Surprise Photo Time
Part VI (of I-VII)
Ontario-Pomona, CA
The newly graded angled land between the SP and LA&SL sides has had track laid on it too …
… but stops and is not connected to the LA&SL.
Loaded ballast cars were by the east end of the LA&SL Montclair siding and interlocking signals.
Another look at the angled track that currently ends:
Continued in Part VII
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 VII (of I-VII)
Looking west again, the cantilever signal bridge is seen for the east end of the LA&SL Montclair siding. Graffitists have attacked the signal heads.
Previous visits to the Montclair yard have seen a bunch of cars in storage, with rusted wheels. This time things were different, with cars with relatively shiny wheel edges and carrying loads of lumber and other exposed commodities!
A bunch of rails and other material was found in a staging area west of Mountain Ave. That newly laid track that wanders in the cleared area is visible on the upper right.
The sunlight was darkening quickly. After coming off the overpass, the SP-side Bon View Ave. grade crossing area was checked out (including by Cucamonga Ave.), but no progress there two-tracking-wise had taken place.
This will conclude this update report.
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K.P. again had unexpected business. This time in the north Fontana area on Saturday, April 20, 2013, and was able to quickly review the above locations, and found much activity in the Monte Vista Ave. grade crossing area, power actually on the track between the SP and LA&SL sides east of Mountain Ave., and a section of SP track being laid in an archaic fashion east of Bon View Ave. in Ontario. All that will be posted about hopefully in two to three days.
K.P. and Mike,
Thank you for these latest pictorial updates. Sad to see the signal bridge at Ice Deck go.
** Tucson Update **
Due to work, the price of gas and other commitments, I haven't been able to get out as much as I'd like, but I did get a chance to do some observations this past weekend...
1) Double Track Kino to Stockham
About three weeks ago, a prebuilt MOW switch was sitting on the ground at the east end of CP Kino, which is at the Joiner Road grade crossing (slightly southeast of the Orange Grove Road bridge).
That's now been cut into the main, and the Harsco crew has wasted no time laying down the second main from the east end of Kino to within 100 feet of Ruthrauff Road (which is in turn about 400 feet from the west end of CP Stockham).
UP already has new track and grade crossing panels in place at Ruthrauff, but as they did at Marana and Cortaro Road, my guess is they'll do another 12-24 hour grade crossing closure to splice in the new track on both sides, and also to bring across the Harsco machine and a few flats. I've got an inquiry in to my local traffic reporter to see if he's heard anything on that.
If you include the current siding at Stockham as double track, this is the last section of single track remaining within 100 miles of Tucson...
2) New signal masts for CP Sabino
No photos to add, but there are new signal masts at the Cortaro Road grade crossing, including a small distant head presumably for CP Sabino. There are also new distant heads near Tangerine Road.
3) CP Sabino almost complete
Last month, the first half of the right handed crossover was put in place on the new track, and as of late last week, the second half of the crossover was in final assembly and staged trackside for a fast cut-in like I'd recorded earlier in the year.
4) Still no word on the future of Kino as a siding
I'd put in an inquiry to UP Public Affairs about six weeks ago, but still no response. I'm still guessing that it is going away...
The part about this that I'm most curious about is what the ramifications are for the Sunset Limited. From what I've read so far it looks like Amtrak is still going to be stuck in Maricopa but other than that I'm wondering about what this'll do for on-time performance and scheduling for that train. Perhaps the door could quite possibly be open to more service. It would be nice in the double-tracking could go even further east.
Update as of Saturday, April 20, 2013
Ontario-Montclair, CA
Part “A” (of A-D)
This report will be on an east to west basis, and starts in the Cucamonga and Bon View Avenues area of Ontario, where ties were being laid for the second-track without a tie laying machine, with a tedious one tie at a time process, that had gotten close westewardly to Bon View Ave.
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-D)
Just recently, this photo was presented to the forum, of new track having been laid between the SP and LA&SL sides, and between San Antonio (Ontario) and Mountain Avenues.
Power was found sitting on the new, un-ballasted track.
The power was UP 7885 and 7887, and by those giant boulders.
Other track equipment was sitting very nearby.
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-D)
Looking west from the Monte Vista Ave. grade crossing, track equipment is seen.
The SP and LA&SL tracks are relatively close together at Monte Vista Ave. A fire unit from a very nearby station got the call this time, probably a medical aid situation.
Seeing the above emergency responce from a station a block or two away was personal for K.P. In 1977, when driving eastbound on Holt Blvd. just to the north, he actually saw in his rearview mirror a fire engine from that station get clipped by a high speed vehicle on Ramona Ave., which clipping threw all the water inside the engine violently out of balance, and the fire engine flipped over killing the fire engine driver. What a sad show that was.
Two-tracking workers can know help is very nearby in this area if an injury occurs.
That first equipment in the first photo above pulling forward a continuous welded rail, stopped, and released it
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-D)
Then the equipment went east across Monte Vista Ave. with a flagman stopping vehicle traffic. The crossing gates did not activate.
Looking east, there was other track equipment, and that newly laid track near the photo center.
This visit was limited, but a lot was seen.
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On Monday, April 22, 2013 K.P. briefly passed through the Highgrove and Colton areas. A few photos will be presented to the forum in a few days.
Update as of Monday, April 22, 2013
Northern Riverside to Colton, CA
Part I (of I-IV)
Back on September 23, 2012 mvs alerted us to the news that the Iowa Ave. grade crossing in northern Riverside (near Highgrove) would soon have construction on an overpass started. Well, it has started.
Iowa Ave. is actually closed, with at least south side dirt ramping already in place now. But, unlike so many projects of this nature, the overpass construction will be finished this year, 2013, in less than a year.
The Iowa Ave. grade separation is on the BNSF, on the alternate Sunset Route via the LA&SL.
The BNSF staging area in Highgrove is full, with some concrete ties present.
From the east-west Main St. on the north side of that staging area, orange webbing can be seen (lower right) at the railroad bridge over the I-215 Freeway, which bridge has had construction started for replacing it in the freeway widening project.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-IV)
At the Colton Flyover site in Colton, the west slope is having the orange top concrete-work put up quickly now.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-IV)
The flyover is starting to have a near finished look.
An unhindered view of the new cantilever signal bridging on the east side of the Santa Ana River.
Looking west up the east slope of the Colton Flyover. More track seems to have been laid on it.
Just above, unlike the permanent north walling (lower right), the far left railings are only temporary
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-IV)
Just a few days ago these photos of power (UP 7885 and 7887) on an un-ballasted new track in Ontario Saturday was posted.
That same power was in Colton on Monday, by the east slope of the flyover and the new, not activated yet signals near the Mt. Vernon overpass.
This will conclude the series.
Curious. Was the ROW in this region of the Sunset route previously double-tracked, or is this expansion project breaking new ground? It is impressive to see what it takes to add capacity. Thanks.
Quick Reply
jclass (4-24)
Hi jclass!
By “this region” the assumption is that Southern California is meant. For the most part, it was all single-track except for Beaumont Hill, which was two-tracked in the 1950’s and between Colton and Ordway circa 1976. There had been about ten miles in the Indio area, which I believe was “Double-Track” and NOT “Two-Tracks.”
Best,
K.P.
Update as of Friday, April 26, 2013
The Colton Flyover …
With a Focus on Views from Atop Rancho Ave.
Colton, CA
Part I (of I-VI)
The new, un-activated west side eastbound signal for Main 2 is now up for the big, future CP SP538 RANCHO.
Above, the upper left signal is off the West Leg of the Wye, while the right ones are for the Balloon track and Main 2, but because of the angle, are cast in a weird illusion setting.
The new west CP box (of two):
The new signal in relation to the new west CP box:
Part II (of I-VI)
There has been some question about what was felt was a new onramp for the eastbound I-10 Freeway lanes. It didn’t quite make sense, especially since the new ramp roadway was lower than it should have been, and there was walling (photo bottom) parallel to Rancho Ave.
New developments have made things rather clear now, however!
Heavy concrete-work is now under construction on the southeast section of the PRESENT eastbound onramp!
Thus … The odd onramp-like looking arrangement now appears to be only a buffer between the actual freeway onramp and the railroad tracks, with added protection for the overpass in event of a derailment.
Part III (of I-VI)
Very heavy colligated-like large metal has been inserted into the ground (lower right) between that buffer and Rancho Ave.
That buffer would be in line with Caltrans’ current freeway design policy, whereby the onramp AT THE FREEWAY will be a new lane to the next off ramp at 9th Street, just beyond the freeway curving on the upper center.
Another view:
Part IV (of I-VI)
The west slope of the flyover comes westward (toward the camera) just south (lower right) of that buffer walling
The temporary west slope’s walling in order to clear the present Main 1 seems to have a structuring now, possibly to prevent ballast from falling unto workers..
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-VI)
A quad-like eastward look: On the upper left quadrant, Mains B and A (from left to right) seem to have been laid on the east slope of the flyover all the way up to the BNSF.
An angled view and the east end of the present CP SP538 RANCHO.
A more telephoto angled view:
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-VI)
Two south side northward views of the Rancho Ave. overpass fencing (left) and that buffer walling (right).
An interesting ground movement.
Continued in “Second Section”
Second Section
On the April 24, 2013 posting, mention was made of the Iowa Ave. overpass in Riverside, CA that was under construction, a construction on an accelerated schedule.
Above is a reshown photo.
On Friday, April 26, 2013 a return was made to that construction site. As can be seen below …
… the south slope is already dirt filled and graded.
Iowa Ave., a key traffic artery, is closed for the duration of the overpass construction.
In the last photo above, a landmark cup-like large fixture marks the once plant of Lilly Cup, a large manufacturer and distributor of paper and plastic drinking cups. Other interests own the property now.
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In the works … Two Two-Trackings Too Late (And Why a Sunset Route Siding Was Renamed)
1) For those in the Tucson area, UP is said to be installing the remaining right hand turnout on the main at the new CP Sabino (SP970) on Monday, April 29th.If true, they'll likely do this between 0900 and noon. If you pull off on the westbound service road just before the exit ramp merge, you'll have a front row seat.
2) CP Marana has the second crossover fully in place now, not sure when exactly it was cut in.
3) Harsco track crews are now east of Ruthrauff Road, working their way thru CP Stockham.
K.P.:
It would seem that the unusual flat area atop the "buffer" would an ideal rail-fanning and photography spot! How nice of CalTrans to go to all that trouble and expense to accommodate you and your camera!
Thanks for the continued in-depth coverage of events along the Sunset Route. 'Looking forward to your photos of the first through-trains over the fly-over!
John Simpkins-Camp
Wash., DC
The "corregated metal" is steel piling. The vertical edges have an interlocking tongue and groove to hold the pilings together. They are driven in the ground with a hydraulic vibrating pad attached to an excavator and are driven in the ground until the top starts to curl. We live on a lake in Texas and have the same type of piling on the shore line of our property. The only difference is our pilings are galvanized.
Two Two-Trackings Too Late
Once upon a time (in this very true story) there was a siding near Salton Sea and a Border Patrol stop nearby (photo upper left). The siding was (“was”) named Frink. Frink Rd. (photo bottom) was probably a 1000 feet east of that siding.
In March 2000 Carl T. Rogoza, who was the about 60-years old conductor of a Union Pacific train in the Frink area, had a massive heart attack and subsequently died on the train.
That Frink siding has since been renamed in memory of him, Rogoza.
Near the eastern end of that Rogoza siding, by the Border Patrol stop, two headless signal masts were erected a few years ago in the two-tracking by Salton Sea.
Near those masts is a siding sign that reads “ROGOZA.” There is also some type of monument there in Mr. Rogoza’s memory.
More continues in Part B
That ex-Frink now Rogoza siding / Border Patrol area has been graded for two-tracking, but the laying of track thereon is still only for the future.
But, how is Mr. Rogoza’s passing more than a decade ago, in the year 2000, related to another two-tracking?
Through Pasadena, the town of the famous annual Rose Parade generally on New Year’s Day each year, passes trolley-like commuter trains of the Los Angeles’ Metro Gold Line.
More continues in Part C
The “Foothill Extension” of that Gold Line is being constructed now, and the trackless right-of-way goes eastward, over the new “Iconic Bridge” …
… in Arcadia, passes though that dug up town … and then traverses a city called Monrovia, where much commuter rail construction is also taking place. The old, now trackless right-of-way is dug down and preparation is in process for the future two-tracked trolley type trains. Views are west oriented.
Looking east: The old single-track of the Santa Fe is still visible in the Myrtle Ave. grade crossing.
In the above eastward photo is a cemetery south (right) of, alongside, and parallel to the ex-track and Duarte Rd., and is visible on the top background where trees are present. Mr. Rogoza is buried in that very cemetery!
More continues in Part D
K.P do you have a good pic of the platform the border patrol uses to look at the trains?
Mr. Rogoza’s grave marker …
… is in view of Duarte Rd. / the future Gold Line’s Foothill Extension in the background (orange construction screening barely visible).
LINK: Aerial of Cemetery, Gold Line Right-of-Way (Top)
It is unknown if his being buried near some tracks was by design or totally coincidental, but it is too bad Mr. Rogoza never lived to see both UP and the ex-AT&SF Foothill Extension line becoming two-tracked.
In the UP two-tracking down by Salton Sea, the present Rogoza siding will be rebuilt as Main 1, and will no longer be timetabled as Rogoza (at least one wouldn’t think so). About two miles to the east the ground has been wide-graded for a future two-tracking CP.
It has to be wondered if that future CP when it is up and running will be named ROGOZA.
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Special thanks go to MikeF90 for the tipoff about the Rogoza siding being named after conductor Carl T. Rogoza. As it so happened, K.P. had been pondering the Foothill Extension two-tracking through Monrovia when word came about the timetable location of Rogoza, and that Mr. Rogoza was buried in Monrovia. Hence, this post series resulted.
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