Update as of Saturday, March 23, 2012
Two-Tracking Down By Salton Sea, CA
Part A (of A-C), Section 9 (of 1-9)
The two-tracking machinery had not even reached the Ferrum siding, where the old Eagle Mountain Kaiser ore trains used to cut into the SP Sunset Route and vice versa (hence, three target heads) for the trip to or from Kaiser's then Fontana facility.
As seen above, all through the area equipment was seen here and there.
The 'big' bridge east of the Ferrum siding: K.P. was hoping that by some miraculous wonder the two-tracking tie-laying machine would be on this bridge, but that obviously wasn't the case. It was only a few miles away, though.
The new, paralleling second bridge has been completed for track laying for several months now. K.P. finds views of the bridge kind of disturbing, as trains looks abnormally large going over the structure, as if a normal gauge train was going over a smaller narrow gauge bridge.
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Part B will be posted before 9:00 A.M. on Friday, June 29, 2012, and cover East of Ferrum to the Rogoza (Frink) Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
As I recall, there were summer-like temperatures around the end of March. It may be a bad date on your posts, but if not, please let me borrow that time machine!Right now, our temperatures are stuck somewhere between "Tropical" and "Hell"!
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Part B (of A-C), Section 1 (of 1-9)
Near the EAST end of the Bertram siding (near CP SP648 BERTRAM) a satellite staging area for two-tracking crews seems to have been setup.
Continued in Section 2
Part B (of A-C), Section 2 (of 1-9)
Just east of CP SP648 BERTRAM is Range Rd. While the track laying machine has not reached here yet, the rural Range Rd. grade crossing has had the grade crossing modified with a second-track and grade crossing panels laid through it.
As seen above, much riprap (large rocks) has been brought to the area.
A few hundred feet to the NORTH on Range Rd., an ominous sign is present.
K.P. got the distinct impression the road's owner (if it is not the public) AND the railroad may be working together to keep people away. However, the border patron had used the road, so it is unclear exactly what one should do and the right thing to be done access-wise, so any like-visitors may want to be aware of this.
Continued in Section 3
Part B (of A-C), Section 3 (of 1-9)
Some nice workers were in the immediate area, and pictures were taken.
Looking west:
An eastward view: Apparently this will be a universal crosser location.
Supporting that, the area has been wide graded for such.
Continued in Section 4
Part B (of A-C), Section 4 (of 1-9)
At Bertram still ... Looking west again, equipment on site:
Towards the east, there was plenty of ballast.
Continued in Section 5
Part B (of A-C), Section 5 (of 1-9)
Still at Bertram and Range Rd:
Continued in Section 6
Part B (of A-C), Section 6 (of 1-9)
Looking westward from Hot Springs Rd.: As elsewhere, there seemed to be a tie replacement program taking place while the two-tracking was in process.
Looking westbound still: The new grading seems complete.
A trash bin, grade crossing panels, and tires!
Continued in Section 7
Part B (of A-C), Section 7 (of 1-9)
Three eastbound views:
Continued in Section 8
Part B (of A-C), Section 8 (of 1-9)
In the vicinity of Frink Rd., by the Border Patrol check station, suspicion runs high about illegal aliens. The site is by the present CP SP656 ROGOZA.
It was a visual first for K.P.: A Border Patrol officer was trackside watching for illegals, though it kind of looks like he was giving the train a roll by!
In the above photo, the shorter LEFT signal is the siding's present eastbound west side absolute signal. The right mast is the future two-tracking Main 1 intermediate mast.
Continued in Section 9
Part B (of A-C), Section 9 (of 1-9)
Looking east from Frink Rd. the second-track grading and drainage abutments are very complete. The new abutment not only has railings, but less expensive protective heavy wire also.
A single rear DPU (westbound, rightward) passes the upcoming second-track parts to be installed through Frink Rd.
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Part C will be posted before 9:00 A.M. on Sunday, July 1, 2012, and cover East of the Rogoza area all the way to Niland.
KP: Again great pictures and commentary! Telephoto lens have struck again. Your first photo of Part B Section 3 looks like the classical cartoon of the golden spike ceremony where two different gauges met.
When you get a chance could you give us another update of the progress showing the sections completed and those remaining? If my memory is correct I believe the double tracking ends at El paso. Has there ever been any thought of double tracking east of El Paso to Sierra Blanco where the Dallas (T&P) and the Houston lines diverge? Or does the Vaughn line syphon off enough traffic to negate double trscking east of El Paso?
KP: Again thanks for the great pictures and update on the Sunset route progress. The telephoto lens has struck again. The first photo in Part B, Section 3 reminds me of the classical cartoon of two different gauges arriving at the golden spike ceremony.
Could you give us an update on the progress of the double tracking giving sections remaining to be done etc? If my memory holds true I think the double tracking of the Sunset route ends at El Paso. Has any thought been given to double tracking further east to Sierra Blanca where the Dallas (T&P) and houston lines diverge? Or does the Vaughn line syphon off enough traffic to negate the need of any double tracking further east?
Please excuse the double posting. For some reason when I hit post I got an error message saying it could not find the source. Aren't computers wonderful?
ccltrains ... snip .... When you get a chance could you give us another update of the progress showing the sections completed and those remaining?
The latest Sunset Route single track mileage tally:Total 'milepost' miles (Los Angeles MP 483 to El Paso MP 1298) = 815Remaining single track, mileposts are rounded, priorities are SWAGs* based on forum on-site observers:- CP Alhambra MP 488 to CP Spadra MP 510X (low priority, parallel LA sub 2MT) = 22 miles- CP Spadra MP 510X to CP Sierra MP 533 (medium priority) = 23 miles- CP Thermal MP 620 to CP Cactus MP 715 (high priority) = 95 miles- CP Araz MP 724 to CP Araz Jct MP 726 (low priority, unknown issue) = 2 miles- CP Colorado MP 732 to CP Yuma MP 733 (low priority, expensive new bridge) = 1 mile- CP East Yard MP 738 to CP Fortuna MP 743 (medium priority) = 5 miles- CP Blaisdell MP 747 to CP Dome MP 753 (medium priority) = 6 miles- CP Wellton MP 771 to CP Stanwix MP 819 (medium priority) = 48 miles- CP Sentinel MP 831 to CP Estrella MP 876 (medium priority) = 45 miles- CP Wymola MP 942 to CP Stockham MP 979 (high priority) = 37 milesEstimated single track remaining = 284 milesPercent remaining = 35%
ccltrainsHas there ever been any thought of double tracking east of El Paso to Sierra Blanco where the Dallas (T&P) and the Houston lines diverge? ... snip ...
BTW the weak forum software won't let you delete your own posts but you can Edit them down to a space saving 'Ignore - Duplicate Post' message.
@CShaveRR - it's 106 degrees F in Indio, CA right now. Everybody join in: But It's A Dry Heat!
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! ***
ccltrains KP: Again thanks for the great pictures and update on the Sunset route progress. The telephoto lens has struck again. The first photo in Part B, Section 3 reminds me of the classical cartoon of two different gauges arriving at the golden spike ceremony. Could you give us an update on the progress of the double tracking giving sections remaining to be done etc? If my memory holds true I think the double tracking of the Sunset route ends at El Paso. Has any thought been given to double tracking further east to Sierra Blanca where the Dallas (T&P) and houston lines diverge? Or does the Vaughn line syphon off enough traffic to negate the need of any double tracking further east?
Can't answer your question with regard to El Paso-Sierra Blanca, but I do know that a second main is underway between Midland and Odessa on the ex-T&P. The Permian Basin oil-boom is the primary reason. Hope to get out that way for a look one of these days.
John Timm
Substantive "Something" at the Colton Flyover!
Colton, CA
Part I (of I-III)
Yes, something significant is now (Friday, June 29, 2012) taking place at the site of the future Colton Flyover, on the eastern side, but exactly what is not clear.
A closer view:
A close-up shows some type of interior bracing.
At this point, what is being constructed seems insufficiently wide for a three-track width (two-tracks and an access road). It could be that a duplicate structure will be built alongside this one, most likely to the south (away from the camera). But, more on this may change your thinking ...
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-III)
A few workers were within the structure.
A westbound with SD70ACe UP 8654 stopped by the new concrete-work account of a red signal at Colton Crossing, and a member of its train crew got out for a good, down on look. (It is too bad we don't have such an opportunity!)
The several blocks street-running of the Riverside Industrial Lead is now forever blocked from ever having diamonds again at the Sunset Route as 100 years ago.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-III)
What exactly we have seen is made more mysterious with westward views from the Mt. Vernon Ave. area. The tan building on 9th Street (photo center):
The viewed ground concrete modules (and temporary orange screen fencing) doesn't seem to line up with the known alignment of the flyover.
For the investigative, private-eye types, a reshown eastward view from Rancho Ave. showing that tan building by 9th Street (upper left of below photo) and the large wood erections at La Cadena Drive (upper right):
Obviously, as time goes on, everything will become crystal clear as to what is transpiring. Until then, at least we have some visuals to ponder.
On Friday, June 29, 2012 K.P. spent several hours in Colton, as well as some time at Milliken Ave. in Ontario, at the flyovers being constructed at both locations. In a few days the findings will be presented to the forum.
Part C (of A-C), Section 1 (of 1-9)
A couple of miles to the east of Frink Rd. and the Border Patrol stop, one can look back at the Border Patrol area.
That couple of miles distance is where grading for a future CP is present. Looking westbound:
A straight on of the wide grading:
Part C (of A-C), Section 2 (of 1-9)
Looking east at the future CP location:
An area view that identifies the location well ... Much evidence of trackside activity is present in the photo background.
Part C (of A-C), Section 3 (of 1-9)
One of the common makeshift grade crossings:
However, we have reached an area where, in the recent past, there was evidence that the end of two-tracking eastward had been reached. However, on this visit, there was activity eastward in full sway! The main right-of-way contractor may or may not be the same one that did all the grading work from the west, but K.P. got the distinct impression that it was a different contracted firm.
Culvert construction at M.P. 660.82
Part C (of A-C), Section 4 (of 1-9)
At this M.P. 660.82 location was an ironically named wash that caught K.P.'s attention ...
In the above photo, the three houses in the background make for an easy location locator on aerials, as there are generally NO houses in the area.
Strangely, unusually heavy rebar was lying on the ground.
Part C (of A-C), Section 5 (of 1-9)
In the M.P. 663 area, forces were now working with I-beams and a pile driver.
At M.P. 664.51, a larger culvert type arrangement was being put in.
The piping for this bridge's culvert-work doesn't seem to be as long as those to the west have been.
Part C (of A-C), Section 6 (of 1-9)
Now we reach the Niland area: A westbound view from English Rd. Note the piles of dirt in the distance.
Towards the west also, a view a little bit to the north:
Even another view: The shadowing of the lower left gives the presently single-track an odd, false, misaligned appearance.
The preliminary grading through here seems to indicate the second main will be on the north side still (right in all the above photos).
Part C (of A-C), Section 7 (of 1-9)
An eastward view from English Rd.:
But, there is more at English Rd. than the last photo above shows: Large piping.
There did not appear to be further continuation ("continuation") eastward. However ...
Part C (of A-C), Section 8 (of 1-9)
On the east side of Niland, though (view looks westbound) ...
... in the below view looking eastbound, there was large piping, and a very well-traveled dirt road going east off into the distance.
The signal in the above photo, by the way, is kind of rare. At first glance, it looks like it has three heads. But, it actually has FOUR heads!
There were smaller pieces of piping too!
Adding to the piping present (above) was a yard across the street (to the west) that K.P. doesn't recall ever seeing before, full of large corrugated piping also.
There was a sign that read "Ames Construction" that also had "Scottsdale, Arizona" on it in smaller letters. Thus, it is unknown if the piping is Sunset Route two-tracking related, or purely coincidental, but the Ames name sounds familiar ...
Part C (of A-C), Section 9 (of 1-9)
From Niland, K.P. followed the tracks eastward a few miles, but saw NO two-tracking related construction activity, so did not pursue anything further eastward but turned around and headed back west.
Previously, K.P. received reports that this California two-tracking would go all the way to the Iris siding, the east switch of which is at CP SP676 IRIS, where the previously shown semi-intoxicated looking signals are at.
The center CP at Niland is CP SP667 NILAND (the very top photo) to assist the forum in gauging the distances involved. You might recall, too, the east switch of the Rogoza siding by the Border Patrol near Frink Rd. is at M.P. 656.1. Towards the beginning of this series, a staging area with portable floodlights was shown near CP SP633 MORTMAR, the west switch of the Mortmar siding. It was just two or three miles east of there that the eastward two-tracking in this report started.
So, this Salton Sea area two-tracking may end up being somewhere in the area of forty some miles
This will conclude the Salton Sea area series ... almost, anyway. (See below.)
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In photographing the two-tracking by Salton Sea, K.P. came to realize there was something very conspicuously missing in this two-tracking! Almost unbelievably so! That will be shown in a couple of posts on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time.
K. P. HarrierThere was a sign that read "Ames Construction" that also had "Scottsdale, Arizona" on it in smaller letters. Thus, it is unknown if the piping is Sunset Route two-tracking related, or purely coincidental, but the Ames name sounds familiar.
Ames Construction is in the "railroad building" business, as well as many other fields. And they even have a page on their website about their "UP Sunset Route Expansion"job!
http://www.amesconstruction.com/markets/job-site.cfm?id=44&submarket_id=22&market_id=4
Photo linked from the URL shown above above.
Rader Sidetrack K. P. Harrier: There was a sign that read "Ames Construction" that also had "Scottsdale, Arizona" on it in smaller letters. Thus, it is unknown if the piping is Sunset Route two-tracking related, or purely coincidental, but the Ames name sounds familiar. Ames Construction is in the "railroad building" business, as well as many other fields. And they even have a page on their website about their "UP Sunset Route Expansion"job! http://www.amesconstruction.com/markets/job-site.cfm?id=44&submarket_id=22&market_id=4 Photo linked from the URL shown above above.
K. P. Harrier: There was a sign that read "Ames Construction" that also had "Scottsdale, Arizona" on it in smaller letters. Thus, it is unknown if the piping is Sunset Route two-tracking related, or purely coincidental, but the Ames name sounds familiar.
It is significant to note that their office locations are all in Union Pacific territory.
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