On the Way and From the …
… Thermal-Mecca, CA Area
Part IV (of I-XIV)
K.P. is not sure if the CP box (left) is an older or newer one, but it seems to have an attachment to it (right box).
The dirt trail off Highway 111 to the CP looks like it has very soft sand, and even UP trucks might have trouble in this area. If any at the forum come out this way, be mindful of where you park your vehicle. If it sinks into the sand, you might need to have a towing outfit extricate your vehicle, even right off the paved road!
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.
Part III (of I-XIV)
We arrive at Thermal, at the old east switch of the siding that once was there, but now the end of the eastward progression of two-tracks. Views from the south side, from Highway 111. The east westbound target signal and CP box:
The west eastbound signals:
Continued in Part IV
Part II (of I-XIV)
Are nested birds on railroad bridges railfans?
You should have seen his cool Canon digital camera … (Yah, right!)
Continued in Part III
Part I (of I-XIV)
Eastbound on I-10 early to midafternoon the new Sunset Ave. underpass in Banning, CA was stopped at, and a looking over the area and photos taken from the south side.
The new underpass is a rather spectacular arrangement, place to see, and visit. K.P. stopped there on the return, towards evening, and got some photos from the north side, which will be presented later.
Aerials of the new underpass railroad bridging suggest that it is for MORE than two-tracks, possibly four! That underpass may be more significant than it first looks!
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9236373,-116.9119325,100m/data=!3m1!1e3
A crazy thought … Might such a wide bridge be in preparation for triple-tracking Beaumont Hill? As I recall UP said in the past that they won’t allow totally incompatible commuter trains on this line unless THEY pay for a third track.
Continued in Part II
Triple track on a 40 foot wide bridge (Vineyard) ? Doubt it'd fit and UP isn't triple-tracking.
S. Milliken at the crossing of E. Mission is hemmed in by the UP on the north and industrial buildings on the south - the center ramp is an interesting solution.
A10
Update as of Friday, April 29, 2016
Grade Separations and Riverside
Ontario-Riverside, CA
Part “J” (of A-J)
Eastbound:
An Overview to Ponder
The BNSF signals are target ones, and as has been said previously are an odd combination of pot, mast, and cantilever types, and are a result of Metrolink expanding its stop and things being modified. How Positive Train Control and the color light signals conversion will be handled is anyone’s guess, and if the LA&SL track over the 91 Freeway will be two-tracks or remain one is yet to be seen.
So, that is the current situation between Ontario and Riverside via the LA&SL (UP).
----------
The information from the Thermal-Mecca area of California is still unscheduled, but it probably will be presented sometime next week, hopefully earlier in the week.
Part “I” (of A-J)
Wouldn’t washing these windows be a cool job? Just imagine … Two works as a team: One person has a large pole to reach the windows with a strip washer and squeegee while standing on the tracks and the other is a lookout person. They would carry railroad radios, and the dispatcher would give them “Track and Time” to wash the windows.
Where can I apply?
Signaling is an odd hodge-podge of pot, mast, and cantilever types.
Westbound:
Continued in Part J
Part “H” (of A-J)
A northeast (eastbound) view:
Southwest (westbound):
The overhead bridge from inside:
Continued in Part I
Part “G” (of A-J)
While in the area, K.P. checked out the Metrolink Riverside stop that has multiple lines using it, and found out the overhead walkway is open to the public, not just Metrolink patrons, at least that is what a security guard indicated.
Early on, a BNSF eastbound showed up.
Continued in Part H
Part “F” (of A-J)
In the area of BNSF’s CP WEST RIVERSIDE, the junction location with the LA&SL, nothing obvious was seen, and delays to new trackwork continue, likely caused by issues related to the LA&SL bridging over the 91 Freeway which supposedly is embroiled in a lawsuit because of that fatal bridge collapse during dismantling last year.
This visit, K.P. found of interest the track UP stacked up south of Cridge Street. They seem to be related to a switch with extended throw-rods, possibly a 40 M.P.H. design.
Continued in Part G
Part “E” (of A-J)
Scattered around that ‘Jurupa Valley’ underpass are wheel-type decorations like in the teaser photo of the new Sunset Ave. underpass in Banning, CA dusk photo of a few days ago, reshown as the bottom photo.
When K.P. has more time, he hopes to walk under the Jurupa Valley bridging, and confirm the bridging is for three-tracks. He believes this area will be two-tracked account of Metrolink funding, but hasn’t seen anything in print on the matter. Also, K.P. perceives this area would be a good temporary storage area for auto-racks in conjunction with the offloading facility several miles to the west.
Continued in Part F
Part “D” (of A-J)
The east of Pedley and west of Riverside ‘City of Jurupa Valley’ Clay Street underpass is open!
Continued in Part E
Part “C” (of A-J)
At the “South” Milliken Ave. grade separation over the LA&SL (UP, alternate Sunset Route), a south side of Mission Blvd. westward view, with the tracks in the photo center background.
Apparently, the basically east-west Mission Blvd. (forefront roadway’s south side eastbound lanes) will be a through route, with the CENTER (oddly) east-west lanes elevating to bisect Milliken Ave.
The LA&SL, as the alternate Sunset Route, through here is two-tracked, and in essence, gives the Los Angeles to Thermal stretch a status of being all two-tracks. When UP finally two-tracks the Ontario-Fontana section of the actual Sunset Route (north of here), K.P. believes this alternate Sunset Route line will still continue to play an important role for through freights to and from Arizona and New Mexico.
Continued in Part D
Part “B” (of A-J)
A westward view from underneath:
Above, note how the roadway slants downward right to left.
A south side westward view:
A northward view from the south side, and how the roadway slanting lowers from Holt Ave. (background cross street).
On the north side again, the downward slant (right to left) of Vineyard Ave. is clearly seen. The present seemingly purposeless cement-work (right and center) on each side of Vineyard Ave. likely will be for an overhead sign announcing entrance to Ontario International Airport, similar to other such signals in the area.
Continued in Part C
Part “A” (of A-J)
First, the Vineyard Ave. underpass in Ontario, CA: The roadway slantingly lowers north to south.
As discerned above, the sidewalk is only on the east side.
A Sunset Route eastbound (right to left) passes:
How about that orange top railing!
The present Main, the future Main 1, is on the northernmost alignment. Main 2 will be on the center alignment, with a third-track possible on the bridge’s south side.
A southward view:
Continued in Part B
It's interesting that both sidings are close to the same length (9500') as are the next two sidings west. The next one east is 12,000' - ish.
In the same area BNSF has 3 miles of triple track west of Vaughn.
Closer to So Cal, the spoil pile at the SW corner of CalPortland in Colton is being hauled into the below ground pit on the east side of what's left of Slover Mountain. The mountain itself and the spoil pile are within a handful of feet of each other.
You are Not Seeing Things!
Would You Believe a Yellow to Go …
… into a 30 M.P.H. Siding?
Here are two mast signals at Vaughn, NM on the Golden State Route, the west eastbound mainline signal (left) has TWO heads, but the right siding signal has one head.
The east side of the CP has the same counter arrangement.
Thus, a track diagram is presented below for clarification.
.
> <-------------- -------------- \ / \ / \ /---------------------------------------- >> <<
Some overview photos and others angles of the CP, and its box:
Coming out of either siding and going into the other siding, instead of a red over yellow (like on the mainline), apparently UP finds it sufficient to simply use a one head yellow.
Interesting tidbit! Have you seen anything like that before?
Did you see the last photo above, of that mainline two head mast signal lit with the lower head having a TOP RED lamp? What is that for? Green over flashing purple to let train crews know the Martians have landed, are invading the DS office, and for someone to call the National Guard? Seriously, who ever heard of a top red (except single lamp heads)? Red is always supposed to be on the bottom on all heads, right?
[/quote]
K.P.,
I don't understand why the two sidings are not connected. Is this a crossover done on the cheap?
John Timm
K.P. on the Prowl Again! And, Again!
Headway 2 (of 1-2)
Poster mvs first alerted us to the Sunset Ave. underpass construction by I-10 in Banning (CA). K.P. dropped by for a present status check, and it is open! And, what an incredible underpass it is! Notice the sidewalk (below view) is NOT straight! Note too the westbound (rightward) train in the background upper left.
While in Riverside on Friday, this contributor got nosy, and found out the Metrolink overhead walkway is public, so up K.P. went and a stash of photos were taken, including the BNSF track arrangement that the alternate Sunset Route trains must traverse.
The upcoming presentation (mentioned just above) might give some forumists some ideas on what could be done to and from the LA&SL bridging over the 91 Freeway.
The posts will hopefully be somewhat soon … K.P. still has an Arizona thread to work on from the recent trip to Texas, but will try to get to the Sunset Route material as soon as possible.
Headway 1 (of 1-2)
It just happened. Friday, April 29, 2016 K.P. had a long dispatch to Ontario (CA), with a whole bunch of layover free time. Vineyard Ave. (SP) and South Milliken Ave. (LA&SL, both Ontario), Clay Street (Jurupa Valley, LA&SL), and the Cridge Street and the Riverside Metrolink stop (Riverside, BNSF-LA&SL) was checked out. An upcoming post series will highlight the findings.
Sunday, a trip to Indio-Mecca (CA) area was made, with less than stellar two-tracking findings. Nevertheless, sufficient photos were taken to draw a picture of the situation there.
In the Coachella area back on March 12, 2011 this eastward photo was taken. Note the 18-wheeler crossing the tracks at the grade crossing in the distance.
That grade crossing is gone, and an overpass is now present, but the overpass is not open yet.
Continued in Headway 2
Notes from around: Dirtwork on the 10 freeway at Pepper, looks like a new or widened bridge - twice as wide as the current. It'll be interesting to see how this affects parking on Pepper and if the bridge over the yard receives any attention (I would be somewhat impressed if they're thinking ahead ...)
Evidence of a derailment on the fence track (outbound car / storage) close to Pepper. East side of Slover Mountain .... Wow ! you can see the plant builings from the EB 10 off-ramp now. New traffic lights on La Cadena at Rancho and Litton now operating.
ps: The new "new" UP bridge over the 91 in Riverside is in fact, after checking survey, on the same alignment as the original. Being wider and longer exaggerates the angle pointing to the inside of the embankment on the west side of the freeway just as the original did. Unless they buid up said embankment the track will jog a bit as it did before.
A notice of 'intent to award' was just posted on the ACE web site for the storm drain culvert replacement near Humane Way. As this work should begin soon, perhaps some temporary track rearrangement along this part of the LA sub may happen.
According to the latest ACE minutes construction of the bridge over Rubio Wash is complete. Also mentioned was that the new RR bridge over Alhambra Wash must be built 'by summer' in order to accomodate relocating the active line into the trench.
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! ***
KP evidently you never observed the old C&O signals. Have seen them have any of the colors in any position including the lunar restricting.
Is this poster wrong but can the older tri-lights only be used if they are rewired so the PTC system knows that the various signal lights are working and displaying the proper aspect ?
Oop's I must have hung that upside down. So that's what everyone was yelling about. Grin!
RickH
BarstowRick.com Model Railroading How To's
The "true tri-light signals" on the Golden State route don't necessarily have to be replaced to be compatible with PTC, so they might remain for a while unless there's some other compelling reason to change them out.
K.P., what a great set of photos across the Southwest!
By the way (and maybe you posted this already, I have been a lurker of late), the Vineyard Avenue underpass is now open? I'll have to drive under it, next time I'm on my way to ONT.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/business/20160328/businesses-hopeful-for-return-to-normal-with-end-of-rail-project-near-ontario-airport
So the old target lights are gone and the new three tiered signals are in. Progress what can you say for progress.
A California-Texas Investigative …
… Trip like Few Others
Part VI, Section J (of A-J)
The Conversion to Color Light Signals …
… on the LA&SL’s Cima Sub
At Jean, looking north (east):
Looking south (westbound):
UP may be on a role with signal conversions, as K.P. was expectly to still see some old signals on the LA&SL, but they were all gone!
So there we have it, a contemporary review of two-tracking and a new facility on the Sunset Route, and a brief review of bridges on the nearby western end of the Golden State route, plus the new color light signals near Las Vegas. Not only were unusual things seen, but K.P. encountered odd, unexpected things he doesn’t normally encounter. The trip is behind him now, and you have these postings and photos to review at your leisure.
This will end the series.
Would you believe a yellow signal to go into a 30 M.P.H. siding? Believe it! Photos and a logical explanation in a few days …
Part VI, Section I (of A-J)
… on the LA&SL’s Cima Sub, CA
K.P. returned via I-40, and made a side trip to Las Vegas, NV, not to donate money to the casinos, but to check out the conversion to color lights signals on the LA&SL Cima Sub.
It appeared to be all done, a lot faster than K.P. had expected. At the almost U-shaped Sloan:
At the nearby Erie siding, with the I-15 Freeway in the background:
Continued in Section J
Part VI, Section H (of A-J)
The Western End of the Golden State Route, NM
Somewhere north of Carrizozo, a wooden bridge is present with no railings.
As mentioned previously in this series of posts, the Sunset Route does have even with two-tracking old original line with old wooden bridges with no railing either.
When this line was built decades and decades ago, the builders often built high embankments, unlike most of the Sunset Route, at least to western part of it.
Continued in Section I
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