To: Mike90, and others: W/E of 06/26/27/28/2020; Re: BNSF- Flint Hills.
Some observations, from Mulvane, and line NE, Friday PM saw a MOW train EB, was a single unit with a string of MOW 'critters', they were placed between what looked to be a couple of very large surfacing and tamping machines. Saurday AM there was an early mixed train; the first cars were a string of about 20 or so giondolas and hopper cars; loaded with what appeared to be 'junk' ties and materials. Today, Sunday, there was an eastbnd, BNSF ballast train, euipped with solar panels, and possibly GPS dumping(?). So my guess is that the previously noted construction from the Matfield Green area, and northeast toward the Topeka area is probably moving right along. Traffic seems to move in 'fleets', both eastbnd and westbnd.
They seem to be moving an awful lot of auto carriers to the west(?). A couple of trains a day of solid auto carriers, and also in the mixed trains, as well.
It might also be a product of that construction in the Flint Hills, but in the last couple of weeks the BNSF seems to be holding trains in this area; we're about 12 miles out of Wellington Yard [to change crews(?)].
Reports by a roving, retired rail on The Other forum state that the new second main from Chelsea to Aikman will be cut in by about June 23. Other grading and bridge prep has been observed in the E Gladstone - Ellinor area.
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! ***
Emporia Sub project is still ongoing and has not been slowed down or stopped because of the conditions of the economy and the virus. Scheduled to be completed in 2022. Cannot get here fast enough and move away the 16,000k trains away from the Ark City Sub here in Wichita.
MikeF90, I was Right of Way Agent on the Asst. General Manager Engineering staff at Topeka when this occurred so I only had very minor participation with the Emporia Sub line change.
Hi @diningcar, am I remembering correctly that you worked for the AT&SF on the Crookton Cutoff? If so, did you also work on the Emporia sub reroute? TIA!
Thanks MikeF90.
Anyone who has photos of Emporia Sub new construction - posting them will be appreciated.
@diningcar, please check your Messages (PM) for one I sent a few days ago. Thanks!
samfp, when you can once more get out and about we (and me especially) would appreciate specific info as they upgrade the Emporia Sub. In addition to my personal experiences on it I, along with other friends and his family, scattered the ashes of a prominent Santa Fe Engineering Dept. man at Matfield Green and just north of the lake.
[quote user="MikeF90"]
I used to be a F.O.B. member but I refuse to do FacePalm where they are now. The above link isn't too detailed but the Coast Guard (not the USACE?) is involved. I'm surprised at any 'friction' because when the RR says 'our bridge is in danger of collapse' the permits usually get fast tracked - happened for old bridges on the line between LA and San Diego.
BTW don't you have to go to El Dorado for 'special groceries'? ....
[/quote] It might be that the Coasties are ;wnvolved' because so much of the Missouri R is navigible(?). Just a guess,[C.G.] they seem to pop up when there is any envolvement with a'problem' that might cause a 'downstream problem' on a connector that feeds into a navigable waterway . Years back, I had a 'fuel spill; on I-65 in Kentucky...The second call I got was from the Coast Guard, they had been notified by the Ky State Police...Who had been notified by the County Sheriff.. My driver had hit a big Racoon, and broke his crossover line; we bught a repaivng of about 7 mi of I-[65 and the Trk Stp Parking lot near Sheprdsville. The Coasties got invo;vede because,m a stream flowed into a river which eventually fed into Lake Michigan...
Problem with going out around here is our School Marm Gov. has locked down the whole State; our trip to ElDorado seems to be on hold for a while! Will P.M. you when we start it.
BTW don't you have to go to El Dorado for 'special groceries'?
Mike90: RE;The Emporia Sub, in the Flint Hills area: Apparently, the carloads of partially assembled switches were headed to that area(?) that I mentioned to you last week. Also, some of the EB traffic thru here has included a number of MOW ballast hoppers and loads of ties. they seem to be in the type of traffic that is some that might be classed as 'local' (?), or one that could easily do enroute swithching(?).
Traffic is moving in fleets thru here , and there seem to be pretty sizeable 'windows' between the fleeting moves(?). Still house bound here due to the COVID19 'rules'. Will let you know when we can get up to the Matfield Green area(?).
MikeF90 On the northern transcon, BNSF contractors are ramping up their work related to the second Lake Pend Oreille bridge: https://www.railwayage.com/mw/bnsf-breaks-ground-for-second-sandpoint-bridge/ No construction pictures yet except for the article lead by Bruce Kelly. The article states that "dual crossovers will be installed between the two main tracks on the Sandpoint end of the main bridges, near Dog Beach." It will be interesting to see how this is built in such tight quarters.
On the northern transcon, BNSF contractors are ramping up their work related to the second Lake Pend Oreille bridge: https://www.railwayage.com/mw/bnsf-breaks-ground-for-second-sandpoint-bridge/ No construction pictures yet except for the article lead by Bruce Kelly.
The article states that "dual crossovers will be installed between the two main tracks on the Sandpoint end of the main bridges, near Dog Beach." It will be interesting to see how this is built in such tight quarters.
Mike90: RE: Info on the Northern T-con in North Dakota; specifically, on the Missouri River bridge between Bismarck and Mandan Northj Dakota. I received an e-mail via The Friends of The BNSF; It is a fairly regular mailing, and in this one, there is a video titled:
"New Bridge Will Help North Dakota Business Get to Market"
In it are details of problems(apparent?) the the BNSF is having in getting permits to replace this 100yr. old bridge over the Missouri R. They are requesting, via a couple of links in the article for 'concerned parties" [ie: FOBNSF members] to write, or text [52886] their support for this bridge project, and maybe get the 'agencies' to get off their collective duff's, and push the required permits through!
Here is a link to the video@ http://view.email.bnsf.com/?qs=84c197a7612504f8e0807fb24717b132eb7fb44f9ed63773cf9f49c01a078d0f5376c97cbfa31aa7d3667017372b106998ae5445fd57826e93d66f82b693db874d56c0239605c1ea3d1a4480308c0d67a1f66af7bb245e18
Posts on another railfan site have repeated the observations of construction activity on single track portions of the Emporia sub (southern transcon), along with an alleged timetable. I have updated my Southern Transcon map to show the possible segments:
http://g.co/maps/dyzd3
The locations do correspond with the expected universal crossovers at ~10 mile spacing. Only one segment was slated for (presumably late) 2020 completion.
ccltrainsGood morning KP.
At any rate, your followup should be on the Sunset Route topic instead where several siding extensions were discussed. I just found some more 'mud pot' news that I will post there.
UPDATE: Arrgh, forum links are FUBAR in this post, here's the Sunset Route topic to copy and paste:
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/120779/3217808.aspx#3217808
Back in the Flint Hills area, railfan rumors seem to be heating up. Sights of grading near Matfield Green and Gladstone sidings are reported. Construction during the winter months seems unusual as there are sub-zero temps around.
If siding lengths are subtracted, the alleged '50 mile' grading contract may include all single track segments including just west of El Dorado Lake and Mulvane-Augusta. When BNSF rolls out its state-by-state capital plans in the next few weeks as usual we may learn more.
Yes, I actually doubt that they will ever need a 3rd main track there. The big reason for three tracks in Cajon was the bottleneck of having a 3% grade on one of two tracks.
jmonierI think that when they add a third main track, it's possible that they might eliminate the flyover completely. It all depends on the costs and operational complexities of the various options.
I agree; they would have to add another flyover or somehow expand the existing 'flyunder' to keep two existing tracks in service. Add that expense to widening the ROW in the nearby Upper Narrows, and I think you have an expensive-to-fix bottleneck like a long bridge.
IMO if they really need the capacity they will add ten mile long 3MT blocks to the north or south of this area first. No sign of that need yet, probably will see the 'PSR monster train' solution near term.
IIRC there was some discussion several pages ago that the Green Tree extention may threaten the Natural Crossover ..
Happy New Year!
On the Cajon sub (southern transcon near Victorville CA) railfans report that the Lower Narrows bridges are being rebuilt. It is not known if a third bridge and/or approaches for future use will be built.
Nearby local governments have lined up funding and BNSF permission to extend Green Tree Blvd near the Frost flyover. Not sure if this will affect RR operations, IMO they may need a new crossover to facilitate adding a third main track here.
This photo is from an overpass on KS HWY 177 looking southward down the track toward Eldorado Lake. The track turns left and will cross the lake in about one mile.
The overpass has been there for many years.
Flint Hills region is something to see. It was never farmed. The soil was too rocky. You can easily imagine what the pioneers faced as they ventured west. I-35 cuts through it on a narrow ROW. You can make out semis traveling on it in the distance in the BNSF drone video on the post above. Virtually unspoiled prairie from horizon to horizon, mile after mile. In the fall, it's all golden brown. Awe inspiring in its own way.
Here is a single track section in the Flint Hills:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxLc0x5Blzw
I did not see any news articles about a new bridge. Wonder if they were just regrading the road.
I agree that adding a second MT should proceed quickly being pretty flat territory, IIRC some of the area is referred to as the 'Flint Hills'. Be interesting to see if they extend / join sidings a la P.S.R. or do the whole shebang. The directional routing via Newton/Wichita may be running out of capacity, especially since the Ark City sub sidings are pretty short.
rdamonLooking at a street view in the area it looks like work was started as early as 2007
Hmm, looks like normal grading for a maintenance road to me, or perhaps they ran out of $$$ for more second main. The road overpass looks pretty short and probably was built when the ROW was graded c.1970 to bypass the old route now underwater. More wait and see ....
Looking at a street view in the area it looks like work was started as early as 2007
2007
2012
In looking at google satellite views, there appears to be about 6 miles of single track here. It looks like the grading and bridge work was completed some time ago. I have to wonder why this was not double tracked long ago. There does not appear to be any major obstacles like other recent two tracking projects.
On the southern transcon front, a post on another forum states that a contractor has been seen grading for a second MT between Cassoway siding and El Dorado Lake, KS (Chelsea). Furthermore, this 10 miles reportedly is part of a ~50 mile contract (bounds unknown). BNSF has previously announced 'intent' but no further details AFAIK.
Grading far in advance is typical for a large 2MT project as it gives time for the ROW a chance to 'settle', relocating utilities, etc. before building final touches like prefab bridges.
Anyone with pictures or useful links, please post!
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