Update as of Monday, June 2, 2014
The Truss Bridges Over the I-215 Freeway
Grand Terrace-Colton, CA
Part “A” (of A-F)
Upon first arriving at CP61 HIGHGROVE, at Main Street, the east-west border between Highgrove and Colton, it was found that all tracks were red flagged.
Main 3 does not go straight anymore, but curves over to the new truss bridges.
Continued in Part B
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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)
At the Iowa Ave. / I-215 truss bridge construction site, a number of bracing parts are in place on a new span.
It is not known if the onsite red crane was dug down or not, but the crane sure looks dwarfed by the truss bridge sections now.
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-F)
The I-215 Freeway had equipment grading by it. Note the installed truss bridges in the background. The silver bridge over I-215 is now on borrowed time.
Above, note all the piers holding up the old silver bridge, piers that presently are in the way of freeway widening.
A reshown photo: The center piers for the old Riverside Industrial Lead Bridge are still up. They will undoubtedly come down at the same time the old BNSF bridge piers are brought down.
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-F)
From the north side up by Barton Rd., looking south, the BNSF Main 3 goes through the truss bridges now
Look at all that rail lying alongside the new Main 3 north of the trusses.
Just above, strangely, the rightmost among those ribbon rails is a rail with joints!
A thought provoking view: From left to right, the NEW Main 3, the old Main 3 (disconnected), Main 1 on the Main 2 alignment (from Riverside), and the presently nonexistent track on the real Main 1 alignment.
Is it possible that FOUR BNSF tracks will eventually pass here?
Where the new track (right) that is over the truss bridge meets (with welding) the old track (left), the difference in rust tones for each is quite evident.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-F)
A westbound BNSF passes.
Above, the westbound showed up so quickly that K.P. was taken by surprise, and not in a convenient position to take a picture.
And an eastbound BNSF came too!
The tank train of an unknown commodity is a long one.
The tail-end DPU:
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of A-F)
Hmmm … What have we here?
Above, looking north (eastbound) towards Colton with a heavy, heavy telephoto, from left to right, are Main 1, Main 3 (behind the power poll), and the old East Pass, now the Mt. Vernon Connector, with a coming train on it! That means the train is from off the Sunset Route, and comes from at least was through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona!
That background UP train now passes.
The tail-end:
So, now the forum has seen what passing trains look like going through the new truss bridge.
This will end the series.
K.P.:
Those of us who follow your various threads are accustomed to your "heavy telephoto" images. Indeed, they are of great benefit to us. But in this final section of this series, you mention your "heavy, heavy telephoto". Would you mind telling those of us who one-day hope to purchase such a lens, how big of a lens is it? (if "big" is the right terminology?). And does "heavy, heavy" come from the same lens as your "heavy" telephotos. Some of us camera geeks might like to know.
And, I would be remise in not repeating the feelings of others who follow you: this stuff is FANTASTIC, and I am very, very impressed with the effort you put into this tread! Your loyal fans are very grateful for all the facts and entertainment that you give us!
Warmest regards, always,
JOHN
KP really enjoy your coverage of the Sunset route and other Southern California threads. I realize that many of your photos are taken with a telephoto lens which distorts the distance perspective such as the new truss bridges track offset. It appears that the offset is sharp and subject to a speed restriction. Any idea how long the offset is and what the speed is or will be across it? Just wondering why they did not put in a shoe fly and replace the current bridges at the present location thereby giving a long tangent run.
The latest Google maps show the grading for the new route.
Google Map Link
Looks like it is not to drastic.
Replies
Deggesty (5-30):
So, if I understand it correctly, the Sunset Route involves THREE milepost series. New Orleans is in the neighborhood of M.P. 0.0 to Houston, TX, around M.P. 375 on the Texas & New Orleans (T&NO), with the Houston area starting at around M.P. 12 to El Paso, TX in the M.P. 829 area. From El Paso (around M.P. 1298) the numbers run westward in reverse TO Los Angeles and up to San Francisco, CA, supposedly at M.P. 0.0. Because of time, all the Milepost 0.0’s do not actually exists anymore. Do I interpret your post correctly?
John Simpkins-Camp (6-5):
Thanks so much for the kind words.
The “heavy, heavy telephoto” was taken with just my old ‘small’ camera in heavy telephoto mode, and the photo itself was highly cropped and digitally severely resized on the computer, and because of that it was slightly blurry, but I thought it conveyed the scene to the forum.
ccltrains (6-5):
Yes, photos of the new BNSF truss bridges in the Grand Terrace area may (“may”) look more distorted than the scene actually is. My guess is the line will remain with a 50 M.P.H. speed limit, and the severe curving is merely telephoto compaction and an illusion.
I don’t think a temporary shoofly would work, as it would probably be even more expensive than a new bridge on a new alignment. The monkey wrench is the very, very active I-215 Freeway the BNSF has to go over. If it wasn’t for that a big fill for a shoofly could probably be put in, but that is just not practical with a jam packed freeway …
You might be interested to know that a trip was planned to visit the two-tracking over Tehachapi, but sources have said nothing had taken place up that way. By now it was expected that a big cut around Tunnel 10 would have been dug down, but those sources that are familiar with such an effort say nothing has been done. Even the new signals on the far north and far south slopes have NOT been fully activated yet.
The west slope’s new signals have been partially activated, but only for one direction on each track, making for a continuation of “double-track.”
So, overall, the old “double track” persists on the far slopes of Tehachapi instead of being fully converted to “two-track” bidirectional signaling.
I thought I would just pass that along.
rdamon (6-5):
Your link was very timely, as it shows the shoofly grading at only a slight angle, and not as severe as the telephotos suggest.
Take care all,
K.P.
I notice that Google Earth street view on the I-215 near Iowa Street has shots of some of the new trusses going up. Both west trusses and one east truss are in place.
Johnny
KP --Thank you for enlightening me as to the anticipated speed on the 215 overpass. It is pushing 45 years since I lived in Southern California and my mind is a little fuzzy about rail there. I think the 215 freeway was not completed when we lived there. Bakersfield is a little closer to my memory as it was only 42 years since we lived there. The next time you are in Bakersfield try to have lunch at the Woolgrowers Cafe. It is across the street from the old SP station and some good train action is always there. Although I have not been to Woolgrowers recently it did get a good write up in Sunset Magazine a year or so ago so it is still open.
Update as of Saturday, June 7, 2014
About the Truss Bridges
Colton, Grand Terrace, and Highgrove, CA
Part I (of I-V)
It May or May Not Be This Way Sunday
During the late afternoon of Saturday, June 7, 2014 K.P. had a semi-surprise dispatch southward to deep within Riverside County (CA). On the way the new BNSF trusses on the alternate Sunset Route were checked out. The track destined for going through the present west trusses (right) looked ready for cutting over, which may or may not be happening as this is posted.
Last week the east trusses (above left) had a track cutover on a Sunday.
A heavier close-up, by an orange cone, that seems to mark the location of a knock-over mechanism typically used with dragging equipment detectors.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-V)
On the south side, a similar situation was present.
Just above, while the track is flat, the bridge’s walkways seem to rise towards the center and then lower again.
At BNSF’s staging property just south of Main Street, equipment was lined up that could be used in a cutover.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-V)
Other Area Views
According to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) website (as of post time), there will only be THREE bridges (of two spans each) over the I-215 Freeway.
LINK: Official Website Details (See Second Paragraph under Project Features)
On what alignment the third truss set will be on is unknown, but K.P. envisions (unofficially) it being put alongside the other two, which would allow for a fourth bridge to be installed sometime in the future.
The third set of trusses is now well along in their assembly.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-V)
More views of the third bridge sections:
A view from the southwest, looking northeast:
Note that the already installed truss sections can be seen on the far left background.
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-V)
Track equipment and a BNSF eastbound (leftward):
This will conclude the series.
About a month ago I ran into a CALTRANS guy assigned to the project at my son's baseball game. He said that the truss bridges were only temporarily on a curve. That after the old bridge was removed, the new ones would be moved over. He described BNSF as very insistent of getting what they want!
No way to confirm this.
J Bishop
J. BishopAbout a month ago I ran into a CALTRANS guy assigned to the project at my son's baseball game. He said that the truss bridges were only temporarily on a curve. That after the old bridge was removed, the new ones would be moved over. He described BNSF as very insistent of getting what they want! No way to confirm this.
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! ***
Relocating New BNSF Truss Bridges …
… and About Super Washouts
There has been some forum posting about relocating new truss bridges in the I-215 area of Colton-Grand Terrace, CA for logistical sequence purposes. Thus K.P. investigated such and looked at possibilities, and worked up a post with diagrams for the forum to ponder. Unfortunately, the TRAINS website seems to be malfunctioning with its new diagram displays, hence, the diagrams and arguments planned cannot be posted at this time.
Below is linked the trains.com (slightly different from trainsmag.com and its umbrella website) ‘testing’ forum, and the K.P. “diagramming” test post.
http://cs.trains.com/trc/f/2/t/230275.aspx
The editing screen which unfortunately viewers cannot see is different from the actual post display screen. For years that has never happened. Until that is resolved, the above entitled post cannot be presented.
Sorry guys (and maybe a few gals),
Forum contributor J. Bishop (6-8) conveyed what appears to be authoritative information about the Grand Terrace area trusses that he heard at his son’s baseball game, and MikeF90 (6-9) gave some aerial thoughts that might support that information.
K.P. has analyzed both contributors’ posts, and as a result has come to some surprising conclusions.
First, about relocating those new bridges … Over the decades many a truss bridge has been involved in disastrous flooding and washouts, and ended up partially on their side, some upside down, while others almost vertically partially buried in mud! They seem, however, to have a certain resiliency and can quickly be righted, repositioned, and re-anchored to their original alignment, with only some new cement-work if necessary (because of being itself washed out). Thus, relocating one or more of the new truss bridges over the I-215 Freeway in the Grand Terrace area should be very easy and rather quick.
Second, the track alignments: Presently, over the I-215 Freeway the old two-track bridge has Main 1 and Main 3 on it, from geographical west to east. At BNSF CP61 HIGHGROVE, maybe a half a mile to the south (railroad west), the line is three-tracks, Mains 1, 2, and 3. To the north (railroad east), two-tracks (Mains 1 and 3) goes a few miles to Colton, to CP29 GONSALES, where Mains 1, 2, and 3 all resume eastward.
Diagram #1: The Old Alignment in the Highgrove / I-215 area.
Diagram #2: The Transition Alignment, and When the Old Bridge is Removed
Diagram #3: Conjectured Final Alignment (Possible)
Diagram #3A: Or Maybe This … (More Likely)
Diagram #3B: Or Maybe Even This … (Quite Likely)
The three Diagrams above (3, 3A, and 3B) are shown because K.P. perceives (“perceives”) another track being laid north of Main St. in the Highgrove area. Why is it perceived? Because just north of Main St. a bunch of rails have been laid out parallel to the present Main 1, which is on the alignment of the nonexistent Main 2. K.P. kicks himself for not photographing those laid out rails, but he will make it a point of getting pictures next time he is out that way..
In both Diagrams 3A and 3B there is an unused truss bridge (CC), and a newer, made to be unused alignment with abutments for a possible future truss bridge and track (DD). Is something like that (a fourth-track) even feasible?
Consider the following possibility (“possibility”), more southward (westbound) towards Riverside
Diagram #4: Four-tracks with One as a Flyover
Such a fourth track would finally allow both alternate Sunset Route type trains and Metrolink Perris Valley Line trains to change sides with unhindered, more free flowing movement. Thus, a new unused bridge (CC) and an unused abutment supports (DD) suggest, at least to K.P., the Diagram #4’s track arrangement will eventually come about, though that is only theoretical conjecture, but that would make sense out of what currently doesn’t quite make sense, and solve a lot of operating problems (congestion) as well. Since a fourth-track is outside of the financing for the current I-215 Bridge effort, it would seem UP and Metrolink would pay for a fourth bridge (though BNSF could use it at the dispatcher’s discretion), but undoubtedly since Metrolink is a public commuter agency, federal and state funds would pay for the fourth bridge and also a flyover closer to Riverside.
K.P. believes these areas are ones to watch! Now, to the north just a bit, if we could just figure out how to get four-tracks (or even three-tracks) underneath the two-tracks wide Barton Rd. vehicle overpass …
KP: Any use of the jointed rail at the new bridge possible for temporary track ?
A Couple of Replies
ccltrains (6-7):
Since you lived in Bakersfield (CA) eons ago, you may be interested to know that the new, unorthodoxly HIGH entrance signal in downtown Bakersfield is operational now. A December 30, 2013 photo of that signal when not activated yet is reshown below.
blue streak 1 (6-11):
The use of jointed rail on at least one truss bridge over the I-215 Freeway in the Grand Terrace area may be, as you suggested, a temporary indicator.
But, just above, the left track (Main 3) seems to have CWR, so it makes one unsure of what to conclude.
Interestingly, when a shoofly was built for the Magnolia Ave. underpass construction in Riverside, CA a few years ago on the alternate Sunset Route over the LA&SL, welded rail was used, and NOT joint rail! March 17, 2011 view:
However, a closer view by the grade crossing area itself seems to show many welds, but no joints.
So, maybe (“maybe”) the jointed rail by the truss bridges over the I-215 Freeway became spot welded CWR. (Anybody at the forum have the details?)
Another Thought about “Four-Tracks”
Grand Terrace-Riverside, CA
About the BNSF’s triple-track line between Highgrove and Riverside (that many Sunset Route trains take as an alternate route, most commonly associated with the LA&SL), it was just a few days ago suggested that a fourth-track could (“could”) be laid. Back in September-October of 2012 this photo was posted, and it was pointed out back then that the east-west Columbia Ave. overpass looked to be seven tracks wide.
The fact that that overpass is capable of having three or four more tracks laid underneath it gives a little more credence to a possible (“possible”) fourth-track here, maybe (“maybe”) even a fifth track for a Metrolink station stop so waiting passengers would be away from a fourth-track passing freight train.
In the background of that just above photo is where the new, north-south Iowa Ave. overpass has since been built, but as of yet K.P. has no ground photos to compare with the Columbia Ave. overpass.
For those who care, the addition of the second main track east of Wister SP658 is progressing nicely on the Yuma Subdivision.
The old Wister siding between SP660 and SP662 was removed about a month ago and new track should be nearly complete between SP658 and the west switch Niland. New track was also constructed between Niland SP669 and Iris SP674 in April of this year.
Still on the to do list is finish building new control points at SP665 (west switch at Niland will have universal crossovers and a turnout to the south siding), SP669 (east switch to the wye at Niland will have a crossover added so trains can move from the wye to the No. 2 to the No. 1 track), and new universal crossovers built at Iris SP676. Like at Wister, the north sidings at Niland and Iris will have to be removed and rebuilt as the No. 1 track. I'm told it's possible they will get as far as Acolita this year with the second main track. Remember, Acolita is moving a couple miles west with a new 9000' south siding planned.
On a totally unrelated note, I haven't been there in a while but work seems to be progressing near the Puente Hills Intermodal Facility on the Los Angeles Subdivision. A new control point may be cut over in the near future. I think it's C016 that's been mostly complete for several months. My files don't show a station name for C016 yet but it's a crossover plus turnouts to the drill track and industry lead on the north side at MP 15.6 -- about half a mile east of Fry's Electronics.
The “Bad Luck” Friday the 13th …
… Proved to be a Day of Good Fortune
Yesterday was Friday the 13th, and K.P. was on assignment in Loma Linda (CA). Afterwards, three specific spots in the Grand Terrace-Highgrove-Riverside area were on the agenda to quickly check out and photo document. That went exceptionally well, and good things kept happening! So well, in fact that K.P. got back to base way, way after dark!
Several short, separate posts over the next several days are planned so the forum can see the photos as quickly as possible instead of all together maybe three or four days from now.
Memo to Clyde Acolita (6-13):
That was very surprising news that from Iris to the Acolita area (west of Glamis) might get two-tracked this year!
Reference the Puente Hills Intermodal Facility (PHIMF) area in the City of Industry on the Los Angeles Sub, you mentioned a new CP at M.P. 15.6. A few months short of two years ago, on October 24, 2012, I was by that site, and the new CP box placard was actually on the box facing outward for all to see. It was C016 INDUSTRY.
As typical, the labels got turned inward, so presently you and the rest of the forum can’t see them. But, unless someone changes things, that CP you mentioned will be called INDUSTRY. Industry is a well-known, traditional name on the LA&SL. It is likewise on the SP side. Now that UP and SP are one, it is somewhat surprising that BOTH lines still have that name individually on them.
Best,
The Good Fortune Friday the 13th Series
Part “A” (of A-B, Overall A-K)
More on the New Truss Bridges Area
Colton-Highgrove, CA
On Friday, June 13, 2014 K.P.’s first focused was on the Colton-Grand Terrace-Highgrove, CA area, on the BNSF portion of the alternate Sunset Route. From the Barton Rd, overpass area, looking south: Main 1 (right) still had NOT been rerouted over a truss bridge, though the original Main 2 track that was left in place was severed, and the future Main 1 track was partially though it.
A mile or two south (railroad west), by the Main Street grade crossing on the border between Colton and Highgrove, looking north, that Barton Rd. overpass can be seen in the distance. Grand Terrace High School is a few blocks to the right of the camera position.
Above, in theory, the new truss bridge currently being assembled by Iowa Ave and the I-215 Freeway should be placed to the left of the current Main 1 (left track) and Main 3 (right track).
Looking north, Mains 1, 2, and 3 are seen, and the concept of Main 1 curving into Main 2 and Main 2 becoming Main 1 is discernable in this view.
Part “B” (of A-B, Overall A-K)
In the last photo in Part A an embankment on the left is unseen. A number of rails and rail parts are on the bottom of that now right embankment.
It might (“might”) just be coincidental that rails are present in this area when those truss bridges have things happening regarding them, as looking south (westbound) those rails are also present.
They are ALSO present beyond the curve in the background of the above photo. There will be more on this later.
----------
Continued in Parts C-G to be posted by (close to) 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time Sunday, June 15, 2014, about the BNSF right-of-way by both Iowa and Palmrita Avenues towards Riverside, CA, including a UP train approaching the latter grade crossing and it also in Colton while transitioning to the Sunset Route. While in Colton, a surprise was noted at the Colton Signal Dept.
Parts H-K will be posted before (and close to) 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time Monday, June 16, 2014 and shows another surprise in Colton, by CP SP540 MT VERNON. Hunts Lane was also visited with a big advance on the overpass, and photos were taken from the now open again east side sidewalk of the Anderson St. overpass in Loma Linda.
Deggesty (6-7):
Thank you for confirming the milepost numbering from the eastern end of the Sunset Route west. Now we all have a general comprehension of the three segments of M.P.’s from Los Angeles, CA to New Orleans, LA.
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