Okay, the only PE map I found shows it as a motor coach line. I'll take your word for it though.
Wednesday was apparently "Caltrans Day" at the UP Riverside / 91 freeway site - no SEMA trucks visible but they were grading the east slope north of the bridge(s) and the CT survey crews were shooting every whch direction.
A10
Ya that would be a spectacle. I recall many years ago the BNSF lifted a truss bridge out that was damaged due to cargo of some sort striking it. This was at Riverbank ,Ca on the Stanislaus River. They brought in a Ring Crane which was one of the largest in the US at the time. This thing was a Monster..It was quite a high and long reach but they picked it right out. In this case they had built a pier in the river and replaced the truss with two deck plate girder sections.
Wow! Where did That Come From?
On Sunday, June 21, 2015 K.P. checked out some key activity areas on the LA&SL and the Sunset Route from Colton to Riverside to Ontario (CA). What was stumbled across in the eastern portion of the Montclair facility, near San Antonio Ave., Ontario, stopped K.P. in his tracks because of its unexpectedness. A new three-track signal bridge had been erected:
A few other photos were taken from by San Antonio Ave., as well as from atop the Mountain Ave. overpass (above photo, near background).
The Vineyard Ave. underpass construction situation has new track laid and crudely ballasted (on the original alignment). The Clay Street underpass construction in Riverside (LA&SL) had more advancement, as well as the LA&SL Bridge over the 91 Freeway, again in Riverside.
In light of the intolerable problems K.P. is currently having with photobucket.com, at this point in time it is unknown what approach will be taken in presenting (posting) the material. Likely, though, at least at this point, it will be in several short posts spread out over several days.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Yuma, AZ: A Wild Goose Chase?
With reference to Union Pacific’s Colorado River crossing, most closely associated with the Yuma, AZ area, an associate was able to make contact with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and their email said that ‘they are NOT working on the railroad bridge project over the Colorado River near Yuma.’ (Capital letter emphasis mine) So, at this point, K.P. is unclear as to how one should interpret the matter. Has UP privately dealt with the issue? Is two-tracking over the Colorado River not even a consideration for UP?
If one reviews the spacing of the NEW color light signals, UP seem to have set the stage for two-tracking the Colorado River crossing, but yet single-track over the river could continue indefinitely.
Fixing Yuma: Assuming the simplest plan would work here's a few thoughts - Build new abutments for the Quechan road bridge west of the current ones, grade new access on both sides and slide the bridge over. This makes space for a second UP bridge on the west side of the current bridge. Quechan road bridge over the UP would need to be widened of course. One way to accomplish this is a full-closure remove/rebuild. This option would make for a long detour of several months = unhappy folks. Option Dos would be to cut the bridge lengthwise and remove half, allowing for single lane signal-controlled traffic flow. When the removed half is replaced with a longer one simpy repeat the procedure (they used this on Ortega Hwy in SJC). Delays for traffic but not egregious. The intersection of Quechan road and Quechan drive would shift as well.
The UP R-O-W could be widened on both sides to allow a second track though it'd be tight passing the old inspection station. Potential drawback: no decent place to assemble a through-truss on either side, especially the south. The north side is "iffy". Edit: okay it'd be a long bridge at close to 400'.
Update as of Sunday, June 21, 2015
Status of Things in Colton, Riverside, Ontario, CA
Part “A” (of A-C), Section 1 (of 1-2)
The Colton Signal Dept.
Colton
The Colton Signal Dept. was dropped by, but nothing seemed to pop out as being of significance, except things appeared to be tidied up a bit.
Instead of six truck trailers as reported recently, there are only three present now.
The LA&SL Bridges over the 91 Freeway
Riverside
The second, presently being built LA&SL bridge over the 91 Freeway looks more complete, though the cement-work this end of the bridge looks to be drying, and the dirt approach looks incomplete.
Upon arrival in the area, a BNSF eastbound was parked for a long time, awaiting a signal for no apparent reason. Likely, someone had track and time ahead. After K.P. was by Panorama Rd. for a while, it took off.
Continued in Section 2
Part “A”, Section 2 (of 1-2)
The Riverside Ave. Underpass
The Riverside Ave. underpass didn’t look much different from last visit.
The concrete-work for another main appears more advanced now.
Above, the forum may remember that the shoofly was somewhere by the right concrete-work
The future second track’s concrete flooring extends a short ways past the bridge.
-------
Part B will deal with the Clay St. (Riverside) and Vineyard Ave. (Ontario) underpasses, and should be posted by 8:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time Thursday, June 25, 2015, but may be posted up to 12 hours early.
However, a Second Section immediately follows.
Second Section
The following May 1, 2009 LA&SL photo shot eastwardly in the Pico Rivera area of Southern California shows the Main’s TRUSS bridge on the upper left, when the foreground right track went straight through the truss bridge in single-track days.
The foreground left track was the old Pico Rivera siding.
In the last decade when this LA&SL area was two-tracked, a non-truss bridge (above photo, upper right) was used.
Unlike BNSF and the new truss bridges in the Grand Terrace area for the widening of the I-215 Freeway, apparently UP doesn’t like truss bridges, because they built something else alongside the old truss bridge in two-tracking the Pico Rivera area. A non-truss bridge was also erected over the 91 Freeway in Riverside (See Part A, Section 1).
A frog is a frog to BNSF, but UP has used spring frogs in their 30 M.P.H. switches for decades. Metrolink seems to have caught on, and is now using them on their Perris Valley Line construction.
The peculiarities of the different railroads make for a fascinating rail scene for those that study those types on intricacies.
Part “B” (of A-C), Section 1 (of 1-3)
The Clay Street Underpass
Construction on the Clay Street underpass is moving along, with a portion of the railroad bridge looking ready to have track laid on it.
The shoofly is still in effect, but when it is gone, the last third of the bridging concrete-work will be finished.
Part “B”, Section 2 (of 1-3)
The Vineyard Ave. Underpass
Ontario
The Vineyard Ave. underpass has had track laid and crudely ballasted on the original alignment.
The bridge width seems to be for three tracks, but only one is being laid.
The new track (on the original alignment) has been ballasted to a high level.
The original alignment and the shoofly, looking east:
Continued in Section 3
Part “B”, Section 3 (of 1-3)
Some below track level views from the south side, by Airport Drive, more or less from east to west …
Part C will highlight the new Montclair facility’s new, non-mainline signal bridge, and should be posted by 8:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time Friday, June 26, 2015, but may be posted up to 12 hours early.
Part “C” (of A-C), Section 1 (of 1-2)
The New Signal Bridge
East End of the New Montclair Facility
From San Antonio Ave. on the Montclair facility’s far east end, and westward view:
The signals for the two mainline frame the signal bridge.
The three facility tracks and their ladder look.
Part “C”, Section 2 (of 1-2)
The new signal bridge from up on the Mountain Ave. overpass (to the west, looking east back towards San Antonio Ave.):
Above, UNDER the signal bridge, on the right side, is a lit two-head mast signal. At this point in time it is not known if that was placed as a temporary signal, or if the signal bridge was a new idea. K.P. is inclined to believe the first possibility … Because UP seems to NOT lay NEW track by a signal bridge, its reasoning may be (“may be”) if a mast signal gets knocked down for whatever reason, no big deal, but to knock down a signal bridge could have wildly unpredictable results and encompass a wide area of possible workers in that unpredictableness!
Eastward, from a little off the northern side:
From the Mountain Ave. overpass looking west towards the Central Ave. overpass in Montclair:
Above, the mast signals (way in the distance) at that interlocking at the facility’s west end are not likely to get the same treatment of a signal bridge. The west end’s signals were put up last year, but the east end’s signals have been conspicuously absent (except for the sole mast signal) until the signal bridge was put up.
This will conclude the series.
Hey, desertdog!
Do you think I was near Phoenix, AZ just a little bit ago?
My fingers are crossed!
More in a bit ...
Best,
K.P.
Update as of Monday, June 29, 2015
The Vineyard Ave. Underpass Shoofly
Ontario, CA
The Vineyard Ave. underpass railroad bridging is sufficiently complete that track was laid over the bridging, and the shoofly disconnected. Trains were observed operating over the bridging. A UP worker happened by, and K.P. was able to converse with him. A gem he conveyed was WHEN the two-tracking likely would come to that area!
Only 14 photos were taken, but they should be sufficient to convey the news with just three or four, or five photos. A post should be able to be worked up in a day or two. Stay tuned!
Apple vs. Windows Computers …
... and the TRAINS Website
There has been much controversy in the last year because of chronic problems at the trainsmag.com website. Some have reported that their computer no longer functions properly at the site. One computer company of surprise was Apple, maker of McIntosh.
K.P. visited an Apple Store, and on a Mac worked up a post, a memo to forum contributor desertdog. A never shown Arizona photo from a trip there a few years ago had been uploaded to photobucket.com beforehand. In composing a post, the code for that photo was easily retrieved using a Mac computer, contrary to the experience of some. That photo code and a brief memo composition was inserted into a trainsmag.com forum post composition screen, and tested. It worked flawlessly, so the post work-up was posted.
Matter of fact, the forum internet pages at the trainsmag.com came up superfast on the Mac! Flash, there the page was! However, that may or may not have been because of the Apple Store’s internet connection. K.P. uses a DSL connection, which was miraculous when it first came out, but I guess quite slow now.
K.P. more or less had resolved a few years ago to buy a Mac for his next computer, but the problems reported by many here about them (especially with the TRAINS website) put a damper on the idea. While operationally a Mac is rather screwy at first, those that get used to them seem to love them.
Concerning those that complain about Apple, about how the trainsmag.com website is chaos, one has to wonder if the TRAINS forum itself has infected a lot of railfans’ computers in the past. We may never know the truth and the whole story, but one thing K.P. knows is that posting now from the Apple Store’s Mac was flawless, and almost a wonder!
(If you ever visit an Apple Store and sign in to trainsmag.com, etc., be sure to sign out!)
K.P.:
As a long-time Mac user, I found your trip to Apple Store interesting (yes, they do have FAST wi-fi, oh-my!). The continued agony of the Trains website has been unfortunate, as your threads are so well done and informative.
For what it's worth, I have always been able to quickly access your reports on the Trains website with Mac products with no problems-- and my wi-fi is standard stuff. Should I want to see a larger pic, I usually can click on that photo and be directed to Photobucket.
I am sure that the technology of Windows vs. Mac has improved today such that the should be fairly equal for most "daily" activites, including blogs and uploading.
But, being an artist, I had always heard that Mac was better for creative endeavors, Windows for business. I find the Mac more logical and intuitve in its processes, but it might just be a right-brain versus left-brain sort of thing. (I am sure that there is no shortages of opinions amoung forum members....).
I don't know what the answer is. But we do know one thing-- the folks at the Apple store would LOVE to sell you a computer.
Thanks for all your photos and info. We all awe you some Advil, Tylenol, asprin, or something for the headache. Good luck!!
--John
The Vineyard Ave. Underpass Bridging …
… Is Now Having Trains Going Over It
Part I (of I-II)
On Airport Drive that parallels the Sunset Route here, about a quarter of a mile to the west of Vineyard Ave., a telephoto of the bridge location. Just right of the photo center signal, the top north side light colored concrete work of the railroad bridging is seen.
Above, note that the left signal is the ex-shoofly signal, with heads now turned aside.
Above, too, the track left to right elevates four feet to go over the new bridge before going back down on the other side.
Some equipment from the big cutover the day before, Sunday:
The track was basically thrown together, and didn’t have all the bolts.
A worker came by, and a conversation with him was struck up. Nice, friendly guy. He said no work was then currently taking place for several hours because the dispatcher had too many trains to run! So, everybody was on an extended break … That friendly guy was asked when that particular area was going to be two-tracked. He thought that two-tracking would be started around the first of the year, give or take a month or two either side of New Year’s Day. .
K.P. had parked his vehicle in an odd place. And airport cop came by, looked the car over, and parked. I told the nice UP worker that I should go and take care of whatever was on the cops mind …
Back by the car … the cop said that he saw the sticker on the car, and wondered where I worked. I said I didn’t work where the sticker came from, but my wife worked for so and so (the sticker). We then had a super great conversation. We both discovered we each had married just a month apart years and years ago. It was fun talking to the officer, but obviously not as many photos were taken because of the chat …
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-II)
The underpass dirt is now being dug out, as viewed from the south.
The southbound, future lanes coming towards the camera do not seem to have counterpart northbound lanes. Traditionally, that has been the way it has been for decades and decades, with a counterclockwise flow of traffic pass the old airport terminal.
The shoofly separation walling was still in place, but once the shoofly track is removed, that area surely will be dug out quickly.
So, there we have it, an update on the situation at the Vineyard Ave. underpass site, and when this area might (“might”) be two-tracked.
This will conclude the brief series.
K. P. Harrier Hey, desertdog! Do you think I was near Phoenix, AZ just a little bit ago? My fingers are crossed! More in a bit ... Best, K.P.
Looks like the Southeast Valley to me... Let me know if you're coming my way.
J.T.
A progress report (sort of). Now I can post from Photobucket. However, it wants to post the same photos twice, one above the other. I suspect it has something to do with settings within Photobucket, or on my iPhone which I use a lot as a camera.
I hope others have better luck.
John Timm
K. P. HarrierK.P. more or less had resolved a few years ago to buy a Mac for his next computer, but the problems reported by many here about them (especially with the TRAINS website) put a damper on the idea. While operationally a Mac is rather screwy at first, those that get used to them seem to love them.
When was there supposed to be trouble accessing the Forums from a Mac? That would most likely be a browser-specific issue, not anything to do either with the OS or the Apple hardware.
The issue I understood to be significant -- which remains, rather ridiculously, both unrepaired and unaddressed either by the Trains staff or by Apple Computer -- is the issue with using the Trains Complete Collection with the most recent versions of the Apple OS X operating system. One of the later versions of magazine back-issue collections is advertised as running properly on Yosemite, but there is deafening silence either about why the older versions aren't compatible or why Kalmbach won't either repair or replace the incompatible content for Mac users who weren't informed about the incompatibility before making an irrevocable upgrade (myself included). Fortunately I normally boot off an external drive and had kept an older version of the OS on the SSD, but I can't upgrade and retain access to the (rather expensive) magazine content simultaneously, and I have to reboot each time I want to go in and read something.
Wizlish K. P. Harrier K.P. more or less had resolved a few years ago to buy a Mac for his next computer, but the problems reported by many here about them (especially with the TRAINS website) put a damper on the idea. While operationally a Mac is rather screwy at first, those that get used to them seem to love them. When was there supposed to be trouble accessing the Forums from a Mac? That would most likely be a browser-specific issue, not anything to do either with the OS or the Apple hardware. The issue I understood to be significant -- which remains, rather ridiculously, both unrepaired and unaddressed either by the Trains staff or by Apple Computer -- is the issue with using the Trains Complete Collection with the most recent versions of the Apple OS X operating system. One of the later versions of magazine back-issue collections is advertised as running properly on Yosemite, but there is deafening silence either about why the older versions aren't compatible or why Kalmbach won't either repair or replace the incompatible content for Mac users who weren't informed about the incompatibility before making an irrevocable upgrade (myself included). Fortunately I normally boot off an external drive and had kept an older version of the OS on the SSD, but I can't upgrade and retain access to the (rather expensive) magazine content simultaneously, and I have to reboot each time I want to go in and read something.
K. P. Harrier K.P. more or less had resolved a few years ago to buy a Mac for his next computer, but the problems reported by many here about them (especially with the TRAINS website) put a damper on the idea. While operationally a Mac is rather screwy at first, those that get used to them seem to love them.
Accessing the forum is not the issue. At least not for me. Posting photos from either iPhotos or Photobucket is. I've been using Apple for years without any problems, and posted dozens, if not hundreds of photos to TRAINS. Now I can't, or at least not in an acceptable way. I am persistent by nature, so one way or another, I'll figure it out.
K. P. Harrier Update as of Monday, June 29, 2015 The Vineyard Ave. Underpass Bridging … … Is Now Having Trains Going Over It Ontario, CA Part I (of I-II) ...[Snip]...A worker came by, and a conversation with him was struck up. Nice, friendly guy. He said no work was then currently taking place for several hours because the dispatcher had too many trains to run! So, everybody was on an extended break … That friendly guy was asked when that particular area was going to be two-tracked. He thought that two-tracking would be started around the first of the year, give or take a month or two either side of New Year’s Day …
...[Snip]...A worker came by, and a conversation with him was struck up. Nice, friendly guy. He said no work was then currently taking place for several hours because the dispatcher had too many trains to run! So, everybody was on an extended break … That friendly guy was asked when that particular area was going to be two-tracked. He thought that two-tracking would be started around the first of the year, give or take a month or two either side of New Year’s Day …
Maybe, given the way UP has been deploying their tracklaying gangs in the LA area for the past several years, that makes a lot of sense. Last year, at that time of the year, they laid yard tracks in the yard at Montclair, and (I think--I haven't the energy to look it up in the bowels of this encyclopedic thread) more the year before. During two years prior to that, one recalls they relaid the tracks in the arrival yard at the West Colton terminal--half of them one year, half the next. So for this year, presumably they've ticketed all or (more likely, in my view) some of the remaining single track along this stretch for conversion to two-track territory. Just a guess...
billioMaybe, given the way UP has been deploying their tracklaying gangs in the LA area for the past several years, that makes a lot of sense. Last year, at that time of the year, they laid yard tracks in the yard at Montclair, and (I think--I haven't the energy to look it up in the bowels of this encyclopedic thread) more the year before. During two years prior to that, one recalls they relaid the tracks in the arrival yard at the West Colton terminal--half of them one year, half the next. So for this year, presumably they've ticketed all or (more likely, in my view) some of the remaining single track along this stretch for conversion to two-track territory. Just a guess...
It is a possibility. IIRC the known plan was to build a new CP / crossover near Etiwanda Ave (MP 527.4) from which a second MT could be built west to CP North Ontario (MP 521.1) and east to CP Sierra (MP 532.5). The preparatory 'tells' besides obvious grading will be some new bridges west of Etiwanda and major surgery to antiquated Kaiser Yard to the east. Bad pun, but time will tell.
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! ***
A Day with Opposite Extremes
An exciting day was had Friday, July 3, 2015, and new things were seen from the San Gabriel Trench construction to the new Montclair facility here in Southern California. But, opposite extremes were had. Things went exceptionally well for gathering photos and information, but the photo results unfortunately have much to be desired (incorrect settings), but it is believed a few tricks can be used to make the photos presentable.
Three San Gabriel Trench related photos:
Rubio Wash (the new bridge is just right of center) is a stunning disaster zone of sorts, and is being torn apart!
New bridges are partially in use, such as at San Gabriel Blvd.
A supervisor type person was run into by Del Mar Ave., who conveyed exceptional tidbits about the construction, and its timing.
Boy, is there ever a tidbit on that above photo, and what it shows!
The presentation of the information and photos will be worked on as time permits, and hopefully, it can be posted in the next few days.
Take care, all,
Update as of Friday, July 3, 2015
The San Gabriel Trench Construction
San Gabriel, CA
Part “A” (of A-E, Overall A-P)
The Sunset Route and the San Gabriel Blvd. grade crossing was arrived at, and as expected, the EAST side traffic lanes over the new trench bridge were is service. Previously, the WEST side lanes for both northbound and southbound traffic were used while the east side bridge was being constructed.
A makeshift, barricaded sidewalk was used while the bridge’s east side (center) was being finished.
Looking east, nothing was seen.
Above, what caught K.P.’s eye were insulated joints a few hundred feet to the east, on the photo’s upper left, while NO signal or electrical box for such is present!
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-E, Overall A-P)
Two views looking westbound:
As in Part A, no need (“no need”) to head east was seen, so after a few westward photos (above), K.P. headed west to the now ex-Del Mar Ave. grade crossing, where the early stages of another bridge is being constructed.
Continued in Part C
The Del Mar Ave. Bridge Construction
Part “C” (of A-E, Overall A-P)
Upon arriving (north side), one sees a bright sign. Since the road is now closed at the tracks, one has to feel sorry for the burger joint.
The place probably has a base of loyal customers, but the establishment’s signs cater to the passersby that often are impulsive and will stop on a whim, and those customers are basically now gone.
Also upon arriving, one sees another makeshift pedestrian crossing. From the north side, looking south:
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-E, Overall A-P)
On the south side, looking eastbound, the new temporary shoofly walling (lower left):
Another eastward view:
The shoofly’s south crossing gate (and burial stand) is no longer needed.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-E, Overall A-P)
Looking west from the Del Mar Ave. pedestrian walkway, the westward south walling:
Workers brought over and placed a tent for unknown reasons, and parked it by the trench’s north walling.
Looking west, the north walling now had heavy cabling coming out of the holes.
About this time a supervisor of some authority with much knowledge of the project came by, and seemed concerned someone was taking photos that might be lawsuit minded. He very much warmed up when he was told I was only a railfan that came by once and a while documenting the project in a historian sense. Railroaders and railfans have a lingo all of their own and he could tell the difference!
When asked about that strange cabling, he said the cabling angled downward slightly for maybe 100 feet away from the tracks and was there anchored underground! So, the walling cables came towards the camera spaced apart equally way underground and by the street area.
The gentleman said in that way the construction people wouldn’t have to worry about the walling collapsing when the dirt was dug out from the trench. So, that is why the dirt has remained so long in the trench, to reinforce the walling until the cabling is in place and secure.
He also told me about a flurry of activity over at Rubio Wash (the place I passed up checking out between San Gabriel Blvd. and Walnut Grove Ave. to the EAST), and suggest the place should be visited. So, after going further west, the plan now was to check that out the Rubio Wash area too, towards the east.
Then he advised that trains will be running in the trench in just a year! His work would continue with finishing the project and cosmetic things for a year and a half past that! He was a cool, friendly guy, and would probably have talked with me longer, but he got a cell phone call about an issue, and since he was in change, had to go and take care of it.
--------
Continued in Parts F-I to be posted by (“by”) 6:00 P.M. (Pacific Daylight Time) on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, but may be posted up to nine hour early
Parts J-P will be posted by (“by”) 6:00 P.M. (Pacific Daylight Time) on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, but may be posted up to nine hour early
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