As reported elsewhere the Orange Empire Railway Museum and the City of Perris just kicked off the start of a fund raising campaign to build the new grade crossings for the museum's track. This will cost several hundred thousand dollars, so please support the museum if you can. Hopefully more details will appear on the above linked web sites.
Coincidentally, a Metrolink contractor will be closing local grade crossings periodically this month to upgrade them for the new Perris line service.
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! ***
Update as of Wednesday, December 10, 2014
The Highgrove Area to the Box Springs Area
Riverside, CA
Part “A” (of A-D, Overall A-H)
Just north of Citrus Ave. in the Highgrove area, the future interlocking has two signals that have been erected. View looks north.
From off the BNSF Transcom (out of view on the west), the future line (lower left grading) will curve into this interlocking (right).
Continued in Part 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 “B” (of A-D, Overall A-H)
Just south of Citrus Ave., a short runaround track is present. Apparently it will not be a controlled, short siding, as it is too close to the CP behind the camera.
Southward about three or four blocks is Marlborough Ave. (camera location, looking north).
Looking south, a group of cars are parked, and another signal is present.
Just behind that mast signal is an old ballasted strip, where the old Riverside Industrial Lead once crossed.
(In 1905 when the Los Angeles & Salt Lake (LA&SL) started operations, for several months their trains passed on the ballasted, now trackless strip until an agreement could be worked out with the Santa Fe for trackage rights between Riverside and Colton. There was a switch in Colton by what is now the Colton Flyover on the Sunset Route.)
Between those signals is a switch (second photo in this Part), with a new track curving into what was the Riverside Industrial Lead (upper right).
Those new signals may (“may”) NOT be part of a CP interlocking plant, but merely protection on each side of the spur track switch. On the other hand, a siding may be put in here southward in the light that San Jac type freights need to park here to switch the industries on the Riverside Industrial Lead's tail end. Time will tell on that, though.
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-D, Overall A-H)
The immediate area:
The tied down cars …
… were there because the rest of the train was on that ex-Riverside Industrial Lead where engines were switching the business park type trackage about a mile away. Note the switch is locked in reverse.
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-D, Overall A-H)
A number of construction workers were at the Marlborough Ave. future Metrolink station site.
Just above note the CP signals in the way, far background. The back one has TWO heads. The foreground signal (just above, right), has a lower head too! Therefore, it would seem a siding of some sort could (“could”) be built behind the camera. We have a year of construction ahead, and many surprises and unexpected track arrangements may (“may”) present themselves.
The red, elevated water tank with the Ames Construction “A” insignia rests in an area that now looks like a construction zone.
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Continued in Parts E-H, about the Mt. Vernon Ave. grade crossing vicinity at the foothills of the Box Spring Mountain area, to be presented Monday, December 15, 2014 by 6:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time.
Part “E” (of E-H, Overall A-H)
We now move over to the Mt. Vernon Ave. grade crossing, and much activity is taking place there. The most glaring is the new walling being erected. Looking outbound:
Other activity is present too. Outbound views still.
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of E-H, Overall A-H)
A burial base has been put in.to the east of Mt. Vernon Ave., probably 50-100 feet from the grade crossing itself, likely for a signal.
The burial base is on an uphill grade and near a partial U-shape, steeply elevating route (see top of below photo).
That walling again, on the photo left, with the track on the far right.
Continued in Part G
Part “G” (of E-H, Overall A-H)
Looking inbound from Mt. Vernon Ave., note the stack of plastic rapped bricks on the left.
Another view:
The new walling takes an odd indentation going towards the tracks (photo center), and then returns to following the boundaries of the right-of-way (line of vertical rebar on upper left).
Continued in Part H
Part “H” (of E-H, Overall A-H)
Another inbound (westbound) view with the present, old grade crossing box:
Lastly, looking inbound, the indented walling again with the line’s present joint rail going back around the curve and towards Blaine Street.
It would seem (“seem,” not that it will) a siding could be put in somewhere in this area. But, there are a number of grade crossings west of Mt. Vernon Ave. that would be a problem. Another possibility is back at Marlborough Ave. where that San Jac type train was parked blocking the line while the power was off switching industries on the old Riverside Industrial Lead some distance away. A controlled, CTC siding could be put in there. It shouldn’t be too terribly long now before the track layout becomes obvious as to how things will be.
This will end the series.
Egad another hidious wall that will be another tagger heaven, like the photo-blog and thanks for sharing.
BastaTimEgad another hideous wall that will be another tagger heaven, like the photo-blog and thanks for sharing.
It was either that or a tunnel under Islander Park. Oops, attractive nuisance alert.
K. P. Harrier ... snip ... Another possibility is back at Marlborough Ave. where that San Jac type train was parked blocking the line while the power was off switching industries on the old Riverside Industrial Lead some distance away. A controlled, CTC siding could be put in there.
K.P., thank you as always for a wonderful photo set. Two thoughts come to mind--
(1) Lost opportunity to have a station near UC Riverside (although much opposition was had)
(2) That super-elevated curve in Box Springs reminds me of the Vincent Grade on the Antelope Line between Acton and Palmdale
Announcing a Perris Valley Line Update Series
On Friday, December 19, 2014 K.P. was able to photograph several construction areas of the Perris Valley Line, including the new signal at the north end of the present freight Alessandro siding in Riverside. Also photographed was the new Alessandro Station site with a morning long line of construction related trucks waiting to get into the facility.
Photographed too was the CP turnout status north of Nuevo Rd. in Perris. (Don’t get your hopes up because the turnout still is NOT there.)
A short series presentation is in preparation and should be ready for posting in a few days.
Update as of Friday, December 19, 2014
By the I-215 Freeway South of the 60 Freeway to Perris
Part I (of I-V)
Just south of Eastridge Ave., alongside the I-215 Freeway, is the Alessandro siding on the ‘dark’ San Jac line. It is receiving CTC signals now.
Above, a photo right signal has not been erected … yet, anyway. Will a signal be put between the tracks, or the earth moved out of the way on the right so the dirt road can go around it?
Above, too, the cut of railcars is not continuous, but has a gap in them.
South maybe a mile is Alessandro Blvd., and south of that is where a new Perris Valley Line station stop is being built.
Trucks were repeatedly turning into the future complex. There was a backlog of trucks waiting to get into the future facility.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-V)
Activity and equipment thereat:
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-V)
The facility seems to have two levels, an upper (for parking) and a lower, track level (for boarding).
That lower level had a separate line of trucks too.
Note the present dirt ramp on the upper left:
A laddered signal with a head facing only one way, towards Perris, for inbound trains to Los Angeles:
That above signal also only has one top head. The present, short Alessandro siding (see north end, first photo Part I), is ONLY a mile to the north, which siding has a two-head signal at its south end (not photographed). Thus, unless there will be another northbound signal between the two, that one head signal (photo just above) does not seem (“not seem”) to match the track layout. Perhaps by the next K.P.’s passing through the area things will have developed further.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-V)
Near downtown Perris, north of Nuevo Rd., is the new CP going in. In the middle photo, the plastic head covering (right signal) has red tape on it.
The last photo above, the turnout still has not been installed, nor even brought to the site.
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-V)
The CP box, with the Nuevo Rd. bridge in the background.
Looking north from the new CP area, the ground has a ballasted path, but no track yet. K.P. has heard nothing about the present, old, dilapidated San Jac line’s track being upgraded or not.
So, the line is steadily receiving new things and construction progressing, but has a long way to go still. Reportedly, commuter trains will be running on the Perris Valley Line in early 2016.
This will conclude the series.
K.P.,
Thank you for this latest photo set! I look forward to the months to come, to see what exactly will happen with all the signals, upgrades, etc.
Brief Update as of Saturday, December 27, 2014
Up On and Near the BNSF-Iowa Ave Overpass
Riverside-Highgrove, CA
Up on the new Iowa Ave. overpass in very lowering afternoon sunlight, looking basically northeast, the area where the Perris Valley Line will sharply curve-cut into the triple-track BNSF line:
From Iowa Ave, looking directly east down Citrus Street, with the Perris Valley line grade crossing in the distance:
Just above, if there was a Perris Valley Line train traveling right to left, it would shortly after the grade crossing, on the left would transition on the sharp curve extending to the first photo in this series.
From the north looking south, that grading (background), with the BNSF in the foreground:
Northeast of where the Perris Valley Line will connect to BNSF’s Main 3, a switch is on gondolas which is parked on a side track.
That switch above has wood ties, just as the BNSF triple-track line does.
Update as of January 3, 2015
The Mt Vernon Ave. / Box Springs Area
Part “A” (of A-C)
The area was visited on the above date, and the below is what was found.
The Mt. Vernon Ave. grade crossing: Materials for walling are on site.
Some sound deadening walling is up. The track is behind the greenery on the photo bottom.
The walkway that kids walk to school on is rain deteriorating.
Part “B” (of A-C)
This area is considered a public park of sorts, and may be why the judge in the lawsuit last year sided with the plaintiffs.
Just above, note also the sinister snake on the second, lower sign.
The new sloping seems to be earth deteriorating.
Part “C” (of A-C)
A few other going up the hill shots:
K. P. Harrier Update as of January 3, 2015 The Mt Vernon Ave. / Box Springs Area Part “B” (of A-C) This area is considered a public park of sorts, and may be why the judge in the lawsuit last year sided with the plaintiffs. Just above, note also the sinister snake on the second, lower sign. The new sloping seems to be earth deteriorating. Continued in Part C
Johnny
The Tier 4 Prime Mover Problem
Reportedly, Metrolink has 10 EMD F125 locomotives on order for delivery sometime this year, 2015. There is also word that EMD is having Tier 4 problems, i.e., the federally mandated goal might not be met until 2017. If so, could the Perris Valley Line be started in 2016 with only the present fleet of power?
Since most of Metrolink’s power spends its life sitting still, awaiting a run, the Perris Valley Line should be able to start even without the new power. What does everyone else think?
K. P. Harrier The Tier 4 Prime Mover Problem Reportedly, Metrolink has 10 EMD F125 locomotives on order for delivery sometime this year, 2015. There is also word that EMD is having Tier 4 problems, i.e., the federally mandated goal might not be met until 2017. If so, could the Perris Valley Line be started in 2016 with only the present fleet of power? Since most of Metrolink’s power spends its life sitting still, awaiting a run, the Perris Valley Line should be able to start even without the new power. What does everyone else think?
A good question for the schedule analyzers. The PVL will be an extension of an existing line, so MLNK may be able to squeeze in the additional mileage/time on 'some' existing movements. Hopefully they will have a couple of locos in reserve.
BTW the new, as yet unproven EMD locos are due next year at the earliest:
http://www.metrolinktrains.com/news/news_item/news_id/899.html
Status Update
On Wednesday, January 14, 2015 K.P. found much progress and advancement on the Perris Valley Line construction, such as at the South Perris end of the line future station area, where signals had been erected.
A photo report on the findings should be ready for posting in a few days.
MikeF90BTW the new, as yet unproven EMD locos are due next year at the earliest: http://www.metrolinktrains.com/news/news_item/news_id/899.html
Mike, do you have a reference that mentions exactly what these locomotives are supposed to cost? There is too much doubletalk and evasion in the referenced item... I can figure out, I think, that the 34.66M that supposedly pays for 17 locomotives actually doesn't pay the whole amount, and the 17M that supposedly lets them add 'three' more isn't just for three locomotives, but surely there is something from Metrolink or perhaps EMD that indicates the actual cost rather than the clever shenanigans and political exploits used to raise the funds.
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