Friday, September 2, 2016 Trips Report
Riding the Perris Valley Line …
… and Having Twice the Fun!
Part “N” (of I-O, Overall A-Y)
A coming to a stop is made at the Moreno Valley-March Field stop.
Then we zip off. And, after the Perris stop, pass the track that goes to the Orange Empire Railway Museum.
Continued in Part O
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 “M” (of I-O, Overall A-Y)
A grade crossing is at the top of the hill, near to where the ‘entrance’ type signal is located along with a manual switch and derail.
We start following a jam packed I-215 Freeway for a bit.
Continued in Part N
Part “L” (of I-O, Overall A-Y)
Up and up we go!
Next is Poarch Road and the block signal there.
Right away our empty car enters a one sided Brazilian Amazon jungle type atmosphere.
Continued in Part M
Part “K” (of I-O, Overall A-Y)
We angle across Blaine Street again.
And pass the block signal at Mt. Vernon Ave.
Then we go by that trail now closed off and all the fencing.
Continued in Part L
Part “J” (of I-O, Overall A-Y)
And slowly we round a semi half circle to the straightaway to climb the grade.
We sit at the Hunter Park stop for the clock to catch up with us.
Look at all those people fighting each other, practically rioting, in the background parking lot trying to find a parking space! Sad!
Continued in Part K
Part “I” (of I-O, Overall A-Y)
Leaving downtown Riverside 7th Street is crossed.
A UP eastbound had passed us It had a ‘special’ unit and I knew we would soon catch up to it, and I definitely wanted a photo of it. Special in the sense that it had an unusual number …
Sure enough, we passed it. The sort of special trailing unit was 7777.
The junction switch to the PVL is soon reached.
Continued in Part J
A question as to how the two locomotives are utilized on these trains. The metrolink unit obviously provides the HEP but do both units provide propulsion power or is one just a control cab? Or is the metrolink unit just for HEP and the BNSF provide the propulsion? It would seem that the BNSF unit by itself could accelerate three cars quite nicely.
Part “H” (of A-H, Overall A-Y)
The east platform’s south end:
In the first top photo, the flashers on the far left were clanging and flashing, for nearly our hour stay they did so!
A train to Oceanside arrives on BNSF Main 3.
Above, while most have alighted and boarded the Oceanside bound train, the atmosphere has a busy look.
A good look at BNSF’s 5620 is taken.
-----------
Parts I-O is scheduled for posting Tuesday, September 13, 2016 by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time.
Part “G” (of A-H, Overall A-Y)
Car 245 was ridden on the first inbound trip.
Engine 887 was the rear power, the future lead locomotive back to South Perris.
BNSF 5620 brought us in, and parked by the overhead walkway over BNSF’s triple-track mainline.
Continued in Part H
Part “F” (of A-H, Overall A-Y)
CP MARLBOROUGH is reach on the still down grade.
The Metrolink siding is gone into in Downtown Riverside.
The ride is over, and the Hyundai-Rotom car ridden is looked over.
Continued in Part G
Part “E” (of A-H, Overall A-Y)
The March Air Reserve Base is soon passed, and the air museum by it. It has a C-141 on display.
A stop is made at the Moreno Valley / March Field station, and then we circle route around a bit, and start down the Box Springs grade, and pass Poarch Road, the grade cross gated off and only emergency responders can use.
Then, down, down, down we go, snaking down the Box Springs grade, with the wheels sometimes squealing.
Blaine Street in Riverside is reached.
That Blaine Street grade crossing is that one K.P. feels is ripe for a collision with a motor vehicle that will see another cab car go on the ground, and by the area’s nature, the cab car will land halfway upside down on an embankment.
Continued in Part F
Part “D” (of A-H, Overall A-Y)
Onboard the departing train, first intermediate signal is soon passed. Make a note of that signal. It was photographed from the other side towards the end of this series.
The Downtown Perris stop (where those other photos were taken at) is soon reached.
As seen above, K.P. basically had the car to himself.
CP NUEVO is soon passed at speed.
Continued in Part E
Part “C” (of A-H, Overall A-Y)
At South Perris, the fare ticketing is purchased, and the place looked over.
The wheelchair handicapped ramp (above) was looked over. K.P. has more interest in such things than most, as over 20 years ago he was confined to a wheelchair for a few years.
We wait by the covered ticket machine area.
And, the train finally comes out, and is boarded.
Continued in Part D
Part “B” (of A-H, Overall A-Y)
The outbound train passes and stops …
… and quickly heads to the end of the line.
Continued in Part C
Posting Schedule
Sunday, September 11, 2016: Parts A-H
Tuesday, September 13, 2016: Parts I-O
Thursday, September 15, 2016: P-Y
All posts should be up by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time on the scheduled date.
Part “A” (of A-H, Overall A-Y)
From base, on the way to the South Perris stop, since I was early, a stop was made at the Downtown Perris stop. A railroad speed sign popped out: 60 M.P.H.!
I don’t know about that. A deadhead move (do those things happen?) theoretically can zoom by kids on the platform awfully fast …
Looking south, it was noted the outbound signal by 4th Street was lit flashing yellow.
Looking north, the outbound train soon comes.
Doesn’t the above scene look like it was taken up in the San Bernardino Mountains, perhaps at Big Bear where there is a whole bunch of pine trees?
Continued in Part B
K.P. -- how was ridership on your various trips? Looking forward to the pictures.
Riding the PVL is fun! K.P. spent SEVEN hours having such fun. NOT to Los Angeles (PVL / 91 Line), but just the South Perris to Riverside portion. Twice, too! It was a most memorable experience to say the least.
A Hyundai-Rotom car’s interior, upper level:
Passing the site of the past legal controversy relative to a trail used by school kids and hikers, the trail (lower right) is now fenced off well with children or anyone else not able to cross the track:
The camera snapped 286 photos, a small portion of which will be used to convey the day’s story. K.P. is shooting for the latter part of next week for a presentation.
Is This the Next Metrolink …
… Cab Car Crash Site?
Part IV (of I-IV)
Oh, oh! Look at that new car that practically stopped on the track!
Is this intersection solvable? It may or may not be.
Since pedestrians can surprise motorists and put them in awkward situations, a pedestrians ONLY stoplight cycle would solve that but impede traffic flows.
K.P. sees this as a candidate for an underpass. This residential-commercial tight-quarters area would have engineering challenges in designing an underpass.
A number of big flash signs might scare motorists into following instructions. Otherwise, the situation seems to be an impossible one. An underpass may be the only real solution.
This will end the series.
Part III (of I-IV)
Suppose an inbound cab car strikes a stopped vehicle on the tracks, or a moving vehicle that didn’t see the flashers or was just daydreaming and otherwise in la-la land. If a BNSF unit is leading the inbound train, poor driver. If a cab car is leading, poor cab car! It may or may not stay on the track. If it derails, look what it will encounter!
Will the cab car go down the embankment and end up semi-upside down?
Continued in Part IV
Part II (of I-IV)
On the other side of the grade crossing, but before the Watkins Drive cross street, “KEEP CLEAR” is also present.
Pretty straight forward and seemingly easy to follow instructions for motorists … or is it?
What happens to a motorist that catches a yellow light, and the person decides he probably can’t make it so stops, cross traffic starts, and THEN the crossing gates activate?
Will a motorist freeze if caught between crossing gates?
Mind you, above, a west traveling motorist coming at the camera can NOT normally see an approaching right to left train (coming towards the camera) because of the angle!
As of the above date, both BNSF power and just cab cars lead inbound commuter trains. A Metrolink unit usually leads outbound commuter sets.
Continued in Part III
Part I (of I-IV)
You can make up your own mind, but K.P. envisions another (“another”) spectacular commuter train crash. It seems the Blaine Street (the grade crossing) and Watkins Drive (that parallels the track) is made for such a crash, and now that commuter trains traverse this ex-BNSF (Santa Fe) branch it is very, very likely in K.P.’s opinion. The following and following posts outlines with photos the logic in this.
WEST of the Blaine Street grade crossing, a view looking east with a heavy telephoto lens:
As discernable above, Blaine Street is a long descending road as it goes east to west, towards the camera. Box Springs Mountains is in the background.
Another heavy telephoto, but this time EAST of the grade crossing, looking down west:
Again, just above, note that the line of sight view of the right flashers and crossing gates are blocked.
By the grade crossing, looking west: Once a vehicle clears those blocking tree limbs (mentioned above), the right side flashers are directly seen. However, a sign initially partially blocks the view of pedestrians.
Just east of the grade crossing, clear instructions for motorists that are not distracted and manage to see the lettering.
Reference the second photo from the top, before that “KEEP CLEAR” marking is another phrase, “WAIT HERE.”
Continued in Part II
As a retired member of the Board of Directors of Dallas Area Rapid Transit I can offer some insight into train/car crashes. We have several places where the track is next to a road. Even with gates and flashing lights there were a few collisions. This came from the citizens not expecting a train in a "new" area. After a couple months people became aware of an active rail line and accidents decreased. As to signals and gates where a road crosses the line we syncronized traffic lights with train crossings with extra warning signs. This has led to a safe crossing.
Electroliner 1935 (7-19):
I’m not sure ‘error’ is the right word, but things very much turned out quite differently from what was reasonably expected, kind of an extenuating circumstance thing, but I sure learned a thing or two from the experience. A high truck was ahead of me, with its right turn signal flashing. When it got a green traffic signal it quickly crossed the track and was about to turn right, but suddenly stopped quickly because pedestrians were in the crosswalk, which by the lowering angled intersection’s nature, they could not be seen by me. So, Mr. Safety got fooled! I wasn’t too concerned about a train coming from the angled track sort of behind me, though, because I had just followed the tracks from Perris and there were no trains in that stretch, and it was a weekend. But, it won’t happen again for sure!
It is hoped to be able to get back over to that grade crossing / intersection within a month and take photos for the forum.
Best,
K.P.
K. P. HarrierBut know THIS RAILFAN actually got trapped on the tracks there,
May I assume that the gates are not four quadrant and that your being trapped was due to an error on your part in entering before the preceeding vehicle cleared? Was this a crossing with a stop light on the side distant from where you were coming from? Was there a red light that turned green after the flashers started? (An eternity after it seemed?) PPD (Piss Poor Design) of an intersection that the highway planners like to build.
About the Low Ridership
Another perspective, different from what other forum contributors have mentioned, is that Metrolink may (“may”) be testing the ridership, seeing what pops up. Conspicuously absent is advertising, at least as far K.P. can tell … In theory, from feedback maybe in another three months Metrolink would have a good sense of when people want to ride, and adjust the PVL schedule accordingly, and then spend bigtime on advertising.
The F125’s
The photo outfit rrpicturearchives.net has a few photos of the new F125 unit No. 905, one shot at Union Station in Los Angeles by photographer Craig Walker, linked below.
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4506476
That outfit also has a real gem of a photo also by Mr. Walker too …
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4506477
In that just above linked photo, did you see No. 905’s serial number? It ends with 003. So, the real first unit, serial No. 001, should be No. 903 whenever that is delivered. The present fleet of old power ends with No. 902.
mvs (7-16):
Ridership was very poor on the trips I took. A small number got on at South Perris, and likewise in Riverside for the return trip.
The Maturing of the South Perris Stop
As the forum knows, I’ve been by South Perris before, matter of fact a number of times. This past train trip the construction had matured greatly, with ‘No Parking’ signs in great numbers. So, photographers may find it challenging to get photos now, unless they are willing to hike in, park on Metrolink property, or out by Case Road. No signs are along that road, at least yet.
Once upon a Time and …
… a Daring Prediction
Once upon a time my wife (so I know for a fact this is true) was on the freeway, in the No. 1 lane. A gentleman in the No. 2 lane decided to pass a slower vehicle and entered the No. 1 lane and crashed right into my wife’s car at speed! Why did he crash into my wife’s car? Because he fell asleep right then in changing lanes! It had been somewhere between 4:30 and 6 A.M., on a crowded rush hour morning freeway commute. Everyone was OK … well, sort of. My wife ended up undergoing a number of months of therapy for a neck problem because of the high speed incident.
So weird, unexpected things happen! Like last year’s Metrolink Oxnard incident, where cab car No. 645 hit a pickup truck on the track and ended up on its side facing the opposite direction than it had been traveling. No. 645 was one of the new Hyundai-Rotem ‘strong’ wonder cars.
This forum contributor daringly predicts such an incident will happen on the Perris Valley Line, inbound somewhere between the top of the Box Springs grade in Riverside and the connection to the BNSF Transcon, involving either a large truck (possibly an 18-wheeler) with a sleepy driver, a suicidal fool in an auto, or a trapped driver in traffic suddenly realized their peril and bailing out of their vehicle. (I have a gut feeling about where, but I’ll let the forum ponder that. But know THIS RAILFAN actually got trapped on the tracks there, and railfans just don’t normally get trapped on tracks anywhere!). Because of low ridership a fatality or fatalities is unlikely (unless this happens several years in the future or if one of the older Metrolink cars disintegrates in the incident), but the incident likely will be THE defining moment for cab cars … unless the NTSB uses the Oxnard happening to solidify certain thinking against the use of cab cars leading …
Take care all,
I agree with both of you. Unfortunately, the trains don't easily serve San Bernardino line destinations.
This Perris Valley Line -- as well as any extensions to Temecula, such as the original ATSF branch from Corona southward -- could be the final frontier (so to speak) for Metrolink. There is so much potential, since so many people live out there.
BNSF6400I believe that this line wouldn't see much higher ridership until the first gas price spike, only then will those thousands of cars on I-215, looking across the field at the Metrolink trains parked at South Perris will switch over to the train.
Also, RCTC & Metrolink need more than ever to think outside of their 'commuter rail' box. Besides better surveys about where folks Really Need to go (with at most one bus/rail transfer), perhaps some trains should be timed for special events and destinations.
Angels baseball games? A backup move at Orange would be needed. March Field Museum and SCRM (OERM) on the weekends? Would need good connections from other Metrolink service, uh, oh ....
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! ***
Rode the Perris Valley Line on Thursday. Took the inbound Perris South to Riverside Downtown leaving at 7:45AM. There were five of us total waiting at Perris South for the train. We picked up one person at Perris Downtown, nobody on or off at Moreno Valley, two off at Hunter Park and then four off at Riverside Downtown.
On the immediate return train, leaving at 9:10AM, my friend and I were the only riders on the whole train for the entire trip to South Perris.
Now, take into account these two trains don't continue onto LA or start from there, so those trains that start/end in LA probably have higher ridership, but given the vehicles parked in the lots at the four stations, not much higher. I believe that this line wouldn't see much higher ridership until the first gas price spike, only then will those thousands of cars on I-215, looking across the field at the Metrolink trains parked at South Perris will switch over to the train.
Mike is right -- it's basially CTC single track from Highgrove/Northeast Riverside to South Perris. They might as well have rebuilt the second track through Moreno Valley which BNSF uses, but that's not a priority given the ridership levels.
It would be a tough sell to extend the line to Hemet/San Jacinto, but that would help ridership. I think that not having a stop near UC Riverside (instead of the Hunter Park industrial area) hurts too.
K.P., how was the ridership on your trains?
P.S. -- there is a good Mexican restaurant (Taqueria 2 Potrillos) within walking distance of the Perris Downtown station.
ccltrainsIs there sufficient ROW should traffic increase enough to warrant double tracking? Why the BNSF engine?
- the ROW should be wide enough for some 2MT if traffic increases enough (way in the future). Posters elsewhere have noted that there isn't a single CTC controlled passing siding anywhere on the new line.
- the BNSF engines are leased to 'protect' the cabcar end due to the perceived collision protection deficiencies of the new Hyundai Rotem cabcars. Metrolink has approved funding to repair the cabcars, not sure if they will seek reimbursement from H-R.
Note to @ccltrains, you might edit your above post to remove duplicate quotes.
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