The Arizona Roundtrip
Part V, Section “B” (of A-F)
Mobile to Estrella, AZ
In the Mobile-Estrella area … At Mobile is a CTC siding exclusive to Main 1.
An east end ‘freakish’ view, at CP SP884 MOBILE (M.P. 883.9).
Above, the Main 1 east side westbound signal almost lines up with the west side eastbound siding signal, the Main 2 both directions signal freakishly lines up with Main 1’s west side eastbound signal. A ballast train is in the Mobile siding.
Main 1 had a stopped train on it with a DPU and had encountered some type of delaying problem.
A spur track parallels the two mains and siding, and has separate bridging.
At the west end of the Mobile siding, at CP SP882 MOBILE (M.P. 882.1), that westbound train’s head end was stopped, and power was being switch around. Only the siding and Main 1 signals are seen, with Main 2’s intermediate out of view on the right.
Continued in Section 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 V (of I-VI), Section “A” (of A-F)
We now move all the way over to between CP SP887 ENID (M.P. 777.2) and CP SP884 MOBILE (M.P. 883.9). There are spurs on both sides of the mains. A two-unit power set was in Main 2’s spur.
The short poled two-bulb signals are “entrance signals” that confirm a dispatcher’s verbal clear track authority to a train to enter the main. The above three photos are a classic example never before posted in this thread. Those signals are irrelevant to setout or pickup moves, but are for power parked IN an uncontrolled spur or siding that has to be moved out of it onto the mainline.
Continued in Section B
About Replies:
K.P. is backlogged again on replies. Spending sunup to sundown Monday, December 30, 2013 on Tehachapi didn’t help. But, hang in there guys …
Memo to CShaveRR (1-1):
No, your “guess” is the opposite of the actual track layout. It is often so hard to interpret a situation from hundreds of miles away without diagrams or firsthand knowledge.
The below diagrams show the above picture’s area track situation:
In the above photo the left Main 2 mast left facing eastbound signal has a lower head whereas it’s right Main 1 counterpart does not. K.P. has concluded this odd situation is unofficially bias related. Most trains are left running biased here, at least under normal conditions. Because of the Cienega Creek natural crossover (one main bridging over the other) east of Tucson …
… most eastbound trains of necessity are run on Main 1’s continuation east of Tucson as the North-South Track (ex-Main 2 / track identities flipped until the next CP to the east). A Main 2 yellow over green (or yellow over flashing green) eastbound at Ina Road is probably a special reminder for enginemen of the bias two blocks ahead and they will be effected by that bias. Other than that, K.P. has no explanation for one mast having a lower eastbound head and the other not having one.
Take care,
K.P.
K. P. Harrier The Arizona Roundtrip Part IV, Section “F” (of A-J) Before and After Hermosilla Street Casa Grande, AZ The last photo in Section E, lower left, showed the industrial track curving off to the left. That curving has now been replaced by a new curving track with a switch so the straight industrial track continues straight towards the camera! Above, note that just left of the red disked switch stand the ground appears ballasted, and that may be where the curving track on the lower left of the third photo of Section E once was. Looking eastbound from Hermosilla St., the new straight track ends, but will eventually be laid farther east, where the stacked ties are in the far background. The ‘curving off track’ goes off to the customer with that orange 44-tonner engine. An eastbound overview that shows the four tracks and the 44-tonner: Continued in Section G
Part IV, Section “F” (of A-J)
Before and After
Hermosilla Street
Casa Grande, AZ
The last photo in Section E, lower left, showed the industrial track curving off to the left. That curving has now been replaced by a new curving track with a switch so the straight industrial track continues straight towards the camera!
Above, note that just left of the red disked switch stand the ground appears ballasted, and that may be where the curving track on the lower left of the third photo of Section E once was.
Looking eastbound from Hermosilla St., the new straight track ends, but will eventually be laid farther east, where the stacked ties are in the far background.
The ‘curving off track’ goes off to the customer with that orange 44-tonner engine.
An eastbound overview that shows the four tracks and the 44-tonner:
Continued in Section G
The ballasted area was once a separate siding that served a small feed mill or grain company that just fit between it and the street alongside. There was a diverging switch about where the new one is located. The spur continued westward alongside the main for several blocks. Over the years it was slowly cut back. At one time it ran all the way over to SH87 and curved sharply to the left, crossing the street and ending alongside a small factory. Last time I was there, the track was still in place on the factory property, well hidden in weeds.
John Timm
K. P. Harrier The Arizona Roundtrip Part II, Section “B” (of A-I) Ina Rd. to Twin Peaks Rd., Tucson, AZ Area Just above, it is unclear why the left mast has a lower west (left) face head while the right mast doesn’t.
Part II, Section “B” (of A-I)
Ina Rd. to Twin Peaks Rd., Tucson, AZ Area
Just above, it is unclear why the left mast has a lower west (left) face head while the right mast doesn’t.
Just a guess, K.P., but is the control point at about mp 970 the one that this signal is in approach to? I see only one crossover at that one, so the other track has nowhere to go but straight.
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)
Part IV, Section “J” (of A-J)
More on Casa Grande, AZ
Eastward from Thornton Rd.:
So, that is a brief account of the happenings and possible future happenings in Casa Grande, AZ.
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Continued in Part V, “Mobile to Estrella, AZ / Niland, CA“ (6 Sections) to be posted by Friday, January 3, 2014 at 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Part IV, Section “I” (of A-J)
Some views from Thornton Rd.
Westward:
The grade crossing, with the two mains the top two tracks:
Continued in Section J
Part IV, Section “H” (of A-J)
At Florence St. (M.P. 918.8), looking eastbound, that off the mainline switching track begins and heads eastward, with those stacked up ties in the center distance. The just discussed Hermosilla St. grade crossing is visible in the distance too, as well as that branching off spur to that business with the 44-tonner.
Looking west, the old Casa Grande empty barbwire fenced signal department yard is visible. (Center left)
That old signal department yard between Florence St. and Sacaton St. that straddles Main St. is basically empty.
That paralleling switching track that ends by Florence Ave. could, in theory, be extended northwestward to Thornton Ave
Aerial Link: Present Western End of Switching Track
But, on the way, if you play with and move the aerial from the upper left to the bottom right a few times, the Gila Bend Highway (S.R, 84) underpass is encountered, and that may be an obstacle to laying that switching track westward to Thornton Rd. (See next part)
Continued in Section I
Part IV, Section “G” (of A-J)
The Hermosilla St. grade crossing now has four tracks.
The new branch off track:
A close-up of the three-high flasher lights.
On September 21, 2011 the below photo was taken of the then new “two main tracks” across Hermosilla St. with new a sidewalk, likely put in by UP.
The new sidewalk was already torn out for the two addition industrial tracks put in, as mentioned above.
Continued in Section H
Part IV, Section “E” (of A-J)
On September 21, 2011, in a never shown before eastward view from Florence St., the Hermosilla St. grade crossing is in the background by the then new and un-activated color light signals (heads turned aside). The foreground branching off to the south (right) track was then new, and would eventually be the replacement when the here key center track becomes Main 2.
Back by Hermosilla St. again looking west, on November 4, 2011, Main 2 was in place …
… and that new branching off track (first photo in this post) was also in service, and curved (photo bottom left) over to where the small 44-ton orange engine was.
Continued in Section F
Part IV, Section “D” (of A-J)
First off, “Hermosilla” is Spanish, and is pronounced her-moh-see-oh. (I think)
The Hermosilla Street grade crossing and immediate surroundings have had a progressive series of radical alternations to them in the last several years.
A westbound reshown view of March 13, 2011:
Another view from that date but previously never shown:
Just above, notice the track just left of the then single-track Main, and how it curves through the weeds and passes a switch stand. That curving track went over to where the 44-ton little orange switcher was.
On July 13, 2011, things were being altered.
Another view of that date:
Just above, note that the track just south (left) of the Main was a switching track completely off the Main.
Continued in Section E
Part IV, Section “C” (of A-J)
That future track will go through the grade crossing west of where it presently turns into the mainline. (See first photo, Section B) The metal base for the crossing gate has been buried and in place for some time.
But, more to that base is present than first meets the eyes. Wiring!
Those tags are Greek to K.P., and probably most amongst us, but to an electrician at the railroad it must very much makes sense.
Continued Section D
Part IV, Section “B” (of A-J)
The west end of that now industrial siding is by the Trekkel Rd. grade crossing, M.P. 919.9. Looking eastbound:
Looking westbound:
Part IV (of I-VI), Section “A” (of A-J)
Now, we get into an area that has been and still is in rebuilding. From the Peart Rd. grade crossing (M.P. 921.17) in Casa Grande, AZ, a typical eastward view:
Untypical, though, is the westward view:
That side track now goes west for industrial switching of customers leaving the mainline tracks free and unhindered by switching moves.
K. P. Harrier The Arizona Roundtrip Part II, Section “B” (of A-I) Ina Rd. to Twin Peaks Rd., Tucson, AZ Area The old Kino siding is now totally gone. Looking east still, because the ballast is so high one cannot see the alignment shift in the tracks way in the background. The alignment shift is likely where the right track seems to just disappear in the background. On the west side of Ina Rd. are the new intermediate signals. Just above, it is unclear why the left mast has a lower west (left) face head while the right mast doesn’t. Continued in Section C
The old Kino siding is now totally gone.
Looking east still, because the ballast is so high one cannot see the alignment shift in the tracks way in the background. The alignment shift is likely where the right track seems to just disappear in the background.
On the west side of Ina Rd. are the new intermediate signals.
It was very odd to cross the tracks on Ina Road the other day and not see the siding or a waiting train there.
K. P. Harrier The Arizona Roundtrip Part III, Section “B” (of A-G) APS Corp. to Red Rock to Wymola, AZ We now arrive at Red Rock, specifically at Park Link Rd., looking eastbound. Looking westbound, the future Red Rock Classification Yard should end somewhere west of the roadway the photo was shot from. One Internet newspaper K.P. once saw implied the yard to funnel its tracks to by the camera location. Just above, scanner readers are seen. Continued in Section C
Part III, Section “B” (of A-G)
APS Corp. to Red Rock to Wymola, AZ
We now arrive at Red Rock, specifically at Park Link Rd., looking eastbound.
Looking westbound, the future Red Rock Classification Yard should end somewhere west of the roadway the photo was shot from. One Internet newspaper K.P. once saw implied the yard to funnel its tracks to by the camera location.
Just above, scanner readers are seen.
K.P.,
UP appears to be using the Red Rock siding to stage loaded auto racks. Similar to your above photo, on 12/20 there was a string of them, along with a rear DPU. The same cars and DPU were still there on 12/28. Or, perhaps something done temporarily because of the holidays?
Did you get any other pictures of that "bulkhead" tie car on the far side of the Big Ol Stack O Ties ?
It almost look like the self-propelled Kenworth/MP flat I saw years ago in Oregon. It had hydrostatic drives attached to the axle ends and was powered by the truck motor under the cab-over section. The small excavator on the back had a tie grapple.
A-10
K. P. Harrier
That yellow box car looks like a full size track cleaning car. It might be an image that would be of interest over on the model railroad side.
Jeff
Part III, Section “G” (of A-G)
At Wymola itself, the CP box is right by the road and easily photographed.
The real reason K.P. stopped there was this:
AERIAL LINK: The Grade Crossing Within CP SP943 WYMOLA
But, unfortunately, this is what was actually found there.
K.P.’s hoped for a good look at the CP was thwarted! Oh, well.
A number of miles to the west, at CP SP935 LA PALMA (M.P. 935.3), the engine spur still is incomplete and the signal for it (right) still has its heads turned aside.
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Continued in Part IV, “Casa Grande, AZ” (10 Sections) to be posted by Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Part III, Section “F” (of A-G)
At the staging area east of CP SP943 WYMOLA, a nice collection of old signals and crossing mechanisms are lying around.
Continued Section G
Part III, Section “E” (of A-G)
A telephoto of the mid-train on the curve to the west ...
... and the end going away:
Drawings of the future Red Rock Classification Yard show it bending at the above curving.
Continued Section F
Part III, Section “D” (of A-G)
While by the spur switch, a westbound tie train zips by …
… with some interesting yellow equipment on the tail end.
Continued Section E
Part III, Section “C” (of A-G)
Between Red Rock and Myola, a new Maintenance-of-Way track was put in.
By the new spur and its switch on the Main 2 side, track equipment was present on a spur off the Main 1 side. It is unknown to K.P. what type track arrangement is on the far side.
Part III (of I-VI), Section “A” (of A-G)
Some may remember this February 7, 2013 photo shot by the Arizona Public Corporation Rd. east of Red Rock, AZ. The train and its DPU were stopped on the road to the plant.
K.P. returned to the site, with a more favorable situation, and was able to photograph a train passing and the alignment shift in the mains to the east.
Continued Section B
Update as of Wednesday, December 24, 2013
A Number of Situation Reviews
Part “B”, Section 5 (of 1-5)
CP C056 SCRRA JCT
Riverside, CA
The new LA&SL bridge over the 91 Freeway is looking near completion, and has side fencing now to protect railroaders.
A few new signals have been erected, like this west facing eastbound only target heads one (left) for going onto the BNSF, but no counterpart signal was seen for going onto the LA&SL.
The short signal for Metrolink is being traded out too.
It was getting darker and darker ... but K.P. hiked a block or two to by Cridge Street for a westbound LA&SL / Metrolink view.
K.P. finished all the photo documenting just in time. The twilight was becoming nighttime.
Part “B”, Section 4 (of 1-5)
Just a week or so ago these photos of the new CP box for CP C056 SCRRA JCT at Colton were reshown.
That box is at its intended destination now in Riverside, at the Los Angeles & Salt Lake (LA&SL, UP) and Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) junction.
K.P. stayed on public property, but that other assumed railfan on site with four legs had more guts than K.P. did and trespassed all over the railroad’s property …
Continued in Section 5
Part “B”, Section 3 (of 1-5)
The Future Streeter Ave. Underpass
On August 5, 2011, this northward photo was shot of the west side of Streeter Ave., with the mast signals that were present since 1993 when this area was first two-tracked.
Now, those short mast signals are gone, and are missing in this east side photo looking towards the west side abutment, near where those mast signals used to be.
Another westward view:
Just above, note the new, temporary mast signal displays red (from the train that just went by) on the far left.
Continued in Section 4
Part “B”, Section 2 (of 1-5)
An eastbound comes along and traverses the shoofly.
Continued in Section 3
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