Glad I can help. Yep thats the area, they appear to be using the area west of the 605 freeway as the main construction yard, the other construction stockpiling was east of the Miller plant where the tracks cross over the 210 freeway, there were several flatcars with rail and concrete sleeper parked there. That appears to be the eastern edge of work so far for now but then I haven't been out to where the Azusa station is planned but thats where the MTA says it will terminate this phase of building.
I believe you can access the 605 yard area thru the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area, there is a RC plane park on that side of the freeway so i know there is a thru road there plus lots of side roads so it may be possible to get closer to the yard.
Here is the current website which includes work locations and schedule dates:
http://www.foothillextension.org/images/uploads/maps/00FullMap.pdf
Have fun with your trains
vsmith (4-24):
That ‘stockpiling’ of materials by the 605 Freeway that you mentioned is indeed a good sign.
AERIAL: Is This the General Stockpiling Location by the 605 Freeway?
If it is, it does NOT look like any kind of photography there would be possible. But, a spaghetti-like freeway background sure would make for a cool photo!
It was noticed that the ex-Santa Fe line has single-track bridges for contractors to contend with.
AERIAL: Old Single-Track Bridge along Duarte Rd.
When such single-track bridges are modified or replaced altogether, that will probably be a super good sign.
The Iconic Bridge over the 210 Freeway is still not on Google aerials, which is sad …
AERIAL: No Iconic Bridge
… but it most certainly will be an identifiable landmark when the mapping service finally shows it from above.
The Mrs., believe it or not, vsmith, is out that way quite often, but for K.P. getting to the area is proving very chronically elusive. So your update input has been much appreciated.
Best,
K.P.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
KP, I haven't seen any track going down so far, its all mostly all underground infrastructure that I see going in, but then my POV is often only what I can see from the car. Last I saw there was still grading to do on the eastern approach to the freeway overpass, but there was alot of rail/sleepers being stockpiled near the Miller plant and at the 605 overpass. I suspect we will see track going down anytime now.
PS all the activity I have seen has been on the western end of the extension, I cannot recall seeing any work being done at San Dimas or for that matter any points east of Azusa to Montclair, maybe thats phase 2. Getting over the 210 freeway seams to be the big hurtle for this extension.
vsmith:
Several months ago photos of the California Ave. grade crossing and the ex-Santa Fe line rail and ties pulled up, i.e., trackless.
Have you been by there recently? I was wondering if they are laying track yet …
Take care,
FYI looks like they are doing underground cabling conduit and begun infill grading at the Madre Station side
vsmith (1-7):
I was so focused on photographing the Iconic Bridge I didn’t notice hardly anything else.
One exception, though, that stopped me in my tracks was a couple of these guys on a residential side street in the area:
The Iconic Bridge was driven by a few months ago, when it was all gray, and it looked abnormally huge and albatross-like! It is unknown what happened, but it looks normal sized now … and attractive!
The “pineapple hand-grenade columns” do look different, but I think they will grow on us.
KP recently I have noticed that they are beginning to stockpile rail and concrete sleepers near the Miller Brewery and at what looks like a ROW construction yard in the Santa Fe Dam holding pond area just west of where the 210 overpasses the line. With the bridge finished they must be getting ready to start laying track very soon.
...and I still am not wild about the pineapple hand-grenade columns.
Update as of January 3, 2013
The Foothill Extension
Part II (of I-II)
California Ave. & Duarte Rd.
Duarte, CA
At M.P. 122.10 (old ATSF), where the north-south California Ave. crosses the east-west rail line and parallel Duarte Rd., a now trackless sight is seen in preparation for the two-track Gold Line Foothill Extension. The below views were shot in the lowering sun approaching evening dusk.
Looking east:
A westward view:
Quite a change to the ex-route of the Santa Fe Super Chief!
An aerial of the grade crossing and vicinity: The coverage size can be adjusted.
Aerial with Once Mainline Track in Place
The aerial’s landscape has changed dramatically since the aerial was made, as the above photos show.
Part I (of I-II)
The Iconic Bridge
Arcadia, CA
For over a year this thread has been rather dormant, K.P. just not having business in the Gold Line Foothill Extension area. And, the few times the Iconic Bridge under construction was seen, it was not feasible to take photographs. Very recently, K.P. discovered his car had an autopilot! So, now here are a few views of the new bridge …
The land strip west of the structure, between the westbound and eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway still only has cleared land and is trackless.
Continued in Part II
I'm not too wild about the 2 pineapple carbucles on either side of the cross span, I'm going to have to live with looking at this thing quite often once its built.
Update as of Friday, June 10, 2010:
Part B (of A-B)
When Santa Fe Railway turned the line over to the Foothill Extension people, it seems much was left behind, such as the old crossing gate mechanisms but not the separate flasher lights and their poles.
Can you imagine all the Super Chief and Super-C power that shunted the rails through the above grade crossing that caused those very gates to come down?
There is supposed to be a Gold Line Foothill Extension grade separation built here at Santa Anita Ave.
Some entity made sure the exact grade crossing location could not be identified anymore.
Lastly, just west of Santa Anita Ave., on Colorado Blvd., this old single-track railroad bridge will need to be removed.
While little was present construction-wise on this inspection, glaring things are coming in the future.
Part A (of A-B)
Arcadia was visited, and the site of the future "Iconic Freeway Structure" (bridge) over the 210 Freeway only had, at least from what I could see from the freeway, orange webbing at the east abutment to prevent workers from falling.
The Santa Anita Ave. grade crossing was stopped at, but nothing overly obvious was spotted. A westbound view found someone reading on the old track!
A June 8, 2009 view (just slightly over two years ago) looking east with spur cars on the photo upper right:
All those cars that had been on the spur were now cleared from the line.
Continued in Part B
Update as of Monday, May 23, 2011:
A very nifty video about the future "Iconic Bridge" over the 210 Freeway in Arcadia, CA can be watched at:
http://arcadiasbest.com/2011/05/210-freeway-bridge-video/
The above presentation of "Episode 3" is in two parts. When the first part ends, click the second part button and the presentation will continue.
K.P. has not visited the "Iconic Bridge" site of late to see what or if any activity is present there.
The video also mentioned a future bridge at the old Santa Anita Ave. grade crossing (in Arcadia) which the below photos (from June 8, 2009) depicts the site of. As one can see, the out of service old AT&SF Super Chief route is presently overgrown with weeds and plants.
An eastbound view:
The west side of Santa Anita Ave.:
Looking westbound:
K.P. hopes to visit the area within the next several weeks to make an onsite visual inspection.
L.A. Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Updates
The purpose of this thread is status updates on the Foothill Extension for interested forumists.
The most prominent future structure is the planned bridge over the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway in Arcadia, CA.
The above artist's conception of the structure is from the official www.foothillextension.org website.
Arcadia is just east of the famous City of Pasadena, most noted for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl football game both televised nationally generally on New Year's Day each year.
According to the official website at this time, construction of the bridge over the 210 Freeway is schedule to begin in April 2011, just four to five months away.
Back on June 8, 2009 this poster photographed the future bridge site, the site of the 1970's built bridge over the 210 Freeway that allowed the Santa Fe Railway's Second District "Super Chief" line to be rerouted so the freeway could be built. After the Santa Fe's line was sold to commuter interests and the 1994 Northridge Earthquake (relatively nearby) the then rather spectacular bridge was torn down.
The following are a few of those year 2009 taken photos at that site ...
Hopefully this thread (to be updated as warranted and by anyone) will be helpful to followers of the future Gold Line Foothill Extension.
-------
5550555
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.