Comparing Routes for Signal Upgrades
Part A (of A-E)
Presently, roughly about 70% of the Sunset Route between Los Angeles, CA and El Paso, TX has been two-tracked. The far majority of that remaining 30% part has the old target signals, such as at CP SP841 PIEDRA (M.P. 840.9) …
… and CP SP624 MECCA (M.P. 624.6) …
A person could reason that the majority of the remaining part has not been upgraded to color light signals because they will when the Sunset Route two-tracking reaches those areas.
On January 21, 2013 K.P. traveled alongside a portion of the Los Angeles & Salt Lake (LA&SL) route, and the signaling was particularly observed. It was much the same as the Sunset Route, i.e., just target signals at control points (CP’s). Besides the style of target signals and masts, the only real difference is that the Sunset Route’s old intermediates were targets too, but the LA&SL intermediates were old color lights. CTC was installed on LA&SL’s Cima Hill in 1942, and much of the rest were installed circa that era also.
Continued in Part B
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
Part B (of A-E)
Several Select LA&SL Locations
At the WEST switch of the Sloan siding, Sloan, NV, at CP C314 SLOAN (M.P. 314.0) there were color lights, but that CP was the exception. A heavy telephoto:
Above, a number of years ago a train wreck creamed out the CP, and color lights replaced the target signals there. The signal is a strange case, for it doesn’t have a maintainer’s cage, like many old SP signal don’t!
Continued in Part C
Part C (of A-E)
At the next siding west, Erie, the east switch at CP C310 ERIE (M.P. 310.0):
As in the above and below photos, the line goes under the I-15 Freeway.
The west switch of Erie, at CP C308 ERIE:
Continued in Part D
Part D (of A-E)
The east switch of Jean, at CP C310 JEAN (M.P. 310.0):
This is all 70 M.P.H. territory, and 79 M.P.H. for UP’s E-unit dome trains.
The west switch, at CP C301 JEAN (M.P. 300.7): I-15 is the white line across the photo background.
Gambling is legal in Nevada, and casinos have long existed in the town of Jean.
But, that road on the bottom of the photo above … well, maybe the road’s name has a meaning for those that go beyond their gambling credit limit …
Seriously, Jean and K.P. don’t get along very well … 35 years ago no train came when K.P. was trackside. As soon as he left, you guessed it, TWO DDA40X’s came by in the rare elephant style format, both units facing forward. This trip, no train came until K.P. changed his camera battery! At least a going away shot was able to be obtained …
(Just a side note about telephone 800#’s, as in a couple of photos above: The number holders know WHO calls, if there are any would be pranksters among the forum!)
Continued in Part E
Part E (of A-E)
The Field siding is an interesting place. At the east end, by CP C183 FIELD.
A tied down train was in the Field siding, a favorite place to do so by UP.
In the first photo above, check out that electrical housing under the mast!
So, in a final analysis, both the LA&SL and Sunset Route (the single-track part anyway) has old signals. The difference is that target searchlight signals get converted to color lights in the two-tracking of the Sunset Route. It is unknown when the LA&SL will get color lights. In light of the proliferation of target signals still on the LA&SL, it has to be wondered if old target signals might be compatible with Positive Train Control after all.
Supposedly, in UP’s two Chicago-Los Angeles routes, the Central Corridor / LA&SL, and the Golden State / Sunset Routes, the LA&SL will see less traffic, and the Sunset Route more. The weakness, though, on the Golden State route is the lack of walkways on the many, many wooden bridges for when air hoses separate. A super-hot CEO E-unit special put in a siding for several hours while personal try to get to disconnected hoses may inspire a shift back to the LA&SL route!
-------------
On Wednesday, January 30, 2013 this forum contributor was able to check out very briefly the Ontario, CA area and photograph turnouts after / in assembly there, but still not installed. Hopefully, late tonight or tomorrow a few photographs can be posted.
It is interesting to see hundreds of the target signals being replaced with tri color signals. UP must have a large field with old target signals laying around. Does anyone know what they plan to do with them? Will they sell them to fans or what? I had a target signal from an abandoned section of the Katy (obtained legally) and had it working at our previous residence. When we moved I did not take it and am kicking myself ever since. The current owner does not want to part with it even though he is not familiar with it and is not a rail fan.
Update as of Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Part I (of I-II)
Ontario, CA
Just east of San Antonio Ave. in Ontario, near the west switch of the North Ontario siding, CP AL520 NORTH ONTARIO (M.P. 519.7), much of the switch parts there had been used to assemble one switch, and partially assemble another.
A west side view of San Antonio Ave.:
Steel ties are used at select locations within the otherwise concrete tied switch.
In comparing the top photo with the last one, it looks like formed steel plate ties are now used to protect the super important switch points’ throw-rod, possibly during a derailment.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-II)
Ontario and Colton, CA
At Bon View Ave. in Ontario, the northwest side has a lot of ballast dropped off now.
Looking east, there are a bunch of non-switch ties. The switch by Cucamonga Ave. in the distance still hasn't been cut in.
That evening K.P. finally was able to drop by the Colton Flyover site in Colton, and a wall is now being erected just west of the Rancho Ave. overpass. It was too dark for photos.
At the Colton Signal Dept. a mast in the secure fenced area was observed … and at an angle. It must be being prepared for installation somewhere in the area.
That area is hoped to be visited soon in the daytime for further investigation.
Replies … Part A (of A-B)
BarstowRick (1-25):
There was never a Pacific Electric line by 3rd Street on the north side of the old Norton Air Force Base. What you may be thinking of was the very long gone PE track on the south side of 6th Street that went east to Highland, way before even my time. The projected future Loop track is diagramed to partially following 3rd Street, however.
The term “Short Way” ONLY applies to the short ex-AT&SF track between today’s CP MT VERNON and CP RANA, and nothing else in the area. There used to be a PE track on the north side of the diagonal Colton Ave. (now Inland Center Drive) in Colton and San Bernardino. The below photos are of the old now gone bridge over I-215 by the Inland Center Mall.
That line that used to go over the I-215 Freeway is NOT the “Short Way,” and has never been so. That line did, however, cross the Sunset Route on 9th Street in Colton way before my time, where the Colton Flyover is under construction today. Photo reshown: Taken almost a year ago on February 12, 2012.
That single-track PE line had maybe seven diamonds at the Sunset Route crossing, and must have been a horrendously noisy affair! The saving grace on the crossing was that short trolley consists crossing north-south was the norm.
All this may bore the average “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” follower … Thus, if you have further questions about those tracks, BarstowRick, feel free to contact me directly at kpharrier@yahoo.com. Anyone else with any other Sunset Route issues, feel free to use that email address also.
Replies … Part B (of A-B)
BNSF6400 (1-27):
The tower northeast of the junction between the Long Way and the Short Way, just east of the Mt. Vernon Viaduct that UP trains “blasted thru” was the “A” Yard Tower, and didn’t use interlocking. The tower I was referring to in a recent post was West Yard Tower and the junction between the old Third District (by the “B” Yard) and the Second District. That did govern interlocking plants in the area.
The “should” in your last sentence I believe should be “shouldn’t.” (Don’t feel bad … I do that all the time …)
eolesen (1-29):
Great documenting series, Eric!
Your post photo quoted below …
eolesen
… hit me as a ton of bricks! The mysterious short rails by CP AL520 NORTH ONTARIO that I posted about recently …
… was to hold up an assembled switch as in your above first photo.
Immediately after seeing your photo series, I made the connection. Then, I remembered the big first photo in the Sunset Route article in the November 2007 TRAINS with such rails.
billio (1-31):
Is something happening at Sierra Blanca, TX? Did you mean Santa Teresa, NM? Or is something actually brewing now at Sierra Blanca?
ccltrains (1-31):
Santa Fe use to have a program where anyone with the bucks could buy one or more signals. One engineer bought up a whole bunch. It is unknown if UP has such a program.
There presently is a bunch of mast signals at Colton, CA.
You might call UP and see what they say … and share the info, pretty please …
Take care all,
K.P.
K. P. Harrier Replies billio (1-31): Is something happening at Sierra Blanca, TX? Did you mean Santa Teresa, NM? Or is something actually brewing now at Sierra Blanca?
Replies
Mea culpa. Semi-senior moment, I guess. Meant Santa Teresa, NM. Sorry.
To KP, BNSF and of course all who responded to my request and are tuned in here.
Now, I have a better understanding. At least I know what you are refrencing. Yep, railfans have always had a way of nicking everything on a railroad as did the Rails. To me the Short Way or Short Cut as my family of Rails called it started at the AT&SF B yard and ended at the AT&SF A Yard. No big deal you can call it what you want. I have no idea how from Rana through Riverside, Colton and ending in San Bernardino could be considered a "Short Way". Nothing short about it. That's ok. You just confused me for a bit. But don't be picking on how I write. Kaboom! Grin!
Out on the North Side of Norton, not on the property but either across the street or a street or two over, there is an abandoned ROW and roadbed that is still visible. Not part of the original AT&SF Redlands Loop. I've been trying to track down the former owners and have found nothing. I do remember there was talk of SP building tracks out to a rock quarry back when there was the Colorado River Flood that washed out a number of SP Bridges. Seems, I recall refrences to rock trains rumbling through parts of San Bernardino upsetting the residents with the noise.
Interesting developments with regard to SO Cal, IE, and the Sunset Route. Your tax dollar and stimulus money at work.
Thanks to all for sharing your editorials and graphics.
RickH
BarstowRick.com Model Railroading How To's
What a Day: A Teaser
On Tuesday, February 5, 2013, after finishing an assignment, K.P. had a bunch of free time … and a lot of photos were taken between Colton and Ontario, CA.
The Colton Flyover … From Rancho Ave. (on the flyover’s west side) looking east.
As seen above, the new walling (center to lower left) may only be freeway related, to shore up the embankment. In the background, the flyover’s cement flooring is getting higher!
Bait: The two new CP SP538 RANCHO boxes are no longer at the Colton Signal Dept., but rather at the new CP site …. And are a bit hard to photograph …
West of Mt. Vernon Ave., the flyover’s east slope: Note the orange-work.
West Colton Yard’s Receiving Yard in Bloomington-Fontana … Track 207 is being totally rebuilt … and is temporarily gone.
A December 5, 2012 reshown photo: Milliken Ave. Flyover in Ontario, with only the Main 2 bridging complete and in service.
The Main 1 bridging has been added and is now in place, but there is much, much left to do on that flyover …
… and the six-lane roadway under the flyover bridging is down to one lane in each direction (note the foreground area) … with a massive traffic jam resulting that seems to never end!
At this point in time it is unclear when more detailed postings can be presented. Composition may take a week or just a few days … if no surprise dispatches crop up for K.P. Stay tuned.
It looks like construction of the underpass at Nogales Street and the UP Los Angeles Subdivision will commence in April:
http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_22535527/construction-nogales-street-underpass-near-60-freeway-begin
EDIT: Here is an article that talks about the possibility of expanded passenger rail service from the Palm Springs area to Los Angeles. Apparently, there may be planned upgrades to the existing station at Garnet.
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130208/LIFESTYLES08/302080031/
Update as of February 5, 2013
Colton-Ontario, CA
Part I (of I-II), Section A (of A-L)
The Colton Flyover Area
An overview of the flyover’s EAST slope, from up on the north approach of the Mt. Vernon Ave overpass, looking westward.
A close-up of the orange upper structuring:
Three panel track sections are now stacked up by Mt. Vernon Ave.
Just above, note the flyover’s almost to the ground side walling (gray shadowing and whitish cement).
Part I, Section B (of A-L)
From the Mt. Vernon Ave. overpass approach still, it looks like a maintenance-of-way type switch has been brought to the site (center), switch stand and all.
Much construction activity transpires on the flyover itself. A morning fog is present.
A large dug-down area is now present (bottom) by Mt. Vernon Ave.
Part I, Section C (of A-L)
The left signal (of the present small CP) is on borrowed time, but the right signal is for the future big CP awaiting activation.
The two old short single-head mast signals will need replacement so as to be as the left one will be, with a lower head (not yet attached). Of course, maybe the track will be realigned, necessitating the delay.
You may remember the Santa Ana River currently separates TWO separate CP’s, CP SP540 MT VERNON (west side) and CP SP541 ICE DECK (east side). They are to be combined into ONE big CP SP540 MT VERNON. Reshown photos of the old CP SP541 ICE DECK side: The new east side CP SP540 MT VERNON box that is now present.
Part I, Section D (of A-L)
You also may remember the two CP boxes for CP SP538 RANCHO at the Colton Signal Dept.
Those two CP SP538 RANCHO boxes are gone, and replaced by a new box, one for the WEST side of the Santa Ana River, for the future CP SP540 MT VERNON.
A nighttime signal at the Colton Signal Dept. was previously shown. In daylight, two masts are present, with heads too.
Part I, Section E (of A-L)
The barbed wire fence part of the Colton Signal Dept. with reals of wire in it and the La Cadena Dr. new overpass in the background: Note the orange top sides of the flyover.
There are plenty of 18-wheel trailers still at the Colton Signal Dept. Note the background small crane yellow part lifting something by the bridges over the BNSF
Continued in Part F
Part I, Section F (of A-L)
From the southeast quadrant: Work continues on the bridging over BNSF’s Trancon.
Note the rebar-work on the right in preparation for the orange top walling part.
A Colton Crossing overview: The bridging (right) over the BNSF, the overpassing for the BNSF Connecter (northwest quadrant, left), and the Mt. Vernon Connector (southeast quadrant’s transition track, bottom).
Continued in Part G
Part I, Section G (of A-L)
Some southward views from Valley Blvd., the north side of the Flyover (and I-10):
In the first (top) photo above, note the partial view of the flyover bridging just below the freeway top bridging, better seen in the below telephoto:
Continued in Part H
Part I, Section H (of A-L)
From Rancho Ave. looking east at the flyover’s WEST end area:
The flyover cement-work (background) does not line up with the cement-work from Rancho Ave. (left), so that new construction may be to the reinforce the freeway onramp.
Continued in Part I
Part I, Section I (of A-L)
More of that shoring up activity and views:
Continued in Part J
Part I, Section J (of A-L)
Some views of that erected walling:
Continued in Part K
Part I, Section K (of A-L)
From Rancho Ave. still, a heavy telephoto of the west slope’s early concrete flooring:
Shiny silver wiring forms are hoisted up
A return to the site was made later that afternoon, and a bunch of those wire forms were laid every 20 feet of so for an unknown purpose.
Continued in Part L
Part I, Section L (of A-L)
While K.P. was still there the first time, everybody decided to zip away! It was unlikely that they were camera shy … Lunchtime was probably more like it.
For those that have wondered … K.P. has acquired great cardiovascular strength from the steep inclines necessary to take pictures from atop Rancho Ave.
Finally, about those two new CP SP538 RANCHO electrical boxes: The WEST box was spotted around the curve in the background at the far end of the concrete ties.
The EAST box is unseen in the above photo, but is below the line of sight about 100-feet west of the overpass, somewhere on the far lower left. It can be seen as one is getting off the eastbound freeway, but traffic conditions repeated made obtaining a photo for the forum impossible. Perhaps another time such can be had. But the east box is presently on the south side, away from the Mains, and even two-switching tracks separate the box from the Mains. It is unknown if they will be relocated later, but that seems unlikely.
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NEXT, Part II: A portion of West Colton Yard’s Receiving Yard is being rebuilt, and there are new happenings at the Milliken Ave. Flyover in Ontario, CA. Posting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 12, 2013 by 9 A.M. Pacific Time, but likely much earlier.
An important “A Surprise” immediately follows in a separate post.
A Surprise!
After documenting the Colton-Ontario, CA scene, California-based K.P. took advantage of another totally unexpected out of the blue opportunity and went off to Arizona to check that area out two-tracking-wise, and returned with plenty of additional photos and information!
Circumstances (the clock, etc.) did not work out as hoped in the Tucson, AZ area, and sadly only a small amount of two-tracking in that area was able to be photo-documented. As was on the long planned agenda, though, the 22nd Street overpass in Tucson was hiked up on twice (both traffic sides) and the scene there was photographed for the forum as much as possible, including something in THAT yard area very much related to the two-tracking of the Sunset Route!
On the way to Tucson a contact source in the Phoenix area was dropped-in on, and what the source conveyed to K.P. reprioritized the agenda a slight bit, and involved the CP crossovers at Red Rock, AZ. A few minutes after photographing that ‘something’ at Red Rock, UP was found to have totally infuriated someone in that area that it really should not have … and K.P. now envisions the possibility that the signaling in the area will be altered …
Also from the source, the universal crossovers at the new Sunset Route CP along I-8 between Sentinel and Stanwix was now in service, so a stop was made in that area as well.
In the far south of Southern California, much time was spent on the way back from Arizona. The Mesquite Landfill site’s new rusted trackage was visited near Glamis, CA, and the new branch track is crossed by three accessible ‘pubic’ dirt roads! Things are taking place fast with the grading and culvert-work in the Niland, CA area, and there is more to report than expected – something kind of presently invisible. i.e., not public yet. Quite a bit of time was also used up documenting the new 10 miles or so of two-tracking in the Salton Sea area.
Everything should be ready for posting between a few days to a week, and at this point in time it is unknown how many post days will be needed to cover the whole scene, probably two or three … or four …
Stay tuned!
This concrete fil has been bugging me to no end. I could not figure out why they would pour the worlds largest block of concrete. Finally I went to the SanBag site http://www.sanbag.ca.gov/projects/colton-crossing/Colton_IS-MND.pdf and read the following:
The cellular concrete retaining structure will consist of cellular concrete backfill faced with precast wall panels. Cellular concrete consists of concrete that is combined with a foaming agent that produces a high-strength lightweight concrete fill material. The cellular concrete is mixed on site in a special apparatus and pumped between the precast wall panels, which serve as outer forms and provide a protective outer layer for the cellular backfill upon completion. The lightweight cellular concrete is being utilized to reduce the mass of the flyover structure to limit potential long-term settlement due to unconsolidated subsoils and to enhance seismic performance of the structure. Each lift of cellular concrete has a depth of approximately 4 feet. Therefore, at each end of the flyover structure, conventional cast-in-place retaining walls with backfill will create a tapered transition to existing grade.
I can now sleep well.
And thanks KP and by the way. Looks if you took I-10 to the east from Rancho Ave and pulled over at the end of the on ramp, got out to check the front right tire (with your camera) you might be able to see a little closer view, hint hint, only if its safe to do so.
John
Part II (of I-II), Section A (of A-H)
West Colton’s Receiving Yard
Rebuilding Track 207
Bloomington-Fontana, CA
Previously, the north tracks of the Receiving Yard were rebuilt. This year it is the south track’s turn. Track 207 was completely gone. The views in this section were taken from Cedar Ave. in Bloomington, looking west.
Old dirt and possibly other rubble are loaded and carted away in a seeming endless stream.
Another east end westward look:
Continued in Section B
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