Update as of Monday, June 24, 2013
More on the Colton Flyover
Colton, CA
Flyover Post #106 (of 101-109)
A piece of equipment in kind of a makeshift residential alleyway:
An evening water truck passes:
The end DPU passes (right to left) by the parked equipment:
We leave now, and head over to Mt. Vernon Ave. by the flyover’s east end.
Continued in Flyover Post #107
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Flyover Post #107 (of 101-109)
By the Mt. Vernon Ave. overpass near the WEST side of the Santa Ana River, the new signals are in service with all heads facing trains. A southward view:
Only the foreground mast (above) has intermediates and is number plated, the others are absolutes.
The east westbound signals on the cantilever signal bridge (Main 2 and Ice Deck sidings) are active on the EAST side of the Santa Ana River. There is NO east side Main 1 signals. Main 1’s old mast and turned aside signals are seen on the far left.
(The Main 1 intermediates are on the west side of the river – see foreground mast in the first photo in this Flyover Post #107)
Track equipment off the Flyover (Main 1) rolls by and stops east of the Mt. Vernon Ave. overpass.
Continued in Flyover Post #108
On June 24 Progressive Railroads, a trade publication, had a news article about Pacific Imperial Railways, the current operator of the Carrizo Gorge railway making a $500,000 payment to the San Diego railway board (forgot the correct name) and plans to survey/repair bridges and tunnels on the line between Plaster City and Tecate.q
Flyover Post #108 (of 101-109)
Another piece of track equipment is working just east of the flyover but west of Mt. Vernon Ave., near where the westbound intermediate is lit red.
Two now headless old masts have been temporarily relocated, but are still standing erect!
If you look real good in the front, by the rails, the track equipment is kicking up ballast!
Continued in Flyover Post #109
Flyover Post #109 (of 101-109)
A strange hazard in the way with an orange warning cone on it:
Above, a water truck must have been through before K.P. arrived, for the ground is soaked with water.
The piece of track equipment is really kicking up dust now.
After the dust subsides, a creepy-crawler appearance is seen with arms extended slantingly down on each side.
Lastly, a strange track sight of unknown significance and meaning (at least to K.P.) by those signals:
The key ties are wood with steel bent around them, on an otherwise concrete tied two-track line.
This will conclude the series.
K.P.,
Thanks for a truly heroic photo odyssey.
Of interest to some here is a YouTube post, dated 25 June, entitled "Union Pacific RR Red Rock," which discusses UP's rationale for locating their proposed yard there versus someplace else. Obviously made to overcome NIMBY objections, but interesting nonetheless.
Findings of Wednesday, June 26, 2013
The Colton Flyover
K.P. was back in the Colton, CA area briefly on what proved to be a rather wacky day for him.
The east slope area of the Colton Flyover was able to be photographed, and the activity there was somewhat colorful to say the least.
Above, the track ballast now seems slightly higher than the orange flyover sides!
There currently is contradictory information on the status of the flyover, whether it is in service or not. After visiting a source, K.P. thinks he can unscramble the situation and make sense out it for the forum!
Hopefully a few photo posts and enlightening information can be put together in a day or two.
K. P. Harrier The key ties are wood with steel bent around them, on an otherwise concrete tied two-track line.
First - thanks for the outstanding coverage. For us East Coast guys it's almost like we're there!
The ties appear to be ordinary concrete ties. The steel bent over the end is what gives the appearance of wood. The tie profile under the steel hat is consistent with concrete. I suspect this assembly is part of a detector of some sort.
Flyover Post #201 (of 201-202)
The general Colton area was visited on the above date, and the east slope of the Colton Flyover was focused on.
Track-work was still taking place.
There was plenty of activity on the lower east slope site.
Two tie trains were in the Old Colton Yard, both near Mt. Vernon Ave.
Continued in Flyover Post #202
Flyover Post #202 (of 201-202)
A bunch of those large windmill pieces were in the area too. One of the many work-trucks onsite is seen.
A view by the now in service new CP SP540 MT VERNON and the new cantilever signal bridge on the EAST side of the Santa Ana River … Note that the temporary target masts (that replaced the old circa 1976 signal bridge) are still up as of photo time.
A previously shown photo of the signals at Riverside Avenue’s EAST side in Rialto, just a couple of miles west of Colton: The short mast signal (left) was still present Wednesday.
Just above, K.P. anticipates either a new replacement two headed mast (replacing the short mast signal) or a spacing equalizing Main 1 additional mast with signals by Pepper Ave. Something should develop on this in the next month or so.
One gets the impression from actually seeing all the activity by the Colton Flyover that no trains were going over it even though a contact said Main 1 over the flyover was in service. However, K.P.’s contemplations abruptly changed when he was contacted by a forum member last night with sufficient proof that during nighttime hours mainliners have actually been going over the flyover!
K. P. Harrier Findings of Wednesday, June 26, 2013 The Colton Flyover Colton, CA Flyover Post #202 (of 201-202) ... K.P.’s contemplations abruptly changed when he was contacted by a forum member last night with sufficient proof that during nighttime hours mainliners have actually been going over the flyover! Commercially speaking, one could say the flyover is no longer a virgin section of track.
... K.P.’s contemplations abruptly changed when he was contacted by a forum member last night with sufficient proof that during nighttime hours mainliners have actually been going over the flyover!
A Train Goes Over the Colton Flyover!
Flyover Post #301 (of 301-304)
In the late afternoon of Friday, June 28, 2013 a brief visit was made to the Rancho Ave. overpass with the hope that a train would go over the new flyover.
Right away, a beehive of train activity was found. Looking west, and eastbound (right) approaches:
Above, note that the signal (upper right) is flashing yellow! (Good sign.) Also, that the lead GE (right) is a yellow patched Southern Pacific gray and scarlet painted unit!
The now missing old Main 1 area just south of the flyover on the west end had already been dug down.
The west slope’s missing flyover part even had a section of concrete poured in that dug down area.
Just above, strangely, it doesn’t appear that the present new concrete-work is full width.
Continued in Flyover Post #302
Flyover Post #302 (of 301-304)
In the second to last photo in the post above, the eastbound crosses over from Main 2 to the ex-Main 1 and then turns north (left) on the BNSF Connector (below). Note that in the background a different UP train is starting up the far eastern slope of the Colton Flyover.
Wow! A train is actually coming up the flyover’s east slope now and heading over to the west side!
Continued in Flyover Post #303
Flyover Post #303 (of 301-304)
More in sequence photos:
Continued in Flyover Post #304
Flyover Post #304 (of 301-304)
Two additional sequenced photos: The DPU-less tail end.
So, now the forum can say they have seen a train on the Colton Flyover, at least in pictures.
Finally, someone here at the forum once said K.P. must ‘live right’ in reference to this many moons ago posted photo of a westbound UP passenger special by Etiwanda Ave. in the Ontario-Fontana, CA area, near the old Kaiser Yard.
Not every time, but K.P. occasionally finds suchlike very good fortune. This time a train was hoped would quickly come and go over the new Colton Flyover while he was up on the Rancho Ave. overpass. And such DID occur! Only 47 photos total were taken in a very short time. It is hoped this brief photo presentation of the results will satisfactorily give to this topic’s followers what they have been anxiously awaiting for, pictures of a train going over the Colton Flyover.
KP:
Congratulations on your first photo of a train going over the Flyover! Like many of us, I have been anxiously waiting such a photo from you to celebrate your thorough documentation of the Flyover's construction. My best to you on such an excellent job!!
A previous post discussed the grade on the Flyover's East slope and how it wasn't unusually steep. But your telephoto images of the structure make it look like a roller-coaster! Yet, the images in this post show that no DPU's are necessary to get over the "hump". Most interesting!
Your documentation of the construction of the Flyover has made most of feel like we are there in person. Thank you! As excited as I am at seeing your first photos of a train using the structure, I can only imagine how exciting it must have been for you, being there in person. After all your trips to the site and all the effort that you have put into taking photos and posting them here, it must have been a very satisfying moment!!
Again, my thanks to you for all the effort you have put into this, and the interest it has generated!
John Simpkins-Camp
(Washington, DC)
First of all...NICE WORK! K.P.
My only perspective is the photographs accompanying the articles.
To me it seems like the "Flyover' will be a train-handling nighmare.. A place for busted knuckles; as trains are pulled over the hump of the 'fly-over'... Just curious,
The steepest part of the grade is 1.2%, nothing abnormal. The crossing itself is 50' higher than before with about 1/2 - 3/4 mile on each side. The telephoto lens is whats making it look so steep.
For a long but detailed paper on the crossing: www.sanbag.ca.gov/projects/colton-crossing/Colton_IS-MND.pdf
John
John Simpkins-Camp and samfp1943 (6-29):
Thank you for the kind words.
The grades both of you speak of are generally mild, so train handling shouldn’t be a serious concern.
I’ve put together a perspective (below) that may put matters in new light for both of you …
Visualizing the Colton Flyover Area Grades
The most significant area factor is the Santa Ana River just to the east of the Colton Flyover. View looks east from the west side of the river.
East of the Santa Ana River the grade for Beaumont Hill begins. That grade is generally below 2%.
West of the Santa Ana River, a mild uphill grade runs all the way to Sierra Ave. in Fontana, a cursory estimate of 8 miles to the west.
So, trains approaching the Santa Ana River from either direction will have their cars generally bunched together from downhill running, and when climbing out from the Santa Ana River the tail end of a train will tend to still push the climbing front end.
Forum contributor john_edwards hit on the head (6-30). Telephoto views tend to compact the grade and make it look bad …
… but it really isn’t.
Trains with only head end power should not have any problem. Nor those with rear end DPU’s, because they especially can be radio signal manipulated so the tail end is bunched while going over the flyover.
Best,
K.P.
Loosely Scheduled Bits and Pieces Reporting
Part IV, Section A (of A-D)
The Future Underpass Construction Area
Hamilton Blvd.
Pomona, CA
The present Hamilton Blvd. grade crossing in Pomona is at Sunset Route M.P. 513.58, and passes within the limits of the present CP AL514 HAMILTON (M.P. 513.7). The Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority (ACE) plans an underpass at this grade crossing. This Part IV will look at the site and options available.
From the north side, looking west:
A same basic westward view, but with a telephoto:
As seen above, a pipeline turnoff control is present. That could complicate any north side shoofly.
A south side view looking west on the LA&SL: The yellow piping and turnoff are on the below photo’s upper right
Continued in Section B
Part IV, Section B (of A-D)
Another south side westward view … a telephoto:
Above, the ballast is higher than the next to the track parked car in the background!
That high-up ballast makes building a shoofly in the street like at Streeter Ave. in Riverside …
… highly improbable (though possible).
That paralleling south side 1st Street in Pomona is supposed to bridge over the Hamilton Blvd. underpass.
Looking east, the south side ballasting is still quite high.
Continued in Section C
Part IV, Section C (of A-D)
Looking east, the north side:
Above, there looks to be room for a north side shoofly, but remember behind the camera and across the street is that yellow utility pipeline turnoff value in the way (Section A).
Looking east still, the middle of the right-of-way:
Continued in Section D
Part IV, Section D (of A-D)
Opposite, westward middle views:
Above, apparently the “B” Track (A-D, left to right, south to north) won’t be laid for a while, so instead to two crossovers (A-B, B-C), a long zigzag track will be the interim arrangement.
Finally, the two future new CP boxes for CP AL514 HAMILTON …
Looking west (box on right):
An eastward view (box on left):
The railing across the above photo’s bottom area is for the White Ave. north-south underpass
So, these four sections (A-D) should be sufficient to give interested forum readers the tools to theorize how four-tracks (future, presently three-tracks) can be shoofly adjusted for building the bridging over a future Hamilton Blvd. underpass. The approach to pulling this off will be a show in itself … Of course it could dawn on ACE designers that an overpass would be so much simpler to build track-wise …
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This will complete the multi-part “Loosely Scheduled Bits and Pieces Reporting” series. However, a “Second Section” follows with additional info and photos about the Hamilton Blvd. grade separation.
Second Section: Hamilton Blvd. Future Underpass in Pomona, CA
K.P. was back at the Hamilton Blvd. grade crossing on Sunday, June 30, 2013 and focused on the structures and land just south of the LA&SL track.
There is an auto wrecking facility on the southwest corner. 1st Street is reportedly supposed to have roadway bridging over the Hamilton Blvd. underpass, i.e. bridging parallel to the LA&SL track.
A southward view from the southeastern corner:
That southeastern corning looking northward:
At this point what businesses will or will not survive is not clear. But at least the forum has the photos to make its own estimation of the situation there.
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In the works …
The Ontario-Pomona, CA area was visited Sunday, June 30, 2013, and it can be said little progress on the two-tracking and new track improvements were seen. However, the mysterious, future trackage on the LA&SL side just east of Mountain Ave. in Ontario has had a development occur. Also, night photos were obtained at the Colton Flyover that assists in determining if westbound train headlights will affect eastbound motorists on the I-10 Freeway.
K. P. Harrier John Simpkins-Camp and samfp1943 (6-29): Thank you for the kind words. The grades both of you speak of are generally mild, so train handling shouldn’t be a serious concern. I’ve put together a perspective (below) that may put matters in new light for both of you … Visualizing the Colton Flyover Area Grades The most significant area factor is the Santa Ana River just to the east of the Colton Flyover. View looks east from the west side of the river. East of the Santa Ana River the grade for Beaumont Hill begins. That grade is generally below 2%. West of the Santa Ana River, a mild uphill grade runs all the way to Sierra Ave. in Fontana, a cursory estimate of 8 miles to the west. So, trains approaching the Santa Ana River from either direction will have their cars generally bunched together from downhill running, and when climbing out from the Santa Ana River the tail end of a train will tend to still push the climbing front end. Forum contributor john_edwards hit on the head (6-30). Telephoto views tend to compact the grade and make it look bad … … but it really isn’t. Trains with only head end power should not have any problem. Nor those with rear end DPU’s, because they especially can be radio signal manipulated so the tail end is bunched while going over the flyover. Best, K.P.
There are similar flyovers on the ex-Rock trackage between Dallas and Fort Worth that is used principally by TRE commuter trains, but also BNSF freight on trackage rights, including coal trains. To the best of my knowledge, the latter have no problems negotiating the flyovers, even thought they appear to be fairly steep, even to the naked eye.
John Timm
Update as of Sunday, June 30, 2013
Select Target Areas
Pomona to Loma Linda, CA
Part “A” (of A-E, Overall A-J)
This report will be posted in the order that the sites were visited. Today, Parts A-E will be posted (San Antonio. and Mountain Avenues in Ontario), tomorrow Parts F-J (CP SP542 LOMA LINDA, and the Colton Flyover’s west slope at night) by 6:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time.
After visiting a seriously ill hospitalized personal friend in Ontario, that city’s Bon View Ave. area was went to. There was nothing noteworthy to report there.
Next, San Antonio Ave. in Ontario was visited, near where the west end of the SP-side North Ontario siding is located. A bunch of newly placed concrete ties of uniform size were stacked up. The ties appeared to be for non-switch use. Looking west on the south side:
An eastward view:
Four panel track sections were placed right next to the roadway on the Sunset Route’s north side.
Continued in Part B
Part B (of A-E, Overall A-J)
The Mountain Ave. overpass (over both the SP and LA&SL lines) was went over. K.P. wasn’t going to stop there, but something really caught his eye and inspired him to walk all the way up on the overpass!
As he was walking up over the SP Sunset Route, a westbound came along.
Above, note the track equipment on the new track on the lower photo right.
The mystery area on the LA&SL side east of Mountain Ave. had two turnouts brought to the site.
A very significant photo:
Above, the top switch has a spring frog, whereas the bottom switch has a regular, traditional frog uncharacteristic of UP.
But, note the third photo from the top again. There is a spring frog with an orange cone beside it on the photo's lower right!
So, these switches MAY have been in the old LA&SL Montclair Yard (some tracks were eliminated therein) and could have been moved to the above location.
Those switches also seem to lack tie-work necessary for a dual control switch motor!
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-E, Overall A-J)
Looking west now, the switch on the new track near the SP line doesn’t seem to have switch motor tie-work either.
Looking east again, the new track near the SP has had gray ballast laid.
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-E, Overall A-J)
Nothing new in Pomona was seen; however, additional photos were taken and already posted a few days ago in the “Second Section” about the Hamilton Blvd. grade crossing.
We backtrack now, and arrive at the Milliken Ave. Flyover in Ontario. A south side eastward view: Various machines are still here and there.
A more telephoto view that K.P. is not sure how to interpret! A winding path of some sort now seems (“seems”) present.
The north side, looking west:
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-E, Overall A-J)
That new thin structuring almost has a façade look.
Equipment and eastward views:
Another south side eastward view:
That new side industrial track’s “entrance signal” is clearly seen in the background (above).
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To be continued in Parts F-J, scheduled to be posted Wednesday, July 3, 2013 by 6:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time.
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