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Updates on Multi-Tracking the Two BNSF Transcons

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Posted by Bruce Kelly on Saturday, August 5, 2023 10:43 AM

From what I've been told, there will be no connection or crossover between the mains at what has been Sandpoint Jct. Which makes me wonder if the new crossovers between the depot and the two big bridges will be the new Sandpoint Jct. 

Mark, if you can access the engineering plans, that would solve the mystery.

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Posted by Bruce Kelly on Saturday, August 5, 2023 8:59 AM

I have a hunch the new crossovers may end up being a frequent meeting point. Boyer siding, just northwest (railroad east) of the Sandpoint depot, is one of several sidings on that part of the Kootenai River Sub and the ex-GN Hi Line with one or more grade crossings laid across it. The first train to arrive there for a meet usually holds back, off the crossings, and then pulls in at the last moment when the other train is getting close. Not the most efficient way to run a railroad, but necessary.

I think the dispatchers (Boyer West and Boyer East) may prefer to handle more of those Boyer meets on the new 2MT, where no crossings are involved. 

Also, MRL often ties down westbounds (typically coal trains) at Kootenai, just northeast (railroad east) of the depot, when the crew has expired on hours or there's too much congestion ahead. Whether that continues to be a thing under BNSF remains to be seen. I suspect it will.

If so, we can expect to see moments where a westbound comes off the (former) MRL and stops at the new crossovers, an eastbound pulls across one of the bridges and stops there, and a westbound off the Hi Line comes rolling through.

I'll try to catch the name of that new crossover plant tomorrow or Monday.  

 

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Posted by Vermontanan2 on Friday, August 4, 2023 1:04 AM

Thanks, Bruce.  Dan did write that this would be the location on a much earlier post, but just needed verification because when I was in Sandpoint a couple of months ago, it just didn't look like there was that much tangent track for a double set of crossovers between the curve and the bridge.  

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Posted by Bruce Kelly on Thursday, August 3, 2023 10:03 AM

Dual crossover is here, on this tangent southeast (railroad west) of the depot.

https://goo.gl/maps/yxpz6HCvbz2qDYx7A

Satellite image not updated.

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Posted by Vermontanan2 on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:45 PM

dpeltier

Technically, the track has been shifted back to its original alignment, before it was shifted over last fall in order to put the new bridge in service.

Now all trains are running through a newly-installed crossover to get to the new bridge.

The track hasn't shifted in front of the Amtrak station yet. There is a modular platform set up to serve the current track (future main 2). When the new track gets put in service (future main 1), the modular platform will scoot back to serve that track.

Dan

Just for clarification:  At the Sandpoint depot: The new No. 1 main track (next to the depot, when constructed) will be the through track on the Kootenai River subdivision.  The new No. 2 main track will be through to/from the MRL.  From the former junction point (Sandpoint Jct.) westward, where will first connection between the two main tracks be located?

--Mark Meyer

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Posted by MikeF90 on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 6:19 PM

Next to Sandpoint on the northern transcon, BNSF has announced that bridge maintenance work is complete and that on Aug 6 trackage will be aligned to its final configuration.  https://keepsandpointrolling.com/project-updates/  

Further west near the Spokane River, ROW work is underway for the second MT.

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Posted by samfp1943 on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 4:12 PM

Additional Notes: On BNSF's Line between Rose Hill. Ks. area and Agusta,Ks. over weekend of July 30th,2023;

Predictably, traffic patterns seem to fluctuate during week due to ;Construction Windoiws'.   The project at the FourMile Creek, seems to still be ongoing. It is not visible from any public roadway; From the construction road entrance, ;approx 3/4 mile north of the BNSF at grade crossing, on Santa Fe Lake Rd., one is able to see a very large pile of excavated soil, and construction equipment.

Can confirm,the newly graveled subgrade work,seems ready to receive finishing ballast and track(?)..There is a large accumulation of signal related equiupment, stock piled at the work site at the grade crossing at SFL Rd,and ROW.

A signaled siding, (passing?) (MT?) seems to start at a point 300yds East of the single track crossing at Tonkoiway RD(sp?)  and proceeds in an eastward direction across 150th Rd/SFL Rd. It seem to end at a point West of the single tracked crossing at Diamond Rd.( my guess would be a distance of soimething over a mile to mile and a half?)  
 Then single track to the current end of the passing siding, West out of Augusta and ending, just before the road crossingf at 120th st.)
 
Was unablke to find anyone who would taklk about this project.

 

 


 

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Posted by dpeltier on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 8:48 PM

MikeF90

On the Northern transcon a visitor to Sandpoint, ID has reported elsewhere that the east side Amtrak platform has been closed off and removed; this is permanent as the tracks are and will be closer. The existing MT has been shifted in preparation for adding the second MT. 

 

Technically, the track has been shifted back to its original alignment, before it was shifted over last fall in order to put the new bridge in service.

Now all trains are running through a newly-installed crossover to get to the new bridge.

The track hasn't shifted in front of the Amtrak station yet. There is a modular platform set up to serve the current track (future main 2). When the new track gets put in service (future main 1), the modular platform will scoot back to serve that track.

Dan

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Posted by samfp1943 on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 10:34 PM

Southern T-con:Notes; Mike F90}  

Was able to take a ride out to the West side of the Augusta, Ks. area. today.  The area adjacent to the road crossing at 120th St ; ss abutthe curreewnt point of the passing siding and signal stand for currently,m passingtwo trains outof Augusta.  

jGoingnEasdtput of Rose Hill,double tracking ismapparently complete(?).  Signals,apparently, ;have not been installed. Last signal stand is, apparently,

is located just to thenrth(orwest(?) of the current, at grade, crossing on ThundernRd Rd.  The bridge construction over four mile creek,m is not visible, from any road ways.  Inrterstingly, from the area of the grade crossing, on 150th Rd; East of Rose Hill; The contractors have cnstructed, an apoarently,substantial, sub garded pathway(?). Itb isnroughly,the width of a local two lane county road,imedeately, adjacent to the South siide of the double tracked ROW.   It has had trainage tubes installed, and appears to have been solidly compacted,and looks, like it has been done so in prepararion for an asphalt surfacing(?) That preparation is now acrossthe Thunder Rd crossuing and advancing towards the location at approximaytely, signal and siding by 120th St.  Contractors were all kver that area, and we kmet a GREX self-unloading rock train inthat area.  Dignalkcabins are being installed,  but appear to be unwired,(?) at this time.  

My guess is that ll the current bridgingnat four mile creek is. possiblky a doiublke tracked affair, with  another bridge under construction for an apparent third track,   over that creek  location (?)    

Recently, we have noted daily "construction windows" during the week, with both east and westbound trains, train volume has increased mesurably, on week ends.  Speed has also increased as the traffic volume increases.....I'd guess, that high-speed turnout that was installed some timeback, at the west end of Main 3  is really payin dividends (?)...   Sam @ Mulvane.   

 

 


 

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Posted by MikeF90 on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 7:49 PM

On the Northern transcon a visitor to Sandpoint, ID has reported elsewhere that the east side Amtrak platform has been closed off and removed; this is permanent as the tracks are and will be closer. The existing MT has been shifted in preparation for adding the second MT. 

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Posted by MikeF90 on Thursday, June 15, 2023 7:14 PM

Thanks much for your new observations!

samfp1943
There has also been some heavy constrction excavation equipment moved into a location that is apporox 1 mi east (nor east(?) of the SF Lake Rd RR grade crossing; a construction access road was cut from SFL RD (approx) 1/2 mi north of RR crossing; it seems to be a mie ( +,_(?) backj to a point,that iooks like a creek ir river bank (?) . Possibly,a new, or bridge rebuilding site(?).

I'll guess that this is access for building a new bridge over Fourmile Creek.

RRs usually build new universal crossovers about 10 miles apart and/or midway between existing ones. The next time you are out on the road, look out for two new signal mast pairs about 600 ft apart and near a grade crossing. Indianola Road looks about the right vicinity but of course that's my speculation.

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Posted by samfp1943 on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 12:58 PM

MikeF90
MikeF90
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.

You will see more EB traffic on the 'cutoff' right now / temporarily because of La Junta sub trackwork (Newton).

 

  06/14/2023  Update, Note:  This past Sunday, 6/11/2023, I was able to get East towards Augusta.I can confirm that the 'grading' is going well, Rose Hill  East towards Augusta, width grading appears wide enough to accept a third track. Much of the double track appears to be fully operational.  They have also constructed a couple of  large, equiment staging lots. East of SFLake Rd. 

There has also been some heavy constrction excavation equipment moved into a location that is apporox 1 mi east (nor east(?) of the SF Lake Rd RR grade crossing; a construction access road was cut from SFL RD (approx) 1/2 mi north of RR crossing; it seems to be a mie ( +,_(?) backj to a point,that iooks like a creek ir river bank (?) . Possibly,a new, or bridge rebuilding site(?).

I have not been able to get to the Augusta area; the former end of the of the passing track(double tracking(?) West of Augusta.nThe parallel country Road in that area is signed as Thunder Rd.  The single tracked area, extended from  the end of that double siding,  approximately. justb East of the location of that  'bridge construction project', previously,described. .

Sorry, for the description; I am unable to drive myself and must rely on notes taken from a different perspective.. 

 

 

 


 

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Posted by MikeF90 on Saturday, June 3, 2023 9:09 PM

MikeF90
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.

Another YT video has popped up that confirms the Ellinor - Chelsea 2MT segment as being active.  It also shows grading well along between Mulvane - Augusta and ElDorado - Chelsea.

You will see more EB traffic on the 'cutoff' right now / temporarily because of La Junta sub trackwork (Newton).

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Posted by samfp1943 on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 7:02 PM

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 pairs

samfp1943
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, 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 ...  

 

   

 

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 ...  

 

   

 

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 ...  

 

   

 

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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Posted by samfp1943 on Monday, May 29, 2023 4:22 PM

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 ...  

 

   

 

 


 

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Posted by MikeF90 on Sunday, May 28, 2023 9:58 PM

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

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Posted by SD60MAC9500 on Monday, May 22, 2023 8:57 PM

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.

Rahhhhhhhhh!!!!
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Posted by rdamon on Monday, May 22, 2023 11:31 AM

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.

 

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Posted by York1 on Monday, May 22, 2023 8:56 AM

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       

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, May 22, 2023 8:12 AM

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...

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Posted by diningcar on Monday, May 22, 2023 8:01 AM

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.

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Posted by kgbw49 on Sunday, May 21, 2023 10:05 PM

Thank you for that, MidlandMike! Very cool!

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Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, May 21, 2023 8:48 PM

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.

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Posted by MikeF90 on Sunday, May 21, 2023 7:08 PM

kgbw49
I 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.

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Posted by kgbw49 on Saturday, May 20, 2023 6:44 PM

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.

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Posted by rdamon on Saturday, May 20, 2023 1:23 PM

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.

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Posted by kgbw49 on Saturday, May 20, 2023 9:06 AM

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

 

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Posted by diningcar on Saturday, May 20, 2023 7:35 AM

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.

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Posted by MikeF90 on Friday, May 19, 2023 10:54 PM

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.

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Posted by rdamon on Friday, May 19, 2023 6:48 AM

Interesting to see how well they blended the old and new images.

 

 

 

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