street. From the bridge, then, most likely the track (the future UP Main 2) would swing over to the area of the far LEFT mast signal in the view just above.
The implication of that is that the cut through Pachappa Hill would have to be modified. SP657E44 very recently commented on that, and thought it wouldn’t be that hard to do.
This is what the area looks like looking westbound from Panorama Road, with the track going into Pachappa Cut.
From those views it doesn’t look overly challenging.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-VIII)
From Pachappa Rd. looking eastbound, the cut looks at bit more challenging, but not overly so … Or, maybe it does!
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-VIII)
Looking westbound:
Looking westbound still, the look of sand cliffs changes to solid rock in a few places (right).
Construction workers in the 1903-1905 era when the LA&SL was initially built (to Las Vegas, NV and Salt Lake City, UT) managed to cut through the rock, so with modern technology, doing so shouldn’t be overly difficult. Since this is the alternate Sunset Route, trains could be routed over the actual Sunset Route during construction windows. Metrolink has a fleet of commuter trains that go west in the morning, and a fleet eastbound in the afternoon-evening, so a work window could be had during the daylight hours.
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-VIII)
K.P. visited the Riverside Ave. underpass site also, this time from the south side. A whole bunch of ballast was piled up south of the interlocking plant of CP C055 STREETER, a terribly misnamed CP west of Riverside Ave.
Will a higher speed switch be put in here? Or, maybe the ballast is for a coming temporary switch for eventually laying a second main through Pachappa Cut.
Very near the underpass site itself, the shoofly is gone, and the original track is up on very high ballast.
You will recall that it was determined that a second track’s northern alignment still needed bridging to be built over the underpass.
The future underpass’s northbound east side auto lanes are now being dug down, and the buried crudely filled cement vertical and rebar columns are semi-evident.
Continued in Part VII
Part VII (of I-VIII)
Back over by Cridge Street northeast of the 91 Freeway, looking with a northern slant, the Riverside Metrolink station tracks on each side of the BNSF tracks are seen.
With all the piles of ballast at BNSF’s CP WEST RIVERSIDE, some kind of track rearranging is in the cards. Exactly what, though, is unknown. Will the alignments be moved over (leftward) so that Metrolink patrons of the east platform won’t have to worry about getting hit by freights?
Just above, there is a Metrolink platform on the other, far side of the westbound (rightward) UP, a train likely off the Sunset Route from Arizona and New Mexico.
There is an overhead walkway for patrons to get to the other, far side platforms.
Continued in Part VIII
Part VIII (of I-VIII)
Of course, on weekends the west side Metrolink tracks are a convenient place to store laying-over commuter train sets.
So, what rearrangement of BNSF’s CP WEST RIVERSIDE, the track or tracks over the 91 Freeway and on to CP C055 STREETER, is unknown, nor when they might be rearranged. This is an era to watch!
This will end the series. However, a Second Section follows ...
Second Section
The following track diagram, while not all inclusive, conjectures a possible track layout that would make the TWO LA&SL bridges over the 91 Freeway make sense, whether or not the section west of the 91 Freeway is two-tracked or remains single-track.
POSSIBLE TRACK LAYOUT AT A REVISED
BNSF CP WEST RIVERSIDE
UP Bridgeand Main #1--------------- \UP Bridge \and Main #2 \---- \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ BNSF #1---------------------------------------- \ \ \ \ \ \ BNSF #2---------------------------------------- \ \ \ BNSF #3 ------------------
The above diagram, IF implemented, would harmonize with Metrolink using Main 3 (which will likely be necessary for the startup of the Perris Valley Line in 2016), with UP primarily biased to Mains 1 and 2. The free-flow of traffic would greatly be enhanced compared to today in which so many trains get in each other’s way at BNSF’s CP WEST RIVERSIDE.
A teaser follows
Truckers will like this …
And “the Force” Made K.P. Check It Out!
(As if Star Wars was real)
Late Monday afternoon K.P. picked up an unexpected assignment involving Highland, CA, and on Tuesday, April 28, 2015 took care of it. A bit later, K.P. wasn’t going to check out Colton, but the “force” made him do so anyway. An ‘irritating’ truck preceded K.P. in getting off the westbound I-10 Freeway at 9th Street, and seemed to perpetually be turning every way K.P. had to turn. Southbound on La Cadena Drive, it turned left, and K.P. turn right to check out the Colton Signal Dept., which as expected, nothing new was observed. Thereafter, the ‘force’ became strong and made K.P. go to 9th Street in South Colton, and where that truck had been going became clear!
Many trucks were going in and out of the OLD Colton Yard, in sight of the Colton Flyover (train on, left).
K.P. had no idea what was going on, but equipment was moving about within a section of the Old Colton Yard, and what looked like a whole bunch of new wooden ties, NOT bundled, but just indiscriminately piled up in a heap, was present.
Almost forty photos were taken, and then BNSF’s CP RANA was checked out. A report to the forum will be forthcoming in a day or two (or three) as time permits, and the forum can make up its own mind on what was going on. For a Tuesday, there was a lot of trains passing too…
Interesting speculation about a revised Riverside Junction. I'm skeptical that UP & Metrolink would gain much by adding a mile of second track around Pachappa Hill. Still, it would let them pass each other 'easier' east of the river viaduct. For construction 'insurance' UP might have to buy the house at the top of the hill.
OTOH the 91 line extension to Perris might cause some schedule changes that result in more conflicts with BNSF traffic. Perhaps they would extend main 3 south (RR west) a short distance to get westbound MLNKs past the junction and to keep main 2 clear:
LA sub MT 1 -----\
\----> to MLNK west tracks
BNSF MT 1 -----------\---\-----------------
BNSF MT 2 ---\-------------\---\-----------
BNSF MT 3 \-----------------\---\-----
\---> to MLNK east trk
Hmmm ....
Happenings in Colton, CA
April 28, 2015
Unusual Things
In the vicinity of “K” and 9th Streets in Colton, a bunch of concrete tied panel tracks were stacked up, it looks like 25 sections in all. An eastbound (rightward) UP Intermodal is on the Colton Flyover.
One of those new blue signs was newly attached to the crossbucked post.
The crossbuck post on the other side of the street had a blue sign attached also.
What is so strange about those NEW little blue signs is the track through this “L” shaped grade crossing is severed on each end! It is impossible for a train to run over the grade crossing anymore.
Just above, that eastbound on the Colton Flyover had to wait for a westbound to pass, this one routed on the Mt. Vernon Connector heading to Los Angeles via the BNSF and LA&SL through Riverside.
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