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Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Saturday, May 16, 2015 4:14 AM

Update as of Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Part “D” (of A-E)

At the Colton Signal Dept.

Colton, CA

The new CP boxes are still (“still”) at the Colton Signal Dept. site.

You may recall a new, NEVER placed in service CP box placarded CP AL525 GUASTI had been at Colton for a few years.  It is believed the rear box above is that CP box.  The unlabeled front box has been there for some months now too.

With the advent of the Vineyard Ave. underpass construction in Ontario, still in progress, AND with the NEW CP AL521 NORTH ONTARIO that HAS the future second track’s signal erected, K.P. now somehow speculates those CP boxes at Colton were as the railroad’s contribution to the Vineyard Ave. underpass construction, explaining their long presence at the Colton Signal Dept.

Such new boxes would be needed IF (“if”) a second main was laid between CP AL521 NORTH ONTARIO and CP AL525 GUASTI.  The present single-track Main WEST of CP AL525 GUASTI is on the Main 1 alignment, presently unused EAST of the CP, as the Main 2 alignment is used over the Milliken Ave. Flyover.

The following diagram is the present track arrangement:

.

 CP AL524 GUASTI   CP AL525 GUASTI
                    
                    
-----------------------------  - - - - -
         \                /  \
          \              /    \
           -------------       ---------

 

.

The following diagram is the envisioned (conjectured) track arrangement:

.
        POSSIBLE CP AL525 GUASTI
           TRACK ARRANGEMENT

 

 Future Main 1
- -- - - - - - - - -
                    \
 Future Main 2       \         Main
----------------------------------------
                        /
 Siding                /  Switching Lead
----------------------------------------


.

Whether it works out that way is anyone’s guess for us outsiders.  It would sure explain the CP AL525 GUASTI box and all at the Colton Signal Dept.

The thing to watch is the single-track flood control bridging not very far to the east of CP AL521 NORTH ONTARIO.  That flood control channel would need to be bridged for a second main to exist.
 

Both December 13, 2012

Continued in Part E

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Saturday, May 16, 2015 4:21 AM

Update as of Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Part “E” (of A-E)

Colton Signal Dept.

Colton, CA

Anyway, presently new at the Colton Signal Dept. are a bunch of whitish, conduit-like piping.

Where and what such might be used at and for is unclear, but a good bet is for laying underneath the grade crossings in Pomona in conjunction with the many grade crossing upgrades that will soon be taking place there.  About a third of the money for the canceled Hamilton Ave. grade separation in Pomona will go for the grade crossing upgrades.

Such upgrades might (“might”) be on the order of the present Los Angeles Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension construction in the Monrovia-Duarte, CA area, a once Automatic Block Signals (ABS) single-track route of the Santa Fe Super Chief that has been upgraded to two-tracks and strung with catenary.

Both May 2, 2015

Obviously, catenary won’t be strung in Pomona on the Sunset Route, but the present crossing protection for pedestrians has much to be desired, and all that will soon change.

This will conclude the series.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Clyde Acolita on Saturday, May 16, 2015 6:29 PM

Controls points C014 (Workman Mill) and C016 (Avocado Heights) will be placed into service on the Los Angeles Subdivision tomorrow, May 17, 2015.

 

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Posted by MikeF90 on Sunday, May 17, 2015 7:27 PM

K. P. Harrier
Where and what such might be used at and for is unclear, but a good bet is for laying underneath the grade crossings in Pomona in conjunction with the many grade crossing upgrades that will soon be taking place there. About a third of the money for the canceled Hamilton Ave. grade separation in Pomona will go for the grade crossing upgrades.

Funny you should mention that. I remembered taking a photo of a buried electrical conduit at that very intersection over four years ago:

Not sure if they need more for the additional protection features .....

Good to hear about the new CPs on the LA sub. Apparently the CP namers at UP have never talked on a two way radio - short, unique names are easier to understand than L ..... O ..... N ..... G ..... multi-syllable names like A-vo-ca-do or North-On-tar-i-o. Hire some Border Collie fans!!

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Posted by SP657E44 on Monday, May 18, 2015 4:18 PM

The Chicago avenue signal bridge is the former Fullerton Jct. bridge (pre-EBCS), ask Jean Luc Picard.

 

A10

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 10:23 AM

Update as of Saturday, May 16, 2015

The Ontario-Montclair (CA) Scene

Part I (of I-VI)

The Vineyard Ave. Underpass Construction

Ontario

A new vantage point was found, and a northward photo was taken showing the railroad bridging over the future Vineyard Ave. underpass roadway alignment.

Above, it seems (“seems”) like the dirt this side of the railroad bridge is now being dug down a bit.

Also above, the small white truck going right to left on Airport Drive gives the view scale.

K.P. was able to park near the eastern end of the OLD airport terminal, and hike over to the shoofly area, and a wide area graded and ribbon rails on that grading of medium fine ballast was seen.

Looking more westward the thinner ballast oddly stops before the underpass railroad bridging is reached.

Continued in Part II

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Tuesday, May 19, 2015 10:33 AM

Update as of Saturday, May 16, 2015

The Ontario-Montclair (CA) Scene

Part II (of I-VI)

The Vineyard Ave. Underpass Construction

Ontario

An eastward view:

Strangely, as seen above, the sub-ballast, if we can call it that, stops not very far east from the camera location.

A group of concrete tied panel track is at the eastern end of that finer ballast.

It is almost as if (“almost as if”) a second shoofly, a SOUTHERN, shorter shoofly, right off the original alignment will be built, so the north side of the bridging could be finished, but from previous views, K.P. thought the bridging was already finished.  Without good views or inside information, we are technically in the dark as to what is transpiring at this point in time.

The Flood Control Bridging Issue

Ontario

West of Vineyard Ave. closer to Grove Ave. the parallel to the tracks Airport Drive jogs a bit, and it is by that jog area that the flood control passes underneath the Sunset Route.  NO bridging construction startup for a second-track was evident.

One would think in two-tracking of the Sunset Route in this area, IF it was anytime soon, we would see a second bridge started by now.  Maybe (“maybe,” not verified fact) the bridging is hung up because the owner of the flood control doesn’t want to pay for another bridge, and such technicalities wasn’t even thought of when Southern Pacific owned the Sunset Route before Union Pacific came along and bought the route.

Continued in Part III

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Tuesday, May 19, 2015 10:38 AM

Update as of Saturday, May 16, 2015

The Ontario-Montclair (CA) Scene

Part III (of I-VI)

The Montclair Facility Upgrading

Ontario-Montclair

The two new tracks (of three) now have ballasting, but the northernmost one (left) still needs to be gone over with more track equipment.  The alignment of the tracks are now as they are supposed to be.  View looks east:

A westbound intermodal briefly sidetracked capturing photos of the facility!

A westward view:

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 Tuesday, May 19, 2015 10:45 AM

Update as of Saturday, May 16, 2015

The Ontario-Montclair (CA) Scene

Part IV (of I-VI)

The Montclair Facility Upgrading

Ontario-Montclair

A lot of concrete ties are still at the facility.  View looks west on the LA&SL side.

Looking back east, those two new tracks (of three) are seen

Above, note that parallel to each signal are whitish insulated joints for block electrical separation for the signals.

K.P. was stunned to see that track on the above photo’s lower right when it got over to the LA&SL side was found to have had insulated joints put in too!  See below photo, just left of photo center bottom.

The LA&SL side at the Montclair facility has been pretty much devoid of new signals, but that might be changing.

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 Tuesday, May 19, 2015 10:55 AM

Update as of Saturday, May 16, 2015

The Ontario-Montclair (CA) Scene

Part V (of I-VI)

The Montclair Facility Upgrading

Ontario-Montclair

An eastward view:  The boulders have been on scene for some time.  Note the equipment in the background by San Antonio Ave. (Ontario).

We now leave the Mountain Ave. overpass and go over to the western end of the Montclair facility, by Monte Vista Ave.  With an eastward slant:  The overpass in the background is Central Ave.  In this view, the facility’s western latter tracks are seen (center).

Monte Vista Ave. goes through the CP that has a cantilever signal bridge on its east side.

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 Tuesday, May 19, 2015 11:01 AM

Update as of Saturday, May 16, 2015

The Ontario-Montclair (CA) Scene

Part VI (of I-VI)

The Montclair Facility Upgrading

Ontario-Montclair

And, of course, a westward slant from Monte Vista Ave.:

The west CP box for CP517 MONTCLAIR still has a bunch of broken concrete ties by it.

So, there we have it … what is happening in the Ontario-Montclair area.

This will end the series.

-----------

This posting series would have been posted yesterday morning, but right before posting K.P. was thrown into one his now infamous surprise, out of the blue 12-hour dispatches from San Bernardino County to deep within Riverside County.  Things happened so suddenly K.P. had to chow down on the fly!  Several hours of free time were had, though, and he was able to check out and photograph a number of underpass construction sites in Riverside (on the LA&SL), as well as the railroad bridges (plural) over the 91 Freeway.  On the way back at the end of the day, good views of the new fencing south of Barton Rd. was had, and one can see clearly how the property was restored now that the shoofly there is no longer needed.  Also, there are a few things at the Colton Signal Dept. to report.  An exhausted and very weary K.P. will try to put together some type of presentation on all this in the next several days.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 cacole on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 3:43 PM

K.P.,

That 'medium fine ballast' you reference in Parts I and II of the Vinyard Avenue Underpass Construction photos actually forms the roadbed.

When double-tracking was progressing across Arizona, similar roadbed was spread and rolled more than a year before actual rail laying crews arrived west of Tucson.  By that time, tumbleweeds had taken over some of it.

 

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, May 22, 2015 7:43 PM

Update as of Monday, May 18, 2015

Part “A” (of A-G)

The Status of Grade Separations

Clay Street

Riverside, CA

As viewed from the southeast quadrant of the construction site, the high walling of the underpass seems to all be in place.

The center railroad bridging support:

Above, the north, far side of the underpass can finally be seen as being dug down.

The west support area for the railroad bridge:

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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, May 22, 2015 7:52 PM

Update as of Monday, May 18, 2015

Part “B” (of A-G)

The Status of Grade Separations

Clay Street

Riverside, CA

The area between the southeast walling (lower left) and a commercial building (unseen of the right) apparently needed shoring up with vertical I-beams.  When the gap is filled in with dirt, it is not known if the I-beams will remain or be taken out.

Looking south from the southeast side, the walling curves.  The roadway (once RIGHT of that walling) used to curve, and when the underpass is open, will continue to curve as it used to.

Detour Time for Us!

About TWO miles railroad EAST of the Clay Street underpass construction site, the LA&SL (alternate Sunset Route) goes over a great bridge, which K.P. has always called “The Viaduct.”  The Santa Ana River Trail (for hiking and bicyclists) is visible on the photo bottom.

On the east side of that Santa Ana River viaduct is CP C053 ARLINGTON (M.P. 52.6), the east westbound signals of which are on a cantilever signal bridge.

Continued in Part C

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, May 22, 2015 8:03 PM

Update as of Monday, May 18, 2015

Part “C” (of A-G)

Detour Time for Us! (Continued)

The cantilever signal structure was put in circa 1992-93 when an about three mile section to the EAST was two-tracked.  The NEXT CP to the WEST, CP C050 LIMONITE (M.P.49.9) is close to three miles distance (2.7 miles to be exact), and there are NO intermediates between those CP’s.  The cantilever signal bridge was erected with a contingency for a Main 2 (left, straight track route) signal lower head.

So, IF (“if”) a second track is laid over the Clay Street underpass (Parts A and B), that lower stem may be for that possibility.  It is two-tracks west of CP C050 LIMONITE for maybe ten times, and that two-tracking came about the same time.

There is a ‘1774’ very old looking placarded monument nearby.

The placard seems to be dated circa 1942.

The De Anza trail crosses, is different from, and should not be confused with the Santa Ana River Trail.

For any that are into hiking or family oriented, whether from Southern California or visiting from out of state, the viaduct area is a cool place to stop, hike, or bicycle at.  The wife and kids may really enjoy it, and the railfan ‘man of the house’ would have his own treat (the railroad nearby) and the rest of the family wouldn’t even notice he was having so much fun!

OK, enough of our minor detour …

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.

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Friday, May 22, 2015 8:09 PM

Update as of Monday, May 18, 2015

Part “D” (of A-G)

The Status of Grade Separations

Streeter Ave. Underpass

Riverside, CA

The Streeter Ave. underpass construction appears finished.

Two bridges were put in, one for Dewey Street (slightly angled) and one for the two main tracks.

Above, surprisingly, neither the roadway bridge nor the railroad one has a fence.

A southward view:

The midpoint intermediates (between two CP’s) is by Streeter Ave.

Continued in Part E

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, May 22, 2015 8:16 PM

Update as of Monday, May 18, 2015

Part “E” (of A-G)

The Status of Grade Separations

Streeter Ave. Underpass

Riverside, CA

There presently is a good sized pile of ballast by those number plated intermediate signals.

A high ‘entrance signal’ allows an exit from the uncontrolled Arlington siding just to the west.

An eastbound view:

Above, again, neither bridging has a fence.

A road (photo top) connects Streeter Ave. with Dewey Ave.

Continued in Part F

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, May 22, 2015 8:23 PM

Update as of Monday, May 18, 2015

Part “F” (of A-G)

The LA&SL Bridges over the 91 Freeway

Riverside, CA

Work seemingly has stopped on the second bridge (on the final alignment) over the 91 Freeway, as no obvious progress during this visit was seen.

An overview:

The Fence near the BNSF Truss Bridges

In the General Grand Terrace Area, CA

It had been mentioned very recently in this thread, but a more enlightening photo was taken of the new fence where the shoofly once was, a shoofly for bridging over the I-215 Freeway on a temporary alignment for the trusses.  Now that the trusses are on their permanent alignment, the shoofly obviously wasn’t needed anymore, and the temporary property easement done away with.

The fence only looks white because of the angle of the afternoon sun coming in from the right).

A photo from June 7, 2014 when the trusses were in their temporary positions and the shoofly was being worked on.

Continued in Part G

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, May 22, 2015 8:30 PM

Update as of Monday, May 18, 2015

Part “G” (of A-G)

New Developments at the Colton Signal Dept.!

Colton, CA

Additional box crates (believed to be parts for assembling of turnouts) have been added to the boxes by the fence.

The Colton Signal Dept. seems to have been reorganized a bit, and is now just packed with items out in the open.

More truck trailers are also on location.  At photo time, there was the four in the below view plus two additional trailers maybe 150 feet out of few, for a total of six.

Where new signals may be erected is unknown, but the new Montclair facility might be a good bet.

This will conclude the series.

-----------

K.P. was in the Los Angeles area Thursday, May 21, 2015, and specifically checked out matters related to the Puente Hills Intermodal Facility (PHIMF), involving control points, or CP’s.  There has been a report in this thread of revised CP names involving that area.  On site, it was found that those revised CP names were at odds with the placards that are on the CP boxes!  It just so happened that K.P. was able to touch bases with a contact, and that contact confirmed the updated CP names were correct!  Photos of the sites are planned for a future series, but that series is behind a posting for the Perris Valley Line which hasn’t even been started yet …

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 mvs on Saturday, May 23, 2015 12:10 PM

Thank you K.P. for these photos!  On the subject of grade separations, the Glen Helen Parkway overpass is officially open:

http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20150522/bridge-over-train-tracks-on-glen-helen-parkway-keeps-traffic-moving

 

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Posted by K. P. Harrier on Sunday, May 24, 2015 7:32 PM

Update as of Thursday, May 21, 2015

Two Places of Activity

Part I (of I-VIII)

Photos from San Gabriel Blvd. Activity

The San Gabriel Trench

San Gabriel, CA

Necessity brought K.P. to Pasadena (CA).  Afterward, the San Gabriel Blvd. grade crossing was visited to check on the progress of the San Gabriel Trench thereat.

A bunch of NEW rebar cylinders were present.

In the photo just above, if you look on the right, an orange pole-like item is visible.  That pole aligns with the curving long line of vertical rebar cylinders filled with cement that were buried several months ago.  What the pictured new rebar cylinders are for is unknown.

Continued in Part II

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Sunday, May 24, 2015 7:38 PM

Update as of Thursday, May 21, 2015

Two Places of Activity

Part II (of I-VIII)

Photos of San Gabriel Blvd. Activity

The San Gabriel Trench

San Gabriel, CA

The four-lane San Gabriel Blvd. which is down to two lanes being open was having the east side bridging half poured with cement.

An eastbound view:

From here, the Puente Hills Intermodal Facility (PHIMF) area was went to, and the new CP’s in that area that were put in service.

Continued in Part III

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Sunday, May 24, 2015 7:44 PM

Update as of Thursday, May 21, 2015

Two Places of Activity

Part III (of I-VIII)

The Two New CP’s are In Service

The PHIMF Area

City of Industry, CA

The sound deadening wall between the tracks and the residential neighborhood was being worked on.

Above, where the vehicles are parked is the future alignment of the PHIMF track.  This side of the 60 Freeway Bridge in the background is where two of three east side westbound signals are at, for the PHIMF track and Main 1.

Above, the PHIMF track is unlaid still, so that its east side westbound track signal has its single head (for red, flashing red, and off) turned aside.

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 Sunday, May 24, 2015 7:47 PM

Update as of Thursday, May 21, 2015

Two Places of Activity

Part IV (of I-VIII)

The Two New CP’s are In Service

The PHIMF Area

City of Industry, CA

The west side signal bridge at Workman Mill Road now has its heads facing trains.

  

Main 2’s signals are intermediates, hence are number plated.

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 Sunday, May 24, 2015 7:58 PM

Update as of Thursday, May 21, 2015

Two Places of Activity

Part V (of I-VIII)

The Two New CP’s are In Service

The PHIMF Area

City of Industry, CA

For aviation buffs, while on site a jumbo jet was spotted curving to the glide path for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a plane likely from Hawaii.

All the west side eastbound signal heads are facing trains, even though the PHIMF track is not in service it is present (right). Behind the camera, east of Workman Mill Road, the PHIMF track has not been laid yet.

The new, relocated mainline tracks (Mains 1 and 2) are NOT laid with UP’s standard 141 pounds per yard rail, hence, the insulated joints are a bit more colorful than usual, one track even having PINK insulted joints!

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 Sunday, May 24, 2015 8:03 PM

Update as of Thursday, May 21, 2015

Two Places of Activity

Part VI (of I-VIII)

The Two New CP’s are In Service

The PHIMF Area

City of Industry, CA

A last view … of the CP C014 WORKAM MILL (M.P. 14.0) area:

Above, that was CP C014 WORKMAN MILL, but yet the box says only CP C014 WORKMAN, absent the MILL.

A contact of K.P. (that happened to be in when dropped in on) showed him official documents, and those documents that trainmen use have the CP listed as CP C014 WORKMAN MILL.  Clyde Acolita first made us aware of this recently.

The same type of situation is at the new CP C016 AVOCADO HEIGHTS (M.P. 15.7).  The onsite CP box still says CP C016 INDUSTRY.

Apparently, those boxes were purchased, placarded, and brought to the sites before the actual CP names were officially chosen.

Concerning the name Avocado Heights itself, that is the actual name of the area!  Notice the below Google Maps link:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Avocado+Heights,+CA/@34.040881,-118.0012615,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c2d6db8250cbcd:0xce5bb500f6c830a

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 Sunday, May 24, 2015 8:14 PM

Update as of Thursday, May 21, 2015

Two Places of Activity

Part VII (of I-VIII)

The Two New CP’s are In Service

The PHIMF Area

City of Industry, CA

So, what is at the now in-service new CP C016 AVOCADO HEIGHTS that is placarded CP C016 INDUSTRY?  Coming east towards the new CP are Mains 2 and 1, and the PHIMF track (left to right).

Above, barely visible, is one of the two intermediate signal masts, with heads now turned aside for not being needed because of the new CP C016 AVOCADO HEIGHTS.  The west eastbound signals on a signal bridge at the new CP:

Just above on the photo bottom, even though from west to east (right to left) the grade is uphill, a derail protects the main from any errant cars that defy gravity and roll uphill.  Well, in theory, some juveniles (kids) could improperly have the equipment to get laying over power moving uphill …So, such a derail might be more valuable than one first thinks …
.


        CP C016 AVOCADO HEIGHTS


PHIMF        D          D      <
--------------          ----------------
      >    \              /
1           \            /     40     <
----------------------------------------
      >     30         10        \
2                                 \   <
----------------------------------------
      >                            40

.

The industrial trackage coming in from the northeast:

A worker doing regular maintenance on the new 40 M.P.H. crossover switch’s motor area:

Continued in Part VIII

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Sunday, May 24, 2015 8:20 PM

Update as of Thursday, May 21, 2015

Two Places of Activity

Part VIII (of I-VIII)

The Two New CP’s are In Service

The PHIMF Area

City of Industry, CA

The actual new 40 M.P.H. crossover between mains:

Note the whitish insulated joints midway through the crossover (above).

The east westbound cantilever signal bridge:

Above, the LEFT signal has a lower three light head.  Based on present standards, K.P. cannot reconcile a lower three light head.  It is possible, since this signal equipment might have been bought under the old school of signal thinking, to crossover from Main 1 to the DARK PHIMP track beyond (west of) CP C014 WORKMAN MILL might show yellow over LUNAR at CP C014 AVOCADO HEIGHTS.

This will end the series.

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

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • 7,968 posts
Posted by K. P. Harrier on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 4:23 PM

Replies

UChicagoMatt (4-3):

Your post about the Shawmut, AZ area and its different route ‘siding’ came at a most timely time.  As the forum knows, a trip from California to Yuma, AZ to check on the status of the Sunset Route two-tracking is hoped to be made soon.  A debate was being made if I should go all the way to Shawmut to see if two-tracking had finally started westward from there, but your photos were sufficiently clear that it hadn’t.

I wish I knew what UP had in mind about the Shawmut siding.  Will it remain a siding with two mains, will the siding become Main 1, or be done away with completely.  Interestingly, the Mobile siding is a north side siding, off Main 1.  So, if Shawmut remains a siding under two-tracking (whenever it finally happens), TWO back to back sidings will be off the north side Main 1, which seems rather strange.  Of course, it is hard to believe the future Main 1would ever be routed the longer siding route.  If we only had insider information on this!

CShaveRR (4-5):

Possible six-shooter response pending. 

Norm48327 (4-6):

Possible six-shooter response pending.

blue streak 1 (4-7):

That was quite an incident in Dateland, AZ.

Without all the facts (unfortunately), it is difficult to make an assessment of what happened.

Forum contributor cacole brought up a good possibility that ‘the trailer got hung up on the tracks.’  Of course, the errant guys may (“may”) have been in la-la land thinking the Sunset Route was only a branch line like in their home town that never sees more than one train a day …

desertdog (4-12):

Windows computer operating systems have their own issues, maddening ones, and because of the trouble I kind of had resolved that my next computer would be a Mac.  But the TRAINS Magazine library fiasco and the problems you are having posting with a Mac has made me have second thoughts about Apple.  It is almost as if there is a great horned, red tailed wicked one rolling on the ground laughing hysterically at all the trouble he is causing in computerdom …

Super Hunky and BNSF6400 (Both 4-12):

It had escaped my notice that the windmill plant was gone, except that there was a lack of windmill trains in the West Colton Yard area of late

Apparently, the company that bought the windmill plant in Southern California benefited financially by dismantling it.  Union Pacific (the Sunset Route owner) as well as companies all around America (and the world, for that matter), are in a vicious economic struggle just trying to survive.  And, people get mad at others trying to survive the dark side of economics when they are doing the same thing themselves!  I wonder if a million years from now money would have mutated and evolved into a blissful wonder where everybody is rolling in dough, and new windmill manufacturers and railroad companies are springing up everywhere …

usmc1401 (4-23):

That might have been the problem with Nikon, the issues with the West Coast ports.

Finding important accessories for cameras was a big problem.  I noticed, however, ‘out of stock’ super good price retailers would magically have those important accessories if one bought a camera from them!  You know, usmc1401, there is a certain righteous logic to their thinking.

SP657E44 (4-24):

In photographing Pachappa Cut in Riverside, CA, it does look like it would not be overly complicated to two-track that section.  Because of the Metrolink Riverside stop, I wonder if the two-tracks between CP C053 ARLINGTON and C055 STREETER will be reversed in their general use.  Right now Main 2 is the straight through route.  Maybe (“maybe”) Main 1 will eventually be the straight though route.

Something similar happened with the old Pico Rivera siding east of Los Angeles, where the mainline became the siding, and the siding became the mainline.

With the Clay Street underpass being constructed now, as well as the Riverside Ave. underpass, and also the 91 Freeway widening and the bridging over it being revamped, it would seem we might get some answers sooner than later.  Both of us, I think, have an eye on what is occurring on that trackage.

SP657E44 (4-25):

Construction workers I believe work 6 A.M. to 2 P.M.  If so, you just missed them!

Super Hunky (4-28) and MikeF90 (4-28):

I think everybody has much to gain by a revised BNSF CP WEST RIVERSIDE, especially if Pachappa Cut is two-tracked.  Right now there is much restriction to the free-flowing of traffic on the BNSF. Just a few switches and few alterations to the track would work wonders!

Electroliner 1935 (5-7):

Oh, yes, would I have fun with a drone equipped with a camera!  I could even play suicide bomber and nosedive toward UP trainmen and get even with them by freaking them out!  Seriously, they are just doing their jobs, doing what a, in my opinion, a crazy, madmen type management instructs them to do … But, the thought of a drone scares me to no end.  What if I lost control of it and it was vaporized by a car going 80 M.P.H. on the nearby Interstate?  And, the car that vaporized it flipped half a dozen times out of control?  I think the dark side scares me more than I would have fun with it.

MikeF90 (5-17):

When word first came that the Hamilton Blvd. underpass (the railroad wanted an overpass) was canceled and a number of grade crossings in Pomona would be upgraded instead, I was rather shocked that the upgrades was going to cost a third of what the whole underpass would have cost!  So, my guess is that multiple mechanisms will be installed, requiring much conduit piping, necessitating all the previous tunneling under the tracks to be redone.

cacole (5-15):

Metrolink is currently laying a kind of sub-ballast on its Perris Valley Line, ballast like what contractors are laying at the Vineyard Ave. underpass site.  If I am not mistaken the sub-ballast UP laid in Arizona was a fine-grained material, not very thick, so weeds could easily penetrate it. 

When I am in Arizona, hopefully soon, I hope some sub-ballast is present somewhere.  If so, photographing it, IF thin, will make an interesting comparison with what contractors use in California.

mvs (5-23):  Overpass, Underpass, and Arizona

I’ve been over the new overpass in the Glen Helen-Devore area of Cajon Pass a few times in an auto.  It offers nice views of the BNSF triple-track mainline.

That link you posted has been turned into an actual link for those interested.

http://www.sbsun.com/general-news/20150522/bridge-over-train-tracks-on-glen-helen-parkway-keeps-traffic-moving

It was also inserted in the “Cajon Pass Triple-Tracking Updates” thread.

What is the status, mvs, of the Sunset Ave. underpass construction in Banning (CA) on the Sunset Route?  It would seem that it should be finished by now.  I’ll be passing through there soon when I travel to Yuma, AZ to check out the two-tracking out that way, but that trip hasn’t been specifically scheduled yet.  But I’m pretty safe in saying it is now looming …

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.

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • 7,968 posts
Posted by K. P. Harrier on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 5:40 PM

Delayed Replies this Date:

CShaveRR (4-5):

It is hoped you had a nice vacation (or whatever you were doing) on the trip to California on the ‘Chief.’  Did you go back to the Midwest via the Sunset Route?  If you did, undoubtedly you went by any two-tracking areas in the darkness, so didn’t see much reportable two-tracking-wise.

Norm48327 (4-6):

We, as railroaders and railfans, have a comprehension of grade crossings and why identifying where they are at may be important to a railroad, whereas the general public has absolutely no idea that a railroad would need to identify a location. Now, my ‘Trekky’ wife most certainly knows more about Trekkidom than I do.  But, I don’t think Trekkidom has life and death situations that the real world of railroading encounters.  And, we can pride ourselves in that we know HOW to communicate with railroads about those life and death situations!

About Six-Shooters

In posting the post above this one, the replies to CShaveRR and Norm48327 went wild, and had to be physically removed from the composition to post the other reply responses.

Afterwards, a new post thread was started composition on at the TRAINS website.  Using the replies only to CShaveRR and Norm 48327, the composition went flawlessly and without incident.  So, more composition was added, working upward from the bottom.  It totally went wild with forum contributor desertdog.

The replies were initially copied to WORD, and replies composed in WORD.  Once composed, they were transferred to a supposedly neutral Text Document.  However, in replying to mvs, the link carried through to the Text Document, which is not supposed to happen.  But, super strange things happen while using the TRAINS Magazine website.

Except for desertdog, who has publically stated he had a Mac, it is unknown what type of computers the others in this post have.  For the record, K.P. has a Dell, which has been a nightmare.

I suppose K.P. will waste some more time (when he has some spare time) trying to track down with certainly what the culprit(s) may be.  Once it is figured out, who is for a wild six-shooter party? (Hehehe.)

Bushed,

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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