It'll be Sunday!
K.P. snuck over to the Milliken Ave. Flyover (Ontario, CA) Friday, July 20, 2012, took a few photos, and saw a UP track worker coming by. He was asked when the flyover will be put in service. The reply: "Sunday!" So, IF all goes well, and the worker did NOT give K.P. a bum steer, Sunday, July 22, 2012 should be the cutover day!
Update as of Friday, July 20, 2012
Part I (of I-IV)
The Milliken Ave Flyover
Ontario, CA
Yesterday, this Wednesday, July 18, 2012 Vina Vista area photo was shown, of signal burial stands.
Today, on K.P.'s visit, the burial stands were gone, but ONE was buried on a Main 2 Flyover alignment.
Note the light blue insulated joint on the new track on the far right.
K.P. traversed the westbound I-10 to southbound I-15 transition ramp TWICE, and while only a glimpse of the tracks was seen each time, it appeared the temporary flyover maintenance-of-way switch has been removed, and the ground all cleared and ready for track laying, an alignment shift track laying from the current Main to the Main 2 alignment.
Continued in Part II
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 II (of I-IV)
The new signal mast at CP AL525 GUASTI (for the east siding switch) remains the same headless way as photographed and posted (hence a reposted view is shown, the mast being on the left).
K.P. looked over the line from Bryn Mawr to Ontario. The signals at Bryn Mawr are the same, and have not been modified. (View previously shown)
Thus, the signals that were on the east side of La Cadena Dr. are nowhere to be found. Is it possible they went down by Salton Sea for the two-tracking down there?
The west switch of the Guasti siding was checked out also, and everything was the same there too. Nevertheless, K.P. was able to find a place for a new view. Looking west, the west switch and signals are seen. The Archibald Ave. underpass rail bridge is also seen (the whitish triangles on each side of the track), the bridge with the single-track main right in the center, so that everything would have to be realigned for there to be a second-track laid! The siding here is on wide center, hence the green grass between tracks on the lower left.
Since the west end of the Guasti siding has not been modified whatsoever, and the old signals are all in place at the east end, it is unclear how the Main 2 Flyover will connect with the current Main (on a future Main 1 Flyover alignment).
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-IV)
The Colton Flyover
Colton, CA
At the Colton Flyover site ... You may recall this photo of the rebar erection on the far right:
K.P. made it a point to check on it at ground level ...
... and found what appears to be a public alleyway that afforded close looks.
In the above photo, BETWEEN the two highest rebar towers, the current Mains 1 and 2 are present.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-IV)
A closer look: Concrete weights anchor the rebar tower.
Near the Colton Crossing itself, one of the large vertical protective shields (right) was being placed.
Those short concrete and rebar items west of Colton Crossing seemed to be having some kind of wood framing beig put around them.
This will conclude this series. It is doubtful that K.P. can get back into the Colton area or the Milliken Ave. Flyover cutover site anytime soon. It is possible Sunday or Monday, but that is not looking good at this point.
Update as of Monday, July 23, 2012
The Milliken Ave. Flyover IS Open!
Part A (of A-G)
On the Flyover
A few views of an eastbound train traversing the newly put in service flyover:
Continued in Part B
Part B (of A-G)
The West End
At the east end of the Guasti siding on the flyover's WEST end ... The old signal (between the two rightmost poles) is now headless, and the previously show new headless mast on the left now has heads, and is active.
The NEW east westbound signal (right) by the east end of the Guasti siding as seen from Guasti Rd. near Haven Ave.:
In the above photo, the headless previous mast is by the pole on the left.
Continued in Part C
Part C (of A-G)
Still by Guasti Rd. near Haven Avenue ... The west eastbound signals of CP AL525 GUASTI:
A similar view from a slightly different angle shot on June 8, 2011, over a year ago: K.P. finds it inconclusive whether or not the signals were relocated or not.
A view from near Haven Ave. of the western slope:
Continued in Part D
Part D (of A-G)
The East End
The intermediate signal at the flyover's east end seems to be the same one that used to be by the electric box on the lower left.
Workers seemed to be connecting the industrial spur to the new flyover track. The old main (bottom) had a section of track on top of it.
Ties (right) were being brought to the site. The orange cone near the electrical box is where the signal used to be.
Continued in Part E
Part E (of A-G)
The old crossing gate stands were in place, but arms gone, and gear box turned away.
Continued in Part F
Part F (of A-G)
View from Milliken Ave.
A westward heavy telephoto from Milliken Ave.:
An eastward heavy telephoto: The intermediate signal is no longer on the left, but the right.
Continued in Part G
Part G (of A-G)
By the East End Again
The train again ... By the rapped piping, there was now much activity, and a piece of equipment (right of center) was moving things around.
Old and new track by the intermediate signal box:
The full length of the train ...
... finally passes and gets off the flyover.
Lastly, as seen in Part B, first photo thereof, the east side westbound signal at CP AL525 GUASTI has a three bulb head, as if the old siding was realigned on the west end, which does NOT seem practical with an overpass bridge at Archibald Ave. Further field checking will be necessary, which K.P., unfortunately, did not have time for this trip. But, at least the forum got an overall view of the Milliken Ave. Flyover now in service.
This is the most comprehensive story I've seen to date on the SR 347 crossing project in Maricopa, AZ. Of special interest is the possibility of "five tracks" in the future at that location.
state route 347 grade separation adot union pacific railroad
John Timm
From a photo on another forum I think I've noticed another Milliken flyover change worth investigating. What appears to be an squatty westward 'exit' signal has appeared on the cut back Vina Vista lead at the I-15 overpass. To me this is another sign that 2MT upgrade is Not imminent in this area.
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! ***
K.P. I remembered today to go have a look at UP's web site on Santa Theresa.
Look what I found:
http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/attachments/media_kit/regional/western/santa_teresa/updates/may_2012.pdf
It is a PDF file with a couple of pics of Santa Theresa under construction and the phase plans there.
Thx IGN
Also a Journal of Commerce article about the tax situation:
http://www.joc.com/rail-intermodal/new-mexico-moves-spur-intermodal-hub
At a glance it looks like UP got the fuel tax break that they wanted to make this worth the effort.
Some Odds and Ends
A New Sunset Route Signaled Branch?
Believe it! MikeF90 some months ago alerted us to a new rail line in the Glamis sand dunes area ...
... quite a few miles southeast of Salton Sea in lower Southern California. The west switch of the Sunset Route Glamis siding used to be at CP SP697 GLAMIS (M.P. 697.1) and the east switch at CP SP699 GLAMIS (M.P. 698.7).
Now, however, the WEST switch CP has been renamed Mesquite, CP SP697 MESQUITE (M.P. 696.8), and slightly located a bit westward.
The new branch line goes from M.P. 0.0 (at the junction switch to the Sunset Route at CP SP697 MESQUITE) to M.P. 6.0. At the midpoint there is a nameless CP only identified as CP SP003. Presumably, from there eastward is dark territory, but westward to the Sunset Route main is CTC.
While the Glamis siding (Mesquite-Glamis) uses spring frog 30 M.P.H. turnouts, the new junction switch to the Mesquite Landfill site uses a 50 M.P.H. two-motor switch with a moveable frog, though the line presently has a speed limit of only 20 M.P.H. (From M.P 4.3 to 6.0 the speed limit is 10 M.P.H.)
The previously shown bridge below is at an unknown M.P. on the new branch line.
Officially (I got all this information from a UP contact that I hadn't visited for a while), the new line is designated as the "Mesquite Line." But, in the SAME railroad documentation that uses the "Mesquite Line" designation, the new line is also referred to as the "LA Sanitation Lead." Figure that 'two names' one out!
Back on the Sunset Route, there is an eastbound intermediate signal west of and in advance of CP SP697 MESQUITE. It displays yellow over YELLOW eastbound for entrance into the Glamis SIDING, but yellow over GREEN for the Mesquite Line to the landfill site.
It is unclear what the signal displays at CP SP697 MESQUITE for the landfill route, since there is NO eastbound signal thereafter. Theoretically, the most the eastbound CP signal can display is red over yellow for movement within CTC limits that ends at M.P. 3.
How about a Five-Track Line at Maricopa, AZ?
On July 24 desertdog (John Timm) posted a link to an enlightening news article about a future Highway 347 overpass over a possible FIVE-track Sunset Route. Perhaps the UP planning Dept. is make plans for the year 3000 A.D.! Seriously, there is some logic to a five-track line.
In the future, theoretically, Mains 1 and 2 could each have a siding in Maricopa, accounting for four-tracks. Let's say the Amtrak station is relocated to the west, as has been talked about. The Amtrak station could have its own siding that goes around everything! So, five-tracks are feasible.
The below January 29, 2010 photo looks westbound from Highway 347:
Slightly visible on the above photo's left, but better in the below link, the property on the southwest area seems to encroach on UP's property, likely by permission and agreement.
Area Aerial of Highway 347 and UP Tracks
The news clip reports that two of three options route a new Highway 347 alignment a bit towards the east, through what is now the Amtrak station, which property has the ex-California Zephyr dome car Silver Horizon on display.
Thanks, John, for your alertness and giving us some Arizona things to ponder.
But, is there a four-track arrangement any ware on the Sunset Route, between Los Angeles, CA and El Paso, TX? Not that K.P. knows of. However ...
On the UP System:
Where there are Two Mains and Two Sidings
On the Central Corridor, in the often very cold State of Wyoming, there is a community known as Hanna. Looking westbound from the main overpass in town, things look typical, with the west crossover visible of a double crossover, CP W643 HANNA. The two blending in signals are barely visible just above photo center.
However, looking eastbound, the two mains each have a siding in that rolling hills environment.
So, such CTC two mains two sidings type arrangements do exist. If such was put in at Maricopa, AZ on the Sunset Route, it wouldn't be without precedent. The fact that UP even mentioned wanting a 'five track' bridging for the Highway 347 overpass in desertdog's link makes one wonder if grandiose trackwork is in Maricopa's future.
Interestingly, less than a mile EAST of Highway 347 is CP SP899 MARICOPA (M.P. 898.8), a doubled crossover. To the WEST of Highway 347, at a long distance away for a grade, is CP SP887 ENID (M.P. 887.2), another double crossover. That long distance is 11.6 miles. Adding another CP west of Maricopa to accommodate the suggested two sidings would shorten that distance. Of course, we probably should not read too much into distances. Between CP SP906 BON (M.P. 906.2) and CP SP918 CASA GRANDE (M.P. 917.5) is 11.3 miles.
Reply to MikeF90 (7-24):
Yes, Mike, that "exit signal" (now timetabled as an "entrance signal") by the I-15 Freeway tells me as it did you that a second-track thereat isn't coming anytime real soon.
However, probably in a year, when the Milliken Ave. Main 1 Flyover is finished, I suspect a second-main will be laid through the area.
Because of bridging east of I-15, that west of I-15 switching track with the "exit" signal likely will eventually become Main 2 and there will be NO switching track thereafter. Likely, too, if switching had to be done, it could use Main 2 for it while mainliners used Main 1 Of course, if both mains had to be tied up with mainliners (say eastbounds AND westbounds simultaneously), the switching moves would have to wait, as is the case so often on the Central Corridor in Nebraska. Many grain cars are set out or picked up on the Central Corridor.
Reply to narig01 (7-24):
That New Mexico "Santa Teresa" project is on K.P.'s hit list to get photos of (if it is even possible), but the trip is in limbo at this time.
Possibly September I will get back to Arizona, but, at this point, New Mexico (and El Paso, TX) is questionable at best.
If Santa Teresa is anything like down by Salton Sea several months ago ...
... construction trucks must be running around everywhere ... which is something to see in itself!
Best,
K.P.
I kind of forgot about UP's web site and the other day saw a mention of Santa Theresa and thought I'd look at what UP was saying. After seeing the overhead in the release I thought it was worth mentioning. If I was still on the road I would find the time to go by and look myself(and grab a few pics)
Update as of Saturday, July 28, 2012
The Lowdown on the Guasti Alignments ...
... and the Milliken Ave. Flyover
Part A (of A-B)
K.P. had allotted several hours of time to make sure a westbound train would come and go over the new Milliken Ave. Flyover, so as to find out what kind of alignment had been made relative to CP AL525 GUASTI, sense the Main 2 Flyover (the only one presently) and the single-track Main does not line up.
No better fortune could have resulted, as when K.P. first got to the old grade crossing, a westbound was about to start up the flyover's east side! A quick grab shot was taken that shows a slight alignment shift (lower left) in the background ...
... and then attention was focused on the west end, by CP AL525 GUASTI. It could be discerned that there was NO switch at the CP, but off the flyover the track went straight west, straight towards the old Guasti siding. The signal was a high green. While it is mid-morning in a hot summer, the temporary protective north fencing takes on a frozen, icy appearance.
An overview with the mentioned train sloping downward:
In the above photo, note the far right west eastbound signal. The track associated with it (that went across Milliken Ave.) ends.
Part B (of A-B)
On the far (the west) side of the CP, beyond its limits, the track alignment shifts back to the old single-track mainline!
West, beyond the signals, the tail end of the train had swung back to the old mainline alignment.
Thus, the Guasti siding is currently out of service, with NO connection on the east end. The west end undoubtedly is functional, but because the siding is now a stub end siding, probably isn't used much.
Finally, on a related note, all the crossing gates at Milliken Ave. have been removed. Only an orange cone (lower right) marks one of the spots where a crossing mechanism and gate recently stood.
As a side note ... Why would the east westbound signal at CP AL525 GUASTI have a lower, two-bulb head (red and yellow) when it can't be used, since there is no siding switch now? K.P. guesses it probably was for expediency! Everything was halfway wired back up as before, except that the siding circuits don't work ... and don't need to.
----------
Something hocus-pocus-like (and quite strange) has occurred in Arizona! A posting about it will come in a few days.
If it helps, here's two views of AL525 Guasti (West end of the fly-over) showing the siding still connected. Both taken on 7/27. ;)
AL525 E Guasti fly over tk by cabcar3, on Flickr
AL525 E Guasti fly over tk 3 by cabcar3, on Flickr
--Robert
cabcar (7-29):
I had to do a double take at your photos, Robert. In the lower of the two, the lower left turnout appears alongside and in front of the left west eastbound signal, therefore, is NOT within the interlocking limits of CP AL525 GUASTI. Also, the left background Guasti siding appears to end without connecting to that lower left switch and its track. (Click on the yellow band under your second photo to see a larger version.)
However, the fact that that 'switch to nowhere' is newly placed and has a dual control motor tells me we have not seen the last of all this. Likely, the siding will be connected to that switch, and the present two relatively new color light west eastbound signals will be superseded by two others several hundred feet to the west, so that that switch will then be within the limits of the CP. Anyway, that is my opinion.
Take care,
Hey KP, I see what you mean. The switch in the photo is within the outer opposing signals of the CP. Just trickery from the tele-photo lens I guess.
And, I can say the Guasti siding is still in service. The Kaiser Local (LOH 42) enters the Guasti siding about every night to spot box cars in the Biagi Bros. spur.
Hopefully that clears up some confusion ~ Guasti siding still in service, including the switch at the East end (in my pics). Just a little bit of a realignment for the fly-over.
Arizona Hocus Pocus!
Poof! The Mileposts Just Changed
In the M.P. 1008.5 area there is the great Cienega Creek Bridge, where one Sunset Route track (Main 1) goes OVER the other (Main 2). The below reshown photo depicting that spot was shot last year on March 13, 2011:
K.P. dropped in on another of his contacts, and found out that we are all going to have to readjust our thinking, because UP had just changed track designations in the Cienega Creek area of Arizona, and in a really odd way!
"Main 1" (the top track in the photo above) remains the same designation as it has been. But, there is now NO "Main 2" in the Cienega Creek area. Instead, the track from the east, from way over at CP S1023 MESCAL, westward over the new reroute ...
... to the Cienega Creek Bridge (top photo) is designated as the "South track." Westward further still, from the Cienega Creek Bridge, that lower track that was formerly Main 2 is now called the "North track."
The mileposts have also been repositioned. We recall the new Main 2 equation WAS at the EAST end of the reroute, in the vicinity of Empirita Rd. and I-10, with the equation becoming effective January 16, 2012. That equation was M.P. 1017.3 = 1019.0, i.e., because of the distance saved on the reroute, the new M.P. 1017.3 met the old M.P. 1019.0. However, the line between Vail and Mescal was re-measured and new mileposts placed! Eastward from that M.P. 1017.3, the NEXT milepost eastward is actually now 1018.0 and NOT a mismatch of distances.
The equation location now is at CP S1023 MESCAL itself. This reshown view looks west at that CP's east end.
But, unless UP put out information for trainmen with a typo (highly unlikely), the equation situation is a real maverick one! There are actually TWO equations!
All that makes for an interesting update revision.
So, the lower route (the "North" / "South" one UNDER the Cienega Creek Bridge) is now only one or two tenths longer than the Main 1 route. Before the reroute, the equation at Mescal (Main 1) was M.P. 1021.7 = 1023.1 (the Main 1 route was then shorter than Main 2 by 1.4 miles), with NO equation necessary for Main 2 (M.P. 1023.1 equaled 1023.1) because it zigzag around on a then longer, circuitous route that went over I-10 (towards the west) and under it (towards the east). The new mileposting (as in the diagram just above) makes matters easier to visual and comprehend.
cabcar (6-29A):
A Story Time Reply
Part A (of A-D)
When I enlarged the lower photo of your two, it distinctly looked as if the east end of the Guasti siding abruptly ended. Thus, it appeared unconnected.
Since the track off the mainline severely lowers on the turnout route (typically because of being un-ballasted), it is doubtful that non-maintenance of-way trains actually use the switch.
Interestingly, when maintenance-of-way has control of a turnout (and NOT the dispatcher), the turnout has a maintenance-of-way lock on it. Since trainmen don't carry maintenance-of-way keys, they could not use it even if the DS erroneously instructed them to.
About eleven miles to the west, within the big joint LA&SL / SP future CP AL514 HAMILTON, a single turnout (one of two) was put in on the LA&SL that sheds light on the switch you photographed.
Never posted before ... On November 6, 2009, the LA&SL track was straight ...
... and a new switch was in preparation for being installed
Part B (of A-D)
The next day, November 7, 2009, the track was moved over five feet ... and the track got all out of kilter.
Part C (of A-D)
That was the day there was a horrendously loud boom ... and UP had a repair job to take care of.
By November 13, 2009, everything was all normalized, if something incomplete can be called that.
Continued in Part D:
Part D (of A-D)
But, the turnout route went nowhere. Just some concrete ties and rails eventually were extended from it, as this April 15, 2011 shot shows.
To this day in July 2012, the locked switch is under the authority of maintenance-of-way forces, and the dispatcher cannot authorize the switch to be thrown. Matter of fact, only M of W has a key for its lock!
Now, back to the east Guasti area ... With the above story in mind, it is extremely unlikely any train would use the switch and un-ballasted track. Perhaps a maintenance-of-way ballast train might, but not a regular revenue train, not even a short local.
Before now, the Guasti siding was a busy, often used one. So, it is unlikely the east switch would remain out of service for any length of time. I would imagine new signals and that new east side switch will be up and running in no time!
My guess, too, is that a new universal crossover will eventually be built to the west, and be ready for when the yet to be constructed north side Main 1 flyover over Milliken Ave. is finished. I believe that new CP situation is what the new CP box at the Colton Signal Dept. is being held for. The below reshown photos were taken on February 11, 2012. Much of the electrical boxes are now gone, but the CP AL525 GUASTI bungalow is still there, though perhaps possibly repositioned..
Thanks, Robert, for informing the forum of how the tracks looked that were being realigned in conjunction with the Milliken Ave. Flyover's opening.
Stay safe,
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