The Good Fortune Friday the 13th Series
Part “C” (of C-G, Overall A-K)
The Three BNSF Main Tracks …
… Between Highgrove and Riverside, CA …
... on the LA&SL Route AND Colton
The new Iowa Ave. overpass over the BNSF triple-track mainline, from the BNSF Palmrita Ave. grade crossing a few blocks to the west.
Above, there is definitely room on the right for a fourth-track.
There is presently a bunch of rails along BNSF Main 1, and ONLY Main 1.
In K.P.’s opinion, the rail is only replacement rail for Main 1, or rail that was replaced. Above, twenty years ago this BNSF (then AT&SF) track was two-tracks. What is now Main 3 was Main 2, and what is now Main 2 was Main 1. The sight of rail along the right-of-way is probably for renewal purposes, and not related to the three truss bridges in themselves.
The right-of-way is rather wide, but WEST of Palmrita Ave. the right-of-way narrows, and a fourth tracks is questionable.
The above train on the BNSF is eastbound, a few minutes off the LA&SL, the alternate Sunset Route.
Continued in Part D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 “D” (of C-G, Overall A-K)
The LA&SL train passes, and the last loaded well cars finally passes also.
Note the last 10-container well car only has nine containers on it, with a gap in the second from the end top containers.
By the Colton Flyover (the dark grey background walling), the LA&SL eastbound on the BNSF transitions on the Mt. Vernon Connector to get on the Sunset Route towards El Paso, TX, and that missing container spot passes.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of C-G, Overall A-K)
By Colton Crossing and the Flyover
Colton, CA
While by the transition curve on the Mt. Vernon Connector a BNSF eastbound passes (north, rightward)
Just a westward view to refresh the forum’s memory of the general location being spoken of, and the counterpart to the Mt. Vernon Connecter, the BNSF Connector that has the cross support bridging over it..
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of C-G, Overall A-K)
By the Colton Signal Department
Since we were so close to the fenced Colton Signal Dept. we go and check it out, expecting nothing new to see. Good fortune here too, if we can call it that …. Everything had been rearranged and moved around. An eastbound passes on the Colton Flyover:
Note the old box for the ex-CP SP537 EAST WYE BYPASS is now not by the street but by the background fence, by the tracks.
Some new orange winding semi-wrapped in plastic is present.
Burial stands:
Continued in Part G
Part “G” (of C-G, Overall A-K)
Others views:
With so much valuable copper wiring on hand, the railroad wisely has it protected by barbed wire with midway cross horizontal fence poles..
One electrical box strangely NOW does not have a placard on it.
Strangely, too, the long present box placarded CP AL525 GUASTI was NOT seen. Is the placard-less box that box? Or, was the CP AL525 GUASTI box finally transported to the Guasti area?
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Continued in Parts H-K to be posted before (but 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.
Part “H” (of H-K, Overall A-K)
By the Mt. Vernon Connector’s East Relief Point
By the Colton Flyover’s east end, a dirt road (near photo bottom) has been nicely graded.
A southward overview of the area, with the signals by CP SP540 MT VERNON on the far left.
A “private” UP paved grade crossing is now present to make changing train crews easier.
Continued in Part I
Part “I” (of H-K, Overall A-K)
The New Overpass at Hunts Lane
Colton-San Bernardino, CA
The north slope of the future overpass has been non-existent, and seemingly construction stalled. But this inspection the north slope sort of came out of thin air!
Continued in Part J
Part “J” (of H-K, Overall A-K)
The Sunset Route from the Anderson St. Overpass
Loma Linda, CA
While the overpass west sidewalk is still close, and probably will be for a while, the east side sidewalk was open. It has old fencing with the larger wire messing so smaller lenses can fit through it, or shoot photos rather easily.
Looking east, with the public Loma Linda Park on the far left. The park is a nice place to have a sandwich, or to bring the family.
A more telephoto view: The right-of-way seems to narrow in the distance.
Just above, a third track (like an extension eastward of the Ice Deck siding) or even a fourth track can’t continue east, unless the right-of-way was cleared of trees, etc.
Continued in Part K
Part “K” (of H-K, Overall A-K)
A heavy telephoto of the intermediate mast signals further east.
Those above intermediate mast signals recently replaced the overhead holding absolute signals on a signal bridge.
Now, looking westbound:
That slight jog in the distance on the right track is where CP SP542 LOMA LINDA is at, technically in the City of San Bernardino. Extending the Ice Deck siding eastward toward the camera on Anderson St. would allow CP SP542 LOMA LINDA to be in Loma Linda proper.
Lastly, almost forty years ago, the Loma Linda siding (left track) ended across from the park on the left.
Even in those days it was a great public place to watch trains, and many a train went in or out of that siding. Compounding the siding use back then was the putting on or taking off of helpers at CP SP542 LOMA LINDA, and Hunts Lane had wig-wags that got extensive exercise! And people would get mad, and went around over the Waterman Ave. overpass. Oh, the blessing of DPU’s now … and the finally now under construction Hunts Lane overpass. Anderson Ave. was once a grade crossing, where a two lane road crossed the Sunset Route, and not an overpass as it is now, where the above photos were shot from. What will views from this overpass look like 40 years from now?
This will end the series.
Thanks for the station sign photo at C016, K.P.
Will be interesting to see if the name sticks. I have a feeling it will be modified at some point because Industry already exists on the Alhambra Subdivision. All UP stations have a station number identifier called a CIRC7 that is separate from the control point number and used for internal accounting purposes.
Industry on the Alhambra Subdivision is CO486 and if the same station name is used on the Los Angeles Subdivision, it would be CX797 or thereabouts. Easy to confuse one for the other since they are not intuitive.
A Rare K.P. Sunday Dispatch
On Sunday, June 15, 2014 after an out of the blue assignment was completed, a visit to nearby Ontario-Pomona, CA was made, and contemporary key spots on both the SP Sunset Route and LA&SL alternated Sunset Route were checked out.
A findings presentation has been worked up on an east to west basis, and will follow this schedule:
Parts I-VI will be posted Tuesday, June 17, 2014 by 11:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time about Ontario, and Parts VII-XI Wednesday, June 18, 2014 by 11:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time about Montclair-Pomona, ending with a brief visual status update on the Diversion in the Temple Ave. area of Pomona, if we want to call it an update.
The recently erected fencing on public and private properties in the Vineyard Ave. underpass construction area in Ontario has been somewhat bewildering.
But, there might (“might”) be a ridiculously simple explanation for it. And that will be included in the Tuesday evening postings.
Update as of Sunday, June 15, 2014
Ontario-Pomona Review
Part I (of I-VI, Overall I-XI)
The Guasti-Milliken Ave Flyover Area
Ontario, CA
After a very rare, unexpected dispatch assignment Sunday, everything thereafter was free time. So, things in and between Ontario and Pomona were checked out. For those interested in the whereabouts of the now sort of missing in Colton CP AL525 GUASTI box, it was nowhere to be found in the Guasti area.
A couple of surprises were found at the Milliken Ave Flyover, and involved greenery. Views look east from the west slope.
Above, young trees now partially block the view of the flyover, and plant growth appears to be climbing up the flyover side walls.
Above, too, note the staining coming down from the top of the flyover, especially visible in the second photo.
Looking west:
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-VI, Overall I-XI)
Another westward view: The back of the eastbound mainline signal is seen at the east end of the Guasti siding.
The whole area along Guasti Rd. is a ‘No Parking’ area for vehicles, except a short section during certain parts of a day.
The Milliken Ave. Flyover still only had the south alignment with a track on it and train traffic (future Main 2). No track as of yet has been laid on the north alignment (future Main 1).
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-VI, Overall I-XI)
The West End of the Guasti Siding
A quick grab shot was taken of the west end of the Guasti siding (CP AL523 GUASTI at M.P. 523.5), as seen from the south side Airport Drive. It was a Sunday, and NO vehicle traffic was anywhere nearby at the time, which allowed for slowing and the grab shot.
As seen above, at the west end of the Guasti siding the track is on wide centers. The east end of the siding is on traditionally spaced centers.
The Vineyard Ave. Underpass Construction
The shoofly has been built, but each end is still unconnected.
Equipment by the street’s north side dead-end:
A semi-eastward view:
A couple of friendly UP workers were onsite, but they were mostly in the dark about developments. They thought one bridging would be built, and then the shoofly aligned second bridge would be built.
That very well might be the case, but K.P. has another possibility (“possibility”) in mind. Nothing further has occurred besides the past erection of north fencing on public and private properties. (See the two photos in the advance announcement of this series.) The area south of the fencing might be used as a buffer zone while the shoofly is functional, a cordoned off area in the unlikely event of a derailment. If (“if”) the underpass bridging will be built on the PRESENT Main 1 and future Main 2 alignments, the suggested idea would be a viable one, and the fencing eventually taken down and things would be back to normal the way they were. But, that is only an idea.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-VI, Overall I-XI)
In the Area of CP AL521 NORTH ONTARIO
A rather shocking development has occurred (at least for railfans). The land off Cucamonga Ave. by CP AL521 NORTH ONTARIO (background) has been blocked off, with ‘No Trespassing’ signs present, and gates. All the land between the LA&SL (to the south) and SP (to the north) had that treatment. The east-west State Street, surprisingly, still goes through that area.
Someone obviously has been getting around the barricade gates.
The SP Sunset Route is clearly seen in the background, the CP AL521 NORTH ONTARIO where two-tracks from the west presently ends, and single-track heads east (rightward).
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-VI, Overall I-XI)
By CP C038 ONTARIO
Strangely, the west side eastbound signals of LA&SL CP C038 ONTARIO were lit.
The mainline signal (right) was flashing yellow over red, signifying the line of signals were mainline lined as far east as CP C041 VENTURA on Main 2 (there are two-tracks ahead). It used to be with one head on the old signals that a flashing yellow here could (“could”) mean a 40 M.P.H. turnout route ahead.
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-VI, Overall I-XI)
By CP AL519 NORTH MONCLAIR
The signals were lit too at CP AL519 NORTH MONCLAIR with NO train nearby
It may have been that the signals at both CP C038 ONTARIO and CP AL519 NORTH MONTCLAIR had been jerry-rigged for some reason and were constantly lit.
By comparison, the signals at CP AL498 BASSETT (M.P. 498.2) for some reason have been jerry-rig lit for years! (Two January 3, 2013 photos.)
Of course, that is by the City of Industry ‘Up and Over’ Flyover that is destined for two-tracks, but all that area might be hung up with the Pomona Kinder-Morgan controversy. More (but very briefly) about Humane Way and the Kinder-Morgan controversy in later parts …
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Continued in Parts VII-XI to be posted Wednesday, June 18, 2014 before 11:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, and deals with Montclair-Pomona.
The June 2014 edition of Progressive Railroading has agreat article beginning on page 18 entitled Bordering on a Breakthrough that covers the Santa Teresa Intermodal Terminal. The article is mainly an interview with UP's CEO Jack Koralseki. The article gives UP's plan and hopes for developing Mexican truck to rail business that is not covered in this thread. It is well worth reading.
Part VII (of VII-XI, Overall I-XI)
The New Yard “Track”
Ontario-Montclair, CA
About the three-tracks in the new Montclair facility, one track of which has been laid, a double-stack intermodal train sans power was parked on it.
Just above, it looks like a headless mast signal is lying down by those intermodal cars.
Looking east from Monte Vista Ave.:
K.P. has concluded this facility is a staging area, whereby arriving trains can be held until the facility that they are to go to is ready for them, mainly Intermodal and auto-rack trains. Anybody have the official word on this?
Continued in Part VIII
Part VIII (of VII-XI, Overall I-XI)
The Hamilton Blvd. Grade Crossing
Pomona, CA
This grade crossing will have in the not too distant future a grade separation take place. The word is an underpass. But, K.P. questions that, and speculates that an overpass will be built here instead. But, who knows …
The west’s north side looking south: Drainage would hardly make a shoofly easy.
The pipeline(s) along the Sunset Route relocated temporarily doesn’t seem practical.
The present east crossover of the present CP AL514 HAMILTON would need to be relocated for a shoofly.
The west crossover would need to be relocated also.
Continued in Part IX
Part IX (of VII-XI, Overall I-XI)
With underpass construction, the switch that was put in nearly five years ago for our future “C” track could not be activated.
A telecommunications east-west line (with a manhole) is present.
The crossing gates:
When one ponders the future giant, four-track CP AL514 HAMILTON, one, at least for K.P., has difficulty imagining how an underpass could be put in here without major logistical track problems (at least CHEAPLY). That is why K.P. envisions an overpass being put in instead of an underpass that avoids all those problems. But, maybe the City knows a magician who can perform miracles with a hocus pocus act. Time will tell.
Continued in Part X
Part X (of VII-XI, Overall I-XI)
“The Diversion” from Temple Ave.
Temple Ave. was next gone to, and that looks the same as well. Nevertheless, K.P. thought the effort to hike in might be worth it.
The future crossover between our “B” and “C” tracks still has a miss-installed wood-tied turnout whereas it should have been a concrete one.
Just above, remember the background two-tracks will be alignment shifted to the foreground two leftmost tracks, and the right track will curve rightward to the SP-side mainline to the north
One of the two concrete tied switches on the north side of the LA&SL tracks should have been placed were that wood tied one was inserted instead.
Remember, all these new switches have movable point frogs in contrast to, oddly, all the new switches with only spring frogs at CP AL514 HAMILTON.
Continued in Part XI
Part XI (of VII-XI, Overall I-XI)
The cost savings logistics of the not in service yet of our “A” (left) track: Note the protective inside rails commonly used at bridge and overpass locations haven’t been put in yet, and are missing.
So, that is what was seen to be happening in the Ontario to Pomona, CA area.
However, a Second and Third Sections follow …
Second Section
The Big Lawsuit Holding-Up Completion of Pomona’s “Diversion”
Unexpectedly, a reliable source informed K.P. that they had personally been in contact with those in the know, and that there HAS been a settlement in the lawsuit, and the issues were resolved!
All three 2009 “Diversion” photos above were previously shown.
Continued in Third Section
Third Section
Exactly when we will see progress is unknown, but the source was told that sometime (“sometime”) next year UP will be ‘laying track’ in the Diversion, and thereafter the current SP-line that crosses Pomona Blvd. and Temple Ave. at grade will be pulled up.
The three just above photos were taken back in 2009 also.
'Next year' obviously runs from January to December 2015, so pinpointing an exact time now is not possible, but at least we have a glimpse of something concrete concerning the Diversion. Photo documenting the finishing of that project may be one of the more interesting developments for follow of this thread!
Those in the know, when questioned about the future Hamilton Blvd. grade separation, said things are in the preliminary stages, and nothing has been decided. Making the present old CP AL514 HAMILTON into a giant new CP AL514 HAMILTON argues against an underpass, but rather, an overpass being built. Sometime next year we should see the new CP AL514 HAMILTION put in service. Perhaps (“perhaps”) about that time the decided upon Hamilton Blvd. grade separation will start construction too.
This will conclude the series and extra sections.
K. P. HarrierMaking the present old CP AL514 HAMILTON into a giant new CP AL514 HAMILTON argues against an underpass, but rather, an overpass being built. Sometime next year we should see the new CP AL514 HAMILTION put in service. Perhaps (“perhaps”) about that time the decided upon Hamilton Blvd. grade separation will start construction too.
A little peek at the new Santa Teresa facility can be seen in this new UP produced music video. Yes, that's what I said. Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k387DsuP4gg
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! ***
LA&SL: FOUR-TRACKS?
The Fullerton Rd. Grade Separation
City of Industry, CA
The once single-tracked LA&SL line in the very lengthy City of Industry (some 20 miles long plus or minus sliver) was two-tracked circa 1992-1993. Since then two-track gaps on each side were filled, so that now (2014) from Los Angeles to Pomona the LA&SL is fully two-tracked. But, two more tracks may be coming!
An underpass is planned at the LA&SL ‘two-track’ grade crossing at Fullerton Road:
Aerial link: Planned Underpass Site
However, at least TWO sources on the Internet mention new underpass bridging for FOUR-tracks at that location!
Progressive Railroading LINK: Latter Paragraphs, Four-Tracks
ACE LINK: See "Project Description" ... 'Four-Tracks'
This is a rather new development, and it is difficult to make an assessment of its long range meaning.
About the downtown Los Angeles area itself K.P. has had considerable difficulty making sense out of the track layouts and known future track layouts as they both pertain to the Sunset Route. Maybe (“maybe”) they have not quite made sense because the powers that be might have had in mind all along a major alteration of rail traffic patterns in the Los Angeles basin. The future new Fullerton Rd. underpass with its four-track bridging may (“may”) be the first substantive public evidence of such behind the scenes planning.
Speaking of Fullerton Road …
K.P. has for the last several weeks been attempting to get over to the Los Angeles area to check on known areas of activity. On Friday, June 20, 2014, he was finally able to do so!
The Fullerton Rd. site was visited to see what was actually there, and found a very thin area that four-tracks could exist in. The Puente Hills Intermodal Facility area was in the early stages of relocating the mains. Higher elevation photos were also taken of the facility’s new yard-like tracks. The San Gabriel Trench was visited too, and grading is now present for temporarily relocating of the track through that area.
An update report or reports on all this should be posted next week.
Any chance of planning for Ca HSR tracks ?
Replies
MikeF90 (6-10):
You ‘may not be so sure’ about a future overpass at Hamilton Rd. in Pomona, CA (instead of an underpass), but I am very sure of an overpass … based on a ‘gut’ feeling, which really isn’t worth a hill of beams! You are very right, though, about ‘more wait and see.’
blue streak 1 (6-21):
The current website of the California High Speed Rail people seems to leave the possibility (“possibility”) of utilizing the Sunset Route or NEAR to it Pomona eastward, like maybe to Colton, or parts of that stretch while traveling between Los Angeles and San Diego.
LINK: http://www.hsr.ca.gov/docs/newsroom/maps/LA_to_San_Diego.pdf
Whether the controversial California High Speed Rail ever gets built is an ongoing debate, and such has polarized many people and groups on both sides of the fence.
Best,
K.P.
Series Schedule
The “Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014 -- The Western End of the Sunset Route” series will be posted as follows:
Monday morning, June 23, 2014: The Future Fullerton Ave. Underpass Area
Posting by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Tuesday evening, June 24, 2014: Track Advances in the PHIMF Area
City of Industry
Posting by 9:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Thursday morning, June 26, 2014 The San Gabriel Trench
San Gabriel, CA
Postings may be posted up to 12 hours early.
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