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Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates

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Posted by Super Hunky on Saturday, October 11, 2014 10:49 AM

I would guess that building a yard to handle North/South traffic in Texas is a higher priority than building the yard at Red Rock. So I bet Red Rock doesn't get started until Hearne yard is finished in a couple of years.

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Posted by desertdog on Saturday, October 11, 2014 12:06 PM
How soon they build Red Rock may also depend on the economies in Arizona and the West Coast states, none of which is particularly healthy at the moment. Texas, on the other hand, is thriving. I would imagine UP will be putting their resources where they will bring the best return in the shortest period of time. John Timm
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Posted by David1005 on Saturday, October 11, 2014 3:06 PM

The Union Pacific has to be wondering about and /or planning for the opening of the larger Panama Canal.  North and Northeast bound traffic from the gulf ports may become more important than traffic from the west coast. The completion of this new yard should just about match the completion and opening of the larger canal.  I have no idea what difference the new canal will make, but I would think that a reduction in traffic on the Sunset Route will be one result.  Traffic on the Santa Fe line from LA to Chicago will probably be less impacted than the traffic on the SP lines to eastern Texas and beyond.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Sunday, October 12, 2014 12:48 AM

The Sunset Route's Hibernation Express

K.P. was having so many technical problems at the new forums arrangement that at the advice of others he tried a new Internet browser.  Soon thereafter that browser became useless too for posting at the TRAINS Magazine website.

Thus, it is time for K.P. to go into hibernation of sorts for a week or two.  Hopefully. the forums will still be here, and functioning much better at the end of that period.

Take care all,

K.P.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by billio on Sunday, October 12, 2014 7:05 AM

We collectively supposed that the stretch between Niland and Iris would be cut over around September (or thereabouts).  Anyone know how work on this segment is progressing?  Thanks.

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Posted by Super Hunky on Sunday, October 12, 2014 11:52 AM

Well KP, Looks like the Guys around here are starting to get withdrawl symptoms. Hope it's not too long...

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Posted by MikeF90 on Sunday, October 12, 2014 10:04 PM

billio
We collectively supposed that the stretch between Niland and Iris would be cut over around September (or thereabouts).  Anyone know how work on this segment is progressing?  Thanks. 

A msg from a semi-insider said that today or thereabouts would be the day.  Unfortunately, the scanners on railroadradio.net for the Yuma sub have been down until I checked this evening.  I haven't heard any clues yet .... hoping the detector at MP 670.5 will report trk 1 or 2.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 9:21 AM

On Assignment with Free Time

K.P. was on assignment in the San Bernardino, CA area yesterday (Monday, October 13, 2014), and was able to check out a few news spots in that general vicinity.

Most striking concerned the I-215 multiple rail bridges in the Grand Terrace, CA area.

The center support for the now gone bridge for the UP Riverside Industrial Lead has been removed.

The NEW, now unused center supports for the BNSF truss bridges (our A and B ones) are now being demolished.

While K.P. has photos, because of the mass problems now with the TRAINS Magazine forums, he is unable to post them or write-up a more detailed news report.

------

Alternatives are now being looked into.  Stay tuned.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by vsmith on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 10:15 AM

K. P. Harrier

...While K.P. has photos, because of the mass problems now with the TRAINS Magazine forums, he is unable to post them or write-up a more detailed news report.

------

Alternatives are now being looked into.  Stay tuned.

 

Thanks Kalmbach Zip it!

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by Super Hunky on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 10:54 AM

KP I believe there is a site called Blogspot that works well. I know my sister posts pictures and write-ups about food on there so it must work.

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Posted by desertdog on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 12:08 PM

Super Hunky

KP I believe there is a site called Blogspot that works well. I know my sister posts pictures and write-ups about food on there so it must work.

 

Blogspot is fine, but I would hate to lose the continuity of having this thread at one site; moreover, there would likely be a large attrition of viewers as a result.

K.P. has been a valuable resource to all of us who share an interest in the Sunset Route project (as well as the other threads he regularly posts to).

The only good solution is for Kalmbach to recognize the contribution of posters like K.P. and address this issue promptly.

 

John Timm

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Posted by Super Hunky on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 2:25 PM

desertdog

 I agree 100%..I was hoping somebody at Kalmbach looks at these posts and would realize that they need to resolve the issues.

 
Super Hunky

KP I believe there is a site called Blogspot that works well. I know my sister posts pictures and write-ups about food on there so it must work.

 

 

 

Blogspot is fine, but I would hate to lose the continuity of having this thread at one site; moreover, there would likely be a large attrition of viewers as a result.

K.P. has been a valuable resource to all of us who share an interest in the Sunset Route project (as well as the other threads he regularly posts to).

The only good solution is for Kalmbach to recognize the contribution of posters like K.P. and address this issue promptly.

 

John Timm

 

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 11:27 PM

The I-215 Freeway NEW Railroad Bridges' Center Piers are Being Torn Down

Grand Terrance, CA Area

K.P. just had to show everyone this now that the trusses have all been moved to their permanent alignments:

OK, back into semi-hibernation.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by grinnell on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 10:39 AM

desertdog

 

,,,  I would hate to lose the continuity of having this thread at one site; moreover, there would likely be a large attrition of viewers as a result.

K.P. has been a valuable resource to all of us who share an interest in the Sunset Route project (as well as the other threads he regularly posts to).

The only good solution is for Kalmbach to recognize the contribution of posters like K.P. and address this issue promptly.

 

John Timm 

As a former Inland Empire resident/railfan, I really miss my daily "fix" of KP's outstanding reporting on what's happening in my old stomping grounds. I'm amazed at how all the country/suburban grade crossings I remember are now commercial/industrial areas with new overpasses.

When Yahoo groups changed to 'NEO' format, they basically became unusable and all the railroad and model railroad forums have withered and almost died. It was a great loss to me and I would hate to see the same thing happen to the Kalmbach forums.

Grinnell

Grinnell

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Posted by SP657E44 on Thursday, October 16, 2014 12:47 AM

And just when Riverside is starting to get "interesting" : Two new turnouts under Iowa avenue (one on each side of the mains), the Metrolink connector excavated except at the west end, and the work where UP crosses the 91 (what's behind that form on the west side ??? My former employer was pounding pilings on the east side).

 

A10 

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Thursday, October 16, 2014 2:08 AM

This posting series was interrupted by the turbulent TRAINS Magazine cutover of a new forum format, which format is still cumbersome to use and bugs in it proliferate.

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part III (of I-VII, Overall I-XIV)

The Unused Signals at the Montclair Facility

Montclair, CA

That what is believed to be a staging facility in Montclair still only has one track laid but the signals are present for two other as yet not laid tracks.  And, those unused, turned aside signals are lit!



Matter of fact, all the signals in the area (active and not in service yet) are lit.

About Large Diode Patterns in Color Light Signals

In Parts IV and V color light diode lights will be examined.  As a reference, the below June 2, 2011 photo is reshown, of the LARGE diode pattern type.



That above photo was shot at CP AL520 NORTH ONTARIO in single-track days.  That CP does NOT exist anymore, superseded by the just feet away two-track CP AL519 NORTH MONTCLAIR.

Continued in Part IV

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Thursday, October 16, 2014 2:13 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part IV (of I-VII, Overall I-XIV)

Diode Light Signals

Ontario, CA

There has been some question as to what type of diode lamps the signals have in Ontario, the large pattern or small cluster type.  On the passing through the town a few days earlier (Tuesday, September 23, 2014), the signals at LA&SL CP C038 ONTARIO were found to have the small pattern.





On this trip, at the same location, the red elements were found to be that small pattern



Continued in Part V

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Thursday, October 16, 2014 2:18 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part V (of I-VII, Overall I-XIV)

Diode Light Signals

Ontario, CA

On the SP-side in Ontario, at CP AL519 NORTH MONTCLAIR, the same small diode pattern was seen.





The previously posted September 13, 2014 photo below was highly blown up, and the lower green diode light was found to be of the cluster type.





Continued in Part VI

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Thursday, October 16, 2014 2:23 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part VI (of I-VII, Overall I-XIV)

The Clay Street Underpass Construction

Riverside, CA

At the Clay Street underpass construction site on the west side of Riverside, on the LA&SL, vertical I-beams have been pounded into the ground and side walling put in.







It is not clear yet whether a two-track or one-track bridging will be built over the Clay St. underpass.

Especially visible in the middle photo above, in that stacked wood between the I-beams, are small square holes in the wood, for what looks like coated wires coming out of them.  K.P. has never seen that before at an underpass construction site!

Continued in Part VII

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Thursday, October 16, 2014 2:33 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part VII (of I-VII, Overall I-XIV)

The Clay Street Underpass Construction

Riverside, CA

The shoofly to the west is unusual in that it curves with the original mainline.  This is high-speed territory, and some cuts and landfill are used for the original track on a long, long, sweeping curve.



Above, the speed limit for freights is currently 65 M.P.H.  A half a century ago UP’s multi-domed City of Los Angeles and the like traveled that curve at 70 M.P.H.  Clay St. did not exist at that time.

The original mainline track by the ex-grade crossing has been cut into sections and stacked up, with stake ribbons flapping in the breeze



A northish view, with the barricaded Clay Street visible on the upper center left.


 
---------

Continued in Parts VIII-XIV, to be presented at an unknown date and time, hopefully tomorrow … In light of all the chaos of late at the TRAINS Magazine website, the focus was on only getting the above group posted and to see how the posting went.

There is now also a backlog stack of things to post, from various happenings in the Inland Empire-Los Angeles, CA area.  Bear with this …

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by Norm48327 on Thursday, October 16, 2014 5:54 AM

K.P.

Good to see you've been "rerailed" so to speak. Big Smile

Norm


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Posted by jeffhergert on Friday, October 17, 2014 7:43 AM

grinnell
 
 

When Yahoo groups changed to 'NEO' format, they basically became unusable and all the railroad and model railroad forums have withered and almost died. 

Grinnell

Grinnell

 

The Yahoo railroad groups I'm on haven't changed much.  Yes, there was grumbling about the change, but the ones that were busy still are.  The ones with less activity still have about the same level.

Most of the ones that I subscribed to that have faded started on their decline before the technology changes.  Although on the Kalmbach sites, there does seem to be some attrition after every reinvention of the wheel.

Jeff 

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, October 17, 2014 10:12 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part VIII (of VIII-XIV, Overall I-XIV)

The Streeter Ave. Underpass Construction

Riverside, CA

The Streeter Ave. underpass construction is moving along well.  Note the streetlight pole by the right bridge support..



A like streetlight in view of the auto detour and crossing gates:



A semi-southward view:



Continued in Part IX

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, October 17, 2014 10:16 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part IX (of VIII-XIV, Overall I-XIV)

The Streeter Ave. Underpass Construction

Riverside, CA

Note by the photo center the parallel to the tracks Dewey Ave. new bridge is seen.







Virtually all automatic absolute ‘Entrance Signals’ are on short masts, such as these in between Estrella and Enid, AZ photographed back on March 12, 2011.



However, not all! (See next Part).

Continued in Part X

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, October 17, 2014 10:25 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part X (of VIII-XIV, Overall I-XIV)

The Streeter Ave. Underpass Construction

Riverside, CA

The two intermediate signals by Streeter Ave. are seen on the lower right.  Believe it or not, the HIGH two-bulb signal on the left is one of those automatic entrance signals!







That entrance signal governs exiting the Arlington siding, an uncontrolled non-CTC siding.

The LA&SL tracks and signal burial bases (far right), are by the chain link fence (left) that begins to follow the tracks westward (towards the photo background).



That above fence used to be see-through, and taking the kids to the public park just down the street was a pleasure for trainwatchers.   Somebody (like the City) put strips within that fence, hindering views of the trains.

Continued in Part XI

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, October 17, 2014 10:30 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part XI (of VIII-XIV, Overall I-XIV)

The 91 Freeway Railroad Bridge Construction

Riverside, CA

The old bridge is gone, and vertical I-beans have been driven into the ground in preparation for the final cement-work and abutments.





Pachappa Hill looks down on the residential grade crossing, quiet zone pole, and 91 Freeway bridge.





Continued in Part XII

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, October 17, 2014 10:35 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part XII (of VIII-XIV, Overall I-XIV)

The 91 Freeway Railroad Bridge Construction

Riverside, CA

From a residential street adjacent to the 91 Freeway’s railroad bridge.



From the now open, NEW Cridge Street overpass:  The LA&SL Bridge:



As a tidbit, the railroad grade elevates from right to left, but because the left side of the track is closer than the farther back right side, there is an illusion that the track is steeper than it really is.

Continued in Part XIII

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, October 17, 2014 10:48 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part XIII (of VIII-XIV, Overall I-XIV)

The 91 Freeway Railroad Bridge Construction

Riverside, CA

Construction status views:



In person and also in studying the views taken afterward, K.P. found it inconclusive if another new bridge will be constructed alongside the new one.*

Continued in Part XIV
_____

* Update:  Since the above view was photographed, K.P. had opportunity to revisit the site, and much new cement-work was in place.  K.P.’s conclusion was that the railroad bridging over the 91 Freeway will remain as is and will NOT be two-tracked.  You will probably come to that same conclusion upon seeing the photos taken on that return visit, which photos are pending for posting.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, October 17, 2014 10:53 AM

Update as of Saturday, September 27, 2014

City of Industry to the Grand Terrace, CA Area

Part XIV (of VIII-XIV, Overall I-XIV)

The New Truss Bridges

Grand Terrace Area, CA

A southward view from the Barton Rd. overpass, looking at the three now side-by-side truss bridges on their permanent alignments:



The “C” Bridge that was once on the “A” Bridge alignment out of view on the left:



The trackless “E” bridge, the one that was constructed by Iowa Ave.



It is hoped this and the above Parts satisfactorily conveys the THEN current status of the events on the western Sunset Route and the related alternate Sunset Route via Riverside.

This will conclude the series.  However, a Second Section follows.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, October 17, 2014 11:02 AM

Second Section

Amtrak and Ontario, CA

Amtrak has a station stop in Ontario, if we can call it a “station.”  It is just some benches, coverings, a boarding sidewalk, and plenty of palm trees.



Looking east, the present end of eastward two-tracking:  The CP in the background is the new CP AL521 NORTH ONTARIO.



Westward views:





The just above telephoto was taken AFTER this series’ photos were taken.  K.P. repeatedly found that “M.P. 520” maker trying to get in the way of the right signal … The platform on the lower right is the Ontario Amtrak stop.  The grade crossing gate on the far left is Vine Street.  The car crossing the tracks is at San Antonio Ave. (Ontario).  The Mountain Ave. overpass is visible in the background.  The background left is where that new staging area was put in, with two additional tracks pending to be laid.

The Amtrak stop is just east of the Euclid Ave underpass (the side fencings on each side of photo center).



For nostalgia buffs, K.P. can remember when this was all under Southern Pacific, and Euclid Ave. was a grade crossing with a lawn between the northbound and southbound traffic lanes. (Way before K.P.’s time a track ran down the center of traffic lanes, where the center lawn used to be.)  As a kid he once saw an eastbound with more than a foursome of black widow F-units, with a nice set of GP-9’s on the tail end as manned helpers. (Those rear end guys would turn over in their graves if they could see DPU pushing trains now!)  That was cool railroading back in those days, but the Sunset Route was mostly single-track too.  And the corporate bigwigs up in San Francisco around 1910 would turn over in their graves now too if they found out UP was now two-thirds of the way in two-tracking Los Angeles to El Paso!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.

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