Update as of Friday, January 20, 2012
A Salton Sea Area Report
Part I (of A-J)
The bridge leg framing (dark) seems complete.
If it is complete, there is no rivets or overlapping bracings, just I-beams cross-welded together.
Continued in Part J
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 J (of A-J)
We now arrive at the new, future CP location. Everything was quite, and no one was around.
In the above photo, note that the signal mast on the right has a lower head. So, the Ferrum siding is only a few mile to the east (right). The new CP could be named that.
But, looking west, a similar lower head signal is present (upper photo left), in advance of the Mortmar siding.
In that just above photo, a "Mecca Beach" sign is along the road.
So, possible CP names for the graded land in the top, first photo could be MORTMAR, FERRUM, MECCA BEACH, and, as alluded to previously, CORVINA BEACH. Of course, something totally off the wall may have already been chosen. The future CP in the top photo will probably be the end of two-tracking westward for the time being. So, since the Mortmar siding to the west will still be in service, the CP name MORTMAR is unlikely. Since there is a Mecca siding a number of miles to the west, the name Mecca Beach seems unlikely too. K.P. still thinks the name Corvina Beach will be used, but that is yet to be seen.
This Part J will conclude the "A Salton Sea Area Report" series.
Hello all,
A quick note on the double tracking of the Alhambra Subdivision west of West Colton Yard. Today (1/25/12), a Union Pacific work train was using air dump cars to dump clean fill dirt on the south side of the tracks between CP AL533 SIERRA and CP AL531 SOUTH FONTANA. There are two tracks here, a single main track on the north and a yard lead on the south. A second yard lead on the south and a new main on the north are planned. Yesterday there was significant grading work in the same area on the south side. No obvious work on the north side yet. The dumped dirt appears to be placed in low spots in the already cleared right-of-way. Looks like work between Kaiser Yard and West Colton is starting to ramp up.
RLK
Update as of Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Milliken Ave. Flyover Is Now Looking Like a Flyover
Ontario, CA
Part I (of I-IV)
Unexpected circumstances brought K.P. to the Milliken Ave. Flyover construction site the afternoon of the above date, and what a surprise was found!
Milliken Ave. now has the railroad bridges over it! An eastward view from the north side:
According to the SANBAG website, on Monday and Tuesday January 23 and 24, 2012, Milliken Ave. was closed between 9 P.M. and 5 A.M. (assumedly the next morning).
As seen above, one south, far side girder (photo center) was not placed, thus the effort was not totally finished.
That lone girder was lying in the center construction area of Milliken Ave.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-IV)
Under the structure:
The west support is presently standing alone (right, note the far right sky).
A pathway is now present for the flyover's west side. View looks west from the north side.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-IV)
As seen from the south side:
A yellow crane and its weights, as seen from the west side of Milliken Ave. The uninstalled girder rests on a truck-trailer in the center of the roadway area.
A northward view from the southeast side:
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-IV)
A northward view from the southeast quadrant's business parking lot:
The big crane behind the grade crossing control box:
The bigness and thickness of the sole not installed yet concrete girder that is resting in the center cordoned off area of Milliken Ave.:
With most key bridge parts installed over Milliken Ave., the project is getting away from a strange walling look, but appears more and more like a flyover now.
K. P. Harrier Update as of Wednesday, January 25, 2012 The Milliken Ave. Flyover Is Now Looking Like a Flyover Ontario, CA Part IV (of I-IV) The big crane behind the grade crossing control box:
They need all of those counterweights just to lift that outhouse?
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)
Our daughter's father-in-law (whatever the correct name is for that relationship) teaches crane safety - I'll have to send that one to him - thanks !
- Paul North.
The large "girders" are ornamental and may serve to contain stone ballast; but otherwise do not seem to be a structural load-bearing member from the top photo.
John Kluender (1-23):
Greetings, John!
Thank you for the informative post on the Picacho area of Arizona. Also, welcome to forum contributing! Your first post was absolutely dazzling!
However, that first post sent K.P. into a totally freakish tailspin and I thought my flight was going to smash headfirst right into the ground! I thought my life was over. But, I was able to recover my flight at the last moment ... and I lived to post this reply!
Seriously, your post, John, was in fact the absolute truth! But, it may NOT have been the real truth, as crazy as that may sound!
Watch for a post series in the next few days entitled, "Unscrambling What Doesn't Make Sense." A few aerial views of crossover areas in Arizona will be linked, and the presentation case arguments will even bring in a photo of UP's Central Corridor in Nebraska.
This has been a real educational learning experience for K.P., and you and the forum may find the reply likewise when reading the posts in a few days.
As far as "V" crossover arrangements, most of the ones I've seen on the Sunset Route two-tracking are rather consistently of the inverted V type, or an upside-down V, with the close switches to the north (traditional diagram top), and farther away switches to the south.
An actual example of the inverted "V" at CP SP598 RIMLON in the Thousand Palms area of California's Lower Desert is illustrated: A westward view of Mains 2 and 1 (left to right), with north to the right.
Anyway, stay healthy, John, and again, welcome to forum contributing.
desertdog (1-23):
Concerning that "full mast signal west of SR 87" that 'leads' you "to believe" "is there to stay" may in fact stay there. Aerials indicate that a future spur or siding there would be so short in length that a locomotive would have no chance of gaining any significant speed to junction into the mainline, so a special (read more costly) pot signal would probably be unnecessary.
BNSF6400 (1-25):
That was a great report on the West Colton Yard area. Thanks so much.
Believe it or not, BNSF6400, I actually saw the ballast train from I-10 that you reported seeing. I thought it was related to the rebuilding of the Receiving Yard tracks, and there was no time to check matters out. So, it was enlightening news that the ballast train was for activity WEST of Sierra Ave.
Now that the advertising signs are gone, I guess UP is indeed 'ramping up' activity in the Fontana area.
Best,
K.P.
PS: It has been noticed that some of your posts have no text in them. If you, BNSF6400, want to delete such a blank post, while signed it, click the mouse over "More" on the post's upper right and WAIT for a pop down to spring up, then hit "Edit" and delete accordingly.
01/27/2012 Update on Alhambra Sub Double Tracking:
The dumping of fill dirt on the south side of the tracks between SIERRA and SOUTH FONTANA continues with work progressing westward from SIERRA. As of Friday, they were focused in the area under the Citrus Avenue overpass. This fill dirt is originating from the Receiving Yard track project at West Colton, loaded into about 15 air dump cars and moved about one mile and dumped. However, the detailed grading work being done with this dirt makes me believe that this is more than just a dumping spot...I believe UP killed two birds with one stone by using the extra fill dirt for double track work west of SIERRA. I pass over each overpass (except Citrus Ave) in Fontana at least twice each day, so I will post an update every couple of days with any observations I may see.
K.P.:
Thanks for the comment about the blank posts...I can't for some reason post anything to this forum from Internet Explorer, no matter what I type, it just shows as a blank posting. I am using Google Chrome now and it seems to be fine (I still can't delete the blank post as there is no delete post option after you press Edit).
KP
Your photo of the Milliken flyover appears to not be complete as there appears to be rebar sticking out the left side. I assume an "artistic" column will be installed there as on the right but I assume the existing main must be removed before the column can be built. Am I correct in this assumption?
Unfortunately I live in Texas, 1,500 miles east of the Sunset route double tracking. I would like to visit the work but the drive would be a killer. We live on a lake and the highway department is building a new bridge over it. I have watched the installation of the beams as you have done for the flyovers. The work here is a little different. The 60 foot beams arrive on trucks that are driven on to a barge to be towed to the construction site. At the site two cranes on barges lift the beam into place. Then the barge returns with the empty trailer and it drives off the barge for the trip home. Alas all the beams have been installed and now it is the non exciting installation of the panels and pouring the concrete driving surface.
Replies ...
BNSF6400 (1-27):
An area observer willing to post updates about the Fontana, CA area is great news! Your upcoming posts are eagerly anticipated.
Concerning browsers ...
Everything was fine with Internet Explorer until I ungraded to the latest version. Now, it is a nightmare for posting to the trainsmag.com forum. I've had problems with Google Chrome too. Firefox usually ("usually") works great, so I post with that.
My oldest boy, who last year got a computer science Bachelor of Science degree, says the trainsmag.com website is now a piece of junk, and that it is becoming incompatible with all the new browser upgrades. If true, Kalmbach is going to have to come to grips with the situation, as a website meant to attract customers willing to buy Kalmback products and offerings, and generate goodwill, is going to eventually alienate those people, many of which do have money in hand ... Anyway, I suggest giving Mozilla Firefox a try. It usually ("usually") works just fine.
ccltrains (1-28):
Ah, Texas! Big state to drive across! But, I've only been in El Paso ...
Yes, you are correct, the Milliken Ave. Flyover in Ontario, CA is incomplete with rebar sticking out to the north, and will be incomplete for months. Once trains are using the single-track flyover, a duplicate flyover will be built alongside it so that the single-track flyover will become a two-track structure.
About "Unscrambling What Doesn't Make Sense"
The above title posting concerning the Picacho, AZ area will be in two parts, and should be posted by 9 A.M. (PST) Sunday, January 29, 2012.
As a teaser ...
The FIRST installment of a 'half a track' Arizona posting series (that could take months to complete on an erratic, loose schedule as time and travel permits) is in the works ...
Everyone take care,
To all users of Internet Explorer who are having problems:
The cure for the blank posting with Internet Explorer is to go to the top of the page where the URL shows, and click on the icon that is supposed to look like a sheet of paper torn in half, between the magnifying glass and refresh arrow.
That puts IE into "compatability" mode and it works fine with the forums.
This message has been posted with IE8, though I usually use Google Chrome now.
John Kluender, good to see you on the forum.
KP, great pics thanks for the update.
BNSF6400, great info on the Alhambra DT, I was just out there yesterday also.
~~~~~~
I was able to get some pics of the construction going on for the new fly-over that will be built at the Colton diamonds, while out yesterday. It's been pretty busy in the area lately with plenty of RR workers / contractors working away as the trains continue to roll through. More info on the project here.Update - Pictures from 1/27/12Looking West from Rancho Avenue (about a 1/2 mile West of the diamonds), showing some grading work.
Looking West Rancho by cabcar3, on Flickr
Looking East now, from Rancho Ave. The Union Pacific tracks can be seen in the foreground, with the BNSF tracks crossing over in the distance.
Looking East Rancho by cabcar3, on Flickr
Now on the other side looking West from Mt Vernon Avenue, about a mile from the diamonds.
Looking West Mt Vernon by cabcar3, on Flickr
All pictures can be seen together if you like, here.
That's it for now, comments welcome, --Robert
Robert / cabcar, fine pics and thanks for posting on this extensive topic. Hopefully we're saving K.P. some gas money for filling in the investigative holes.
Some pics were taken today of the construction along the Los Angeles sub near PHIMF (MP 13).
Looking east from Workman Mill road is a new temporary fence and new transmission towers all the way to the other side of SR-60 - a long siding and probably a control point will be installed here.
Looking west from Workman Mill Road, it appears that the existing mains will be shifted slightly south. In the distance is a large dirt pile (borrow pit?) at the SE corner of the future PHIMF yard.
Along Workman Mill Road a newly built access road runs underneath WMR and, eventually, under a new RR bridge to the PHIMF.
To the west at Peck Road prep has finally started for the new RR bridge(s). Inexplicably, the narrower north edge is being worked first. The second pic shows only about eight feet from the bridge pier to the fence line! The third pic shows the much wider ROW south edge. Hmmm.
EDIT - just noticed that the hole drilling machine auger appears to be the same diameter as the new transmission towers, including the new one on the east edge of Peck Road (compare to old Street View). Apparently more towers must be replaced / relocated.
E
More related pics are available on the same linked Flickr photostream.
TTFN, Mike
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! ***
Unscrambling What Doesn't Make Sense
The Picacho Area of Arizona
Part A (of A-B)
A few days ago John Kluender posted about current two-tracking happenings in the Picacho area of Arizona. Mr. Kluender's post was informative, to say the least. But, it was troubling to K.P. as it didn't jive, or match, what K.P. had personally observed (and photographed) a few months earlier, in November 2011.
The switches and crossovers at the new CP SP938 EAST PICACHO and SP943 WYMOLA do in fact have a Special Instructions speed listing of 40 M.P.H. That IS actually the way it is! But, a listing or instruction does NOT physically make a 50 M.P.H. switch a 40 M.P.H. switch!
PHOTO #1:
A couple of miles east of the new CP SP943 WYMOLA universal crossovers are the new advance intermediate signals. It is unknown if these signals have been activated or not, but K.P. is inclined to believe they have not. Those signals are illustrated in the below previously shown photo, with west to the left.
(K.P. must have previously been blind as a bat, because he just noticed at posting time that the track is north of the signals, and not between them!)
Those new mast signals have lower westbound heads! Such lower heads on the Sunset Route are common and are generally utilized to display yellow over green for a 50 M.P.H. crossover route a couple of miles ahead.
PHOTO #2:
This is what the ahead new, now in service CP SP943 WYMOLA looked like just a few months ago (before it was activated) in a never before posted photo.
PHOTO #3:
The new east CP signals were just west of the old CP and target signals.
Because of the lower heads in Photo #1 the crossovers in Photo #2 were presumed to be of the 50 M.P.H. type.
Interestingly, the grading for the new CP SP943 WYMOLA ...
Wymola Aerial
... is basically the SAME length as CP SP887 ENID is, a known CP with 50 M.P.H. crossovers.
Enid Aerial
Enid is the first double-crossers CP a number of miles west of Maricopa, AZ.
Of course, the lower headed masts in Photo #1 could have been incorrectly installed. K.P., however, does NOT believe an incorrect installation is the case in the Picacho-Wymola area.
As Mr. Kluender likened in his post, the new Main 2 between CP SP938 EAST PICACHO and CP SP943 is like a long siding, a 4.1 mile stretch. That would dictate one intermediate signal set between the two CP's.
Continued in Part B
Part B (of A-B)
Traditionally, UP uses just a flashing yellow indication in advance of 40 M.P.H. CP crossovers (and turnouts).
On UP's Central Corridor (including the triple-track section in Nebraska), crossover speeds are only 40 M.P.H., and the CP locations, while long, are NOT as long as the 50 M.P.H. CP's on the Sunset Route.
PHOTO #4:
In the below Kearney, NE eastward view shot from 2nd Ave. with the 22nd St. overpass in the background, note particularly the ONE HEAD intermediate signal for Main 2 (center track) in the photo's center. If the switch way ahead was in reversed with a red over green, that center intermediate would be flashing yellow.
So, in Arizona, IF an intermediate signal displays yellow over green (remember Photo #1), the signaled crossover ahead can NOT be for a 40 M.P.H. speed! Theoretically, it could display yellow over yellow in advance of a 40 M.P.H. crossover, but that historically hasn't been used, but rather, only a flashing yellow as described above.
PHOTO #5:
Back in early November of last year, UP was laying track between Wymola and Picacho.
A month and a half later, mainline trains were actually using that newly laid track! What a short lead time! The laid track between CP SP927 TOLTEC and the Picacho area is still not in service, even after months and months!
Perhaps that newly laid track did NOT go through a settling period, but was rushed into service. Maybe ("Maybe") the initial lower crosser speed is to allow time for the track to settle ...
The east end of the old Picacho siding is now a new CP SP938 EAST PICACHO. The not in service yet CP SP937 PICACHO logically would be at the junction of the Phoenix Line. Logically, too, a CP SP something WEST PICACHO is in order. But, if a relook is made at desertdog's wife Susan's wye photo (below) ...
desertdog
... there is now a new mast signal by the future to be relocated west leg of the wye! Will that signal location be the CP WEST PICACHO? Or, maybe it will be called just WEST WYE, or something similar, and the real CP WEST PICACHO would be closer to the community of Eloy. At this point in time, things are up in the air as where what will be.
PHOTOS #6 and #7:
K.P. sees a problem too with the SOUTH west facing eastbound intermediate signal (right) by Sunshine Rd. in Eloy.
That south mast has a stem for a lower head! Typically, that would allow for a yellow over green in advance of a 50 M.P.H. crossover ahead, whatever the ahead (towards the east) CP will be called. So, again, signaling doesn't seem to support a 40 M.P.H. crossover towards the east of Eloy. As said previously, an incorrect mast arrangement may have been put up, like installers putting up what they've been putting up and not reading the orders. Or, maybe there is some type of new signal aspects, or matters haven't developed enough to get the big picture of the area.
Some type of official word would be helpful in settling the matter. Until at least then, I see big question marks for the Eloy-Picacho-Wymola area, because the onsite signals don't seem to match the Special Instructions ... But, in my opinion, the 40 M.P.H. speed turnout Special Instruction is only temporary, and eventually will be listed as 50 M.P.H. in agreement with the signal heads of the area ... IF those new lower heads are still there ...
We will just have to wait, though, and see what develops.
Update as of Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Milliken Ave. Flyover
At the Milliken Ave. Flyover in Ontario, the previously shown incomplete bridging (far right) with the uninstalled part in the center of the street staging area (left) ...
... had that final span section installed.
On a Sunday without construction activity, a better view of the west support could be had.
The recently dug path seems ready for the gap in flyover construction to start to be filled.
Leaving the area, K.P. was hoping for a red stop light so a view of the final installed piece over Milliken Ave. could be had ... and this is just what K.P. got!
West of the West Colton Yard's Receiving Yard
Fontana, CA
BNSF6400 had reported activity WEST of West Colton Yard's Receiving Yard. In K.P.'s scrambling around he exited the 10 Freeway at Citrus Ave., and sure enough, UP had some kind of train with cars that could be angle-tilted to dump its load, possibly dirt. Returning to the Citrus Ave. overpass about an hour later after figuring out how that train could quickly be photographed, it was gone! Nevertheless, a grab shot was taken westward from Citrus Ave. while momentarily waiting for the traffic light to change to green.
Because of a four-track signal bridge west of Sierra Ave. (a mile to the east) it has been anticipated UP would eventually lay another switching lead through the Citrus Ave. area. UP may be taking steps to do that now. BNSF6400 has indicated he is in this area frequently and would update us ...
The Colton Flyover
Colton, CA
While it probably is not surprising, convenient access to the Colton Flyover construction area has disappeared very quickly. In the below photo shot from Valley Blvd., the Sunset Route is the background cross tracks, with Arizona and New Mexico to the left. The Colton Crossing diamonds area and old not used anymore BNSF Transcon signal bridge is on the right.
With access difficult now, K.P. went to 9th and "K" Streets, across the tracks from the old Colton Depot that was very recently torn down.
A stylish wood-looking project office had been brought in and seems to have been placed near or at the old depot site.
Parked water trucks were onsite west of the Skanska office.
A bunch of yellow grading equipment was parked east of the new office, east of 9th Street.
South of the tracks was a large, traction-belted digging machine.
As cabcar so kindly showed us with his just-a-few-days-ago photos, the Colton Flyover construction is really starting to have series progress now.
K.P. did two things at once in his dispatch to the Fontana area, and managed to squeeze in three railroad areas of project activity in his under the gun scrambling around on a Sunday when two of three projects were quiet and the equipment was having its weekly weekend rest.
Rebuilding activity at West Colton's Received Yard and grading west of there was in high gear, even on a Sunday.
KP-
I note in several of your great photos you show an offset. Why would UP do this? I assume the sharpness of the offset is the result of a long telephoto picture. Otherwise it would be a 10 mph offset.
Keep up the great photos and reporting. Being in Texas I enjoy getting the skinny on an interesting project that is too far away to visit personally.
Arizona's Two and a Half Sunset Route Tracks
Inspired by the television sitcom "Two and a Half Men" (the child being the half of a man), a loose, and very sporadic post series on the Phoenix Line (the half of a Sunset Route "track") is planned. It could take a few months to a year to complete, possibly even more. The first installment will deal with the far western several miles of the line, and will be posted by 6:00 A.M. Saturday, February 4, 2012.
cacole (1-28):
Thanks for the tip on getting Internet Explorer to work for posting here at the forum!
I can't believe my 'knows everything' son did not know about the icon button "that is supposed to look like a sheet of paper torn in half, between the magnifying glass and refresh arrow."
I guess part of my problem is NOT having time to find and read the instructions ...
cabcar (1-28):
Great Colton Flyover updating photos, Robert! With a minimum of photos, they told the story very, very well.
MikeF90 (1-28):
The photo update on the City of Industry area Puente Hills Intermodal Facility (PHIMF) trash train effort was certainly appreciated, and shows there is progress there as well. Nice work, Mike!
ccltrains (1-31):
I think the "offset" you spoke about is what I term-explain as a track alignment shift, a sort of jog in the track. Usually those are at track speed, so there is no train slowing for them.
Speaking of jogs ... Back on April 25, 2009 UP was found to have temporarily put in a severe jog by Pepper Ave. at West Colton Yard, Colton, CA, and trains were limping through it!
But, outside of abnormal, temporary jogs like that, alignment shifted track jogs are pretty much at regular track speed.
About your 'big' Texas area, ccltrains, I take it all the fires are out by now, the State did get badly needed rain, and the Sunset Route therein survived all the smoke and drought ...
The Picacho Problem.
After studying the above photo a few more times, it appears that revising the track layout at Picacho is going to be a complicated proposition and may explain why the new main #1 through Toltec and Eloy has sat unused for as long as it has. That said, one or more of the following has to happen:
1) Future track #2 needs to be constructed to permit traffic to continue through the site.
2) If not track #2, then what is apparently track #3 would temporarily serve the same purpose.
3) Once either of the above happens, the current main will have to be dismantled and rebuilt to the left of the current alignment. I don't believe it can just be shoved over where it needs to be, and moreover, it is laid with wooden ties that will have to be replaced anyway.
4) Some temporary provision has to be made to keep the west wye leg connection intact. Or, in this day of distributed power, Phoenix Sub trains could use the east leg and simply switch control from one end of the train to the other once they get on the main.
Just some food for thought.
John Timm
@desertdog - said another way, completing the presumed universal crossover at 'West Picacho' first should make Picacho wye cutovers simpler I would think. It appears that they stlll haven't cleared the ROW completely for the new second main.
It also occurred to me that a remote controlled model aircraft with camera would be useful in scoping out some of these construction mysteries - perhaps someone in one of these clubs could be persuaded to join the fun!
Mini PHIMF update - an Imperial Valley newspaper article states that the trash-via-rail project will come on line later (2013) due to less urgent need short term. Nevertheless, local UP road channels have become busier over the last week regarding ROW work between CP C011 and C019.
The latest Sunset Route single track mileage tally:Total 'milepost' miles (Los Angeles MP 483 to El Paso MP 1298) = 815Remaining single track, mileposts are rounded, priorities are SWAGs* based on forum on-site observers:- CP Alhambra MP 488 to CP Spadra MP 510X (low priority, parallel LA sub 2MT) = 22 miles- CP Spadra MP 510X to CP Sierra MP 533 (medium priority) = 23 miles- CP Thermal MP 620 to CP Cactus MP 715 (high priority) = 95 miles- CP Araz MP 724 to CP Araz Jct MP 726 (low priority, unknown issue) = 2 miles- CP Colorado MP 732 to CP Yuma MP 733 (low priority, expensive new bridge) = 1 mile- CP East Yard MP 738 to CP Fortuna MP 743 (medium priority) = 5 miles- CP Blaisdell MP 747 to CP Dome MP 753 (medium priority) = 6 miles- CP Wellton MP 771 to CP Stanwix MP 819 (medium priority) = 48 miles- CP Sentinel MP 831 to CP Estrella MP 876 (medium priority) = 45 miles- CP Toltec MP 927 to CP East Picacho MP 938 (high priority) = 11 miles - CP Wymola MP 942 to CP Stockham MP 979 (high priority) = 37 milesEstimated single track remaining = 295 milesPercent remaining = 36%SWAGs = Super Wild A** Guesses
The Phoenix Line -- WEST
Part "A" (of A-J)
The Phoenix Line in Arizona is in a way similar to the Los Angeles & Salt Lake (LA&SL) line in California. Many Sunset Routes trains are routed over the longer LA&SL between Colton, CA and Los Angeles. A super big difference with the Phoenix Line, though, is that the western end of the line is currently mothballed; but some sense that when traffic builds up on the actual Sunset Route, the Phoenix Line will be used for overflow traffic.
K.P. senses that the Phoenix Line would be especially useful in flow-restricting cases, such as a train limited to a slow speed that would cause havoc with ten fast westbound trains meeting ten fast eastbound trains on the future regular TWO-TRACK Sunset Route.
K.P. also senses that Amtrak's Sunset Limited (Nos. 1 & 2) will never return to the Phoenix Line.
This particular WEST series will be conveyed on a west to east basis, starting at Wellton, AZ where the Phoenix Line branches off from the actual Sunset Route at M.P. 770.8. Looking westbound at that junction:
The above photo, as well as the next one below, taken of September 5, 2009, were previously shown. Looking east from the same Los Angeles Ave. / Old US Highway 80 overpass, the mothballed line has much drainage damage.
Continued in Part "B"
Part "B" (of A-J)
In a couple of never before posted file photos from the same 2009 date shot from the same overpass ...
In a westward view, the Phoenix line has a purple "D" disked derail on a mild yellow, of all colors, switch stand near the junction. (Presumably, it is still yellow now in 2012.)
A telephoto eastward:
The closed line that once hosted Amtrak's Sunset Limit had water drainage mud on it and little ballast is visible.
Continued in Part "C"
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