An Odd Happening About the …
… Riverside Industrial Lead
South 9th Street
Colton, CA
Part I (of I-II)
Preface …
It was May 14, 2010 nearly four years ago, and four axil yellow LLPX 2226 was doing the switching honors, and had entered the street running of 9th Street in Colton.
The 9th Street roadway has long been an eyesore and a real obstacle course for motorists. Note in the background I-10 is seen, and the 9th Street overpass. Those were the days before the Colton Flyover that blocks such a view today.
Fast forward to Saturday, April 26, 2014, less than a week ago, and by some chance K.P. past the 9th Street street running. There was new, black pavement a block away, and a detour for K.P. suddenly ensued to check it out.
The semi-wye switch arrangement had been taken out, and a gap it left was paved over.
Continued in Part II
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 II (of I-II)
Some parts of the new pavement did not even have flange-ways, while other parts did.
As seen northward just above, the new replacement track here was so new that the railheads even had some pavement on them.
Southward views to round out the two posts:
The agreement involving the Colton Flyover was that this awkward street running would be eliminated. So far, it is still present, but rail traffic has almost dried up.
To flog a dead horse (metaphorically speaking), UP within the past few days published its 2013 Analyst Fact Book, a most interesting compendium of info about different aspects of the company. On Page 37 one can find a map that displays current and proposed capital projects around the system. This affords us a once-a-year look at what UP management deems the most pressing, or most rewarding, areas around the system to invest their capital.
What I find interesting is that this map shows other projects that compete with the Sunset Corridor for capital.
The Analyst Fact Book can be accessed by going to the Investors portion of the UP website and clicking on "Fact Books."
Update as of Friday, May 2, 2014
Building the Third Truss Bridge Has Started …
… and You Won’t Believe Where!
Grand Terrace-Highgrove, CA
On the alternate Sunset Route, two BNSF truss bridges (consisting of two spans each) have already been built and installed over the I-215 Freeway. There has been some question as to where (“where”) the third bridge (also of two spans) would be built at. It was found to be being built SOUTHWEST of Iowa Ave., near a Jack-In-The-Box fast food restaurant! (See first photo, lower left.)
In the second photo above, the Iowa Ave. overpass (center, light gray bridge cement-work and its fencing) is BETWEEN the new truss bridge assembly site (foreground) and the BNSF tracks (by the background truss bridges). How are they going to get the new truss bridge to the other side of the Iowa Ave. roadway bridge? Simple! Just knock down the roadway bridge and get it out of the way! (Dah) K.P. feels somewhat stupid in not realizing if the railroad bridge had to be taken down for the freeway widening, the Iowa Ave. roadway bridge would likewise also need to be taken down!
If any locals will be in the area for a look, be advised that very recently southwest of the new truss bridge presently in assembly the 55 year old (plus or minus) La Cadena / I-215 Freeway southbound onramp intersection arrangement has been radically rearranged. K.P. was almost in a la-la land state driving because the roadway was overnight-like all different from what he has known for over 50 years …
AERIAL MAP LINK: New Truss Bridge Building Location in Map Center Enclosed by I-215 and Iowa Ave.
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K.P. has other photos, of the newly installed truss bridges and the grading to them. He was also at the Anderson Ave. overpass site in Loma Linda, but has renamed that Loma Linda in his own mind to the town to Thwarterville. He was also in Riverside to document the new UP / 91-Freeway bridge developments. As time permits, all these things will be worked on for a brief posting for presentation to the forum …
K.P.,
Glad to see you back! Thank you for the grade separation progress photos.
Odds and Ends of Friday, May 3, 2014
Part “A” (of A-E)
The New BNSF Truss Bridges
Grand Terrace-Colton, CA
Just to get the technicalities out of the way …
By the new truss bridges (left) that goes over the I-215 Freeway …
… the ground just this side of the new truss bridges is in the City of Colton. On the far side of the bridges, the right ground is in the City of Colton as well, but the left ground is in the City of Grand Terrace. In the distance a four-track signal bridge is seen, by Main Street. Main Street and back is the community of Highgrove. In the foreground, from left to right, are Mains 3 and 1. In the background by the signal bridge, again from left to right, the San Jacinto branch, Mains 3, 2, and 1.
In the above photo, sub-ballast has been laid in advance of track laying.
Note the little “CAT” machine on the lower left.
A heavy telephoto of the sub-ballast and truss bridges:
Westbound Amtrak No. 3 shows up. A third-track here, not even considering the two-track width Barton Rd. overpass, looks difficult to put a third track by considering there is a closely parallel to the tracks public street on the far side (across the photo top).
Getting back to the first of three above photos, at this point in time, it is unknown exactly what alignment the new third bridge under construction by Iowa Ave. will take. In theory, it could be on the background Main 1 alignment (right), which would allow for even a fourth bridge to be placed.
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-E)
The Anderson Street Overpass
Thwarterville, CA (A.K.A. Loma Linda)
The Anderson Ave. overpass location is somewhere between M.P. 542 and 543 on the western portion of the Sunset Route. A west side sidewalk sign was disappointing.
K.P. then went over the overpass in his vehicle, and come to find out much is torn up in the area, apparently in advance of new buildings.
The east side sidewalk was found to be closed too! Perhaps the City of Thwarterville discourages the citizenry from walking …
Years ago a fence was erected to discourage locals from crossing the tracks.
The visible train (above) was stopped at a red signal down the way (right) down at CP SP542 LOMA LINDA (M.P. 541.3), between Waterman Ave. and Hunts Lane.
The sign by the fence (upper left) dates from Southern Pacific days:
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-E)
If we take the signals to the west at CP SP540 MT VERNON (M.P. 539.9) (reshown) ...
… and forget about (delete) CP SP542 LOMA LINDA (M.P. 541.3) …
… and also forget about (also delete) the now intermediate signals in the M.P. 543 area …
… and go all the way to the signals to the east, by Whittier Ave. near Redlands …
… one finds that any future signals by Anderson Street would be right in between the west and east signals mentioned above, suggesting a future CP might go in there.
In theory, the Ice Deck siding to the west could be extended eastward to Anderson Street. With the overpass sidewalks closed, further investigation (from the overpass) cannot be done.
In a strange coincidence, IF it is just a coincidence, the public park trackside is closed also!
Further investigation will have to wait till when the Anderson Street overpass sidewalks are finally reopened.
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-E)
About Cridge Street and the 91 Freeway
Riverside, CA
Because of the 91 Freeway widening, the Cridge St. overpass was taken down, isolating any that got stopped because of train on the west side of the BNSF tracks. That situation has lasted for some time now. But, within just a month the building of a new bridge over the 91 Freeway has made dramatic progress.
The above photo was taken from the west side of the 91 Freeway. The right new and old mast signal is UP SCRRA westbound signal. The Cridge Street crossing gate is on the left.
The New LA&SL Bridge over the 91 Freeway
As seen from Panorama Road. southwest of the new bridge, track equipment was working the track over that goes over the railroad new bridge over the 91 Freeway.
From by Cridge St. looking southwest, the old BNSF target signal (left) and the new target signal (right), and the new UP color light for the LA&SL mainline. In the background center, is the west eastbound signal that can display red over flashing red for entrance to SCRRA (Metrolink) track.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-E)
The new, future LA&SL mainline track still is not connected to the BNSF.
Two flags on each pole.
As with the UP mainline signal, the SCRRA junction switch signal (old and new) only have a single head.
So, a mixture of new (the red over flashing red instead of red over lunar) and old (the flashing yellow instead of the new yellow over yellow) signaling are present.
K.P. hopes to do a short write up soon on such yellows type signaling.
While on scene, it was noted that some Caltrans surveyors (“Caltrans surveyors”) were on site, and crossing over and working right by the tracks.
Lucky guys …
This will conclude the series.
Gallivanting Around by Niland-Salton Sea, CA
About 11:00 A.M. on Sunday, May 4, 2014 K.P. had a whim to just travel all the way down to Salton Sea and the Niland area of Southern California, and did just that. The now in service Bertram to Wister two-tracking section was documented, as well the things abound the two-tracking progress to and east of Niland.
Below is the east end of CP SP667 NILAND (M.P. 667.3) as seen through an eye-catching abandoned building south of the future two mainline tracks (one track presently is a siding).
At the counterpart of that signal bridge, the old cantilever structure on the west end of the same CP, a new, sole structure (at least at this time) was erected, with one of two parts of it up already.
A cantilever top horizontal signals section was about a quarter of a mile to the east, at a staging area, but it’s heads (covered with rapping) and lamp housing sizes seemed (“seemed”) very inconsistent with the above structure’s location.
Outside of that and all the signal trailers in Niland, nothing signal-wise was happening in the area ON the Sunset Route. There were, however, un-activated color light mast signals that had been erected for the wye track arrangement for the Calexico Sub, at CP SP668 NILAND, and workers and equipment were all around that CP.
K.P. was somewhat disappointed at the signal progress through Niland, but surprisingly managed to take over 400 photos in the Salton Sea-Niland area! Track laying now stretches to way east of Niland.
Some somewhat strange signal phenomena were observed that seemed rather contradictory-like, and was kind of what was not expected, but there may be an explanation for it. The TWO yellow over green aspects in a row may work very differently than what has been previously thought. Photos are rather lacking -- K.P. was having very much trouble keeping up with ‘slow’ trains, believe it or not! But, did manage to capture the below view of the westbound signal to the east of CP SP637 SALTON.
The two-head westbound signals more east of the above signal is the one in the contradictory realm, because it displayed something very different from what an eastbound like-signal to the east displayed earlier in the day!
It will probably take a week to put a trip report series together for posting. But, that is what will be in the works.
Based upon your comment about track-laying east of Nyland, it appears that my suspicions about this year's track-laying activity (43 miles) may be coming true. According to Mike's map notes, grading west of MP676 is reported complete and we might presume that track will be laid in that section all the way from Wister CP658 through Niland to MP676 (18 miles). Another of Mike's notes states that grading stretches from MP687 to Mesquite, CP697. It's also clearly visible on the Google satellite view and has been for some time. That would be another 12 miles, ready for track (including the siding from Mesquite CP697 to Glamis CP699). So, totaling up, including the now-inservice 10 miles from Bertram MP648 to Wister MP658, we have about 40 miles of double track accounted for this year. Where are the other 3 miles? Hmmm....
A lot of the roadbed, maybe most of it, that is being double-tracked this year appears to have been graded in previous years. I wonder if there are other unnoticed areas that are being graded this year for future completion. That "terra incognita" in the western Arizona desert would definitely be the subject of such ponderings. On the other hand, maybe UP just had more available money in previous years to do both current-year track-laying and grading for future use.
Finally, some time back, K.P. or Mike (?) tallied up the double track/single track mileage and assigned a presumed priority for completion. The part in the California desert was rated highest and the part in Arizona, rated medium. What was the reasoning for the priorities? I, of course, have no idea.
Regards,
Pete
It appears that UP is doing 20 mile or so stretches then leaving 10 to 20 mile stretches. In effect making Double Track Islands, so with that in mind I would suspect that the area at the east end of the Mohawk Valley to the Dateland, Az area would be next for grading as well as the section just east of the Yuma East Yard. With the Yuma Crew change point being moved to East Yard I would think some trackwork thereabouts is imminent.
As I reported back in February, there was a lot of work equipment staged between Wellton and Aztec. I'll be heading out that way in a couple weeks, and will try to keep track of what I see (assuming it's a daytime drive).
@K.P., your speculation of an extended Ice Deck siding or a third MT looks good to me. If they need to hold a two mile long freight east of the river, CP Loma Linda is in the wrong place. Ditto if BNSF ever needs a third main, the Mt Vernon connector must be cut back.@PeteM3, since my last post I've heard track foreman call out form B protection between Niland and Iris siding with a train on the dead (apparently new second) track. Sounds like construction to MP 676 is proceeding. East of there is hard to predict, but UP usually awards grading contracts at least a year in advance of track laying. Any 'priority' I've mentioned is mostly based on the length of single track sections, longer is assumed to be the greater bottleneck. @SuperHunky, thinking about that short single track section east of CP East Yard almost makes my head explode. Any one of UP's usual contractors could knock it off quickly. As we expected , that new 20 mile 2MT island (Salton - Wister) looks especially useful - I've seen several three way (!!) meets there already.@eolesen, hopefully your next trip west will determine if the equipment is contractor operated (possibly for ROW prep) or just routine UP maintenance. Can you check out the Yuma area? Speaking of bottlenecks, when UP gets around to more Gila sub upgrades I'll compare field observations with my latest predictions shown here: http://goo.gl/maps/1sxTS
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! ***
A Thursday Assignment along the Sunset Route
K.P. had to be in San Bernardino by 7:00 A.M. (Pacific Daylight Time), with free time thereafter until 2:15 P.M., and then go to Ontario. Perfect for checking the many things happening on this section of the Sunset Route! Over 300 photos were taken.
There has been some question as to how construction crews in the future will get the new truss bridge (above) to the rail site behind the camera with a road and overpass in the way (which may stay in the way). K.P. does not exactly know how, but there is something relative to the white barricading on the lower left that the viewer doesn’t see that might (“might”) hold the secret!
The LA&SL new bridge over the 91 Freeway in Riverside is in service now, but some (“some”) signals have not been upgraded in conjunction with the new track arrangement.
The Riverside Ave. shoofly (City of Riverside) seems to be in, and the shoofly at Vineyard Ave. in Ontario is now having track laid. But, that latter one is now real hard to photograph.
Preparing photos and text for posting on all this and more is now in the works.
Schedule for the Niland-Salton Sea, CA Area Report
East of Niland to Niland: Saturday, May 10, 2014 by Noon Pacific Daylight Time
Western Niland to Wister: Monday, May 12, 2014 by Noon Pacific Daylight Time
Frink Road to west of Salton: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 by Noon Pacific Daylight Time
A Niland-Salton Sea, CA Update Report
Part I (of I-VIII, Overall I-XXVIII)
On Sunday, May 4, 2014 K.P. traveled east a few miles past Niland, and the accompanying posts and photos are a result of that trip. AFTER this first post of the series, the report will be conveyed on a more or less east to west basis.
While traveling east to Niland, a Main 1 (new, northern track) UP eastbound was found to be stopped several hundred feet west of Hot Mineral Spa Rd., at M.P. 652.90. It apparently was stopped behind another train ahead, an unseen one. Looking eastbound, a westbound eventually approached in the distance on Main 2 (the original Main).
Because K.P. did not want to get stuck on the north side of the tracks, he hurried out of there and headed to Niland via the south side Highway 111. As the left signal in the distance above was approached, it went to yellow over green. That signal is the first of two in a row with lower single-lamp heads. More on the yellow over green will be discussed towards the end of the series.
We now go east to Flowing Wells Rd, a few miles east of Niland. An aerial view shows a NARROW sort of north-south canal in an “X” abutments arrangement under railroad bridging.
AERIAL LINK: Canal under Single-Track Sunset Route
The new grading and second-track laying was NORTH of the original single-track, and the new bridging was OVER the old angled abutments and widening canal. The below top view looks westbound:
The just above canal view looks southish.
Part II (of I-VIII, Overall I-XXVIII)
A telephoto looking westbound, with the new, un-ballasted track on the right:
That track seems to disappear in the distance because of ballast laid on it.
Looking eastbound:
Another eastward view: The concrete ties laid directly on the new grading, but ballast elevates the track on each side of the grade crossing.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-VIII, Overall I-XXVIII)
That train in the distance in the top photo of Part II.
As we head west to the town of Niland, we encounter the Calexico Branch, the line that goes south to Mexico. View looks north.
As seen just above, new color light signals at CP SP668 are replacing the old target signals.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-VIII, Overall I-XXVIII)
Another northward view: A milepost marker marks the spot.
Closer to the wye:
From the northwest, the west leg of the wye signal is seen, with a two lamp head, likely red and lunar. The trackage to the south is dark territory.
The east leg new signal:
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-VIII, Overall I-XXVIII)
The CP box:
Now, back on Sunset Route … An eastward view of the east switch of Niland. Two trains on the future Main 1, a ballast train and a tie train. Note that the front train’s engine is not exactly level …
Just above, heated air and telephotos don’t exactly mix.
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-VIII, Overall I-XXVIII)
A new electrical box for the Main Street grade crossing:
The old Sunset Route signals still haven’t been upgraded yet.
The north signals again at CP SP668 NILAND:
Continued in Part VII
Part VII (of I-VIII, Overall I-XXVIII)
The actual Sunset Route M.P. 668 (left), and that ballast train (center).
A cantilever signal bridge’s top, horizontal section:
Above, some of the covered heads with tarps appear (“appear”) to be of the four diode lamp type, but that may or may not be only an illusion!
Continued in Part VIII
Part VIII (of I-VIII, Overall I-XXVIII)
The east leg of the wye that connects to the Sunset Route:
Where the west leg connects (forefront left signal).
The signal bridge from the south, as seen through an abandoned building:
UP in recent times has been consolidating CP’s into just one. At this point in time it is unknown if the Calexico Sub west leg and east leg connections to the Sunset Route will be consolidated into just one CP or not.
A cantilever signal structure is being erected at the west leg’s junction.
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Continued in Parts IX-XVII to be presented Monday, May 12, 2014 by noon Pacific Daytime Time
A Cool Thursday Outing
Update as of May 8, 2014
Colton-Riverside-Ontario, CA
Schedule: Before noon Pacific Daylight Time on …
Sunday, May 11, 2014: Truss Bridges over the I-215 Freeway
Tuesday, Mat 13, 2014: The Railroad Bridge over the 91 Freeway
Thursday, May 15, 2014: CP C038 ONTARIO and the Vineyard Ave. Underpass
Part “A” (of A-G, Overall A-Q)
In the Grand Terrace-Colton-Highgrove area, a third truss bridge (consisting of the fifth and sixth spans) over the I-215 Freeway as seen by the Jack-In-The-Box fast food establishment … Someone drives by in a big cloud of dust and at the same time a truss piece is hoisted up.
Part “B” (of A-G, Overall A-Q)
More from the southwest side, looking northeast …
Part “C” (of A-G, Overall A-Q)
K.P.’s vehicle is repositioned and he walks over the Iowa Ave. bridge to where some photos can be taken down onto the truss bridge’s floor.
The Iowa Ave. roadway and the new bridge:
Part “D” (of A-G, Overall A-Q)
That roadway’s east barricades are to cordon off a future rearrangement of Iowa Ave.!
A red crane is by the truss bridge.
But, NOT just any crane … It has a gold-like “A” decal on it, “A” being for Ames Construction who has the freeway widening project here, which included the railroad bridges replacement.
Ames is well known as a contractor for much of the Sunset Route two-tracking’s grading.
Part “E” (of A-G, Overall A-Q)
The roadway bridge’s fine wire-mesh fencing and the truss bridge-work:
From the Iowa Ave. overpass the northbound lanes of the I-215 Freeway are seen. For good reason the freeway is being widened. The bus, No. 1211, is from OmniTrans, the transit agency for this Inland Empire of San Bernardino County.
A view of why the 55 plus or minus years old railroad bridge is being replaced.
Looking northbound, the current Iowa Ave. bridge may be (“may be”) wide enough to accommodate the freeway widening.
If so, one has to wonder why the present old railroad bridge wasn’t originally built wide-spanning also.
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of A-G, Overall A-Q)
From the Iowa Ave. vantage point, graders and other related equipment were seen on the south (west) railroad approach.
Panel track is stacked up. Grand Terrace High School is in the background. Not many ‘railfan’ high school kids probably ditch class here …
Continued in Part G
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