Update as of Friday, September 23, 2016
The San Gabriel Trench
San Gabriel Area, CA
Part “G” (of A-I, Overall A-P)
Looking west, the train is going by the high up, curving walls.
Looking east again, the very top of the north walling has a form section on it.
If one compares that white building on the upper right with the trench floor, the floor seems to actually slant downward as the floor come towards the camera!
Continued in Part H
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 “H” (of A-I, Overall A-P)
The east side again: That drainage water channel under construction among much activity:
A water walling section being put in:
A new GE passes eastbound (rightward)!
For some reason new power in the 2600’s always seem washed and clean!
Continued in Part I
Part “I” (of A-I, Overall A-P)
The pedestrian (sidewalk) walling under construction seems unusually high.
Again, a lot of activity … Note the side walling new fence (upper right).
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Continued in Parts J-P to be posted by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time on Wednesday, September 28, 2016, but could be posted up to 12 hours early.
Part “J” (of J-P, Overall A-P)
At Del Mar Ave. nobody seemed to be around, but decorative cement-work had been started.
Continued in Part K
Part “K” (of J-P, Overall A-P)
At Ramona Street, the west side sidewalk was found to be closed and off limits with construction barricades and otherwise cordoned off. So, the east side of the street had to do, which afforded a poor view west.
That above view, however, gives a semi-fairly decent view of the strange cement-work, how the flooring width curves into the south wall (left). One of MikeF90’s views shows how that concrete laid flooring narrows to a point, which K.P. simply cannot figure out.
Farther to the west, at Chapel Ave., the view looking eastbound shows little improvement. The bridging in the background is Ramona Street.
So, we go to by Alhambra Wash.
That above view shows the bridge (lower left) has a concrete right side and I-beam understructure under the bridge and permanent fencing (lower right, south), but a rusted metal left construction (north), suggesting the left side is incomplete and only temporary.
Continued in Part L
Part “L” (of J-P, Overall A-P)
A closer view and the fencing over the wash:
Looking westbound:
The temporary walling holding the track that has been present for years in place, and a shoveled “Deere” piece of equipment moving through the area.
Continued in Part M
Part “M” (of J-P, Overall A-P)
We now head west a bit, to where the single-track in the Alhambra Trench becomes two-tracks westward. Looking east, then west:
The just above OLD cantilever signal structure is embedded in the slanted wall. The color light heads on the structure are about five years old now. The cantilever structure was NOT changed out when the target heads were, obviously because a modern type structure wouldn’t fit in the trench without the trench being modified!
A newer head in a telephoto view:
Above, in a strange situation, the Main 1 signal head appears to be over Main 2 …
Continued in Part N
Part “N” (of J-P, Overall A-P)
The signals for the CP are on each side of Marguerita Ave. The west side eastbound signals on that cantilever structure as viewed from the south side:
The above Alhambra Trench signals are shown because there doesn’t appear to be any provision for signals in the San Gabriel Trench. There may be, but K.P. hasn’t seen any.
In the general area of that Alhambra Wash currently is a block signals mast.
(That intermediate block signal is not to be confused with the original signal several blocks to the east, where the paralleling Mission Road crosses the track before the shoofly was started. Mission Road also should not be confused with Valley Blvd. that gets near to the tracks further west closer to Los Angeles.)
In the two views above, the present track lowers left to right to go into the below ground Alhambra Trench, for those unfamiliar with the area.
Looking westbound, the roadway lowers before rising, with the Alhambra Wash in that dip.
Continued in Part O
Part “O” (of J-P, Overall A-P)
Another view of that lowering:
At the wash site, looking east … The guard fencing over the wash is on the photo far left.
Looking north:
Continued in Part P
Part “P” (of J-P, Overall A-P)
Looking south, that arched bridging hole is barely seen.
The roadway dip is pronounced and obvious, with the track higher up. That ‘higher up’ is going to have to be lowered in accord with the previous views, another view of the new bridge over the Alhambra Wash is shown below, from the south side:
So, it is hoped all these views gives the forum a good mental picture of the current construction status of the San Gabriel Trench. And, thanks goes to MikeF90 who photograph much of the current status in his series, a series that inspired K.P. to visit the site and mostly shoot photos from a different perspective than MikeF90 shot from.
This will end the series.
An Arizona Trip like Few Others
For Friday and Saturday, September 30 and October 1, 2016, the itinerary was quite simple: Check out (1) the California’s M.P. 621 area for possible two-tracking activity (based on previous preliminary grading thereat), (2) a status review of target signals along the I-8 Freeway in Arizona in light of the Positive Train Control deadline in a few years, (3) photograph the landmark water tower at Red Rock, AZ, (4) personally see and witness Amtrak No. 2 at dawn blocking the super busy Highway 347 for ten minutes in Maricopa, AZ, and (5) verify reports of some new color light signals on the Phoenix Line in the Buckeye area (west of Phoenix) and make an assessment of what they may mean. Everything targeted the first day (#1-3) was successfully photographed … barely!
“Barely” because so many unexpected things were seen the first day that it became questionable if everything on the itinerary could be photo-documented before dark, such unexpected things like a locomotive K.P. had been looking for was as a DPU on a passing train meeting another train, and that meet had gone very amuck! And a siding reminiscent of a famous religious character’s name was visually seen to have a very ‘lucky’ CP number! (It is in the timetable, but to see it in person, well …) Those new signals on the Phoenix Line were interpreted NOT to be a sign Amtrak Nos. 1 and 2 would return to the Phoenix route. And, the future Amtrak station stop in Maricopa (on the shorter and bypassing Phoenix route) had a totally unexpected physical factor about where the future Amtrak siding could and could not be located at.
A few other teaser photos about the upcoming series …
Amtrak No. 2 at the Maricopa stop during the first rays of morning sunlight.
New color light ABS signals west of Phoenix.
Overall, it was a great trip, but so many surprises were seen and so many frustrations occurred that it was a trip like few others. Expect a multiday presentation to the forum about that trip to start probably within a week …
Schedule for “An Arizona Trip like Few Others”
The following is the tentative posting schedule:
Sunday, October 9, 2016 (Parts I-IX) by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
View from a New Overpass (Coachella, CA)
Was there any New Two-Tracking in the Thermal, CA Area?
The Mesquite Regional Landfill Area
The Dome-Wellton Area of Arizona
A Gambling Numbered CP
A Meet between Two-Trains
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 (Parts X-XVII) by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
A Meet Gone Amuck and a Special Engine Number
Shawmut Wonder!
The Future Maricopa, AZ Amtrak Stop Site
The Surroundings of Future Amtrak Stop Site
A Quick Stop in Casa Grande, AZ
Red Rock, AZ is Finally Reached!
Picacho Floodlights at Night
Thursday, October 13, 2016 (Parts XVIII-XXV) by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Amtrak No. 2 at the Stop in Maricopa, AZ
More about the Maricopa Stop
The Phoenix Line West of Phoenix for a Bit
Saturday, October 15, 2016 (Parts XXVI-XXXIV by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Monday, October 17, 2016 (Second Section) by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
A Calexico Sub Grade Crossing
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On a dispatch Thursday, October 6, 2016, K.P. was by the Colton Flyover and Colton (CA) area. A few tidbits will be posted about sometime between the Arizona trip postings.
September 30-October 1, 2016
Part I (of I-IX, Overall I-XXXIV Plus)
View from a New Overpass
Coachella, CA
Eastward on the way to Thermal, the newly opened overpass over the Sunset Route in Coachella, at 52nd Ave., was stopped at and climbed up on. View looks westbound with relatively new 50th Ave. overpass in the distance. CP SP615 COACHELLA (M.P. 615.0) is between overpasses.
Above, notice how on the other side of the background overpass the tracks alignment shift to the left
While on the overpass, a semi-north view of the bridge and surroundings in the morning rising sunlight:
The new bridge’s I.D.:
The bridge has rod iron fencing (right), but fine wire fencing added while over the tracks (left).
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-IX, Overall I-XXXIV Plus)
Some forum readers or those familiar with the area may remember that an alignment shift in the tracks takes place beyond the next overpass in the distance of the first photo in Part I. It has been that way for decades. Below is a heavy telephoto of the alignment shift.
The semi-grading looked much as it did last visit. Westbound views:
An east view with a westbound train approaching:
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-IX, Overall I-XXXIV Plus)
Was there any New Two-Tracking ...
... in the Thermal, CA Area?
A westward view again, with that passing train.
That above “green” lit signal is a very old one, with bottom box that was used decades ago.
Nothing seemed to be taking place, so a view further west was gone to. And, a surprise was found but not one that had been anticipated.
The track looked freshly manicured and a few laying down ties were seen, as in the last photo just above. So, the cursory grading may have been for accessing the track. On the other hand, two photos up from this paragraph, one barely can see a flagged stake, as if it was a survey marker for some construction. Two-tracking?
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-IX, Overall I-XXXIV Plus)
The Mesquite Regional Landfill Track
A swing by the branching off track to the trash transporting end site was visited.
A south view:
The signaled track obviously has had NO trains traverse the track for a long time.
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-IX, Overall I-XXXIV Plus)
Farther north on the 5.1 mile line is CP SP003 MESQUITE LANDFILL
The single light heads only display flashing red over red, red over flashing red, red over red, or off.
A south-like view, is the bridge for a future second-track or just for vehicle access?
Access to the track is often by hiking in, seeing the roads have become so bad..
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-IX, Overall I-XXXIV Plus)
In the Dome-Wellton Area of Arizona
Between Dome and Wellton, AZ is a section of tracks that looks (“looks”) like double-track.
But, it actually is two-tracks, as per the timetable.
Another view from nearby:
Two-tracks are clearly seen at CP SP768 WEST WELLTON (M.P. 770.8).
Above, just look at those old cantilever signal bridges!
Now, those cantilever signal bridges makes for a most interesting situation. If UP delays two tracking the general area, will it just trade out the signal heads and keep the old cantilevered structures, put new, contemporary style cantilever structures up, or replace the cantilevers with just mast signals?
Continued in Part VII
Part VII (of I-IX, Overall I-XXXIV Plus)
K.P. arrived at the WEST end of the Noah siding just as an auto-rack train was departing, and there was no time to get the camera out. Frustrating! What is this? The curse of always missing it by seconds? Over and over it happens …
At the EAST end:
Gambling winner CP number and a famous name that is apparently becoming more and more popular!
In that top photo, notice the Positive Train Control antenna for the CP. Also, the CP box is sufficiently modern that the box wouldn’t need to be replaced for target signals to give way to color light signals, the inevitability for this area.
Continued in Part VIII
Part VIII (of I-IX, Overall I-XXXIV Plus)
A Meet between Two Trains
At CP SP812 AZTEC, there were still NO color light conversions yet.
What caught K.P.’s attention while on the I-8 Freeway was a train in the Aztec siding, so a stop was made.
The east switch’s CP box, with the PTC wires unconnected yet and hanging (right).
The waited for westbound soon came.
But, the eastbound didn’t come out of the siding.
Continued in Part IX
Part IX (of I-IX, Overall I-XXXIV Plus)
Another Meet
Another westbound soon came.
Thereafter, the eastbound in the siding soon came out and proceeded east.
AS seen above, NO two-tracking OR color lights signal conversions were taking place yet.
Thereafter, K.P. got back on the I-8 Freeway and continued east.
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Continued in Parts X-XVII Tuesday, October 11, 2016 by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
KP- Great update on the goings on on the Sunset. Liked your comments on the target signals. While a director of our transit agency I was given a target signal that was redundant and had no value. The signal must have had a reaction with the gravel when removed. While in place the dish looked small. On the ground it was five feet in diameter. Chemocal reaction ?? Installed it at our lake house and had it working. Unfortunately when we moved it would not fit into our current yard and was left behind.
K. P. HarrierNow, those cantilever signal bridges makes for a most interesting situation. If UP delays two tracking the general area, will it just trade out the signal heads and keep the old cantilevered structures, put new, contemporary style cantilever structures up, or replace the cantilevers with just mast signals?
The classic SP era signaling may still be there because they haven't upgraded the crossovers to a higher speed type; new movable point frog turnouts require wider spacing. Based on mileage they might add another u/c about ten miles to the west (or not ) when traffic increases enough.
Nothing new around Yuma, eh?
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! ***
Colton Happenings
Colton, CA
Part “A” (of A-F)
The first important thing was 9th Street still has street running in effect. So, a more south travel was had. The sand train (from the Cabazon area) was found to have taken the Riverside-Pedley route and was making crew relief at the crew relief spot by La Cadena Drive. What a picture a bunch (“bunch”) of trainmen all together would make, probably six to eight in a group! But, it was like the force (“the force”) told them to get moving, so that picture never happened …
The new BNSF east UP westbound mast signal (left) was now in service with heads facing UP trains.
Above, the well-known to locals “Blue Mountain” is on the left. Blue Mountain is not to be confused with the Blue Mountains in Oregan that UP trains go through.
The sand train was finished with crew relief and heading to Riverside and Pedley. The Fogg Street bridge (lower left) and roadway under it is still not open yet. The sand train heads to Riverside.
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-F)
The new track from the BNSF to the old Riverside Industrial Lead on the WEST end seems (“seems”) in place but the ballast on it was crude.
The center portion seems laid too.
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-F)
The east curve seems incomplete.
Forum readers will remember that in the agreement for building the three-track wide Colton Flyover (that currently uses two-track positions) the Riverside Industrial Lead (RIL) track down 9th Street would be relocated as the above photos show. But, it has been three years since the Colton Flyover was put in service and the RIL still is running down 9th Street. But, the end of 9th Street street running appears in sight.
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-F)
Returning to downtown Colton on La Cadena Drive, a would-be photo was too tempting to pass up, a westbound (leftward) with a frame car for lumber stopped over La Cadena Drive, and just right too!
An eastbound soon got into the act.
BNSF or UP trains would have had to wait at Colton Crossing before the coming of the Colton Flyover.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-F)
In the northeast quadrant of the Colton Flyover area, the UP signal (right, of CP SP939 VALLEY) seems to have been converted from an approach lit signal to one constantly on.
In that last photo just above, note the CP box on the right. It is unlike the typical CP boxes, in that it is the size of an intermediate signal box. Placard attacher’s had a hard time fitting the size on the small box that has simplified wiring seeing that there is no interlocking involved as with powered switches.
With UP trains traversing OVER the Colton Flyover, a BNSF eastbound passes unobstructed.
Above, note the green signal on the left.
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of A-F)
The BNSF westbound soon comes, and passes nearby those signals just discussed.
It moves south (west) of the Colton Flyover.
Note all the ties stacked on the left!
Note, also, the floodlights on poles on the photo left. The last photo in “An Arizona Trip like Few Others” Parts IX-XVII will have similar lights ON in the evening at Picacho, AZ.
This will end the Colton series. The Arizona series will resume as scheduled.
ccltrains (10-9):
That was cool you had a target signal at one time.
I would love to have one in my yard, and have it displaying various aspects each day.
Take care,
K.P.
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