Update as of Saturday, March 23, 2013
Colton to Pomona, CA
Part “B” (of A-G; Overall A-N)
Very recently forum contributor rdamon posted this photo and attributed the date to March 17. Note the crane on the upper left.
rdamon
Just shy of a week later, K.P. was there and found the bridge spans were partially installed, with the crane taking the weekend off.
Continued in Part C
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 “C” (of A-G; Overall A-N)
The west slope’s side waling has dramatically gotten higher.
We now go over to the Rancho Ave. overpass about three blocks to the west, and see the sloping concrete-work.
An eastward telephoto head-on view:
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-G; Overall A-N)
The new, under construction freeway onramp is developing.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-G; Overall A-N)
Northward and Northeastward side views:
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of A-G; Overall A-N)
The sloping eastward freeway onramp will be right next to the sloping westward flyover.
As seen both in the above and below photos, the flyover’s far western end dirt filling is now complete.
The dirt filled part in contrast with the incomplete part on the lower right, incomplete because Main 1 (the left track) is presently in the way. .
Continued in Part G
Part “G” (of A-G; Overall A-N)
That flyover’s western incomplete temporary slope edge is starting to have temporary protective railing attached.
A source reports (unconfirmed) that sometime in June Main 1 will have been laid over the flyover, and will actually be in operation with trains using it!
We now move further west …
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Continued in Parts H through N to be posted Wednesday, March 27, 2013 by 2 A.M. PDT.
KP a question of how the double tracking affects the SUNSET ;
How much of the double tracking route is the daylight portions ( scheduled ) of the Sunset over double track as opposed to how much is still over single track ? I would think that as the daylight portions are finished the Sunset can have better timekeeping because it will not be delayed by work limits..
blue streak 1KP a question of how the double tracking affects the SUNSET ; How much of the double tracking route is the daylight portions ( scheduled ) of the Sunset over double track as opposed to how much is still over single track ? I would think that as the daylight portions are finished the Sunset can have better timekeeping because it will not be delayed by work limits..
I'm not K.P., but I'll take a shot:
Suffice it to say, California has "lost" with this new Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle schedule. Palm Springs is served in the middle of the night (when the target clientele is probably asleep), and who wants to wait at Pomona or Ontario at 10:45 on a Friday night?
blue streak 1I would think that as the daylight portions are finished the Sunset can have better timekeeping because it will not be delayed by work limits..
BTW they dodged a major bullet early Monday when (due to a meet) #2(24) slow rolled and then stopped over a brand new rail break at E Bertram; apparently MOW had it semi-repaired in less than two hours.
Q's for K.P. - any sign of cutting over the 'new' CP Rancho crossovers? Is the east part of the CC flyover ballast ready? TIA!
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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! ***
Mike, was the self-described "old man" DLW working 244 last night? He's always a hoot to listen to.
Mighty fine, thank you kindly, Clyde Acolita out!
Part “H” (of H-N; Overall A-N)
In the M.P. 527-528 area west of what has been known in the past as the Kaiser Yard is the Etiwanda Ave north-south vehicle overpass. A number of moons ago (September 4, 2010), the below eastward photos from Etiwanda Ave. were shot
From information supplied by forum contributor Clyde Acolita, apparently a new two-tracking CP will be put in at and extending on each side of Etiwanda Ave.
LINK: Aerial of Possible Future CP Location
In that aerial, just west of and adjacent to Etiwanda Ave. is the very unusual Loop Drive, probably little used except for railroad employees.
Below are two new eastward slanted ground views shot just west of the Loop Drive / Etiwanda Ave. overpasses, which likely will be right in the middle of the future CP.
At this point in time that future CP’s designation or location name is unknown. But, it seems the railroad may be breaking away from traditional area identities. As an example, information from Clyde suggests the Kaiser Yard is or will be called the South Fontana Yard. So, conjecturally, the new CP may be called simply CP ETIWANDA. Since Etiwanda Ave. also crosses the LA&SL a few miles to the south, maybe we should conjecture the new SP CP as CP NORTH ETIWANDA.
What speed crossovers the CP will utilize is also not known, but for this high speed territory No. 24 (50 M.P.H.) or No. 20 (40 M.P.H.) switches are possible. Of course, No. 15’s (30 M.P.H.) is a possibility too. If a mismatch of speeds are used, as in Casa Grande, AZ, UP has been using a pot signal for the slow route, which would work here because of the likelihood of trespasser signal tampering or damaging is very remote.
Continued in Part I
Part “I” (of H-N; Overall A-N)
The next future CP to the west is between and at Cucamonga Ave and Bon View Ave. all just to the east of the present east end of the North Ontario siding.
Some photos:
Continued in Part J
Part “J” (of H-N; Overall A-N)
Laid out in a field south of the tracks, just east of Bon View Ave., is a group of rails.
In recent times suchlike rails have been used underneath and at a 90 degree angle to an assembled switch so it can be ‘slid’ into and replace a mainline section of track. Forum contributor eolesen posted some great detailed photos (even a video) of such (on page 234) at the future CP SP970 SABINO in Arizona.
eolesen
A final view from Bon View Ave. of the future Main 1 signal just erected and a grade crossing gate..
K.P. conjecturally believes a possible name for this new CP is NORTH BON VIEW. There is a CP BON VIEW on the LA&SL just to the south.
Continued in Part K
Part “K” (of H-N; Overall A-N)
A brief detour away from the Sunset Route to the LA&SL a few blocks to the south is in order at this time. The LA&SL is the alternate Sunset Route via Riverside.
West of Bon View Ave. a bunch of CONCRETE ties had been staged so a WOODEN tied switch can be replaced. Two previously shown views of concrete ties on BOTH sides of a small electrical box:
The west ties …
The east ties …
The above views were from January 11, 2013.
Presently, those EAST side concrete ties are NOT present anymore, at least where they were!
Exactly what the disappearance of the east side of the box ties is all about is unknown and somewhat baffling.
Continued in Part L
Part “L” (of H-N; Overall A-N)
Back to the SP side again, at the WEST end of the North Ontario siding, where new 30 M.P.H. No. 15 turnouts have been installed, there are switches pertaining to some kind of staging area west of San Antonio Ave. Recently, a new, second, not in service main was laid. The branching off track to the left has had track laid TO the background left switch!
Another view:
Looking the other way, an eastward view a slight bit to the north, at the new 30 M.P.H. crossover:
Just above, note the big pile of ballast in the background. Even if a corresponding counterpart crossover is put in, or the present siding switch is removed, the pile of ballast seems inordinately mismatched for the CP. Time will tell what developpes.
The name of this new or revised CP is unknown. Possible names include Holly, Redwood, and Vine. San Antonio seems totally inappropriate because of a street by that name in Pomona. K.P. believes, however, the present name of North Ontario will remain. Again, time will tell.
The west end of whatever is being built (of a yard-like nature) is at a future CP by Monte Vista Ave. The Monte Vista name is very descriptive, and is a good candidate for a CP name. But, K.P. is inclined to believe it will still be North Montclair after the siding there now. The present names of North Ontario and North Montclair are well known to railroaders, so their retention as CP names seems likely. But, who knows.
Continued in Part M
Part “M” (of H-N; Overall A-N)
As we approach San Antonio Ave. in Pomona, still several blocks away, the tie laying machine is found, all by itself, and without the string of tie cars. The SP line is in the background, the LA&SL in the foreground.
The paralleling roadway is First Street (State Street farther east).
Continued in Part N
Part “N” (of H-N; Overall A-N)
We now move westward to San Antonio Ave. in Pomona, by CP AL515 RESERVOIR (SP, left) / CP C033 WO TOWER (LA&SL, right).
This view shows how close the tie laying machine is to San Antonio Ave. in Pomona,
Ooh … Nab that trespasser above!
A heavy telephoto:
A bunch of ballast (left) is by the east end of CP AL515 RESERVOIR.
The visible switch (lower right, above) will be done away with in this two-tracking.
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This will conclude this update.
How much, if any, of the Sunset Route is double tracked east of El Paso to Sierra Blanca where the Dallas and Houston lines split? Is there any significant double tracking on either line east of Sierra Blanca?
ccltrains How much, if any, of the Sunset Route is double tracked east of El Paso to Sierra Blanca where the Dallas and Houston lines split? Is there any significant double tracking on either line east of Sierra Blanca?
Ten miles of recently-laid second main in the Midland area is all that I know of on the T&P between Sierra Blanca and Fort Worth. There is additional second track through the Metroplex. There are several sidings on the line. Not a lot of traffic, compared to west of El Paso.
John Timm
The Sunset Route is doubled track east of El Paso for only a few miles to the east side of town past the small yard at Alfalfa. Its all single track until thru Sierra Blanca and Del Rio ending when double track starts on the west side of San Antonio. Its double track thru San Antonio and then it is single track again all the way to the Houston suburbs.
The old T&P route from Sierra Blanca to Dallas-Fort Worh is only double track in Midland as the previous poster stated. This side gets more traffic than the Sunset Route does and the switch at Sierra Blanca has been reconfigured to make the T&P the "straight" route thru the junction switch. The T&P has come a long way since the late 1980's and early 1990's when only one pair of lonely trains used the line.
Quick update on the Peck Road underpass under the LA&SL tracks in Whittier/City of Industry area:
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_22868877/work-at-peck-road-underpass-north-whittier-slowed
Update as of Thursday, March 28, 2013
Colton, CA Area Happenings
Part I (of I-VI)
Those at the forum may remember the following photo shot by the Colton Signal Dept. back on March 4, 2013, less than a month ago.
The signal bridging, possibly of a cantilever design, was NOT there anymore!
A visit was made to the CP SP540 MT VERNON area, the future CP that will encompass both sides of the Santa Ana River, and the signal bridging part did NOT appear to be present there.
Its whereabouts thus is not known.
However, on the west side of the Santa Ana River, by the present CP SP540 MT VERNON, a new mast was erected (center).
It was south of the Mt. Vernon Connector track (the two far left new and old signals below), so will be used for the Connector, the southeast quadrant track by Colton Crossing.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-VI)
Looking west from the Mt. Vernon Ave. bridge area, the east slopes north top orange walling and top railing seem completed.
The south walling, of course, is the temporary, makeshift fencing until the present Main 1 is out of the way by being laid over the flyover itself.
There were numerous trucks moving onto and off of the relatively now cleared pathway over the flyover.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-VI)
Just a slight bit off topic …
From by the Mt. Vernon overpass area, on the south side and westward, was a large amount of laying down windmill structures in preparation for being transported.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-VI)
At the Colton Crossing itself, a BNSF westbound passes (leftward). The flyover has the top orange siding installed.
On top of the orange material is now shiny, sun-reflective metal protective railing.
A crane is now on the SOUTH side of the Sunset Route trackage and west of the Transcon.
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-VI)
With the camera in the southwest quadrant area now … A relatively close-up of that yellow crane.
More bridge spans are in place, but there is more to be installed.
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-VI)
The Pepper Ave. Overpass was visited over a mile and a half to the west. Looking east, the two switching tracks (top two) were red flagged and work was taking place by them.
Above, Main 2 is the lower, leftmost track. Main 1 is unseen and is about a block or two to the north (left).
A strange sight was seen: A flatbed truck trailer with concrete ties on it.
Obviously, something will take place by Main 2 or the Balloon Track, but what is unknown at this time …
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This will conclude the series.
Update as of Sunday, March 31, 2013
Montclair-Pomona, CA
Part A (of A-E)
After a Sunday afternoon assignment, K.P. could do as he pleased, and checked out the nearby Milliken Ave. Flyover in Ontario. Some roadway lanes thereat are still closed, but it can be reported much progress has transpired. There was nothing new or significant by both Bon View Ave. and San Antonio Ave. (Ontario).
The Central Ave. overpass was hiked up onto, and an eastward view was shot of the ex-SP Sunset Route and the two-tracking there.
Above, note that the newly laid track does NOT connect to the east end of the North Montclair siding.
Looking west, note the Monte Vista Ave. grade crossing towards the bottom. Also, beyond the siding, in the background, the future Main 2 is on a slightly different alignment than the siding is.
Continued in Part B
Part B (of A-E)
South a ways on the Central Ave. overpass, looking east at the LA&SL yard: A NON-spring frog switch is on the siding (center of bottom, second track from the right). To see such is highly unusual for a railroad where spring frog switches are standard.
Recently, MikeF90 mentioned how a building was torn down between Central Ave. (camera location) and the yard area. Perusing file photos, the following August 24, 2009 photo was found that showed that private outfit’s building.
Part C (of A-E)
At Monte Vista Ave., apparently the old crossing gate’s mechanism base is still present.
A frog is now on the west side of Monte Vista Ave.
A view looking east:
Looking west:
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