deleted wisecracking post that wasn't really all that funny...
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)
K.P.,
That grading you referenced at the Marsh Station Road area is Phase II of the Interstate 10 construction project that was awarded to Ames Construction Company by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Ames also had the contract for the Union Pacific track realignment. It is all part of the "Shovel Ready" government funding to eliminate the Cienega Creek I-10 choke point, which was not officially part of the Interstate Highway System but was still regarded as Arizona Highway 80 because of the low Union Pacific bridge and lack of a median between highway lanes. When completed there will be new, higher bridges across Cienega Creek and both eastbound and westbound lanes of I-10 will be moved to allow for a median.
A Quick Colton Flyover Update
Colton, CA
On Monday, June 17, 2013 during an at least a 12-hour dispatch deep in Riverside County, K.P. took a few minutes when by the Colton Flyover to climb up on the Rancho Ave. overpass in Colton. It was found that the flyover trackage still has not been connected on the west end, but much ballast has been poured and manicured.
The days of ground level operations for Main 1 alongside the Flyover are now numbered.
The south side flyover railing (upper right) is in contrast with the fine wire meshing of the higher fencing on the north side (lower left).
It is wondered if that fencing will be sufficient to prevent westbound trains at night from headlight-blinding eastbound motorists on I-10.
------------
Another series immediate follows.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Loosely Scheduled Bits and Pieces Reporting
Part II, Section A (of A-B)
Views from Camus Ave.
Ontario, CA
Continuing a series for Saturday, June 15, 2013 …
Looking westbound where the ex-UP (ex-SP) Ontario Branch cuts in … An entrance signal has been erected for the branch track.
Looking eastbound:
Continued in Section B
Part II, Section B (of A-B)
CP AL515 RESERVOIR
Pomona, CA
Looking east from by San Antonio Ave. (Pomona), the future Main 2 (right) has had a burial base put in for a future east side westbound signal. The base has an orange cone on it.
When visiting the site, it was noticed that NO Main 1 counterpart base has been put in as of yet, and may not. The Main 1 mid-point between CP’s may (“may”) be utilized for a signal, whereas Main 2’s interlocking and junction switch (by San Antonio Ave, Pomona) is considerably west of that mid-point.
In Tucson, AZ, similar mismatched locations are utilized. Main 2’s interlocking signals are by the 22nd Street overpass ……
… whereas Main 1’s intermediate signals are between the 22nd Street (camera location) and Palo Verde Road overpasses (distant background), behind the second upper pole on the left. Both just above photos look eastbound.
So, the situation in Pomona, CA may (“may”) or may not come to be similar.
----------
Other Parts of the series are pending.
A Reply
cacole (6-18):
In the Panhandle area (i.e. by Marsh Station Rd. and Cienega Creek), where the old ex-Main 2 crossed above I-10, because of previous visits in recent years I knew exactly where I was at, but one could hardly recognize the location because of the extensive grading in the area. That scene is definitely changing to the point of almost being unrecognizable.
In a related area matter … Because of your localness to the reroute by Marsh Station Rd., cacole, you may find the follow true story amusing. On Saturday of the Texas trip earlier in the month, the Marsh Station Rd. area was passed eastbound on I-10 at almost dark. A strange sight was seen on the reroute: An eastbound train was stopped west of Marsh Station Rd., and its power was unattached about fifty feet away! When I returned to the area Monday, and saw westbound trains on that North-South designated track (formerly Main 2), I deducted that what had been seen a few night earlier was a WESTBOUND stopped and a westbound light power move had come up behind it.
So, maybe the faster Main 1 is having extended work performed on it so that the DS was, and might still be, utilizing the North-South Main for westbound trains instead of the normal Main 1. That is the only explanation I can think of for what was seen.
Best,
K.P.
That new signal base on the new 'middle track' just east of the existing CP Reservoir is interesting. It could be just to protect the existing crossover Or it could be for eastbound traffic.
Perhaps they are going to 'move' the RH crossover closer to CP WO Tower for a consolidation?
CP Reservoir
----------------/---------------------------- existing Al sub main
--------\------/ -----------------?-------- future main track
\ ?
----------\---------------------------?--\--- LA sub main
\ Chino lead
CP WO Tower
Nah, probably not. Time will tell .....
Historical fun fact: the 'WO' stands for West Ontario ..... really west ....
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! ***
The Sunset Route “Texas to California” Report
Part “E” (of A-H), Section 1 (of 1-9)
Two-Tracking West of Tucson, AZ
We start west of downtown Tucson, at Prince Rd. Two-tracks from the east end west of Prince Rd. East of the junction switch is the north side 7890-feet Stockham siding with limited access on the east end.
Unfortunately, an overpass is being built there, so access to see the track layout firsthand was unavailable.
The next grade crossing to the west is Ruthrauff Rd., where the end of the Stockham siding is located.
The future Main 2 (lower track) is on the south side of the present single-track Main.
Continued in Section 2
Part “E”, Section 2 (of 1-9)
The present Stockham siding seems to be in a close clearance situation, but if (“if”) that siding is eliminated in the two-tracking, the clearance problem would go away.
Above, the signal on the right is a left sided one. Years ago it was a right sided one, and as reflected by the siding swinging out and back to go around it.
Just for the record, a westward view from Ruthrauff Rd.
Continued in Section 3
Part “E”, Section 3 (of 1-9)
At Joiner Rd. (M.P. 975.6), the east end of the Kino siding is located. A temporary switch has allowed the second main to be laid eastward over the Rillito River Bridge.
Above, check out that curved track passenger and freight speed limit on the sign on the left!
Note the warped new track on the photo bottom right. Also, note the NEW bridge’s yucky brownish sides that seem to be getting yuckier under the railing on the photo right.
For comparison, the following February 7, 2013 photo is reshown, before the second track was even laid through here.
Continued in Section 4
Part “E”, Section 4 (of 1-9)
In light of that yucky colored railing support, it is hoped the same design Colton Flyover “orange” material doesn’t change colors for the worst.
Continued in Section 5
Part “E”, Section 5 (of 1-9)
The sight of surveyors at Joiner Rd. (mentioned above) caught K.P.’s attention.
The present Kino siding’s east eastbound signals.
Some nearby parked equipment:
Continued in Section 6
Part “E”, Section 6 (of 1-9)
At the west end of the Kino siding now, an eastward view from Ina Rd. (M.P. 974.03) shows the siding’s west end track has been pulled up.
The old Kino siding over the years seems to have had an inordinate number of meets that took place there.
Above still, in the vicinity of the last advertising sign, an alignment shift will be put in, so the present Main will align with the once Kino siding.
A south of the tracks westward view: Note the laying down signal mast (just below photo center).
The Ina Rd. grade crossing is right next to I-10. The top track is the original single-track Sunset Route east-west mainline.
Continued in Section 7
Part “E”, Section 7 (of 1-9)
One new mast signal has been erected, and one has not, likely because the present signal is in the way.
Two westbound views:
Continued in Section 8
Part “E”, Section 8 (of 1-9)
At Cortaro Farms Rd. (M.P. 972.02) the next mast signals to the west have been erected also.
The location is a very colorful and exotic one.
Continued in Section 9
Part “E”, Section 9 (of 1-9)
Cortaro Farms Rd. is an interesting place indeed!
Wonder what the location atmosphere is like when the cement-work has rushing floodwaters in it?
-------------
Part F will continue further with “Two-Tracking West of Tucson, AZ,” and is scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 2013.
Part III (A Single Post)
The Milliken Ave. Flyover
The flyover by Milliken Ave. now has a north side decorative, good sized low level curved walling present, with the cordoned off area filled with dirt.
The south side has a lessor low walling area.
Some of the decorative tops have been attached while others are yet to be installed.
Monte Vista Ave.
Montclair, CA
MikeF90 showed us the new west eastbound not-activated yet signals just west of Monte Vista Ave. in Montclair. The below K.P. photo angle was chosen because the future Main 2 west eastbound mast signal (left) is silhouetted and heads relatively clearly seen.
That left Main 2 lower head has THREE bulbs! Word is that this will only be a single 30 M.P.H. crossover. In light of the 30 M.P.H. counterpart single crossover at San Antonio Ave. to the east in Ontario, K.P. finds NO reason to have a third bulb, or a lower green, as in yellow over green. Thus, the three-bulb head may have been installed in error, and if so, likely will be changed out to a two-bulb head sometime in the near future.
Several hundred feet to the east of Monte Vista Ave. (i.e., behind the camera) is where that base (previously shown) for a cantilever signal structure is at.
On Other Matters …
The LA&SL CP Name “WO Tower”
This is in response to MikeF90’s post of June 19, 2013 in which he kindly conveyed the information that the “WO” of CP C033 WO TOWER (M.P. 33.0) stood for West Ontario.
The following is fact with a minor dose of conjecturing, which the reader will undoubtedly be able to distinguish between the two.
The City of Pomona (CA) was incorporated on January 6, 1888, in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles and San Bernardino County line is at the eastern city limits of Pomona. The City of Ontario was incorporated on December 10, 1891. The land between Pomona and Ontario WAS unincorporated land.
The Chino Branch started in Pomona (Los Angeles County) and immediately went south to Chino (San Bernardino Country). The branch eventually headed east to southern Ontario, and ended up going north, crossing the LA&SL, and connecting back to the Sunset Route. Conjecturing now, originating shipments on the “U” type route were in San Bernardino County, so naming a tower in Pomona with a Los Angeles Country designation probably seemed inappropriate. Since the City of Ontario was the next town to the east, and there was no town between Pomona and Ontario, somebody probably came up with the West Ontario name for the tower to insure the proper county would be understood as the economic generator or source of shipments.
On April 25, 1956 a San Bernardino County tract of land between Pomona and Ontario was incorporated as the City of Monte Vista. However, because of a postal name conflict with a Northern California town, the name was changed to Montclair on April 8, 1958.
Under Automatic Block Signals, the LA&SL found WO Tower a valuable manned interlocking plant for safety. Sometime between 1950 and 1955, however, the LA&SL in the Los Angeles to Riverside territory received CTC, eliminating the need for a manned WO Tower. But, the location’s name stuck, especially since there was NO incorporated Montclair back in those days.
In the 1950’s the trackage for WO Tower was much different than it is today. If one examines the following aerial link, one will notice the original curved alignment was different than today’s alignment (notice the industrial pavement’s edge curving).
LINK: SP Chino Branch Curving into the LA&SL
The actual junction switch was WEST of Reservoir St. (with severely angled street running for a bit) whereas today it is east of that street. The Reservoir St. underpass wasn’t even thought of in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Also, the angling was to get the Chino Branch across the LA&SL (with switches) to the SP side. With the LA&SL between Los Angeles and Riverside becoming CTC’ed, the interlocking at WO TOWER was also fully CTC’ed and tower torn down. The connection on the SP Sunset Route side, however, only used a manual switch, as the connection was only to a south side siding and not the SP mainline.
A Memo to MikeF90 (6-19):
Your diagram of a future CP C033 WO TOWER shows a conjectured crossover between the SP and LA&SL. Then you described that possibility as “probably not.”
From what I understand CP AL515 RESERVOIR (where the second Sunset Route main will cut in at from the east) when looked at on a long term basis is only temporary. Once another bridge is built over Towne Ave., going eastward both the LA&SL and SP will have two-tracks each. So, there will be no need to have CP AL515 RESERVOIR and CP C033 WO TOWER (except for the switch to the Chino Branch). But, as things now seem to be going time-wise, that arrangement probably won’t come for years.
Take care,
K
K. P. Harrier The Sunset Route “Texas to California” Report Part “E”, Section 9 (of 1-9) Two-Tracking West of Tucson, AZ Cortaro Farms Rd. is an interesting place indeed! Wonder what the location atmosphere is like when the cement-work has rushing floodwaters in it? ------------- Part F will continue further with “Two-Tracking West of Tucson, AZ,” and is scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 2013.
It's like any other normally dry wash or arroyo in Arizona when it rains--fast moving and deep.
As an aside, you don't ever want to try to drive through a flooded area during or after a rainstorm. AZ has a "stupid motorist law" that levies heavy fines to motorists who enter flooded roads because they end up having to be rescued, often by helicopter.
John Timm
Part “F” (of A-H), Section 1 (of 1-8)
East of the Twin Peaks Rd. overpass, the old and new Mains curve into the straightaway of the future CP SP970 SABINO universal crossovers. Looking westbound, the winds through here must be severe at times, as the poles are leaning unnaturally.
This view farther west than the above one, more clearly shows the straightaway the CP is in … and not so leaning poles.
The new, not activated yet CP box has had several locations over the months since being brought to the site, but appears to have settled down at this final location near the overpass itself.
Part “F”, Section 2 (of 1-8)
The first intermediates west of Twin Peaks Rd.
Now, an interesting situation at the east switch of the Rillito siding.
Above, the future, not activated yet Main 1 signal is up, but not Main 2’s! The industrial trackage doesn’t seem to allow for a left sided Main 2 mast signal. But, the next section exposes the reality!
Part “F”, Section 3 (of 1-8)
The old, present Main’s (future Main 2) old target signal (left) and the future Main 1 color light mast signal. Note between the Mains is a signal base with a very dirty cone on it!
So, the missing signal hasn’t been erected because it would block the view of the present target signal! Note the new white color coded 141 pounds per yard insulated joints in align with those future signals. Obviously, the present Main is hotwired around those insulated joints to keep the present track circuitry functional.
In Casa Grande some miles to the west, a similar between the rails mast signal was put in for similar reasons, as the below reshown November 4, 2011 photo illustrates.
The old and new Rillito signal boxes near Tucson:
Part “F”, Section 4 (of 1-8)
The present mast signal between the siding and Main: Note the ballasting for another main on the far side of the present Main.
Above, note the track across the view on the very bottom. It goes to a spur …
… that goes under the I-10 Freeway.
Part “F”, Section 5 (of 1-8)
The west end of the Rillito siding, looking south:
The new and old CP boxes:
Part “F”, Section 6 (of 1-8)
At Rillito still, the east westbound signals: The right color light is for the siding. Here again, the future Main 2 signal has not been erected for the same reason as the east end’s signal hasn’t.
A view from across Tangerine Rd., looking back at CP SP967 RILLITO:
Forum contributor eolesen has mentioned this Tangerine Rd. location a number of times. Now, we can reference these visuals to fully relate to his fine reporting.
Part “F”, Section 7 (of 1-8)
The final intermediates westward before CP SP961 MARANA (M.P. 960.7):
Looking eastbound from Marana Rd., as is so often the case a new access road parallels the new second track (left):
The two-track Marana Ave. grade crossing at M.P. 961.66: In the just below photo, I-10 still is following the tracks.
Part “F”, Section 8 (of 1-8)
Even though the new track looks ready to be put in service, related equipment is scattered along the right-of-way.
The current end of two-tracks at CP SP961 MARANA (M.P. 960.7):
Part G will cover ”The Iris-Bertram Area of Southern California” and will be posted Monday, June 24, 2013 by 9:00 A.M. PDT
K. P. Harrier The Sunset Route “Texas to California” Report Part “F”, Section 3 (of 1-8) Continued in Section 4
KP: It is interesting how often the old signaling code line wire go into the new CP boxes. Several thoughts
1. Are the new boxes still using the old SP power lines ?
2. Did yuou see new power sources being built by commercial power companys or solar panels for these boxes?
3. Did you note code line poles removed at some locations ?
3. However was any old SP code line removed at some locations but the power lines left ?
4. Did it appear that at some locations both new and old boxes both being used ? Maybe the old boxes controlled the search light signals ?
Update as of Saturday, June 22, 2013
Connected Track Ends at the Colton Flyover
Flyover Post #1 (of 1-3, Overall 1-8)
In early evening on the above date this investigator climbed up on the Rancho Ave. overpass sidewalk and found the old Main 1 severed, with track over the flyover now connected at both ends.
An eastbound leaves the Departure Yard on one of the out and back tracks.
Shadows of two individuals are cast, yours truly and a contractor for the project. He said probably by Sunday night (June 23, 2013) trains would start using the flyover.
Continued in Flyover Post #2
Flyover Post #2 (of 1-3, Overall 1-8)
Wet ballast was constantly being dumped and spread out.
Continued in Flyover Post #3
Flyover Post #3 (of 1-3, Overall 1-8)
A couple of water trucks came by and left a very wet trail of water.
Just above, note the yellow track equipment also at the site.
The new Main 1 was having more ballast dumped on it.
--------
Continued in Flyover Posts #4 through #8 scheduled to be posted the evening of Monday, June 24, 2013.
Reference “The Sunset Route ‘Texas to California’ Report,” Part G will present: ”The Iris-Bertram Area of Southern California” and will be posted Monday, June 24, 2013 by 9:00 A.M. PDT
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.