K.P.,
Do you (or any other forum members) know what all those vertical rods on the tops of the new truss bridges are for? I've never seen such an arrangement on any other truss bridge.
cacole K.P., Do you (or any other forum members) know what all those vertical rods on the tops of the new truss bridges are for? I've never seen such an arrangement on any other truss bridge.
I'm assuming they're for clipping fall protection harnesses onto while the bridge is still under construction. My guess is that until it's painted, it's still considered a work in progress...
Side comment: I know the new editing format is taking a few people some time to get used to, but let's remember that Kalmbach is providing this at no charge to us... For me, it's a plus because it matches what I use on other forums...
Glad to see your photos here again!
By the way, thanks for the advice with Ontaio Airport. Saw a fast-moving westbound on the Alhambra Sub (and a train on the LA Sub) when taking off earlier this week. Nothing late last night upon landing.
eolesen I'm assuming they're for clipping fall protection harnesses onto while the bridge is still under construction. My guess is that until it's painted, it's still considered a work in progress...
If they were going to paint them, they would have done so prior to installation over the freeway I'd think. I agree with the fall protection part, they don't appear to serve any other purpose.
A10
A Perfect Day for a Single PostThe San Gabriel TrenchSan Gabriel, CAOn Saturday, October 4, 2014 K.P. was dispatched to Ontario, with about a four-hour layover. That was perfect for checking out the key grade crossings of the San Gabriel Trench.Thereat, nothing popped out as a construction advancement. The last east to west stop was the Chapel Ave. overpass in Alhambra for never before good, down-on views of the western end of the San Gabriel Trench construction. Three eastward looking photos are below from normal to heavy telephoto, and show the new shoofly at the construction's western end.In all that four hours of free time K.P. only spent about a half hour in the San Gabriel area, including hiking in for the Chapel Ave. shots. Everything else was related to massive traffic jams everywhere.The railroad did NOT help with the massive traffic jams either. The Ramona Street crossing gates were stuck down with no trains in the area, and the town's people were absolutely livid and acting like maniacs! K.P. sure hoped those angry people didn't kill the maintainer that eventualy showed up to fix the problem.From massive traffic jams to malfuncting crossing gates! What an experience!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Status of the Monday, October 13, 2014 … … Report and Staggering, Drunken “Signals” …… Get Fired!The delayed (because of the TRAINS Magazine new forums cutover fiasco) update report for the 13th that deals mainly with roadway overpasses and underpasses construction within 10 miles of the Sunset Route’s West Colton Yard (Colton, CA), initially projected to be 14 sections, got hung up with the north side report on the future BNSF Laurel Ave. underpass in Colton, and it was felt an additional south side inspection would be necessary for even K.P. to fully understand the stunning situation developing there.It just so happened that the site was able to be visited again on Saturday, October 18 while K.P. was on the way to beyond Salton Sea, down to the Niland-Iris area. In that Niland-Iris area it was discovered that the staggering, drunken signals on the east side of Iris had been fired, and head turned aide! (Just a play on words) The second main HAD BEEN put in service between Niland and Iris, with new color light signals now active!The public, dirt roadway that parallels the tracks was relatively passable this time all the way east almost to the new CP SP676 IRIS, and a number of photos were taken.The October 13 report (Colton area) should be posted in a day or two, possibly in two groups, and the Niland-Iris posting will take a few more days to organize and prepare. Stay tuned!
Lucky Googling found this announcement by James McHugh Construction:
http://www.mchughconstruction.com/project/uprr-sunset-route---iris-to-acolita
They are the 'mystery' contractor grading from MP 676 (Iris) to MP 687 (Acolita). It is not yet known when their start date was, but now we know the reason for all of the nearby Form B's.
References by ballast and rail work trains to mileposts between Acolita and Mesquite (MP 697) have also been heard on the radio, so apparently this whole 21 mile stretch is abuilding.
Bid requests for the Iris to Acolita segment suggest that work started earlier this year, so it is speculated that work east of Acolita will be completed first - we'll see.
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! ***
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “A” (of A-K, Plus Sections)The Hunts Lane OverpassSan Bernardino-Colton, CAThe Hunts Lane overpass (upper background) has had the roadways thereon hot-topped, so its opening to vehicle traffic should be soon. At the north approach (foreground) a new hot-topping was also put in with a new, nice transition-way put in. Truckers may view that as wonderful, especially since the camera location is by a truck stop where fueling and parking facilities cater to dozens and dozens of 18-wheelers. From the north side a southward view, with the west walling (left) visible. K.P. finds this view sort of mysterious, because the Sunset Route tracks go between the left north ramping and the slanted cement-work on the bottom center, but an opening for the tracks is NOT visible!The overpass fencing is the fine wire messing type (left), but over the Sunset Route itself, that fencing utilizes the more protective curving on top of the walkways.Continued in Part B
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “B” (of A-K, Plus Sections)The BNSF “H” Street Grade Crossing ClosureColton, CASouthbound (leftward) LA&SL trains from Salt Lake City, UT and / or the UP Central Corridor can go straight, or transition to the Sunset Route a block or two out of sight on the left. The “H” Street grade crossing is now history, and new cul-de-sacs are continuing to be finished.That closed grade crossing … The tan building on the left is the one many, many years ago a-kids-release-of-the-brakes-runaway plowed through.Heavy vertical piping ensures autos can’t make it over the ex-grade crossing.Continued in Part C
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “C” (of A-K, Plus Sections)At the Colton Signal DepartmentColton, CAClearly noticeable upon arrival one sees much of the area within the barbed wire fencing has been reorganized, and looks quite spiffy. The Colton Flyover is in the background.In Pomona, within the big, future CP AL514 HAMILTON, five switches (of eleven) have been installed, but SIX switches remain to be assembled. Interestingly, above, there are now six boxes set aside in this one Colton Signal Dept. area!The spools of signal cable seem to have been reorganized too, and are in kind of groups.Burial bases (left) are also by those boxes. They may (“may”) be for the additional crossing devices required in the City of Pomona / UP agreement for NOT building an overpass at Hamilton Blvd. and upgrading the grade crossings in the area instead.The signal department yard is quite secure, with barbed wire and the gate blocked by yellow equipment.If ever K.P. sees copper thieves within that fenced area, he will immediately leave, but knows exactly how to quickly get law enforcement onsite!Continued in Part D
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “D” (of A-K, Plus Sections)The UP Riverside Industrial Lead … … and the Three BNSF Truss BridgesThe Grand Terrace, CA AreaA number of months ago UP abandoned a major portion of the Riverside Industrial Lead, including the railroad bridge over the I-215 Freeway, but the center pier-work remained in place. Photo from April 5, 2014.On this visit, that center pier-work was found to finally have been taken down.Continued in Part E
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “E” (of A-K, Plus Sections)The UP Riverside Industrial Lead … … and the Three BNSF Truss BridgesThe Grand Terrace, CA AreaJust a few blocks to the southwest, is the new BNSF truss bridges over the I-215 Freeway, the new now unused center “A” piers are being demolished.Above, likely, the now unused “B” pier-work will soon follow in the demolition.The new, now abandoned side abutments for positions A and B are still in place, but the pounded into the ground vertical row of I-beams could (“could”) be to shore up the trusses while those abutments are demolished, OR they may be permanent. Time will tell.Continued in Part F
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “F” (of A-K, Plus Sections)The UP Riverside Industrial Lead … … and the Three BNSF Truss BridgesThe Grand Terrace, CA AreaYet another new highway sign has been erected in the way! There just HAS TO BE a conspiracy against railfan photographer! (Hehehe.)Just above, note how short that freeway sign pole is!In this immediate area there are trucks, trucks, and trucks! One even has trouble navigating through the area at times because it is so crowded with 18-wheelers! But, strangely, this photo-day was AS IF all trucks had been raptured (righteous and wicked TRUCKS) to some afterlife! Admittedly, it was a minor holiday, but everything was super quiet!Continued in Part G
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “G” (of A-K, Plus Sections)The New LA&SL Bridge over the 91 FreewayRiverside, CA AreaJust railroad west of BNSF’s CP WEST RIVERSIDE, the BNSF and LA&SL routes separate and take very different routes to Los Angeles.Above, the BNSF is on the bottom. The Freeway construction is ongoing, and the LA&SL new bridge (left) concrete-work is still being worked on too now that the old LA&SL Bridge is gone.I-beams are still being pounded into the ground.Just above, apartments that line Panorama Drive is seen on the background left. The signal is of UP’s CP C056 SCRRA JCT. That absolute has the rare only one bulb lower head, for red over red, or red over flashing red, the latter used to go in the Metrolink station stop.Of special note is the new SQUARE-LIKE walling related to the angled bridge and curved LA&SL track on that angle bridge.Continued in Part H
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “H” (of A-K, Plus Sections)The New LA&SL Bridge over the 91 FreewayRiverside, CA AreaThe east side does NOT have a like wide, square walling, at least on the south, camera side.The new bridge’s WEST walling on the north side is presently under construction (now that the old LA&SSL Bridge is out of way), but looks to be comparable to the south side’s arrangement. (See last photo in Part G)The below grab shot photo of the new LA&SL Bridge and Pachappa Hill wasn’t going to be shown, but in the absence of close-up north side views of the EAST (left) walling, the barely visible east walling with apparently tarp on it seems to insinuate a very different walling than on the south side.Sometime in the future, when K.P. is out that way again, it is hoped a camera-focus on that NORTH side east walling will suggest more on what we can expect there.Continued in Part I
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “I” (of A-K, Plus Sections)The BNSF Laurel Ave. Underpass ConstructionColton, CA AreaThis underpass construction is on the edge of the Sunset Route’s coverage area for this thread, but it is close enough and related enough to be included herein.To set the stage: By the Sunset Route and the Colton Flyover, the BNSF Connector branches north, and becomes BNSF Main 1 as it goes northward (eastbound). The reshown BNSF Connector photos below, in the second view, has a yellow over yellow signal lit.Previously shown, at Laurel Ave. the three tracks (BNSF Mains 3, 2, and 1) have become six tracks, and a large, ONE PIECE ACROSS six-track signal bridge is on the north (east) side of BNSF CP RANA. View looks physically west, with the westbound train moving right to left.Just above, from left to right: Main 4, a GM lead, Mains 3, 2, and 1, plus the switching track.There has been some question as to how a shoofly could be built here so an underpass could be constructed.Continued in Part J
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “J” (of A-K, Plus Sections)The BNSF Laurel Ave. Underpass ConstructionColton, CA AreaK.P. was fighting the clock now, so the south end of CP RANA could not be checked out, but the north side gave mixed indications in making an assessment of what a not laid yet shoofly might be like. If one looks real good on the left where a shoofly theoretically (“theoretically”) could be put, a new row of vertical I-beams parallel to the six-tracks is now presentThose I-beams put a damper on conjecturing a six-track shoofly.Just above, a new mast signal (center) has been erected for the switching track (corresponding to the rightmost heads on the last photo in Part I (as in eye).Another southward (westbound) view:Some panel track is sitting right on the now closed from here south 8th Street.Continued in Part K
Update as of Monday, October 13, 2014Checking Things Out in the …… Colton-Riverside, CA AreaPart “K” (of A-K, Plus Sections)The BNSF Laurel Ave. Underpass ConstructionColton, CA AreaNew westbound signals bridging (with color light heads [!] that are covered) have been erected several blocks to the north, consisting to TWO cantilever signal structures.A shiny new signal control box was positioned by that signal bridge.So, it is hoped all the above conveys the current situation in the San Bernardino, Colton, Grand Terrace, and Riverside areas. This will conclude the series. However, a Second, Third, and Fourth Sections follow.
Second SectionOn Saturday, October 18, 2014, on the way to Salton Sea, Niland, and Iris for another update series, a stop in Colton was made to access the situation on the SOUTH side of Laurel Ave. Just a block south of Laurel Ave, where the slightly slanted north-south 7th Street and the east-west Oak Street meet, the following photos were taken. In the first photo below, note the background signal bridge’s position in relation to the forefront electrical box.The conclusion K.P. reached was that there is insufficient room on the south side of Laurel Ave. to put in a shoofly swinging to the east. There is a property and buildings to the west, so a shoofly can’t be put there either.Maybe (“maybe”) four tracks will be pulled up and the remaining TWO tracks will continue in service, but be swung to one side while half the underpass track bridging is built. Once built, the two in-service tracks would be moved onto the new bridging, and then the other bridging built. Interestingly, just a mile to the south (railroad west), is where the BNSF Transcon crosses the Sunset Route, once where TWO BNSF (AT&SF) tracks crossed the two UP (SP) tracks of the Sunset Route, just south of where the Colton Flyover is at now. So, there wouldn’t really be a track reduction problem (six to two) for only a mile.The fact that the NEW north side dual cantilever signal bridges (Part K) have color light signal heads suggests (“suggests”) that that bridging will be permanent, and when all is said and done, BNSF’s CP RANA may be a very different beast than railfans, railroaders, and other have been accustomed to.A Third Section follows.
Third SectionThis may be of interest to East Coast commuter train buffs that follow this “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” thread.By the BNSF new, future CP RANA’s north end (as discussed above), is a Metrolink (SCRRA) servicing facility. It has a few offline commuter cars stored there, possibly for rebuilding or lease. One that caught K.P.’s eye was a car from winter frigid New Jersey, basking in California’s envious pleasant fall sun.It is unknown what route that New Jersey car took to get to California, whether over the Sunset Route, the Central Corridor and down the LA&SL, via the BNSF Transcon, or someway else, but K.P. thought that post-showing the commuter car would make this thread more personal and relevant for followers from the east coast …In another Colton happening, Valley Blvd. just north of the Sunset Route and the paralleling I-10 Freeway, is having work done to it, presumably involving the Quiet Zone agreement related to the Colton Flyover.That agreement also closed the grade crossings at H and E Streets, where cul-de-sacs are being put in presently. – See Part B of this series.The Quiet Zone improvements may be short lived, if the Valley Blvd. / BNSF grade separation can ever get off the ground.A Fourth Section follows
Fourth SectionA Brief Memo to mvs:After assessing the situation at BNSF’s CP RANA and the new Valley Blvd. cement-work in Colton (CA), K.P. traveled I-10 east toward Salton Sea and the Niland area. In passing Banning, at Sunset Ave., where an underpass is being built under the Sunset Route, the construction location of which you’ve contributed awareness news items on, a big, swooping shoofly is now present, and easily seen from up on the eastbound lanes of the freeway. Just thought you would be interested in that.For you, mvs, and the rest of the forum, just east of Sunset Ave. is where the old CTC Pershing siding’s east switch was located in single-track days. It seems this area was two-tracked abound a decade ago.Speaking of the old, north side Pershing siding, K.P. can remember westbound on the old Highway 99 riding in the back seat of his parent’s car over fifty years ago, and seeing a westbound freight coming out of the Pershing siding. It had a bunch to black widow, silver nosed F-units on the point, and those slow moving units had the distinctive F-unit sound as the engineer was gradually notching up the run number! What a glorious, indelible childhood experience that was! Who back then ever could have imagined the Sunset Route being two-tracked in the 21st Century?Anyway, maybe the next time I’m out that way, mvs, I’ll have time to travel the very circuitous, residential route off I-10 to get to the south side of the Sunset Route where photos of that shoofly can be had for you.Best,K.P.
The NJT cars came in on BNSF, were used by Metrolink until the Rotem cars arrived. Unless a buyer somewhere can be found, they'll go to scrap.
Uploaded to the Yahoo ATCS group is a revised UP Yuma Subdivision layout with the new main track in service between Niland and Iris.
Keep in mind there's a problem with UP's radio or antenna at the new SP676 so it doesn't come in well at all. I imagine this will be fixed at some point, but who knows when.
On a side note, some time ago I reported that a new 9000 foot siding was planned for the Yuma Sub between MP 687 and MP 689.
I recently saw revised construction plans and this idea has been nixed. The only thing now planned is a set of crossovers at MP 687 and another set of crossovers at Mesquite (MP 697). The siding at Regina is already out of service as construction proceeds eastward.
K. P. Harrier Status of the Monday, October 13, 2014 … … Report and Staggering, Drunken “Signals” …… Get Fired!The delayed (because of the TRAINS Magazine new forums cutover fiasco) update report for the 13th that deals mainly with roadway overpasses and underpasses construction within 10 miles of the Sunset Route’s West Colton Yard (Colton, CA), initially projected to be 14 sections, got hung up with the north side report on the future BNSF Laurel Ave. underpass in Colton, and it was felt an additional south side inspection would be necessary for even K.P. to fully understand the stunning situation developing there.It just so happened that the site was able to be visited again on Saturday, October 18 while K.P. was on the way to beyond Salton Sea, down to the Niland-Iris area. In that Niland-Iris area it was discovered that the staggering, drunken signals on the east side of Iris had been fired, and head turned aide! (Just a play on words) The second main HAD BEEN put in service between Niland and Iris, with new color light signals now active!The public, dirt roadway that parallels the tracks was relatively passable this time all the way east almost to the new CP SP676 IRIS, and a number of photos were taken.The October 13 report (Colton area) should be posted in a day or two, possibly in two groups, and the Niland-Iris posting will take a few more days to organize and prepare. Stay tuned!
I suspect this old soldier got whacked by a wide load or a minor derailment. It was still working and slated to be replaced so they kept it in service.
John Timm
"Wonder why UP did not connect the two cantilever signals. If connected there would be less stress on the posts."
Because they're BNSF's signals.
Quick Memo to ccltrains (10-22):Yes, SP657E44 correctly identified those two cantilever structures as being on the BNSF (at Rana), but the LA&SL (UP) goes underneath them to or from, or in regards crossing, the Sunset Route in Colton (CA). BNSF and likely UP too seems to be gravitating away from the use of modern signal bridges in favor of modern cantilever structures.Unofficially, signal bridges are inherently weak. As an example, note how flimsy one side’s legging is (forefront right): As above, modern signal bridges tend to have only two poles with bracing connections between them.A modern cantilever structure, on the other hand, has FOUR poles with braces between them.That just above, four poled vertical structure is duplicated on the like structure on the other side of the tracks (background). They are NOT connected, but separate.In my humble opinion, the reason the railroads are starting to like cantilevered structures in-lieu-of signal bridges (below) …July 10, 2009, Pomona, CA … is that in a train wreck situation the likelihood of BOTH sides of a signal bridge having its vertical support struck is minimal, but the loss of just one support (by being struck) will cause the whole bridge to come crashing down. In the cleanup operations, ALL trains would be operating though the new, but temporary, DARK territory of NO signals. Cantilever structures, on the other hand, like BNSF’s three cantilever structures and one mast at a CP railroad east of Rosecrans Ave. in Santa Fe Springs, CA (east of Los Angeles) …September 1, 2014… can have one cantilever structure destroyed, but trains could move on signal indication from other non-destroyed structures (if the track is passable), plus, of course, by movement authority of the personal in charge at the derailment site.So, ccltrains, it is hoped that broadens your perspective and gives you something to chew on!To All:The rough draft on the Iris-Niland, CA upcoming presentation is basically done, and the process of preparing the photos is underway. It looks like there will be 28 parts, and presented in 3 showings, probably a day between each of them.Take care,K.P.
Thanks for the enlightenment. I was thinking of cost. The cantilever would be more expensive. How long would it take crews to remove a bridge from the tracks?
I think there is another factor of cost ... Bulk Purchases .. If you just have to stock and install a two or three track bridge it reduces costs. Looking at some of the other pictures it looks like the two and three track bridges have identical structure with the three track having an extension bolted on.
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