A Revisit Friday, February 10, 2017
Photos were taken on the above date of the trackwork just east of the San Bernardino depot, how half of two crossovers have been installed. (See left of photo center)
Above photo, on the far left, are BNSF Mains 1, 2, and 3, left to right. On the photo right is presumable Metrolink Main 1 with a crossover to an out of view presumably Main 2. That leaves a track between the BNSF and Metrolink tracks that goes to the past and future (but not present) nighttime servicing area. However, all THOSE tracks do NOT jive with the tracks north of the Depot, suggesting maybe BNSF Mains 1, 2, and 3 may be moved north one track alignment. K.P. doesn’t think he was dreaming, but on a very recent passing by he remembers seeing a new mast signal erected between those two new half crossovers, but hasn’t seen it since. It is entirely possible the decision was just made to alter the location of the BNSF mains to keep moving freight away from Metrolink patrons, especially children.
It should be noted that those crossovers suggest signals will be erected governing those tracks, especially for BNSF Main 3 (the third track rightward from the far left).
K.P. also visited the Rialto Ave. and “I” Street area, and the “G” Street grade crossing. On the latter, the south tracks for the downtown stop are in and signals erected. In both locations K.P. has photos, as well as a few more of that east of the depot mystery. As soon as he can a series on such will be posted for the forum. Possibly early next week.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
The Visit Friday, February 10, 2017
A Focus on the Rialto Ave. and …
… “G” Street Grade Crossings
Part I (of I-VI)
The east side of the San Bernardino depot area was visited, and as reported in the teaser announcing this series, crossovers are being installed east of the depot.
Crossovers here would imply BNSF Main 3 (the track on the left with an eastbound auto-rack train on it) will soon have new signals erected for it.
At the previous (“previous”) Rialto Ave. and “I” Street intersection, “I” Street no longer goes through. A wide sidewalk allows pedestrians on “I” Street (upper right) SOUTH of Rialto Ave. to get to Rialto Ave.
From that south angled sidewalk, a northwest view:
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-VI)
A northeast view of the ex-Rialto Ave. and “I” Street single-track grade crossing that now has two-tracks through it.
Eastward to under the I-215 Freeway:
It is hard to photograph, but the south signal just east of the freeway is visible past that curve.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-VI)
Now at “G” Street, eastward views of the new cantilever signal and the track and signals on the south tracks of the new terminal.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-VI)
Looking west from the “G” Street grade crossing, the switches here have traditional looking frogs (below center) like AT&SF had and NOT the smooth going over spring frogs that Union Pacific is famous for.
In that above photo, note the SIDE guard rails. They appear to act as spring rails, and move away from the rail as the flanges go through them.
There are those signals by the I-215 Freeway. In a strange development, grade crossing panels are being put on top of trackside concrete boxes (lower right).
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-VI)
Back northwest by the Rialto Ave. grade crossing, another panel was found to have been laid on some apparently unlocked boxlike container.
While by Rialto Ave., a hi-railer zipped by which activated the crossing gates.
The cul-de-sac on “I” Street and the fenced sidewalk gates south of Rialto Ave.:
Continued in Part VI
Part VI (of I-VI)
From the south sidewalk area on Rialto Ave., an outbound view towards the I-215 Freeway:
The tracks (left) and the north of Rialto Ave. “I” Street now ends there (right):
Finally, a westward view on Rialto Ave.: Can you imagine Pacific Electric “Big Red Cars” coming at the camera down the center of Rialto Ave.? Those electric cars were big, in the 1200 series. That service ended in 1941. The Metrolink train’s cars will cross that old path.
An interesting side note about that center of Rialto Ave. street-running of decades ago, somewhere to the west and by the sidewalk, was a cantilevered target signal. A by the sidewalk cantilever counterpart signal was on the east side too, by what is now the I-215 Freeway. K.P. saw them standing guard as a kid in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Strangely, he doesn’t remember any signals on the cross track, now the Metrolink two-track extension photographed in this series. They must have been there, but probably well hidden.
K.P. can remember as a teenager too visiting Santa Fe’s West Yard Tower, and seeing a personal family friend therein, and seeing that Pacific Electric track crossing the Santa Fe “Redlands Loop” on the tower’s giant track display with track occupancy lights all over it. That old family friend would turn over in his grave if he knew how the arrangement is now! Would he ever!
This will conclude the series.
K. P. Harrier The Visit Friday, February 10, 2017 A Focus on the Rialto Ave. and … … “G” Street Grade Crossings Part IV (of I-VI) Looking west from the “G” Street grade crossing, the switches here have traditional looking frogs (below center) like AT&SF had and NOT the smooth going over spring frogs that Union Pacific is famous for. In that above photo, note the SIDE guard rails. They appear to act as spring rails, and move away from the rail as the flanges go through them. There are those signals by the I-215 Freeway. In a strange development, grade crossing panels are being put on top of trackside concrete boxes (lower right). Continued in Part V
Sort of resembles an ad hoc 'anti-theft' measure? Those panels are heavy enough to require some sort of mechanized lifting equip.?
Tickler about a Visit Sunday, March 5, 2017
The San Bernardino Depot area was visited, and quite a few things have changed in the area. The previous temporary Amtrak walkway has been relocated to the east side of the depot.
In the above view rod-iron fencing is now BETWEEN the tracks.
Because of a new access walkway, K.P. was able to obtain photos never before possible.
The track alignment shift by the overhead walkway is gone, but the new track to the west is rather crude still.
The new turnout by Rialto Ave. (west of Mt. Vernon Ave., the old “Short Way”) has been installed, but the turnout route has an unfinished gap in it still.
Composing a post series on all this is now behind the Sunset Route composition, but should be posted by the end of the week, if not earlier.
Major Observations and Developments …
… as seen Sunday, March 5, 2017
Part “A” (of A-D)
At Rialto Ave. on the old “Short Way” the new switch laying trackside has been installed.
Just west of the depot, the new bridging walkway had much glass windows installed.
On the east side of the depot, barricades have been removed and an east side Amtrak access is now present.
Continued in Part B
Part “B” (of A-D)
From that east access, an eastward view. Note the new rod-iron fencing.
Looking west:
At the east end of the new routing:
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-D)
At the east end, looking west down the southern track under that overhead walkway.
The northern track:
The north sidewalk looking west:
That BNSF westbound with DPU’s is on Main 1. Two tracks to the LEFT is Main 3, right where commuters will be on the sidewalk!
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-D)
The east end walkway looking south:
With a wide angle lens, that eastern walkway looks a long way from the depot.
Looking east at trackwork that doesn’t make sense.
According to the metrolinktrains.com website, the San Bernardino stop will be shut down for several weeks. Perhaps the tracks will be altered so that what doesn’t presently make sense (like freights trains zip right by patrons on Main 3) …
… will be altered so things make sense in the future (moved northward a track alignment). We will have to wait and see what develops.
This will end the series.
Brief Update as of Friday, March 17, 2017
Nothing but a Pot Signal
K.P. had spent the day on the western part of the Sunset Route, but briefly dropped by San Bernardino (CA) just to see if anything significant was taking place construction-wise. Nothing was, except a pot-like signal had been erected. (Right of the “W4” sign)
The unit had two light positions. Further investigation will be had when K.P. has more time, as it could be target heads or two lamp housings, possible yellow and red. But, the location has no apparent logical CTC value, at least with the current track arrangement.
Follow-Up: Weight of Grade Crossing Panels
Recently these photos were previously shown, of grade crossing panels on top of boxes, and the weights of those panels were wondered about.
The above was by "G" Street south of Rialto Ave.
BNSF on Friday, March 17, 2017 had some like panels at their grade crossing in Colton, at Valley Blvd.
A half section was 1800 pounds, 200 pounds shy of a ton, and full panel was 3400 pounds. Construction workers laying (with a truck boom) those panels on top of battery boxes or whatever can be pretty confident that non-construction workers that pass by won’t move that concrete weight off whatever they are protecting.
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Exciting Visit of Saturday, April 1, 2017 while …
… the San Bernardino Stop was Closed-Off
The San Bernardino depot area was visited on the above date, and some signals were lit, and much trackwork activity was taking place. On the west end, a new crossover was being installed unto itself. What?
During the visit it was concluded that the mysterious switches east of the depot are merely derails.
Cropped previously shown photo
It became obvious that BNSF trains WILL zoom by the northern platform, but the developing TRACKWORK indicates there is a trick to it!
Photos, details, and an assessment in a few days …
Update as of Saturday, April 1, 2017
While the Metrolink Stop is all Tore-Up …
… a Camera Prowls Around
Part I (of I-VIII)
Our first stop is the east side westbound signals at CP KENDALL, east of the San Bernardino depot. The signals now face trains and are operative, displaying red over red.
The west side eastbound signals are lit too. The area right up to and south of the south track is paved.
Plants are colorful.
Part II (of I-VIII)
Just north of the east end of the old depot, an eastward view of the now lit signal and pavement right up to the track.
Looking west, the new overhead walkway:
That Metrolink Main 1 signal:
If the new switch (on BNSF Main 3, background middle switch) just to the east is a derail …
… it would seem some sort of signaling would be required.
Part III (of I-VIII)
From the Mt. Vernon Ave. Viaduct bridge, eastward looking towards the old San Bernardino depot.
Above, two-tracks are under that new overhead walkway bridge, presumably, from left to right, Metrolink Mains 1 and 2. The RIGHT track, Main 2, appears to be the key track. Except for the busy morning and evening commute, Metrolink using that Main 2 would keep people away from the BNSF Mains. It should be interesting to see if the overhead bridge is off limits during the day.
An eastward telephoto:
When looking at that FIRST, top photo in this post again, that single-crossover is a maverick one! Coming at the camera that Main 2 to Main 1 track right away, as seen now looking west, swings back to the Main 2 alignment, but is now single-track as just the Main to Los Angeles.
Part IV (of I-VIII)
Looking east again (southeast), the old San Bernardino stop has been severed from the lines to the west and south.
While the “Short Way” is single-track, it does fan into more tracks as it approaches Mt. Vernon Ave.
How those tracks will relate to the old San Bernardino stop isn’t clear at this time.
Part V (of I-VIII)
The interlocking plant at Rialto Ave. has all the new signals and heads activated.
A person who looks real good will see in the top photo that the “Short Way” track is jointed! That is very uncharacteristic of Metrolink.
Two inferences are possible here with THIS grade crossing: (1) Metrolink might have plans to two-track the “Short Way” sometime in the future, at least southward to the Metrolink maintenance facility, and / or put in a grade separation. If commuter cars are switched over the present grade crossing surely such will infuriate locals and passersby motorists. Because of its complexity, a grade separation here would probably cost more than the average one, which would delight city officials because of the Federal money it would pump into the community …
It seems as though a whole lot more ballast has been brought to the site.
Part VI (of I-VIII)
An Unexpected Threat is seen
That threat is the Mt. Vernon Viaduct Bridge itself. From the southwest side things seem to look OK.
Continued in Part VII
Part VII (of I-VIII)
The 1934 finished viaduct bridge seems to be crumbling!
And, numerous vehicle accidents on the bridge over the years have put gaping holes in the bridge, and many such cases are visible with makeshift repairs with steel plates.
Continued in Part VIII
Part VIII (of I-VIII)
An Odd Quirk
Previously, some patrons parked their cars in the not too long ago new parking garage, and walked about a block north to board trains. With the new arrangement, it seems they will have about two blocks to walk, with an INDIRECT northeast walk.
It doesn’t seem that the extra walk will be looked upon favorably by the majority, except the health and exercise conscious.
A Visit Already Out-of-Date
Part I (of I-III)
From by 3rd Street looking west, numerous workers are seen. One worker said that Monday the several weeks long canceled trains (because of construction) would return to the stop. The metrolinktrains.com website confirms the trains did return to San Bernardino.
Above, note “San Bernardino” has been put on the overhead.
The Metrolink track with a switch had the motor attached.
The installed derail switch for BNSF Main 3 still has not had a switch motor attached.
A pot-like signal was put in, likely a LEFT positioned one.
Part II (of I-III)
At CP KENDALL (just east of the depot), the southernmost track has lamp positions blacked out.
A strange area is without a platform, possibly an Amtrak bus to Amtrak train boarding area.
Part III (of I-III)
On the west side of the depot, that overhead walkway now has the town’s name on it also, which lettering looks angled down onto isolated tracks.
Above, it is unclear if old tracks will be removed.
Some of those isolated tracks have other tracks on them.
The old stop’s signals are turned away from the tracks.
Exactly how the present commuter rush hours and operations are being handled on very limited trackage will have to be field checked.
Up Close at the San Bernardino Stop
Friday, April 21, 2017
Up close at the overhead:
The elevators were not certified yet, so were blocked off, with patrons having to walk way around to the commuter trains or Amtrak.
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