"The California-Arizona Update Travel Series" Posting Schedule
K.P.'s traveling followed much of the Sunset Route in California and Arizona on March 12-13, 2011. Sharing the findings and resultant photographs with the forum will follow the below schedule:
Part I: Friday, March 18: Coachella to Sidewinder Road (in California)
Part II: Sunday, March 20: Sidewinder Road (in CA) to Porter Rd. (in Maricopa, AZ)
Part III: Tuesday, March 22: East of Porter Rd. to west of the Casa Grande siding
Part IV: Thursday, March 24: The Casa Grande Siding (East Switch) to Downtown
Part V: Saturday, March 26: Downtown Casa Grande to Red Rock
Part VI: Monday, March 28: The Rillito River Bridge and Cienega Creek Crossings
Part VII: Wednesday, March 30: The Main 2 Relocation by Marsh Station Rd.
The California-Arizona Update Travel Series
Part I (of I-VII), Section A (of A-F)
Coachella to Sidewinder Road (in California)
A few years ago the basically "double-track" trackage (each track signaled in only one direction) through Coachella was re-signaled with tri-lights and fully converted to "two-tracks" (both tracks signaled in each direction) ...
This photo looks westbound from the relatively new 50th Ave. overpass. Before K.P. went up on this overpass, he had no idea the tracks jogged slightly.
Looking east from the 50th Ave. overpass: This is the two-year old CP SP615 COACHELLA. About five miles ahead (east), at Thermal, Main 2 (on the photo right) ends at an old, slow speed CP turnout. The DS had lined a train this time through the 50 M.P.H. crossover to avoid that slowing five miles ahead.
Continued in Section 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.
Part I, Section B (of A-F)
Miles east, something seems to be happening in the Ferrum area ...
It is unknown if this is preliminary two-track grading, pipeline related, or concerning something else.
Also, near the west switch Bertram (CP SP646 BERTRAM), the old line side wires were found to have been strapped to the windblown, leaning-over poles.
A view of one of the NEW signal masts (left) at CP SP656 ROGOZA: Note how far west the new masts (only one is visible) are from the present shunting point of the old signals. Is a future double-crossover going in here?
In the above photo, the border patrol inspection stop for roadway vehicles is only partially seen on the photo right.
Continued in Section C
Part I, Section C (of A-F)
This is the beginning of the new two-tracks eastward (towards the camera) in Imperial County at CP SP715 CACTUS.
Another, more telephoto westward view: Note the background right signal has its heads turned aside. Also, this CP has a CP designation sign now on the photo lower right, closer to any stopped trains.
Continued in Section D
Part I, Section D (of A-F)
A westbound view from Ogilby Rd.:
Vehicles still have a rough ride going over the new Main 1 (lower right in above photo). Out of camera sight big orange warning signs continue to warn motorists.
An eastward view:
A heavy telephoto also looking east and the midway intermediates, severely distorted by a heavy mirage affect.
Continued in Section E
Part I, Section E (of A-F)
The new Main 1 is clearly marked at the Ogilby Rd. grade crossing. Unseen in this post, the rail sides are likewise marked in blue paint lettering. Main 2 (the old, original single-track main) does not have those stencil markings.
The new signals have vertical number plates; whereas old target signals generally have old horizontal plates (unless upgraded) and distinctive numbers instead of common, duplicate numbers with separate track numbers below them.
Continued in Section F
Part I, Section F (of A-F)
At Sidewinder Rd., looking west:
Looking east.
Recently taken down old signals and other equipment are stacked up in the fenced UP yard by Sidewinder Rd.
------
Part II is scheduled for posting on the morning of Sunday, March 20, 2011: Sidewinder Road (in CA) to Porter Rd. (in Maricopa, AZ)
Update as of Thursday, March 17, 2011:
Part A (of A-F)
The Up and Over
City of Industry, CA
You may remember these two previously posted photos of uninstalled ties over the 'Up and Over.'
From Puente Ave. looking eastbound:
A side view of the ties:
Well, on K.P.'s visit Thursday, ALL those ties are now gone!
K.P. has no explanation for that.
Continued in Part B
Part B (of A-F)
Orange Ave. is now open!
The west side flashers:
Underneath:
Continued in Part C
Part C (of A-F)
The east gate is up on a step platform.
The platform goes nowhere, and apparently is not for pedestrians.
Trees now nicely decorate the 'Up and Over.'
Continued in Part D
Part D (of A-F)
The intermediate signals' electrical control box is at ground level.
According to the signal placard, when the second track is laid, it WILL be called Main 2.
-------
Parts E and F will follow on Monday morning, March 21, 2011, and deal briefly with the Magnolia Ave. underpass progress in Riverside, and also the future Milliken Ave. flyover will be connected with the Colton Signal Dept.
K.P.,
Thank you for another great photo series! I like the trees there at the Industry Up-and-Over. They may obscure the trains, but that area could use a few more trees.
Part II (of I-VII), Section A (of A-F)
Sidewinder Rd. (in CA) to Porter Rd. (in Maricopa, AZ)
As viewed from Sidewinder Rd., a view looking west: A DPU (right) passes westbound, and the eastbound conductor re-boards after giving a roll-by. With the new CP east around the curve, trains tend to stop clear of the grade crossing as a courtesy to motorists.
The signal goes green, and off the train goes ...
The 'new' CP SP724 ARAZ box with the east side westbound signals in the background: The line goes to single-track east of here for about two miles, hence, the left background signal's heads are temporarily turned aside until the second-track is laid further east.
Part II, Section B (of A-F)
At the former ARAZ, now called CP SP726 ARAZ JCT., the east side westbound signal for Main 2 is several hundred feet east, way beyond the CP's switch, but by the CP box ...
... whereas the Main 1 signal is close by the switch.
Part II, Section C (of A-F)
Because the tracks EAST of here have old signaling, an additional old CP box is used, with improvised stenciling for the added "JCT" on the CP name. The box has plenty of line side wiring.
The new box for circuitry WEST of here has a correct nameplate to start with.
Part II, Section D (of A-F)
Way out in the middle of the desert, along I-8, is the east switch of the Aztec siding, at CP SP812 AZTEC.
Aztec has a prominent water tower from the bygone steam engine days.
But, Aztec is kind of an example of current signaling. West of Tucson, AZ most of the way to Colton, CA the signals are basically still old target units. Here and there tri-lights are making inroads, sometimes in conjunction with two-tracking, sometimes a single-track signal section is converted.
On this travel trip to Arizona from California, K.P. was expecting to see much signaling conversions to tri-lights. But, the absence of such was conspicuous and striking!
Now, a different aspect of signaling ... A novel view east of CP ESTRELLA ...
K.P. thought the above photo composition was interesting ... with TWO of the non-controlled absolute signals in one view. Such new automatic signals always have purple derail warning signs.
Such signals lack any value whatsoever for setouts and pickups, but are very helpful to a train totally off the mainline that wants to get unto the main, and such signals confirm a dispatcher's verbal radio authorization to do so.
Part II, Section E (of A-F)
Previously shown photos from last year of the first intermediates WEST of CP SP899 EAST MARICOPA, looking east.
K.P. got excited when he saw the above turned aside lower signal was now facing rail traffic.
But, such was a false alarm, as the two-tracking east of Maricopa is still being worked on. Why the head mentioned above was now facing forward is unknown.
Part II, Section F (of A-F)
Going back to last year again, the single-track Main on the future Main 2 alignment shifted to the future Main 1 alignment as it approached CP SP899 EAST MARICOPA (background).
But now, that temporary shifted alignment remains the same despite a second track being laid (right) just short of the CP, but the present shift cannot be seen today because of all the ballast and track in the way.
Another westward view from Porter Rd.: Both the grade crossing and new (right) track now look in excellent shape. Motorists have a very smooth crossing of the tracks.
An eastward view from Porter Rd. of the now well-manicured but still out-of-service new track (left).
Part III is scheduled for posting on the morning of Tuesday, March 22, 2011: East of Porter Rd. to west of the Casa Grande siding.
Part E (of A-F)
The Magnolia Ave. Underpass
Riverside, CA
The decorative work (left) on the bridge over the underpass is starting to take form.
A track machine in the distance was setting off all the "Quiet Zone" horns. And equipment was digging.
The bridge's floor looks complete.
Continued in Part F
Part F (of A-F)
The Colton Signal Dept.
Colton, CA
The new control box for CP SP525 GUASTI in Ontario is now at the Colton Signal Dept., kind of in the dead line of new boxes.
With that situation, K.P. wonders if the pipeline problem on the Diversion in Pomona is affecting the progress for the Milliken Ave. flyover in Ontario as well. K.P. was by the Milliken Ave. site Thursday, and nothing discernable was spotted.
The new CP AL514 HAMILTON boxes that have been at Colton for a while apparently seem too tempting for graffiti artists.
But, wait till you see their art in Part VI of the "The California-Arizona Update Travel Series."
Those old CP boxes from the Cactus and Araz areas that were recently photo posted about are now gone from the Colton Signal Dept.
This will complete the "Update as of Thursday, March 17, 2011" two-part series. "The California-Arizona Update Travel Series" will continue tomorrow as scheduled.
K.P., great photo series so far and looking forward to the rest.
I was wondering if you had investigated the Glamis area where the connection to the Mesquite Regional Landfill is to be built. No Hurry - just discovered this release about the construction contract award.
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! ***
Part III (of I-VII), Section A (of A-G)
East of Porter Rd. to west of the Casa Grande siding
Looking EAST now from the next grade crossing east of Porter Rd, White and Parker Road, with the new second-track on the left. Notice the industrial (NOT railroad) siding just right of photo center.
Notice too that the industrial siding goes through a shipper's building in the background.
So, the siding cannot be used as a siding for meets or runarounds between trains.
On the far right of the above photo is another of those automatic absolute signals with a purple derail sign.
Also note on the background left are new, not turned on yet mainline intermediate signals, in addition to the nearer present old signal mast.
There are THREE masts because of that south side industrial track, and a train on that industrial track could conceivably misinterpret a 'LEFT side' mainline signal as governing the industrial siding instead. UP seems to be moving away from having signals that could be misinterpreted, hence, the three masts.
Part III, Section B (of A-G)
A closure view of that building with a track through it
And, the track through the building DOES have regular movements ...
Now, further east, at Hartman Rd., where there are two kinds of signals: Absolutes and intermediates.
Looking west:
Looking east: The bidirectional signals on the left are intermediates, the one signal on the right is an absolute, and is the counterpart to the just above pictured absolute signals.
Part III, Section C (of A-G)
The tail end of the train through the building pictured above ... or maybe it is now the head end ...
On the photo above, note the PRESENT, in service, automatic absolute signal (by Hartman Rd.) on the far left and the purple derail sign. In the FUTURE, when the new signals are activated, the automatic absolute will be removed. The lower heads on the new signals in the above view have more than one bulb because they are absolutes and have to be capable of displaying red over red and not merely yellow over green.
The lower west facing lower head of the north Main 1 (left) signal only has one bulb because it is an intermediate. The signal on the south Main 2 (right) has a lower, single head with a red bulb in it for a red over flashing red to go into the industrial siding (that goes through the building).
Part III, Section D (of A-G)
Going further east a few miles we come to Anderson Rd. and a double crossover. View looks west at Sunset time.
The above is the location that desertdog on February 6, 2011 posted a photograph of which K.P. believes the future Main 1 mast (right) has an incorrectly installed lower head of only two-bulbs whereas normally it should have a three bulb head.
Above, also, the headless mast on the left, the lower future head, will be in K.P.'s opinion a four-bulb head, for a yellow over lunar for an advance indication of what is two mile further west, the going into that industrial siding just west of Hartman Rd.
Reference the above photo again the west crossover counterpart signal on the west end of the double-crossover (distant left) HAS the correct three bulb head.
Part III, Section E (of A-G)
The future double crossover in the post above this one has those movable point frogs that give a smooth ride over them.
Those frogs, you may recall, traditionally have all those warning signs reminding trainmen that the frog points MUST be lined in agreement with the switch points.
As with the Cactus and Estrella sidings that were replaced with a double crossover of the same CP name as and nearby those sidings, K.P. believes the name of the future CP now being discussed will be called CP BON after the present nearby siding called Bon.
Note the distant signals in the far background of the above photo.
Those above background signals are shown below. The old absolute signals are on the left of the below photo, with the new intermediate signals for the two-tracking on the right.
A closer view:
Part III, Section F (of A-G)
A westward view from Montgomery Rd.:
A Montgomery Rd. eastward view:
Continued in Section G
Part III, Section G (of A-G)
K.P. felt previously that this wide graded area would be a double crossover location, but that was NOT in the cards.
A short distance east of the wide graded area are intermediates, with ballast cars parked on the future Main 1. Because of the lower right heads, the next signals to the east (left) must be for a double crossover ...
The above signals and loaded ballast cars are visible in the distance of the below photo, which looks westward from Ethington Rd., at a temporary maintenance-of-way switch. Possibly through Ethington Rd. the north side new track will alignment shift so the new track is on the south side ...
... and heads east. The below signals in the distance (the left mast is silver and is hard to see) are at the west switch of the Casa Grande siding.
So, where will a double crossover be located at? That will be dealt with in Part IV.
Part IV is scheduled for posting the morning of Thursday, March 24, 2011: The Casa Grande Siding (East Switch) to Downtown
The industry seen with its own siding is PInal Feeding Co, Inc. They receive unit trains of cattle feed from the Midwest for distribution to the numerous cattle feedlots in the area.
I visited the Marsh Station Road area east of Tucson, Arizona, on Tuesday, March 22nd. All construction equipment is gone and everything seems to now be ready for the UP or railway construction contractor to lay track.
Before that can happen, though, many tons of ballast must be brought in to prepare the roadbed. CWR has been delivered to the site, but there's no sign of crossties or ballast.
It is puzzling that the Anderson Rd. grade crossing hasn't been upgraded yet for the second MT. Possibly related, the universal crossover, signals at CP East Maricopa and nearby track shift might have to be completed first. It looks like there is nearby street viewing from a new housing tract (33.048197,-112.036278). Perhaps a local could follow up ....
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.