Update as of Saturday, November 30, 2013
Was Back Briefly
Colton, CA
Part “C” (of A-F)
Two views looking northwest from the Colton Signal Dept. area:
Just above, Track 112 from the east ends and still does not cross the BNSF on OWLS diamonds.
More old looking masts:
Continued in Part D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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-F)
From 4th Street looking east, Track 112’s BNSF controlled signal (left) for the UP crossing of the BNSF.
Above, note the angled Track 112 toward the photo’s bottom. Strangely, the BNSF controlled signal (left) faces eastward and NOT towards the angled Track 112.
That above left single head signal is on the right of the below northward photo by the UP Colton Signal Dept. on K Street.
Track 112 on the east side of Colton Crossing has a BNSF silver derail switch motor. UP’s switch motors are black.
Above, the lower track is the Mt. Vernon Connector.
Continued in Part C
Part “A” (of A-F)
Necessity (the Mrs.) caused K.P. to be out and about. He thought, ‘Why not recheck the Colton scene?’
First Sunset Route stop, the new, now lit west side eastbound signal for Track 112 that protects the future OWLS diamonds at Colton Crossing.
It was surprising how many UP trains were actually operating after the Thanksgiving holiday.
While K.P. was moving to a different location, something developed that K.P. had never seen before. An eastbound train used the Mt. Vernon Connector and went by the Colton Signal Dept., but was NOT slowing down for the crew change by CP SP540 MT VERNON. It just kept going, and did not ever make a crew change. Are some trains now traveling Los Angeles to Yuma straight through, and reverse that? Are straight-through trains now starting?
Continued in Part B
Update as of Wednesday, November 27, 2013
A Few New Things
Part V (of I-V)
For those unfamiliar with the area, the Option 2 route mentioned in Part VI (the BNSF Connector to the Sunset Route), about a mile or so westbound (south) of Laurel St. is the transition location, the signal for which is yellow over yellow in the two below previously shown photos.
The Palmdale Cutoff option, No. 1: An eastward view from Pepper Ave. showing the steep slopping of the West Leg of the Wye (off the Palmdale Cutoff). The Sunset Route is the level track mainline, with Rancho Ave. (over the Sunset Route) in the upper background.
The BNSF Connector is on the other side of the above Rancho Ave. overpass, which the transition curve (by the yellow over yellow signal in Part IV) between the BNSF and UP is about a half a mile beyond the said overpass.
This will conclude the series.
Part IV (of I-V)
From Salt Lake City, UT, UP southward (westbound) trains have three choices for routing in Cajon Pass. (1) The Silverwood-Palmdale Cutoff-Sunset Route, (2) BNSF to Colton to the Sunset Route, or (3) BNSF and then LA&SL via Riverside all the way to Los Angeles. In the Nos. 2 and 3 cases, Laurel St. is encountered.
The grade crossing is a six-track grade crossing, so a shoofly will be a little bit more challenging than the normal, such as for the single-track shoofly for Magnolia Ave on the LA&SL in Riverside, CA a few years ago.
Continued in Part V
Part III (of I-V)
BNSF’s CP RANA (pronounced as in RAt and NUt) is a big CP with six north tracks funning into three south ones on the Transcon. The two-lane Laurel St. grade crossing has been listed for underpass construction, but has linger on as was … until now! Roadways and alleyways are now all blocked off with signs, barricades, and fences.
Continued in Part IV
Part II (of I-V)
The BNSF color lights use traditional bulbs and mirror-like backgrounds, unlike the UP diode color lights, as in the two July 12, 2011 previously posted photos taken at the Porter Rd. grade crossing in Maricopa, AZ.
Continued in Part III
Part I (of I-V)
K.P. happened to be in the Colton area, and did not expect anything reportable to the forum. However, a few things surprised K.P.!
The above Monday, November 25, 2013 photo was posted Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28. The surprise Wednesday was that those turned aside BNSF heads were now facing forward and lit!
Continued in Part II
K. P. Harrier Quick Replies desertdog (11-28): You asked about those mysterious poles. They have been a permanent fixture there for some time, and are related to lighting for night hand-throw switching at the LA&SL Montclair Yard. Deggesty (11-28): Those boys scrambled at seeing your camera while you were aboard Amtrak back in 1973. Whatever camera you had, it was archaic for sure, like mine was back then. In today’s digital, wireless age, in theory, a photo of red tail and horned kids could be in police hands within seconds. It still amazes me the railroads treat railfans as crooks and terrorists. One would think railroad signs would say, “No Trespassing (Except Railfans).” Oh, well … Best, K.P.
Quick Replies
desertdog (11-28):
You asked about those mysterious poles. They have been a permanent fixture there for some time, and are related to lighting for night hand-throw switching at the LA&SL Montclair Yard.
Deggesty (11-28):
Those boys scrambled at seeing your camera while you were aboard Amtrak back in 1973. Whatever camera you had, it was archaic for sure, like mine was back then. In today’s digital, wireless age, in theory, a photo of red tail and horned kids could be in police hands within seconds. It still amazes me the railroads treat railfans as crooks and terrorists. One would think railroad signs would say, “No Trespassing (Except Railfans).” Oh, well …
Best,
K.P.
K.P.,
Thanks. Now it makes sense. If I had stared at it for two or three hours myself, I would have figured it out (maybe).
John Timm
K.P., your mentioning seeing several kids running away from the track reminded me of an incident when my family and I were going up to Chicago on the Panama in June of 1973. I was in the dome when we made a station stop in northern Illinois and, after we left a station stop, we passed under an overhead bridge which had several boys in in. As we approached the bridge, it looked as though they were going to throw something on the train--I lifted my camera to take a picture, and they ran.
Johnny
Update as of Monday, November 25, 2013
Colton and Pomona-Ontario, CA
Part “I” (of A-I)
Ontario (Continued)
A small group of workers are doing something to the track.
Here comes another load of ballast.
It is unloaded by the track equipment, which moved further east.
Above, assumedly, someone lined the switch for the track equipment.
And, the ballast is piling up.
On the overpass, the cell phone rang … it was time to go … K.P.’s free time was over.
This will end the series.
-----------
In Part A of this series, the first two photos show a future signal with its heads turned aside, which signal will protect the Colton Crossing (NOT the flyover), i.e., the OWLS diamonds at the BNSF Transcon. K.P. was in Colton very briefly Wednesday, and something has happen to that signal that proves beyond all doubt that it is a BNSF signal! Watch for a short post series in a day or two.
K. P. Harrier Update as of Monday, November 25, 2013 Colton and Pomona-Ontario, CA Part “F” (of A-I) Ontario (Continued) Two views looking west. It is unknown if the new track arrangement to the east will affect all this old trackage to the west. Many piles of ballast have been dropped off, like by the new eastern track from the LA&SL side over to the SP-side (background) Continued in Part G
Part “F” (of A-I)
Two views looking west. It is unknown if the new track arrangement to the east will affect all this old trackage to the west.
Many piles of ballast have been dropped off, like by the new eastern track from the LA&SL side over to the SP-side (background)
Continued in Part G
I'm not sure I understand the track that loops around the power poles, unless this is a temporary arrangement until they can remove the poles.
Part “H” (of A-I)
Down-on eastward views … with a twist:
Note just above, the cement base almost is as if a signal will be erected here. K.P. is going to watch this one carefully to see what further develops.
More ballast is now dropped.
Continued in Part I
Part “G” (of A-I)
An even closer view of that new jog-angled track arrangement:
What would the series be without a water truck? … Very rusted panel-like track is stacked up on the photo’s left.
Another common piece of track equipment enters the scene …
… and stops by the pile of ballast, and stays there. Note the switch points are lined against the new-to-the-scene track equipment.
Continued in Part H
Part “E” (of A-I)
Ontario
At Mountain Ave., while driving over it, something significant caught K.P.’s eye. So, he parked and walked up the east side sidewalk from the south. An eastbound train just happened to come at that time, and a photo through the cantilever signal bridging was shot.
(A side tidbit … In the late 1950’s / early 1960’s, K.P.’s dad was nice enough to drive him westbound (away from the camera) on the straddling the tracks State Street (see above photo, left). K.P. saw several kids running away from the tracks somewhere in the background overpass area, which overpass didn’t exist back then. Those kids had put about 5 feet of solid rocks on the south rail. He had never seen that before … nor since. Whatever train encountered that must have just squashed the rocks. Mainline power was GP-9’s in those days. That was way, way before a fence was put up trackside.)
A lot of activity was going on on the east side of the overpass.
What caught K.P. eye was that the background left track (by the going away train) had the foreground track pulled up, and connected to the new switches (left, across from the DPU engine).
A close view of the new jog (center):
Continued in Part F
Part “D” (of A-I)
Pomona (Continued)
More …
If you look real good, you’ll see the red lamp is already lit even as the worker is finishing off the two to three bulb top head trade-out.
Continued in Part E
Part “C” (of A-I)
Pomona
K.P. checked out the west end of the present Sunset Route CP AL514 HAMILTON, but NO new three-bulb heads had replaced the two-bulb ones thereat yet
However … Forum thread readers may member this August 24, 2009 photo of the west end of CP AL515 RESERVOIR with a mast signal with a two-bulb top head (left).
That signal’s top head has been changed out, as photographed in the change out process.
Part “B” (of A-I)
Colton (Continued)
A wide angle looking eastward: The manual crossover begins on the left.
A trackless switches gap separates the BNSF Connector (a UP track here, upper) and Track 112 (bottom).
Looking west:
Track 112 still has not had ballast dumped on it.
Part “A” (of A-I)
Colton
From South 4th Street looking east in the early morning sunlight:
The photo just above, note the BNSF controlled derail and its silver painted switch motor that has been installed (lower left)
The OWLS diamonds (lower left) still have not been installed.
Just above, the background signals are lit, and a train is coming down the hill way in the distance.
K.P. on the Prowl Again
(Where on earth is Code-3ville?)
On Monday, November 25, 2013 K.P. was on assignment deep in Riverside County, CA, and on the way to and during some free time, visited Colton and Ontario-Pomona on the Sunset Route. A few surprise developments were seen in the latter territory. A report should be ready in a day or two.
At the Fairplex in Pomona, steamer UP 4014 was by and parallel to (but not on) the ex-SP Metrolink line.
It is now NOT very accessible, and was in the vicinity of a lot of REGULAR Fairplex code-3 activity (lights and sirens). The link if you are interested in those types of things …
TRAINS LINK: UPDATES: Big Boy 4-8-8-4 UP 4014 (w/ Photos)
Thanks again KP, for keeping us up to date on Sunset Route work in Southern California.
I blundered today into a YouTube video entitled "Prince Road Update (Fall 2013)" posted by Arizona DOT on November 22, 2013. The ADOT spokesman notes the construction of the Prince Road overpass (over I-10 and the UP, Tucson, Arizona) is entering its final stage (whatever that means), and should be done in six months. My cynnical side says seven to eight months, but that's another matter. However, what really grabbed my attention was his casual mention of similar traffic interchange work planned for Ina Road and Ruthraff Road -- about 2:00 minutes into the spiel. I believe that this could lead to grade separations, which would not doubt please all concerned -- motorists, the railroad, etc. My miniscule contribution to this thread...
Update as of Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Activity in the Pomona-Ontario, CA Area
Part XI (I-XI)
From the south looking north towards the Sunset Route Alhambra Sub east of Bon View Ave. (that had been temporarily closed), track equipment was seen.
The new electrical bungalow for the future universal crossover east of Bon View Ave. still did not have the nameplate placards facing approaching trains.
So, a few surprises were seen, and it looks like the new second main between Pomona and Ontario has some time to go before seeing trains run over it.
Part X (I-XI)
It was the grade crossing that was being revamped, though it is strange that it was revamped only a year ago.
The new “old” signals at CP AL521 NORTH ONTARIO are still in service. (Part IX’s last two views from Campus Ave. were shot from the west side of the CP looking east.)
Continued in Part XI
Part IX (I-XI)
Back up on the SP side again, looking east from Campus Ave.: The east end of the North Ontario siding is still connected to the mainline.
The SP Bon View Ave. grade crossing was blocked off as the advisory flashing roadway sign said it would be.
Continued in Part X
Part VIII (I-XI)
One of the two new bungalows placarded CP C038 ONTARIO that was by the makeshift signal yard just west of San Antonio Ave. (Ontario) is now onsite at the LA&SL crossing of the old SP Ontario Branch, and was being worked on and cables run to it.
CP C038 ONTARIO is where the ex-SP Ontario Branch crosses the LA&SL at a slight angle. Looking northeast:
Looking south:
The industrial branch’s signals only have red and lunar bulbs on the mast signals.
The diamond location where the two tracks cross would be a good candidate for a One-Way Low Speed (OWLS) diamond.
Continued in Part IX
Part VII (I-XI)
The present CP AL520 NORTH ONTARIO signal east of San Antonio Ave in Ontario lit green over red, and the lined train soon came.
The point in those two above photos is that the old signals are still active and functional. As stated previously, K.P. had anticipated the second Main would be in transition to being put in service, but that was NOT the case, and may not be for a while.
Continued in Part VIII
Part VI (I-XI)
The Mountain Ave. overpass (below) was traversed, but nothing overly caught the eye there.
The above photo was shot from the short residential roadway that parallels the SP for a block, off San Antonio Ave. in Ontario.
There is a lot of ballast between the SP and LA&SL.
Another view of the laying down signals in the facility just west of San Antonio Ave. in Ontario.
Just above, look at all those box crates! They don’t have any markings on them (at least not yet), but might they be for future signals or switches towards the Milliken Ave. Flyover area? The new universal crossover just east of Bon View Ave. only has one switch presently, so maybe (“maybe”) the crates are for the other three that are needed thereat.
Continued in Part VII
Part V (I-XI)
More tracks will eventual be laid in the new Montclair facility as testified to by the away from the tracks mast signal.
There were a lot of workers and equipment scattered in the area.
A broad westward overview, with the LA&SL paralleling State St. and its fenced water channel:
Continued in Part VI
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