Third Section
The Poarch Road grade crossing was stopped at briefly in the Box Springs area of eastern Riverside.
It is that former dirt road grade crossing with crossbucks that was rebuilt with crossing gates and flashers, AND gating to prevent vehicles from using it, ONLY emergency passage such as the police, ambulances, and fire department responders.
When K.P. has more time, he hopes to traverse that relatively newly paved Poarch Road to see what photographic view can be had, but as seen below, the city seems to be having trouble keeping sand off the road.
As a continuing curse K.P. was dealing with ALL day, as soon as he had parked, gotten his camera out, and walked to a halfway good line of sight view of the ‘closed’ grade crossing, a red car with a gal driving it stopped in the view, on that path meant for emergency responders, and stayed there for about 10 minutes! Did I mention curse for the day?
And, of course, NO cops came by …
K.P. was out this way to photograph BNSF intermodal cars parked for the “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” thread, but there was no intermodal cars parked anywhere! There wasn’t even any along Cajon Blvd. in northwest San Bernardino. What a weird day …
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Second Section
From the south side of Highway 60 (in the background), northbound vehicles are seen on I-215 approach the Highway 60 interchange bridging.
The Perris Valley Line supposedly will help reduce congestion at this highway interchange. On K.P.’s visit this date, traffic, while slow, was remark free flowing. Most times traffic is super slow going, as three lanes funnel into two lanes (see yellow sign in photo center), an incredibly dumb design for a new highway interchange! K.P. often wonders if (“if”) a public hanging of government officials will someday result …
It is unknown if such a poor design was because of stupidly, or a conniving conspiracy to promote Perris Valley Line commuter train use.
A Third Section follows.
Back to “Perris South” Again
Part II (of I-III)
CP MAPES. The CP box, other boxes, and microwave tower all have a fence around them now.
Overall the Perris South parking lot still needs to be paved.
A house-like office building of some sort has been put in.
There is not much time left before the Monday, June 6 (2016) beginning of PVL operations. From this visit, it looks like a flurry of last minutes things on the construction will take place.
This will end the series. However, a Second and Third Sections follow.
More inbound facing outbound end trains views:
In the photo just above, a worker’s pickup truck is seen (far left). During this visit workers were seen servicing the power, revving up the engines, and doing what they had to do to get the fleet ready for Monday’s trips to Los Angeles on the 91 / PVL line.
Midway in the layover tracks, the inbound BNSF power is seen.
Continued in Part III
Part I (of I-III)
On Saturday, May 28, a visit to the Perris South area was done in daylight this time. The following inbound facing photos of the outbound facing power were taken.
Continued in Part II
Working the Future Schedule
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Perris South … End of the Line
Perris, CA
At twilight on the slightly breezy evening of the above date without passengers operations until June 6 (2016), three train sets were parked apparently for the entire weekend.
The outbound ends are seen (above), almost to the bumper posts, by (and seen from) Mapes Road.
For the record, the Metrolink units from left to right are: 888, 897, and 865.
Interestingly, the other end of those three tracks funnel into one track, and that one track cut into the mainline at a CP called MAPES. That mainline, as it travels southeast to and crosses the Mapes Road the grade crossing was NOT upgraded, hence, the old crossing flashes in the above first top photo.
Midway in the three tracks were the inbound ends of the same train sets.
Two of the above three trains have BNSF ‘other end’ AC (“AC”) six axils / traction motors, which units were previously used on BNSF Powder River Basin coal trains in Wyoming and other places coal trains traveled. With the steady demise of coal trains, it was convenient timing for Metrolink to come calling for power!
(Before reaching this Perris site, K.P. was in Banning, and, saw an eastbound UP coal train, yes, “coal train,” on the Sunset Route!)
On the second photo, the power from left to right are BNSF 5696 and 5640, plus cab car 649.
These THREE trains, according to the published schedule, will traverse the 91 / Perris Line to Los Angeles Monday morning. There are other scheduled trains from and to Riverside. Where they originate at is unknown to K.P., nor how much layover time they have before changing over to PVL service, and likely returning to the original how they got to Riverside in the first place.
This will conclude this single-post.
Perris Valley Line Tidbits
Part “B” (of A-B)
K.P. at the Riverside Stop on the …
.... Overhead Pedestrian Bridge
Three northeastward (eastbound, PVL outbound) views:
So, that will give the forum an idea of upcoming operations of the PVL at Riverside.
This will conclude the series.
Part “A” (of A-B)
A Sneak Look
A personal contact who wishes to remain anonymous emailed me this photo of the first regular trial inbound run Monday, May 9, 2016 from the ‘Perris South’ stop, of the 4:37 A.M. train, and said I was free to post it if I so wished.
He says the inbound train left a little late, but since it wasn’t going to pick up passengers on the way to Riverside, it didn’t really matter.
I thought I would pass the photo along to the forum.
The below photos and the next post’s photos were shot on Friday, April 29, 2016.
To help thread readers understand the track arrangement to be utilized by the PVL in Riverside (CA) …
Southwestward (westbound) views:
Since Perris Valley Line trains will be limited to BNSF Main 3 and its siding, the above left two tracks at the Riverside stop are those tracks.
The overhead pedestrian bridge, looking towards Main 1 (northwest, bearly seen bottom track):
Continued in Part B
At long last Metrolink has published an updated 91 Line schedule that shows PVL service starting June 6:
http://www.metrolinktrains.com/content/media/16/images/91-PVL%20full.jpg
It remains to be seen if this has been a worthwhile nine figure investment for improving local mass transit. At the start there will be three South Perris - LAUS round trips (Mo-Fr only) and three midday round trips South Perris - Riverside which (presumably) are for connections to other Metrolink lines or local buses.
A one-way, 2 hr 25 min ride from S. Perris to DTLA in a Rotem car seat is not my idea of a fun commute.
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! ***
A Question …
Towards the end of April a security guard at the Riverside stop (that is used by multiple Metrolink lines) was inquired of as to when the Perris Valley Line would start operations. The response they thought was sometime toward the end of the month. Since we were at the end of April, presumably the security guard was referring to the end of May. Of course, K.P. will believe it when he sees it …
Since the PVL will be restricted to Main 3, at least according to the current Riverside trackwork, the Riverside Metrolink stop’s overhead walkway bridge will have to be used by patrons to get from the main stop area to the boarding platform, and walk through the above cool (neat) glass bridging walkway.
More photos will be posted herein as time permits, but a more detailed posting about the bridge and trackwork in Riverside will be presented in the “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” thread soon.
(Tracks can be seen on the lower corners of the above photo.)
Regarding the "P" plate on the signal. Metrolink uses an Southern Pacific style for much of its signalling style (in no small part because McGinley, their first Chief Engineer, was a SP employee for many years before going to Metrolink.
On Metrolink, a "P" Plate stands for "Protection" and not for Permissive. It is placed on any signal in advance of some sort of trackside protection, like a High Water Detector, Rock Slide Detector or something similar. I would guess the bridge just west of the South Perris Station has High Water Protection. The reason for the "P" Plate is to advise the crew that if this signal is red and they allowed to proceed at Restricted Speed (automatically allowed if there is a number plate or with Dispatcher permission if no number plate) they need to watch out for whatever condition the P Plate protects. These are listed in the employee timetable. See example for Metrolink's San Gabriel Subdivision.
Update as of Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Stunning Activity in Perris, CA
Part VI (of I-VI)
Closer views:
So, after a few months, great progress had been made on the OERM track and the connection to the PVL.
But, the curvature (just north of the roadway) seems extreme (top photo, lower right), something a trolley might be able to negotiate. It is unknown though if an E-unit with A1A-AIA trucks could pass over it. Since the past, previous visits there seemed to have been more fencing poles, concrete-work, and otherwise stuff put in that necessitates the severe angle. If things stay on the rails well, well and fine. If not, it will be an expensive situation to alter.
This will end the series.
Part V (of I-VI)
By and south of the 7th Street grade crossing in downtown Perris …
… yellow derails have been put on the OERM track.
K.P. was stunned with track laid (but unfinished) to the north.
Continued in Part VI
Part IV (of I-VI)
Looking loosely east, the outbound signal (right):
Since both the straight and turnout route (to the Metrolink servicing tracks) are “dark” territory, the above signal, in theory, should only display red over red, flashing red over red, red over flashing red (probably the most common as a cleared signal), or dark (off).
Note the front signal has a “W. L. MAPES” sign, and the background signal has a sign by it that reads “END CTC.”
Paved parking lot views:
Continued in Part V
Part III (of I-VI)
By the CP … Note the east side westbound ABSOLUTE signal has a “P” plate. Does anybody know what a “P” plate is for on an absolute signal?
K.P. is most familiar with “P” plates as ‘Permissive’ on INTERMEDIATE signals, but the ones in question are on absolutes.
It is unclear if the above signal will be used much or not, but also the east side westbound signal for the layover yard tracks also has a “P” plate.
The old track (foreground) in relation to the three news tracks:
Continued in Part IV
Part II (of I-VI)
A good inbound view to compare the three servicing tracks with the far left San Jac line … Note the absolute signal on the far background left.
The initial teaser view is reshown below with the center of three tracks:
Further west a bit, but still nearby … Fencing has been begun, on the south side of the old track.
Part I (of I-VI)
From Mapes Road, an inbound view at the end of the Perris Valley Line tracks. The far left grade crossing track is the BNSF freight track, and the right tracks are for the PVL end of line servicing and storage tracks.
Mapes Road is no longer straight, but has been altered for accessing the South Perris PVL terminal.
Look at all those lights for the service tracks, and also a bumper post!
Wow! South Perris!
Since the last visit to the Perris (CA) area a little after New Year’s (2016), whopping advances have been made at the South Perris end of the line stop area.
The above photo was shot looking inbound from Mapes Road at the southernmost end of the Perris Valley Line. Three tracks are for what looks like overnight storage and cleaning of trains, and are separate from the old “San Jac” line.
Closer to the downtown Perris stop, track has been laid connecting the Perris Valley Line to the Orange Empire Railway Museum (OERM), but at this time it is only in a very crude state.
A photo update is hoped to be posted in a few days.
Update as of Thursday, January 28, 2016
The Poarch Road Grade Crossing
Riverside, CA
The Poarch Road grade crossing (on the Box Spring grade) was found to be crudely closed off with barricades, where even emergency responders would find it a bit challenging to get through.
An uninitiated visitor to the area would probably scratch their head in disbelief at seeing the location.
This grade crossing is one of the more difficult to photograph, as there is roadway curbing on the narrow road that is not conducive to parking. Apparently, a white truck (photo right) found the grade crossing a convenient and basically the only place to park
Update as of Wednesday, December 30, 2015
The Perris Valley Line and …
… a Section of Signals
Part “C” (of A-C)
By Box Springs Road and River Crest Drive
The UP-like (similar) entrance signal was lit because of track equipment in the spur.
The absolute signal in the far background is for the CP where the paralleling dark freight line trackage ends and cuts into the signaled PVL.
A highly blown up view of the switch area shows NO discernable method of throwing the switch, no motor of switch stand, at least from the angle of the camera.
The Next Signal to the North (West)
Earlier, because the eastbound 60 Freeway out of Riverside was crawling, K.P. got around everybody by some surface street tricks he knows about. At Poarch Road, where the next intermediate signal is located at, the new grade crossing was completely closed and super barricaded, so that (I think) not even emergency responders could get through. On the return trip through the area, there had been a big wreck of some sort on the northbound lanes of the I-215 Freeway by the junction with the 60 Freeway, with numerous CHP vehicles parked here and there, and again, K.P. knew a few tricks to go around the mess, but unfortunately that roundabout trick didn’t allow K.P. to get photos of the super close Poarch Road grade crossing.
For the forum's information, the upcoming Tuesday dispatch had been moved back to Saturday (yesterday, January 2, 2016), and the dispatches to ‘deep within Riverside County’ is now over. But, K.P. should be able to get back to the Perris Valley Line with no probable from time to time for continued post reports.
Part “B” (of A-C)
The Moreno Valley / March Field Stop
From Cactus Ave., looking inbound:
Note the signal in the far background. It was displaying yellow. What triggered the approach lit intermediate (yes, it has a number plate, 731) to be on is unclear, as there was NO trains on the line anywhere.
A few weeks ago K.P. saw a PVL train (without passengers) a mile or so to the south that was approaching the signal at restricted speed, likely because of passing a red signal. Maybe the line has a playful ghost in one of the signal boxes nearby.
Continued in Part C
Part “A” (of A-C)
CP POP A WHEELIE
Photography between Harley Knox Road and Box Springs Road was pursued, and it soon became apparent this series’ title should involve the word ‘signals.’
An inbound view from Harley Knox Road involving a mast signal, a view that has much more in it than what first meets the eye.
A high blow-up of the same photo reveals much.
Above, the mast signal has NO number plates, hence, involves absolute signals and NOT intermediates (which have number plates).
Note the green upward arrow sign. Beyond the curve the commuter train speed limit is 79 M.P.H.!
Also, on the far left of the photo, is milepost marker “77.”
Joking aside, according to the visible CP sign the single mast with heads facing both ways is CP HARLEY, named after the Harley Knox Blvd., the street the overpass photo was shot from.
Super strangely, immediately across from the mast and its signal heads, NO insulated joints seem to be on the PVL track! Has anyone ever seen that before? Of course, the situation may only be an illusion caused by the view angle and highly ballasted high track. If so, what an illusion it is!
An Emphasis on PVL Signals
On probably the second to last K.P. dispatch to ‘deep into Riverside County,’ the Perris Valley Line’s new signals between Harley Knox Blvd. (just out of the northern limits Perris) and Box Springs Blvd. (eastern Riverside) were targeted for photographing. An upcoming series will show the findings results.
K.P. on the way back to base after many, many hours stopped by the present end of the lines in San Bernardino to see if any BNSF power was being used yet so both ends would have a locomotive on trains. But, no such BNSF power was spotted, and the trains there still had cabcars on the western ends.
In case any may be wondering about the red splotch on the upper right of the above picture cabcar, K.P. presumes it was only the super nearby signal, the one as recorded back on November 19, 2015.
In any case, a one or two (or three) post presentation about a few signals between Harley Knox Blvd. and Box Springs Blvd. should be forthcoming in a few days.
Update as of Friday, December 18, 2015
Unexpected Advances at the Downtown Perris Stop
Part II (of I-II)
Just to the north of the downtown Perris stop, the grade crossing at San Jacinto Ave. looks very completed now. A very wide angle westward view:
Southward (outbound) view with the rod iron fencing all in place:
While the above photo was being shot, it was noticed that the train signal facing this way at 4th Street was on, with a flashing yellow aspect.
No train came nor was one in the area, so it is unknown exactly why the signal was lit. Behind the camera, the signal facing south for north running trains was off.
It looks like the below signal just north of the Downtown Perris stop might have had one too many drinks, with the top head kind of leaning to one side
K.P. initially had no intention of posting the above photo. But, way in the background, on the left, it looked like a signal had been erected. A signal there made no sense. Was a new siding being put in?
He drove over that way, and the on the downward ramp out of view on the below photo’s right, but no signal trackside could be found … anywhere! It was only found the next day with the computer in highly blowing up photos mode. There was not only the signal, but two of them! Not train signals, but freeway spacing signals typically used on freeway onramps at busy parts of the day.
So, if you visit the area, like San Jacinto Ave., don’t get excited about new train signals you might see in the distance. They are just freeway onramp traffic spacing signals, and not the likes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents! Old timers likely will remember that TV show …
This will conclude the brief series.
Part I (of I-II)
K.P. was not expecting a new pedestrian grade crossing at the downtown Perris station stop.
It is so new that the fencing during construction hasn’t even been taken down yet.
A southward slant:
Guard Shack
When did this guard shack at the Perris platform show up?
K.P. talked to a nice and friendly guard, and he said it has been there for a while, it seems like back in February (2015). Man, has it been that long since K.P. walked the platform?
Hey, K.P.! Perhaps the Redlands Loop would use equipment similar to the Sprinter line from Oceanside to Escondido - articulated single cars with diesel power. It is my understanding that they can be hooked together as multiple units if needed.
The Sprinter system's DMU railcars (see photo, below) are manufactured by the German carbuilder Siemens Transportation Systems. Each car is propelled by two 440-horsepower Mercedes diesel engines beneath the floor of the passenger cabin. The maximum permissible speed of the trains is 55 mph. Each car seats 136, with room for 90 standing passengers; and on most trips, the transit district plans to couple two cars together. Through multiple-unit controls, the driver has control of all four diesel engines in a 2-car train. The car body is made of aluminum integral construction; the empty weight is 67 tons. Every car has three different braking systems. When running below 15 mph, the vehicle uses the regular wheel brakes (air brakes). When the train is moving above 15 mph, the cars are slowed by an engine retarder, not by the regular brakes. The third braking system is an electromagnetic track brake (using three electromagnets) located in the trucks (bogeys). When the train goes into emergency braking, all brake systems are applied at once. The initial fleet consists of twelve vehicles provided by Siemens at a cost of $52.2 million.
Sprinter system uses DMU rolling stock provided by Siemens Transportation Systems.[Photo: Richard Elgenson]
Memo to ccltrains (continued) …
Some type of earthmoving-work was taking place at photo time south (left) of a waterway that is just south of the track.
Just east of the north-south Mountain View Ave. is a sidewalk, and just east of that is a mystery fenced pathway, possibly for equestrian (horses) purposes.
Does that jog your memory about that aerial view?
The pieces of equipment were being jockeyed around.
All this may or may not be of help in identifying the location you saw on national TV.
In the past, reports of rebuilding this San Bernardino-Redlands line indicated regular Metrolink trains would NOT pass here, but a self-propelled single car would, which sounds kind of crazy to me. I personally wonder if between such runs the self-propelled car might make a trip south to Riverside, and then travel over the Perris Valley Line to Perris and back. There must be some commuters that travel between Perris and Redlands.
Likely this San Bernardino-Redlands line, as with the Perris Valley Line, would not have any sidings for meets, at least at first.
Take care, ccltrains,
K.P.
A Surprise Development at the …
… Downtown Perris Stop
On Friday, December 18, 2015 the downtown Perris stop was visited, and towards the south end of the bus-Metrolink platform a sidewalk crossing with gates and flashers was found to have been put in! The track thus will be BETWEEN two parking lot areas. It is all construction fenced off presently, but the addition of a crossing path explains how patrons at the east parking lot can get over the west boarding area. Photos and more details soon …
To ccltrains: Is This What You Saw on TV?
You reported seeing very recently (on national TV about that terrorist mass shooting incident in San Bernardino) a helicopter aerial view of the Redlands Loop with ‘ties’ blocking the track. Previously, K.P. could not find the location, and on the date reported above could not find it either in a swing by an area further east. However, a large bush growth on the track west of Mountain View Ave. (that is towards Redlands) was spotted, and it is wondered if you mistook that bush growth as seen from a helicopter for ties.
As seen above, the bush is towards the end of a curve. Does that fit your recollections of the TV view, ccltrains, or was it on straight track?
A piece of rail is missing between that bush and Mountain View Ave.
A view the other way to illustrate the present deplorable condition of the ex-Santa Fe Redlands Loop branch:
Above, the bridging for the I-10 Freeway (that runs from California to Florida) is in the background.
Continued …
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