A Visit like Few Others
Colton, CA
Part “F” (of A-G, Overall A-W)
CP SP539 RIVERSIDE LEAD
You may recall these previously posted photos of future CP SP539 RIVERSIDE LEAD’s east westbound industrial track’s erected but un-activated signal The top head was a three-bulb unit, the lower head was a single bulb unit.
K.P. has long felt that THAT above signal was erected in error. This trip, it was found to have been replaced with another one more in tune to the known future track arrangement!
Continued in Part G
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 “G” (of A-G, Overall A-W)
The west eastbound signals (that have the Mt. Vernon Connect passing by them) were lit!
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To be continued Thursday, September 19. 2013, posting by 3:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time with Parts H through O.
Thank you kindly for the photos. I couldn't tell in your original photo if the signal on the left was a new BNSF Main 1 signal or the new BNSF EB hold signal on the connector turned around. Did you happen to take a peek from the bridge at Rancho...is there a repeater type signal on the south side of the flyover to give crews a better view of that EB signal? I'm guessing no, but I have no idea what BNSF has planned here.
For what it's worth, UP has not officially recognized the "Valley" name in General Orders as of yet. As of yesterday, SP 939 appeared on the dispatcher screens without a station name.
Part “H” (of H-O, Overall A-W)
The Mt. Vernon Connector in the southeast quadrant of the Colton Crossing presently passes a junk yard atmosphere within the quadrant.
Continued in Part I
Part “I” (of H-O, Overall A-W)
There is a bunch of ballast in the CP general area.
The CP box for CP SP539 is obviously alive and well, with nameplate placard now facing the world and not turned backwards so nobody could read it as before.
BUT, apparently (“apparently) CP SP539 RIVERSIDE LEAD will be a TWO electrical box CP! Whether it will be a visible or invisible box is yet to be seen (WHAT??). In his fine post of Monday, September 16, 2013 (the date of this series’ photos), Clyde Accolita post-said: “SP539 Riverside Lead was placed back into service yesterday with the new signal and switch arrangement on the Mount Vernon Connector, minus the track and diamonds over the BNSF.”
When personally visiting a very reliable source, K.P. was shown an official document that lists the future diamonds OVER (i.e., that crosses) the BNSF Trasncon AS PART OF CP SP539 RIVERSIDE LEAD! Logically, the implication of that is UP will CTC control Colton Crossing (the ground tracks south of the Colton Flyover). That totally does NOT make sense. Unofficially (“unofficially”), the source and K.P. came to the conclusion that the BNSF Dispatcher will control the actual crossing, but by the UP Dispatcher lining the signals for its route the signals would NOT clear until the BNSF Dispatcher lined it up on his screen. That BNSF Dispatch would be the only one with an overview of what was truly happening to make an intelligent decision.
While others may have access to the CTC screens, only the BNSF DS would have a full comprehension of what is going on and how things will best mesh together time-wise.
To K.P. it is unthinkable that BNSF solving one problem (the Colton Crossing congestion) would create another by giving control of the Transcon to a disinterested UP dispatcher! Again, that is a personal opinion, and the technical aspects of who controls what has NOT been verified.
Such an arrangement might be as (“as”) CP SP535 PEPPER just a mile or so west of Colton Crossing, as diagrammed below.
So, above, an eastbound (rightward) on Main 2 that goes around the Balloon re-enters the CP and goes westbound through it.
That reentering concept may or may not explain how CP SP539 RIVERSIDE LEAD could work with the BNSF diamonds.
At this point in time, we will have to wait and see how the track layout and signals develop.
Continued in Part J
Part “J” (of H-O, Overall A-W)
The 4th Street Area in South Colton
In the southwest quadrant looking east from 4th Street:
The BNSF Connector curving under I-10:
Continued in Part K
Part “K” (of H-O, Overall A-W)
The BNSF Connector is ballasted well.
The future, single crossover between the BNSF Connector and Track 112 (from West Colton Yard) is definitely a manual crossover.
From 4th Street still, there is plenty of activity by 3rd Street. The Rancho Ave. overpass is in the background.
Continued in Part L
Part “L” (of H-O, Overall A-W)
From the Rancho Ave. Overpass
An eastward telephoto view on the east-west running western end of the BNSF Connector:
The ballast still needs manicuring, but the Connector is open and trains running on it. Note the new tie concrete ties that have been placed. Laying Track 112 (to the right of the BNSF Connector) must be imminent.
A heavier telephoto of CP SP539 RIVERSIDE LEAD, with that new, replacement signal above and right of the main composition’s signal:
Continued in Part M
Part “M” (of H-O, Overall A-W)
In another view, note the west side eastbound Mt. Vernon Connector mast signal on the far right.
And, the eastside westbound Mt. Vernon Connector signal and new track on the upper left.
Oh, looking west, what do we have here?
Continued in Part N
Part “N” (of H-O, Overall A-W)
It is crossing over! Will it take the BNSF Connector?
Fantastic! It does!
Continued in Part O
Part “O” (of H-O, Overall A-W)
Then it curves under I-10 …
… and stops. It obviously got a red BNSF signal south of Valley Blvd., by the weird CP SP939 VALLEY.
Looking back, so much mainline trackage is blocked now!
And it stays that way.
There are those ties again for the future Track 112.
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To be continued Friday, September 20. 2013, posting by 3:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time with Parts P through W
A Memo to Clyde Acolita (9-18):
Greetings again, Clyde!
You asked, “Did you happen to take a peek from the bridge at Rancho ... is there a repeater type signal on the south side of the flyover to give crews a better view of that EB signal?” Yes, I did get a peek!
However, as seen especially in the second photo of Part O, there is NO ‘repeater type signal’ on the south side of the I-10 Freeway. Those new ones by Valley Blvd. may be only temporary, accounting for that Star Wars barroom brawl type stencil job on the CP box for CP SP939 VALLEY.
Both the H and E Street BNSF grade crossings are supposed to be eliminated in the Colton Flyover construction package. Also, it is known a grade separation is somewhere in the pipeline for Valley Blvd. So, in the future, there may not be a need for any type of BNSF Connector holding signals by Valley Blvd. as there will be no streets to block.
What may (“may”) be going on is preparation for a near future track rearranging, so the BNSF Connector is a separate north-south line to BNSF’s CP RANA. The present WEST side BNSF alignment to the south seems to change to an EAST side alignment to the north, as seen in the following link, that viewers may want to keep open as a reference for a minor point that followers of this thread might find of interest afterward.
AERIAL LINK: Present BNSF Alignment Shifting Area
In the future, that BNSF Connector may be a separate track, with three BNSF Mains just to its east (aerial right). That is what I perceive is the reason for the pot signals that have sprung up at CP GONZALES (BNSF M.P. 2.9).
The present BNSF track arrangement (and sharp curve underneath the flyover) is susceptible to an absolutely disastrous high-speed runaway that would not only wipe out the I-10 Freeway bridges but severely damage the Colton Flyover too. An alignment shift in the BNSF mains may be an effort to greatly reduce that possibility.
Train handling-wise the going under I-10 on a curve is the low point between the north-south and east-west grades of the BNSF Connector. So, after stopping at the new holding CP signals, getting a train moving again may be a piece of cake. Unfortunately, the opposite may NOT be the case on the Mt. Vernon Connector.
Take care, Clyde,
K.P.
K.P. and Colton’s Hanna Street
In that referred to aerial above, the east-west Hanna St. crosses the north-south 7th Street. Hanna Street used to be named A Street.
Circa 1969 there was a very, very old man riding his bicycle northbound on 7th Street. Between B and A Streets that very old man suddenly collapsed and crashed his bicycle. K.P. happened to be in the area right at that time, and summoned medical aid. The old man was pronounced dead at the scene, and eventually transported away.
Later that day K.P. found out that that very old man was the famous Mr. Hanna, a prominent person in the community of Colton, the one who donated his world famous egg collection to a museum that was then by West Colton Yard in Bloomington, which museum is now off California Street in Redlands.
Shortly after Mr. Hanna’s passing A Street was renamed Hanna Street.
The above is a very true story as few could relate it …
Part “P” (of P-W, Overall A-W)
The stopped train finally starts moving, and its tail end finally comes … But something else does too! Another train right on the last train’s heals!
The empty coal train says its final goodbyes to the Colton Flyover area.
Continued in Part Q
Part “Q” (of P-W, Overall A-W)
A few moments later, a flatbed 18-wheeler comes up the south slope of Rancho. Ave., and makes the sharp, hairpin right turn onto the freeway ramp. It puts on a spectacular, heart stopping show trying to negotiate the very tight turn. Wow, it made it! But, as the truck headed down the freeway onramp …
… it was suddenly noticed that the trailer was carrying a giant load of concrete signal burial bases! Where it had come from and where it was going were both unknown.
That train that had come up behind the other wasn’t moving. Hmmm. Could it too take the BNSF Connect?
Then it starts moving, crosses over too, and takes the BNSF Connector!
Continued in Part R
Part “R” (of P-W, Overall A-W)
The well-cars on the new track make for a show in itself.
The train gets ready to go under the Flyover and I-10 …
… and it stops just like the last one.
Now something else is suddenly brewing …
… a double-stack from Los Angeles takes the Palmdale Cutoff route to Cajon Pass, where it will transfer to the route to Salt Lake City at Silverwood.
Continued in Part S
Part “S” (of P-W, Overall A-W)
Coming off the Rancho Ave. overpass, a final overpass shot was too irresistible not to photograph.
At the likewise high up K and 4th Streets, another irresistible shot.
And, another! The signal on the upper right is with that new Mt. Vernon Connector track.
Continued in Part T
Part “T” (of P-W, Overall A-W)
By Grand Terrace, CA
We head south a few miles to the high ground of Grand Terrace, and look north overlooking Colton.
Above, on the far left is a black area where the BNSF crossing of the Santa Ana River and Trail too, the spot pictured below
A northwest view with BNSF’s CP WEST COLTON and its cantilever signal in the background right:
East of the CP, a building complex: The south side:
Above still, the large building on the right is where the old Griffin Wheel plant was located, a place that manufactured train wheels. Now, it is a lumber yard.
Continued in Part U
Part “U” (of P-W, Overall A-W)
The lumber yard was posted about a few months ago.in this thread.
Another south side northward view for this series.
No obvious grading or other room made for track laying has taken place that would allow the track down the middle of 9th Street in Colton to be eliminated.
So, no update information can be provided on that aspect of the Colton Flyover project.
Continued in Part V
Part “V” (of P-W, Overall A-W)
A few tidbits …
The Riverside Industrial Lead bridge over the Santa Ana Bridge likely will be done away with too with the elimination of the 9th Street track.
It used to be an all timber structure, but it partially was destroyed by a fire a number of years ago, I belief by vandals.
The old lead has cars stored on it currently.
Continued in Part W
Part “W” (of P-W, Overall A-W)
A few Grand Terrace views of the old Riverside Industrial Lead:
After everything was photo-documented, K.P. headed home. In passing through Cajon Pass he saw that Palmdale Cutoff train that originated in the Los Angeles area heading to Salt Lake City and points east.
It truly was a photo day like few others.
Checking Things Out and the Twilight Zone
On Tuesday, September 24, 2013 K.P. visited Colton, CA again, and the best way of describing it is Twilight Zone-ish!
The recent August 13, 2013 visit resulted in these photos being posted in this thread, about the alternate Sunset Route NEW relief point parallel to the BNSF Transcon in South Colton …
Either what happened to the location was totally coincidental or someone at UP reads this thread, because the forum will not believe what is there now!
And, the Twilight Zone continues, again purely coincidental or someone at UP has been reading this thread, because that unusual CP nameplate …
… looks quite different now.
And, there are a number of other odds and ends that have popped up.
A photo report will be posted in a day or two (or three).
Update as of Tuesday, September 24, 2013
The General Colton Flyover Area
Part I (of I-XII)
The relatively new relief point (at M.P. 538.0, the one parallel to the BNSF in South Colton and NOT the Sunset Route) has been made spiffy and colorful to the extreme!
Gravel-work, yellow barricades and curbing makes this relief point like few others!
K.P. interprets this new development (i.e., it is unofficial and may mean something else) as UP exerting itself and making known to BNSF that BNSF will have to spend big bucks to triple-track this stretch with new bridges and embankment grading. On the other hand, it may only be an insinuation for camera toting people to keep out …
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-XII)
The 6th Street roadway (just south of Valley Blvd. a few hundred feet) is still barricaded, but the flyover’s extra bridging may be for UP and BNSF workers to quickly get vehicles to the other side of flyover. K.P. is positive that it won’t be a shortcut for locals …
The two new BNSF Connector signals: The left is an absolute (with double red capability) and the right is an intermediate (number plated).
An interesting sign is attached:
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-XII)
As a kid in the early 1960’s K.P. dropped in on a friendly crossing gates operator at the then Santa Fe tower at “I” Street (now called Valley Blvd.). Both of us clearly saw without obstructions Southern Pacific’s westbound No. 1, the Sunset Limited (I think it was called that then), with gray and scarlet E-7A’s and B’s. Now, a passing train up on the Colton Flyover is barely visible.
A new CP box with doors open is being worked on. The old diamonds are still in place. Notice how the old UP Sunset Route cross-tracks end on the middle right.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-XII)
A UP (not BNSF) track crew was working on their UP track (the BNSF Connector) just south of Valley Blvd.
The operation involved saw-cutting a track.
A medium pile of ballast was across from those above workers. The ballast did not have a pristine appearance, however, so it may have been taken up from across where the workers were at.
Part V (of I-XII)
Remember this previously shown ‘Star Wars space-barroom brawl’ looking CP SP939 VALLEY box?
Well, the name placard was spruced up a bit (“a bit”).
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-XII)
We now head east to the Mt. Vernon Ave. overpass and the west side of CP SP540 MT VERNON, which CP you will recalled extends to the other side of the Santa Ana River.
By the overpass a strange rail wheels / roadway tired switching beast was present switch the local industry, next to a stack of old ties.
Continued in Part VII
Part VII (of I-XII)
From partway up on the Mt. Vernon Ave. overpass the flyover is seen.
Is that a CSX spy drone on the upper right or a bird? Note the lit double red signal in the second from the left dark bridging opening.
There was too much vehicle traffic to safely go up farther on the two-lane Mt. Vernon Ave. overpass, but sufficiently good views could be had nevertheless. The lowest track is the Mt. Vernon Connector, and between the flyover’s orange-work and railings are Mains 2 and 1 (highest track). The background road is Mt. Vernon Ave.
A CAT roller of some sort was working on the north side of this eastern slope of the Colton Flyover.
A pile of orange-ish something, laying down windmills and the background Colton Flyover makes for an interesting scene.
Continued in Part VIII
Part VIII (of I-XII)
In a surprise, a new signal has sprung up (left).
The new signal (again, left) is an EAST facing one for westbound movements, whereas the other signals are WEST facing for eastbounds.
The implication is that there will be NO dark track between the east interlocking of CP 539 RIVERSIDE LEAD and the BNSF diamonds circuitry of the same name.
While the signals at CP 539 RIVERSIDE LEAD are presently lit (even if not in service yet!) the new mast signal is probably too new and may not even be wired yet.
At this point the new signal having three bulbs doesn’t make sense to K.P. It is one signal to watch!
Continued in Part IX
Part IX (of I-XII)
In setting sunlight, a westbound passes on the flyover as an increasingly junkyard look is by the old diamonds area below.
The last photo just above has that new CP electrical box in it, surrounded by BNSF vehicles and workers.
Continued in Part X
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