Right now double track is in place approximately 70% +/- across El Dorado Lake and the bridge is a double track bridge with one track laid across it.
Single track stretches from just east of the El Dorado Lake bridge down to the City of El Dorado.
There is one road overpass of the railroad at Myers Road, with the railroad passing beneath that bridge.
It is hard to tell from Google if that overpass has the span to have a second track laid underneath it or not.
It looks like filling the gap between double track will entail widening the west 30% or so to the causeway over El Dorado Lake and dealing with any issues at the Myers Road vehicle bridge as the two most complicated tasks of the project.
kgbw49Right now double track is in place approximately 70% +/- across El Dorado Lake and the bridge is a double track bridge with one track laid across it.
Yeahaah OK, it still looks pretty narrow for two tracks. Spacing must be pretty tight like 16.000 ft I've seen on older ATSF ROW.
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! ***
Maybe they will add a third span so that they continue to have a service road along side the rail?
With the investment at Sibley, it sure seems BNSF is committed to 100% double track or better between Chicago and Hobart.
There can't be that much left after the Flint Hills project is completed.
'F90, you are likely one of the best, if not the best, resources on the topic. The Swami of The Southern Transcon and Nostradamus of The Northern Transcon.
What do you think will be left to do after the Flint Hills to get the Southern Transcon to 100%?
Thank you in advance for any insight!
kgbw49What do you think will be left to do after the Flint Hills to get the Southern Transcon to 100%?
As has been mentioned previously, a new bridge at Sibley MO and the lesser span at Alva OK are the only single track sections known. I haven't yet come across what, if any, track changes will be done for the new Barstow facility.
Grading is pretty active on the Emporia sub 2MT project west of Matfield Green. Pictures are available at The Other railfan site. To see full screen you have to have a membership.
Concerning the Mulvane-Ellinor section. We have three bridges: The bridge that's a part of the Lake El Dorado Causeway, Rock Creek at Bazaar, and Cedar Creek just southwest of Ellinor. The former is already good to go for 2MT. However does anyone have the heads up on the latter two?
Rock Creek-https://www.google.com/maps/@38.2651348,-96.5384785,254m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0
Cedar Creek-https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3616008,-96.4846166,334m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0
SD60MAC9500Concerning the Mulvane-Ellinor section. We have three bridges: The bridge that's a part of the Lake El Dorado Causeway, Rock Creek at Bazaar, and Cedar Creek just southwest of Ellinor. The former is already good to go for 2MT. However does anyone have the heads up on the latter two?
I'm not onsite with a camera but IMO the Cedar Creek bridge should long be done as that section is operational 2MT. Rock Creek should be well on its way as that part of the sub upgrade should be complete 'next year'.
Anyone tracked down some newer aerial photos? Harder to get than Ukraine for some reason.
The bing maps photo shows construction at Cedar Creek.
https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=9d49f065-8264-434c-afaf-3f49f16d0272&cp=38.36154~-96.484814&lvl=18.815332&style=a&pi=0&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027
The STB has approved of BNSF reacquiring the former Northern Pacific back from Montana Rail Link for $2 billion.
That restablishes the complete Northern Pacific transcontinental route under one corporate entity.
it will be interesting to see what capacity improvements BNSF undertakes on the former MRL.
kgbw49it will be intersting to see what capacity improvements BNSF undertakes on the former MRL.
Absolutely! When I get motivated to track down a recent MRL timetable with siding locations and lengths, I will update my Northern Transcon map according; then maybe I can offer some speculation about possible improvements.
[quote user="MikeF90"]
kgbw49 it will be intersting to see what capacity improvements BNSF undertakes on the former MRL.
[/quote]
Friday, Mar.10th,2023: I cannot speak to its' destination; but about 11.15 AM this morning.
There was what appeared to be a large,[possibly, a 'double' section(?), self-unloading, Contractor's Ballast Train; [ E.Bnd at Mulvane(Main 3) Eldorado sub. ]
I'd guess, it's destination is, possibly, the subject of Mike F90's, and kgbw's, preceeding, Thread discussion? (They've [BNSF(?)] also had staged here in Mulvane,(a couple of weeks now). A 'heavy' railroad crane, equipped with a long boom, which was moved down from the construction area(?).
So the 'signs' seem to point, in the direction of the prjected bridges; and causway being 'pushed' to a 'compleation' out towards Eldorado Lake area(?).. Maybe, the short sections aroud Augusta, won't be too far off in the future?
Have not read anything on the Emporia sub 2MT project lately, but the new Spokane River bridge work is underway: https://www.railwayage.com/mw/bnsf-rebuilds-one-bridge-begins-another-in-the-northwest/?RAchannel=news Refurbishment of the older bridge near Sandpoint is progressing well and may be complete this year to add the second main track.
Google earth has updated their overhead photo of Needles, CA. The construction of the BNSF 3rd and 4th main tracks is very visible. I was surprised to see that the new tracks follow an old jug handle alignment near Golf, rather than the newer construction which cuts across and straightens out this feature. I assume this was done to control the grade.
Interesting to see how well they blended the old and new images.
Just found a new long bridge east of Ibis for the third MT:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1VRnODytoJvQobOqykJUwAH2FU4w&ll=34.915893057169846%2C-114.76958946650704&z=18
I haven't seen signs of a fourth MT extension west, however the new railcam shows the crew change point on 4MT at Needles can be extremely busy.
Perhaps my ninety-one-year-old memory is failing; but I think the 'jug handle' route was the later one and was created to reduce the westward gradient.
Ibis refers to Camp Ibis which was a desert warfare training camp set up in World War II.
http://skytrail.info/new/camp_ibis.htm
kgbw49 Ibis refers to Camp Ibis which was a desert warfare training camp set up in World War II. http://skytrail.info/new/camp_ibis.htm
Cool link, thanks
Digging around it looks like camp was named after the siding.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Ibis
The site of the Camp Ibis 8 miles (13 km) East of Needles, California off Highway 95, north of Interstate 40 in San Bernardino County, California. The camp was originally named after the Ibis railroad siding in Piute Valley. The camp was located at the west side of the Dead Mountains Wilderness.
Makes sense. I wonder if Ibis was some railroad person who had a railroad location named after him?
Desert warfare training - almost surely was for the North Africa Campaign.
kgbw49I wonder if Ibis was some railroad person who had a railroad location named after him?
I'm pretty sure AT&SF just picked some names in alphabetical order. Per my timetable old station names are Amboy, Bolo, Cadiz, Danby, Essex, Fenner, Goffs, Homer, Ibis, Java, Klinefelter.
Per posts on other forums it appears that the new third MT is being built west to Homer or CP E. Goffs.
kgbw49 Makes sense. I wonder if Ibis was some railroad person who had a railroad location named after him? Desert warfare training - almost surely was for the North Africa Campaign.
Ibis is a wetland bird and can be found in California, although I think of their iconic association with the Nile River in Egypt.
Thank you for that, MidlandMike! Very cool!
What is not being remembered: the SP built the line from Barstow to Needles and subsequently traded it to Santa Fe. SP created the names in question.
Not much different from the line in MO I read about not long ago where the station names were someone's children.
I did a conceptual model railroad some years ago (on paper - never built) and the station/town names were in alphabetical order. Nice to know there's a prototype for just about anything...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
In my area of the U.S., the 'Alphabet Towns' are fairly common. About 20 miles south of me, the line of towns along the railroad go from the letter 'B' to the letter 'M'.
York1 John
On a side note, construction has begun on the new 1st Ave. bridge in Barstow. Work can be watched on the VRF Barstow-West camera. The new bridge is being built on the west side and the current bridge will be removed when complete.
diningcar What is not being remembered: the SP built the line from Barstow to Needles and subsequently traded it to Santa Fe. SP created the names in question.
Yep they traded the Needles-Barstow section for Santa Fe's Sonora Railway that was built between Nogales, Sonora-Mazatlan, Sinaloa later extended to Guadalajara. This secton was operated as Southern Pacific de Mexico. SP sold it to Mexican Government in the early 50's. The route today is operated by Ferromex.
Per an unexpected post from a KS local on TO, the second MT between Ellinor and Chelsea is now fully operational. This leaves the single track segments west of El Dorado Lake as the remainder of the project.
See southern transcon points: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1VRnODytoJvQobOqykJUwAH2FU4w
MikeF90 Have not read anything on the Emporia sub 2MT project lately, but the new Spokane River bridge work is underway: https://www.railwayage.com/mw/bnsf-rebuilds-one-bridge-begins-another-in-the-northwest/?RAchannel=news Refurbishment of the older bridge near Sandpoint is progressing well and may be complete this year to add the second main track.
Memorial Day -Mon- 5/29/2023
I have no way to access the line between Mulvne and Augusta, but from where I am (Eldorado Sub,Main 3, abnout mp;126/127; traffic, both east and west seems to move mostly at track speed....( a couple of years ago, BNSF replaced the switch onto Main 3) ,with a switch capable of what, seems to be track speed >40+mph (?) <: at least, we see some of the double stackers not slow down when they make that corner, west, towards Wellington.... I've not noticed,of late, of apparent 'construction traffic' (?) moving either way. But speed and volumn has definitely picked up ...
samfp1943 ADD: P.S to (5-29-2023) Memorial Day posting; Since other poster's here havenoted that,apparently,the Fall-Summer Construction Projects,West of the Eldorado Lake Causeway and Rose Hill.Ks. There is also a 'frequency' in the number of "Land Barges":( Longer trains.rimarily, Container's,,stacked and otherwise.) They now seem to , go botth directions, two or three times a week. Their make-up is generally, a block of all 53' ers and then import/export types(?). The mid train dpu'S can be in pairssamfp1943 Post Body Enter your post below. samfp1943 Post Body Enter your post below. samfp1943 Post Body Enter your post below. samfp1943 Post Body Enter your post below. samfp1943 Post Body Enter your post below. , or several , and most always on onrear of train. MikeF90 Have not read anything on the Emporia sub 2MT project lately, but the new Spokane River bridge work is underway: https://www.railwayage.com/mw/bnsf-rebuilds-one-bridge-begins-another-in-the-northwest/?RAchannel=news Refurbishment of the older bridge near Sandpoint is progressing well and may be complete this year to add the second main track. Memorial Day -Mon- 5/29/2023 I have no way to access the line between Mulvne and Augusta, but from where I am (Eldorado Sub,Main 3, abnout mp;126/127; traffic, both east and west seems to move mostly at track speed....( a couple of years ago, BNSF replaced the switch onto Main 3) ,with a switch capable of what, seems to be track speed >40+mph (?) <: at least, we see some of the double stackers not slow down when they make that corner, west, towards Wellington.... I've not noticed,of late, of apparent 'construction traffic' (?) moving either way. But speed and volumn has definitely picked up ...
ADD: P.S to (5-29-2023) Memorial Day posting;
Since other poster's here havenoted that,apparently,the Fall-Summer Construction Projects,West of the Eldorado Lake Causeway and Rose Hill.Ks. There is also a 'frequency' in the number of "Land Barges":( Longer trains.rimarily, Container's,,stacked and otherwise.) They now seem to , go botth directions, two or three times a week. Their make-up is generally, a block of all 53' ers and then import/export types(?). The mid train dpu'S can be in pairs
samfp1943 Post Body Enter your post below.
samfp1943 MikeF90 Have not read anything on the Emporia sub 2MT project lately, but the new Spokane River bridge work is underway: https://www.railwayage.com/mw/bnsf-rebuilds-one-bridge-begins-another-in-the-northwest/?RAchannel=news Refurbishment of the older bridge near Sandpoint is progressing well and may be complete this year to add the second main track. Memorial Day -Mon- 5/29/2023 I have no way to access the line between Mulvne and Augusta, but from where I am (Eldorado Sub,Main 3, abnout mp;126/127; traffic, both east and west seems to move mostly at track speed....( a couple of years ago, BNSF replaced the switch onto Main 3) ,with a switch capable of what, seems to be track speed >40+mph (?) <: at least, we see some of the double stackers not slow down when they make that corner, west, towards Wellington.... I've not noticed,of late, of apparent 'construction traffic' (?) moving either way. But speed and volumn has definitely picked up ...
06/14/2023--Unable tk edit out problem extra postingsinthis poist..../Apooartently, Javascript and my /puter are on the outs??? SamFP1943
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