Happenings in Colton, CA
April 28, 2015
Part “C” (of A-H)
Unusual Things
A parade of trucks was consistently passing through this residential neighborhood to and from the Old Colton Yard.
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 A-H)
So, what was going on in the Old Colton Yard that a bunch of trucks were needed for? K.P. went over to the Mt. Vernon Ave. overpass to get a look.
It is unknown if this was a cleanup operation resulting from decades of the soil getting contaminated from oil, etc., or if something is going to be built in the Old Colton Yard. Nor is it known if the dirt removal AND the panel track are two separate issues or if they are related.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-H)
Remembering New Mexico
A side note about those little blue signs that have just recently been springing up in Southern California in masse … In reviewing photo files for whatever reason, K.P. was in the group of photos taken June 2, 2013 while in a weird sandstorm in the Santa Teresa, NM area (near El Paso, TX).
The crossbucks only grade crossing on the west side of the many miles long facility had those little blue signs even back then! The sign is visible just below the stop sign on the photo left.
K.P. presumes now that the excitement of being in a New Mexico sandstorm with an uncertain outcome back then made him totally oblivious to those blue signs that are now invading Southern California.
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of A-H)
BNSF’s CP RANA
Some LA&SL (UP) trains to or from Las Vegas, NV and Salt Lake City, UT to or from the Sunset Route pass through BNSF’s CP RANA, which CP has been extended because of a shoofly so the Laurel Ave. underpass can be built.
This visit a BNSF eastbound came along, snaking through the area.
Continued in Part G
Part “G” (of A-H)
The shoofly encroaches upon Metrolink’s maintenance facility. Forum readers may remember in that maintenance facility were commuter cars from New Jersey that were used as buffer cars before the super crash resistant Hyundai Rotem cars were delivered.
Last photo, October 13, 2014
Those Hyundai Rotem cars where featured in a few Sections of the “Focusing on Each Side of the Two New LA&SL Bridges over the 91 Freeway” series posted before this series.
Continued in Part H
Part “H” (of A-H)
Anyway, that BNSF eastbound was a very long one …
… passing cranes and sand and the Laurel Ave. underpass construction.
One can see how far away the south (west) end of the CP is, with the signal bridge in the way far distance.
On that far signal bridge, access to the Sunset Route is via the track controlled by the far right signal.
Anyway, all this stemmed from a visit to the Colton Signal Dept. in Colton where nothing new was seen, but ‘the force’ led K.P. to see many unexpected things nearby. This will conclude the series.
---------
For those interested, K.P. envisions a visit by him to the Yuma, AZ area sometime BEFORE June 4, where the couple of miles of two-tracking between Araz and Araz Jct. will be checked out, as well as the two-tracking in the Mohawk summit-like area a numbers of miles east of Yuma.
Surprises, More Surprises, and …
… Resolving a Very Loose End
The whole day was so the Mrs. could have a day to herself …and some camera issues were taken care of too!
The two additional tracks have already been laid in the new Montclair, CA facility, one was ballasted, the other not.
The San Gabriel Trench construction in San Gabriel had big advances on the side walling, but there is a whole lot left to do.
In the City of Industry, by the Puente Hills Intermodal Facility (trash train project), with the erection of the signal bridge just west Workman Mill Road, the signal placements on the bridging was redone. This visit, a good look at the signal bridge was had, and ALL the heads ARE in their correct positions, but the truth was uncovered later upon inspection of photos of the signals at the future CP CO16 INDUSTRY.
Between CP C014 WORKMAN and CP C016 INDUSTRY some equipment is now crudely (“crudely”) on site for track laying.
UP itself doesn’t seem to use such a track laying technique, so track laying will probably be by contractors on the PHIMF project.
At this point in time a post schedule is too hazy to post anything definitive on. It likely will be in groups, each about a certain area as time permits.
Stay tuned,
K.P.
Update as of Saturday, May 2, 2015
Focusing on Three Areas of Activity
Ontario to San Gabriel, CA
Part I (of I-III), Section A (of A-B)
The Montclair Facility
Ontario-Montclair
Before we start … Just a brief note on the Vineyard Ave. underpass construction in Ontario: Most construction is presently NOT visible from public roads. Seeing that the alignment of Airport Rd. is now below track level at Vineyard Ave., until the area between the Sunset Route and the paralleling Airport Drive is dug down and cleared of dirt, photos are not possible.
K.P. went over the SP and LA&SL tracks via the Mountain Ave. overpass, and the advancement on laying the two additional tracks was so great he was inspired to park and walk up on the overpass for a good look.
Looking east: One new track is ballasted, the other is unballasted.
A north side southward view:
Just above, from bottom to top, Mains 1 and 2 of the Sunset Route, then three facility tracks. The center one (of the three) is unballasted, hence lower, thus giving the tracks a warped close together appearance.
Continued in Section B
Part I, Section B (of A-B)
Looking west:
While all the ties appear to be laid, there are still a line of tie cars on the south side of the facility, by the LA&SL.
K.P. then left the area, heading west. A new camera and lenses were purchased in the Los Angeles area, thereafter the focus was on the San Gabriel Trench construction in San Gabriel. Considerably more photos were taken for Part II than for Part I. That presentation should be ready in a few days.
KP-- Anything happening east of Riverside to fill in the double track gaps in the Sunset route?
Memo to ccltrains (5-6):
All that I know of is the two mile stretch between Araz and Araz Jct. in California near Yuma, AZ, and of course in the Mohawk area some 60 miles further east, and the statuses of those two-tracking efforts is unclear.
MikeF90 reported radio shatter in the Mesquite-Glamis area that suggested both tracks were now in service, but I have no actual confirmation of such. The last ten miles eastward to Mesquite was an odd situation, with the second track classified as in service, but mainline trains could not use it because of finishing touches that needed to be completed.
My goal is to visit the Mohawk-Dateland area, and do so by June 4, which I can say with certainty something will open up by that date. The plan also is to swing by the Mesquite area and see if the two-tracks east TO Mesquite is in service or not.
The hope also is to visit the Blaisdell-Kinter area, a cool mountainous stretch along a highway and get a photo or two of that area.
So, hang in there, ccltrains, I should have a number of things definitive to report within a month!
The current San Gabriel Trench (near Los Angeles) update material should be posted tonight or tomorrow.
Best,
Part II (of I-III), Section A (of A-I)
The San Gabriel Trench Construction
San Gabriel
Looking eastbound from the five* lane super busy San Gabriel Blvd.:
As seen above, the most advancement has been with the east half of San Gabriel Blvd., with the bridging rebar-work in place.
Looking westbound, the southwest side walling is in place, or at least started westward.
Continued in Section B_____
* Technically, seven lanes if parking lanes are included
Part II, Section B (of A-I)
A westward SOUTH wall look:
From San Gabriel Blvd., looking westbound from the north side, by the shoofly:
From the shoofly looking south-southwest:
Continued in Section C
Part II, Section C (of A-I)
At Del Mar Ave. looking westbound:
A westward view through a large pipe that was on scene was too tempting to pass up.
Continued in Section D
Part II, Section D (of A-I)
Del Mar Ave., looking westbound, the south walling:
The south walling (lower left) and the north walling (far side, upper half of photo) by the shoofly:
Continued in Section E
Part II, Section E (of A-I)
Looking east from Del Mar Ave.:
Continued in Section F
Part II, Section F (of A-I)
A future, separate, pedestrians only grade crossing for Del Mar Ave. is yet to be activated.
But, the days of the flashers not being in service are now numbered.
Hopefully, the Mission Road grade separation will be finished by then, or things will be a mess traffic-wise in San Gabriel.
Continued in Section G
Part II, Section G (of A-I)
This is the presently closed Mission Road grade crossing site, which hardly looks ready for an opening by June 1, especially in light that it take cement a full month to completely dry.
That Del Mar Ave. pedestrian walkway “grade crossing” (top photo in Section F) will probably be like the one at Mission Road (just below).
Continued in Section H
Part II, Section H (of A-I)
The Mission Rd. pedestrian fence halfway blocks the pedestrian view of the flasher, but is sufficiently see-through for pedestrians to get the point not to cross when flashing.
Another view of the walkway, looking north:
The pedestrian fencing and the bridging:
Continued in Section I
Part II, Section I (of A-I)
While still at but walking away from the area, this piece of equipment was thought to be impressive, especially up close right by the sidewalk, so a photo was taken.
From there, the Ramona Street grade crossing was gone over, but nothing caught K.P.’s eye.
At the far western end of the San Gabriel Trench, from Chapel Ave. looking eastbound, the grading is in the early stages, but nevertheless HAS finally begun (right).
Just above, on the lower left, the slanted walling of the Alhambra trench is visible. K.P. is looking forward to seeing how the slanted walling will meet the vertical walling of the San Gabriel Trench.
This will end Part II. Part III will be about the situation at Workman Mill Road in the City of Industry, as it relates to the Puente Hills Intermodal Facility. K.P. has resolved the signaling situation on the signal bridge, and close-ups of the mast positions on the bridge will be shown. Past photo files of CP C016 INDUSTRY were examined, a few miles to the east and from those photos it doesn’t look like that CP’s track layout will be as it first looked. The signal heads on the bridging at CP C014 WORKMAN now all harmonize with CP’s on either side of it, but at CP C016 INDUSTRY K.P. has been unable to reconcile the east bridge’s westbound heads, and an exotic application may be in play, such as for the junction arrangement at CP C011 BARTOLO to the west.
Part III should be put together and posted in two or three days.
K.P. I really would like to find a way to get you a camera equiped drone so that you could get ariel photos to go with the excellent terestrial photos you are supplying us. I can't afford one nor can I fund one for you. I just wish you had one.
Have you tried to contact either the UP on Metrolink to obtain plans for the work you are observing. I think you have met Confusious and are living in interesting times. As the commercial says, "I'm loving it".
Part III, Section A (of A-D)
The Puente Hills Intermodal Facility Area City of Industry
The recently erected signal bridge at Workman Mill Road was onsite-studied and all the mastless heads thereon ARE presently correctly positioned.
Note the bottom screen attachment of the heads: The right two-head signal is slightly closer to the camera than the left single-head one is.
Thus, above, the right signal is Main 2’s WESTBOUND signal on the WEST side of the CP, and corresponds to Main 1’s westbound two-head mast signal on the EAST side of the CP. Photo previously shown:
Part III, Section B (of A-D)
The Puente Hills Intermodal Facility Area
City of Industry
From the west side of that signal bridge, the bottom screen attachments are better seen.
Note the single head signal on the left of the second photo in Section A. That single head is correct. The next signal to the east, at CP C016 INDUSTRY …
… is a single lower head only (left). Thus, eastbound trains will encounter NO Main 2 crossover to Main 1 at CP C016 INDUSTRY. Photo from October 24, 2012.
No crossovers between mains were seen in that CP in visits of the past. The current status of the CP and if a single crossover was put needs to be field checked, and K.P. hopes to do so in the next couple of months.
The east westbound head arrangement for Main 2 (right) on the signal bridge there suggests there will eventually be a single crossover, but it is not definitive because of possible corrections. Below photo is also from October 24, 2012:
Part III, Section C (of A-D)
Back by Workman Mill Road … An eastbound view of the PHIMF track alignment looks ready for track under the 60 Freeway
The last photo above is a super heavy telephoto, almost beyond the ability of the lens to capture the image, but it was felt the view of what was there now was more important than the clarity.
While in the Jack-In-the-Box area less than a mile towards the east, the walling for the PHIMP track looks complete.
Part III, Section D (of A-D)
Interestingly, rail was on scene by the Jack-In-the Box, and buggies for the movement of that rail.
So, within the next couple of months (hopefully) we should have a better idea of how things will look and how things will be.
This will conclude the three part multi-section series.
Was the Starship Enterprise Involved?
For a number months now a huge pile of ballast has been alongside the BNSF Transcon at Highgrove, CA, south of Center Street, on the alternate Sunset Route.
On May 12, 2015 that area was revisited, and the huge pile of ballast was gone, with NO immediate (“immediate“) areas having been disturbed.
Did Jon Luke of Star Trek fame order Enterprise’s transporter to be active and the big pile of ballast magically beamed and transported to outer space somewhere in the universe?
K.P. does NOT know, but a half to three quarters of a mile southwest (westbound) the new switch for Metrolink’s Perris Valley Line was found to have been inserted into BNSF Main 3, and the full array of signals finally brought to the scene and erected. The new Iowa Ave. overpass is seen in the background.
Several other photos were taken of area, including near the Iowa Ave. overpass and a view or two from the De Berry Street dead-end a block or two south (westbound) of Barton Road in the Grand Terrace area. Forum contributor mvs in the “Perris Valley Line Updates” thread reported that the PVL may be ready for service sooner than expected, in October 2015 instead of January 2016. In that light, K.P. found the new signal heads arrangement significant. (See photo just above) It is hoped an analysis of the situation can be put together in the next few days, including a few photos of things at the Colton Signal Dept.
Those NJT cars were passenger-carrying stock. The much-hyped crash resistance of the Rotem cars proved to be nothing more than that with the death of Eng. Steele.
A10
Update as of Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Part “A” (of A-E)
The Switch to Metrolink’s Perris Valley Line
East of the Iowa Ave. Overpass
Riverside, CA
On the triple-track BNSF Transcon in northern Riverside, on the portion used as the alternate Sunset Route, the Metrolink Perris Valley Line new switch has been installed, and the rest of the CP’s signals erected. Note the ballast on the below eastbound looking photo’s lower right.
A westbound view with Metrolink ties stacked (left) and the relatively new Iowa Ave. overpass in the background.
A portion of the newly installed switch
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-E)
A crew working by the new switch motor:
An April 22, 2013 never shown westbound view of the BNSF tracks for awareness purposes, shot by the Palmrita Ave. grade crossing, with the Columbia Ave. overpass and even farther signal bridge (by Chicago Ave.) in the distance. Palmrita Ave. is between Iowa and Columbia Avenues.
K.P. thought that that signal bridge might be done away with with the erection of the Perris Valley Line signals at the new junction switch, but apparently not. The newly erected east side westbound signals at the junction switch only have a single head each. Interestingly, for those that think K.P.’s judgment is a little off about his previous statements about the Baron Rd. area, BNSF CP61 HIGHGROVE is NOT a like distance from the signal bridge at Chicago Ave. as Chicago Ave. to downtown Riverside. If one would measure a like distance east, one would pass CP61 HIGHGROVE to reach almost to Barton Road, where K.P. believes a CP will eventually be put in at.
In the Barton Road Area
Colton, CA
A pristine new, non-railroad fence south of De Berry Street is now in place. Previously, a shoofly for the new truss bridges over the I-215 Freeway encroached upon the property where that fence is at now.
An aerial view (NOT current): De Berry St. and trusses (then on the shoofly alignment) over the I-215 freeway.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/De+Berry+St,+Colton,+CA+92324/@34.0286116,-117.3330826,796m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x80dcadb4fb035711:0xf919f83309f67636
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-E)
At the Colton Signal Dept.
At the Colton Signal Dept. a big real of orange covering is now present.
Those dragging equipment strike plates are still at the Colton Signal Dept., but they seem to have been thinned a bit quantity-wise.
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