mvs wrote: K.P.: Thank you very much for your amazing photo updates! I have three questions.1. In your very first photo in this spot, are you confident that they will replace that temporary switch? Logic says they will replace that switch and make it just two tracks paralleling each other, with no crossovers. I would hope that they replace that switch and try to smooth out the area as best as they can, like they did at Garnet.2. Also from that first photo, it looks like there is a jog in the tracks on approach to the new concrete bridge... will they try to straighten that out as well?3. Lastly, will they replace the double track ABS with two main track CTC once this project is complete through Thermal?Thank you so so much for these great updates!
K.P.: Thank you very much for your amazing photo updates! I have three questions.
1. In your very first photo in this spot, are you confident that they will replace that temporary switch? Logic says they will replace that switch and make it just two tracks paralleling each other, with no crossovers. I would hope that they replace that switch and try to smooth out the area as best as they can, like they did at Garnet.
2. Also from that first photo, it looks like there is a jog in the tracks on approach to the new concrete bridge... will they try to straighten that out as well?
3. Lastly, will they replace the double track ABS with two main track CTC once this project is complete through Thermal?
Thank you so so much for these great updates!
Greetings, mvs:
Answer #1:
I am reasonably confident UP will take out that switch when they are done with the second-tracking there. INDIO still has sufficient track left that is used for helpers and locals, etc., so that a spur is not needed.
Of interest, as seen in the previously un-posted photo above, the switch in question seems to have a high-maintenance movable parts frog. Such was famous on UP's Los Angeles and Salt Lake Route years ago. If one looks closely at the frog area, there appears to be NO gap in the railhead for the flange to go through for the diverging route. Such allowed for a smooth mainline without any "clunking" as the wheels went over the frog. Yet, when a wheel flange did take the diverging route, the wheel flanges would force move the spring-tensioned frog rail over temporarily so the wheel could continue through.
Answer #2:
The jog you see in the above photo (far background) is where the below bridge is at. The UP built the new bridge on a wider alignment than the regular track alignment in INDIO. The jog is probably here to stay.
The new bridge at THERMAL is being built on a much, much wider alignment than even the one in INDIO
So, it is NOT as in years past, when everything was uniform and even everywhere.
Answer #3:
Yes, the line between INDIO and THERMAL will have bi-directional signals when all is said and done. Interestingly, the below photo's new bi-directional signals are only about a mile from the present end of Automatic Block Signal (ABS) double-track, the lower part of the FIRST photo above. Operationally speaking, bi-directional two-track signals simply don't mix well with double-track single-direction ABS signals
Anyway, I hope the above answers your questions satisfactorily.
Best wishes.
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.
Hi K P,
Once again you have outdone yourself on the Sunset updates. I hate to say it but I am glad it was you and not me in the 110 degree temperatures. I am getting to old for that much heat for even short periods of time.
I am stuck now taking the continuing education courses necessary to keep up my tax preparation license for next year. Somehow it doesn't seem fair when I am still working on tax clents taxes for this year right up to the October 15 deadline.
Maybe after October 15 would be a great time to get down to see the Sunset route, Tehachapi, and Cajon and this time I will personally make sure camera is in car before I even turn a wheel to head south.
Anyway I just want you to know how much I enjoy and appreciate your continuing updates.
Al - in - Stockton
Photo Edited to Make Super Telephotos
The below four photos were taken August 15, 2008:
INDIO, CA. to WEST GARNET:
Looking westward from the Monroe Street overpass in Indio ... The new bridge over the river/wash is clearly seen. The track alignment relative to that bridge will look better after ballasting and final aligning takes place. The new track on the foreground LEFT (south side) stops in the far background. The new track resumes in the out of view far background RIGHT (north) behind the bushy tree right center. Just this side of the far background overpass, the tracks will alignment shift
West of Washington Street is a new, not-in-service yet double-crossover control point
CP GARNET is fully operational now. From left to right: Tracks are 1 and 2, and the Garnet siding
CP WEST GARNET: The old signal bridge that spanned the three tracks was removed, and this cantilevered signal structure was erected in its place
.....Your last photograph has an interesting complex cluster of power producing windmills.....The more of them we see, the better. My home county in Pennsylvania {Somerset}, has seen companies installing them now for this past decade and more on the way. The more the better for wind energy to produce power for us.
Quentin
Modelcar wrote:.....Your last photograph has an interesting complex cluster of power procucing windmills.....The more of them we see, the better. My home county in Pennsylvania {Somerset}, has seen companies installing them now for this past decade and more on the way. The more the better for wind energy to produce power for us.
.....Your last photograph has an interesting complex cluster of power procucing windmills.....The more of them we see, the better. My home county in Pennsylvania {Somerset}, has seen companies installing them now for this past decade and more on the way. The more the better for wind energy to produce power for us.
Q, There are even bigger ones up tward Whitewater. There are two other areas in California with LOTS of windmills too. One is the hills east of Mojave, the other is the area around Altomont pass near the bay area. There are also several large mirror farms in the Mojave desert also.
BTW- I used to run several microwave sites in that area and I can tell you it is a real trip working around those things, especially at night.
....Chad, the clusters of them around my home area in general are on towers 200' tall and the rotors are roughly 95' long. They are set to run when the wind is between 8 mph and 55 mph. Really don't make much noise.
They make just enough noise that it makes it difficult to hear the Rattlesnakes! Not only that but we have some concerned citizens in the Altamont Pass area that say they are killing migrating birds, particularly ducks and geese and want the windmills torn down or turned off at night.
K.P. Harrier,
Have enjoyed each of your updates, but I have a very simple question. You may not be able to answer it , but maybe someone else in the forum can. Here it is - Do you know how much of the line between Colton and El Paso is accually double tracked? Not under construction, but finished and in use. Thanks.
Paul
cacole wrote:I don't know about the California portion of the Sunset Route, but double track is now complete from El Paso, Texas to Tucson, Arizona. All of the construction that K.P. is reporting is between Tucson and Colton.
This brings up an interesting point: now that El Paso-Tucson is complete, does anyone know how much of a difference, if any, this has made in operations, i.e., congestion, train speed, trains held for crews, HOS issues, etc.? I realize that volumes are down somewhat from a couple of years ago so direct comparisons may be difficult.
John Timm
Thanks for the information on the line from Tucson to El Paso. I thought it might be completed there, but didn't know for sure, Desertdog, you bring up an interesting thought about traffic levels etc. Trust somebody may be able to give a little insight.
desertdog wrote: cacole wrote:I don't know about the California portion of the Sunset Route, but double track is now complete from El Paso, Texas to Tucson, Arizona. All of the construction that K.P. is reporting is between Tucson and Colton.This brings up an interesting point: now that El Paso-Tucson is complete, does anyone know how much of a difference, if any, this has made in operations, i.e., congestion, train speed, trains held for crews, HOS issues, etc.? I realize that volumes are down somewhat from a couple of years ago so direct comparisons may be difficult.John Timm The difference consists of all trains do the same speed and follow eachother the whole way. the trip itself for the most part is non stop now till about 20 miles outside tucson and el paso but trying to get in and out of crew change points is where the majority of the delays come from. If there is a 40mph dog out there then chances are your 70mph stack will be doing 40 behind it for most of the voyage. when it gets real busy in el paso (like 3 trains) you usually end up securing your train outside of town or sitting for 3 hours waiting to get in. It will be no different in yuma when the west end is complete. rush rush rush then wait for hours.
The difference consists of all trains do the same speed and follow eachother the whole way. the trip itself for the most part is non stop now till about 20 miles outside tucson and el paso but trying to get in and out of crew change points is where the majority of the delays come from. If there is a 40mph dog out there then chances are your 70mph stack will be doing 40 behind it for most of the voyage. when it gets real busy in el paso (like 3 trains) you usually end up securing your train outside of town or sitting for 3 hours waiting to get in. It will be no different in yuma when the west end is complete. rush rush rush then wait for hours.
It has only been six or seven weeks since my last trip to Tucson along the Gila Sub, but it is amazing the amount of progress that has been made in that short period. Both yesterday and today crews with earthmovers and compactors were in evidence everywhere from west of Casa Grande to Naviska, along with a steady stream of dump trucks bringing in fill dirt and gravel.
Steel pilings have been driven alongside the existing culverts. I imagine this is done to shore them up while they drill through with a hortizonal boring machine and insert new steel pipe culverts. Some places have enough flow during storms that they are getting the prefab concrete bridges that K.P. showed us last week.
On the other hand, the railroad itself was dead. I saw a grand total of two trains, one on the way down and one on the way back. At Casa Grande there was not a single car in the new yard, although the C.G. hauler was preparing to leave town with a hefty train, including several covered grain hoppers, and was led by an SD70M, the first time I have seen that new a unit on that particular train. It looks like the SD70's will become the SD40-2's of the modern era--so prevalent that they become almost boring. Then they will start to disappear someday and we will miss them...
The materials yard at Bon is now empty, save for a few crossties and a small stack of steel beams.
ilikeplanes:
That is the first I've heart of a reroute in the Kinter-Dome area. Where can a person get more information on this?
About that ‘another set of crossovers that are about to be cut in between Enid and Mobile': Do you mean physically laid down and positioned, or put in service? I was by those two places two weeks ago, and I saw no second track whatsoever except for that at CP ESTRELLA.
desertdog:
It is wondered if all the sudden activity, both in Arizona and California, is because of a new fiscal year for UP.
To sandiego (8-17):
Yes, the bridge in question is in the M.P. 619 vicinity, between the eastern end of double-track (from INDIO) on the west and the THERMAL siding on the east.
Sometimes we look at things but don't really see those things. Note this photo again (click it to enlarge):
I was stunned when I got the gist of the photo!
There are white CONCRETE bridge sections underneath the rails and ties, but above the old bridge and between the old bridge's metal sidewalls.
PRESENTLY, at http://www.mapquest.com/mq/3-heW6, one can see an old aerial of the bridge. (At Mapquest, press the top botton on its left to size, and click on the bridge, and it will center.) It has black metal flooring, and good sized old additional, never used support piers (as you mentioned) to the south of the bridge (toward the aerial bottom).
It would be fascinating to have a chronological outline of the old bridge's replacement with the new one, plus the adding of a second bridge for the second track.
K. P. Harrier wrote: desertdog:It is wondered if all the sudden activity, both in Arizona and California, is because of a new fiscal year for UP. K.P.
K.P.,
Two thoughts come to mind. 1) As you suggest, they had spent what was available out of the 2008 cap. ex. budget to speed things up and had to wait until the fiscal new year. 2) They wanted to take advantage of the lull in business so as to interfere as little as possible with trains and vice-versa.
I went out to Shawmut in mid-June; I saw no construction activity around there. But as far as traffic levels go, I saw 30+ trains from sunrise to sundown. In the SP days, I might have gotten 12-15 trains in the same period. It will be interesting to see what Shawmut will look like afterwards. Let's hope the poles go bye-bye. Thanks for all the updates, guys.
ilikeplanes wrote: desertdog wrote: cacole wrote:I don't know about the California portion of the Sunset Route, but double track is now complete from El Paso, Texas to Tucson, Arizona. All of the construction that K.P. is reporting is between Tucson and Colton.This brings up an interesting point: now that El Paso-Tucson is complete, does anyone know how much of a difference, if any, this has made in operations, i.e., congestion, train speed, trains held for crews, HOS issues, etc.? I realize that volumes are down somewhat from a couple of years ago so direct comparisons may be difficult.John Timm The difference consists of all trains do the same speed and follow eachother the whole way. the trip itself for the most part is non stop now till about 20 miles outside tucson and el paso but trying to get in and out of crew change points is where the majority of the delays come from. If there is a 40mph dog out there then chances are your 70mph stack will be doing 40 behind it for most of the voyage. when it gets real busy in el paso (like 3 trains) you usually end up securing your train outside of town or sitting for 3 hours waiting to get in. It will be no different in yuma when the west end is complete. rush rush rush then wait for hours.
I understand that the railroad and the State of New Mexico have reached an agreement on a refueling center east of El Paso that should help move trains through that area faster. And hopefully, the nimby crowd won't hold up the new yard at Red Rock. I have heard nothing about improvements at Yuma. Are any planned?
My two bits: UP, about three months ago, reached agreement with what one presumes to be a consortium of Arizona county and municipal officials representing jurisdictions through which the Sunset Route passes, and which provided the subject of much permitting and delay because the the locals were trying to exhtort from UP as a cost of double tracking in their locale the installation of rail-highway grade separations over/under the new double track. The Arizona parties eventually settled for a good deal less, but they settled. With that little formality out of the way, UP was free to (literally) dig in and start making tracks.
Earlier posts in this thread have questioned why UP opted to build track along stretches other that it originally had planned to build on. A guess: since they wanted to get tracks laid down, and construction in certian stretches was held up by bureaucratic thumb twiddling, UP built in other stretches out in the middle of nowhere (well, in the middle of the desert) where municipalities and grade crossings were scarce so construction could go on unimpeded. Hey! Better to get some track laid down than none, especially on a high priority project like this one. In UP's most recent quarterly address to railroad securities analysts, COE Jim Young or one of his highest ranking lieutenants admitted that construction in Arizona, bogged down by permitting issues, lags a year behind schedule.
I don't think UP had to wait until the next fiscal year to continue, because Sunset Corridor development has to rank among its most pressing capital needs (along with the new yard under construction in San Antonio and the Kate Shelley Bridge reconstruction in Iowa), and its difficult to envision any good reason to defer it other than the permitting issues noted above.
I'd bet that once the San Antonio yard is completed, UP will commence construction on the projected yard at Strauss NM. Once that yard done, UP will be free to streamline the line through El Paso, and then -- look out (In the interests of full disclosure, I'm thinking three years down the road, by which time the stretch in Southern California between Pomona and West Colton should be done, the expansion of the container terminal near Long Beach should be just about complete, and much more of the Sunset between West Colton and Tucson will be finished).
I'll close with q question that others have tiptoed around previously: does anyone know whether UP plans to straighten its line around Dome-Kinter, to add a second track and retire the siding near Shawmut (where the combat railfans congregate), and between Vial and Mescal, a stretch that has one good track and one built to obsolete standards. Yes, I know that a second track goes through these stretches already, and that a second track built to 1890 standards (but NOT to Harriman standards) gives UP benefit of double track (sort of), but then one would think, given the huge buck$ UP is sinking into the line, and given the inordinately high standards that they are building the new line and upgrading the existing line, why not bring the whole shebang up to snuff? Thanks in advance. --billio
Here is some additional information on the agreements reached between Union Pacific and various Arizona communities along the Gila Sub regarding grade crossings and the two-tracking project.
"I am glad to see the process move forward and thank the Commissioners for requesting that Union Pacific first seek local support on their project," said Byron Jackson, Mayor of Eloy. "The City of Eloy will continue to work with Union Pacific representatives to address local concerns and issues during this project."An historic agreement was reached in May 2008 between Union Pacific and the cities of Casa Grande, Eloy, Maricopa and Pinal County. The agreement included a $35 million commitment from Union Pacific over 25 years for the construction of grade separations at major public railroad crossings. The agreement provided the framework for transportation planning, economic development, historic preservation and support for increased railroad capacity in the region."There is a significant need for economic development in our region and Union Pacific's double track project is a major component in creating more jobs in Pinal County," said Pinal County Supervisor Lionel Ruiz. Supervisor Ruiz's district is the one affected by these crossings.Pinal County Board of Supervisors' Chairman David Snider and Sandie Smith also praised the Commissioners for their decision. The application was one of nine packets filed with the Corporation Commissioners involving Union Pacific's addition of a second main line. Three applications were approved in March, May, and June of this year. There are five more applications still pending with the ACC.""
Casas Grande Valley Newspapers 8 28 09
mr k. p. :
i dont really know where or if you can get info on that.
i was tied into the worktrain that dumped the rail for the second main betweel estrella and maricopa and i was flipping through the blue prints of the sunset upgrades. one of the bigger concerns once double track gets to dome valley is the re-route of the track. basically straighten them out because those tight corners cost a fortune to maintain and there is always speed restricions.
as for the new cps enid switch it is built any ready to slide into place. most likely after the holiday weekend. i have some pictures i will post when i figure out how to do it.
desertdog wrote: ilikeplanes wrote: desertdog wrote: cacole wrote:I don't know about the California portion of the Sunset Route, but double track is now complete from El Paso, Texas to Tucson, Arizona. All of the construction that K.P. is reporting is between Tucson and Colton.This brings up an interesting point: now that El Paso-Tucson is complete, does anyone know how much of a difference, if any, this has made in operations, i.e., congestion, train speed, trains held for crews, HOS issues, etc.? I realize that volumes are down somewhat from a couple of years ago so direct comparisons may be difficult.John Timm The difference consists of all trains do the same speed and follow eachother the whole way. the trip itself for the most part is non stop now till about 20 miles outside tucson and el paso but trying to get in and out of crew change points is where the majority of the delays come from. If there is a 40mph dog out there then chances are your 70mph stack will be doing 40 behind it for most of the voyage. when it gets real busy in el paso (like 3 trains) you usually end up securing your train outside of town or sitting for 3 hours waiting to get in. It will be no different in yuma when the west end is complete. rush rush rush then wait for hours. ilikeplanes:I understand that the railroad and the State of New Mexico have reached an agreement on a refueling center east of El Paso that should help move trains through that area faster. And hopefully, the nimby crowd won't hold up the new yard at Red Rock. I have heard nothing about improvements at Yuma. Are any planned? John Timm
yeah i guess there is supposed to be a huge fueling facility at strauss which is about 1270mp (1300 for el paso). not sure about any completion times though. improvements in yuma are "for now" done. new pacific crossovers and ctc on both tracks instead of directional track permit. supposedly they're supposed to widen the curve just west of the colorado to boost up the speed a bit cause that will be a single track bridge for a very long time due to tribal land. unless u p pulls some magical wish card out of their hats. which is usually a check with a number and alooooooooooot of zeros.
ilikeplanes wrote:i don't feel like opening up a photobucket account to post them so if enyone wants them to post here you can have them just let me know.
I wouldn't mind hosting a PhotoBucket account for you.
Update as of Friday, August 22, 2008: West Colton Yard, CA, from West to East
At CP SIERRA (Sierra Ave., Fontana, CA): A new four-track west signal bridge has been erected
New east cantilevered signal structure. From left to right: The future Track 1, Track 2 (the present single-track main), yard tracks 201 to 209
At CP CEDAR (Cedar Ave., Bloomington): A new three-track cantilever signal is in place. The near future track realignment shift is clearly evident in right background
Compare this August 29 view ...
... with the old track arrangement photographed April 25
The new switch is of a higher speed, though yard track and turnouts adjacent to it are of a slower speed
Note the spring-loaded closed-gap frog for the new switch
From the Riverside Ave., Rialto, overpass: The future CP name is unknown to this poster at this time. These are the east side signals. The heads on the left (for Track 1) are intermediates (including the poled signal, which must be visibility unimpaired by the overpass), while those on the right are absolutes (for Track 2). The track on the far lower right turns into Track 2 on the other (west) side of the overpass, and an absolute dwarf signal will protect entrance to the main Track 2.
Compare the old track work photographed just a couple of months ago on June 29 with the above August 29 view
At CP RANCHO (Near Rancho Ave., Colton): Long, concrete tie panel track sections have been stacked up trackside, adjacent mounds of new ballast.
Panel track is usually associated with quick installations. What does UP have in mind here?
....Lots of good stuff to see from K P....Don't know much about this area but sure is great to see RR building and improvements.
mvs wrote: ilikeplanes wrote:i don't feel like opening up a photobucket account to post them so if enyone wants them to post here you can have them just let me know.I wouldn't mind hosting a PhotoBucket account for you.
okay. just let me know where to send the pics
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.