Update as of Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Two Areas of the Foothill Extension
Part “A” (of A-E)
Arcadia and an Extra Plate Girder Bridge
There is a long standing single-track AT&SF plate girder bridge that goes diagonally over the intersection of Huntington Drive and Second. Ave. in Arcadia.
That bridge is now being modified and a second bridge is forming on the southwest side of the original bridge.
Continued in Part B
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
This is moving along quite briskly now, track is complete most all places I can see, some stretches along the 10 fwy are having the catenary system begun. I think they'll be testing trains by Thanksgiving.
Have fun with your trains
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part XX (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
Duarte-Irwindale-Azusa, CA
The NEW freight bridge is heavy duty also even though it will be lightly used and probably never see loaded coal cars traverse it.
The walling for the new BNSF track, north side of Foothill Blvd.:
The new BNSF track walling, south (west) side, in a residential-business properties environment:
Looking west, Foothill Blvd. still has only one lane in each direction open for vehicle traffic.
The sun had nearly gone down, and evening was setting in.
This will conclude the series.
Part XIX (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
At Foothill Blvd. in Azusa, the two new, additional bridges are in place now. The original Santa Fe freight 2nd District (Pasadena Sub) is the center bridge.
The new inbound (westbound) light rail bridge is not as heavily structured as the old bridge, as it does not have to support heavy coal trains as the center bridge use to be able to do.
Continued in Part XX
Part XVIII (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
Some more Irwindale construction photos:
A bunch of concrete ties are staged very nearby.
Just above, note that the catenary tower bases (hence the platforms too) are away from the BNSF track (bottom). So, boarding and alighting Foothill Extension passengers would have to cross the BNSF track, which situation argues again the BNSF line ever being extended southward along the 605 Freeway to the UP Sunset Route in El Monte.
Of course, the powers that be probably haven’t seen the benefit of that yet …
Continued in Part XIX
Part XVII (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
Irwindale Ave. bridges over the ex-AT&SF line as well as over the I-210 Freeway. It is the location of color light signals.
It is another location where a station stop is being put in WITHOUT public parking!
Continued in Part XVIII
Part XVI (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
The station stop north track looking west.
Looking east:
In the distance, the two-tracks curve to the right while rising.
Near Highland Ave. are where all those ties are stacked up, and a new fence.
The 605 Freeway is in the background of the just above photo.
Continued in Part XVII
Part XV (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
At Highland Ave. a construction sign is present.
Another standard brown grade cross electrical box:
The Highland Ave. station and ramp:
Strangely, this station stop apparently has NO vehicle parking spaces!
Continued in Part XVI
Part XIV (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte, CA
The Buena Vista St. pedestrian crossing gate:
This one faces the other way (note the painted white line).
It is hard to envision 50-60 years ago F-units leading Santa Fe’s Super Chief and El Capitan use to traverse through here.
Many a famous Hollywood ‘knight in shining armor’ actor and glamorous actress rode through here!
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Continued in Parts XV-XX scheduled for posting Sunday, July 6, 2014 by 9:00 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, but may be posted up to 12 hours early. Coverage: Duarte-Irwindale-Azusa (Foothill Blvd.)
Part XIII (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
At Buena Vista Street and Duarte Road: The grade crossing, looking inbound (westbound) into a setting sun.
Outbound (eastbound):
Continued in Part XIV
Part XII (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
The rails on wheels:
Continued in Part XIII
Part XI (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
A very heavy inbound telephoto (westbound) view: Construction workers are seen.
Metal poles for future vehicle stoplights:
Continued in Part XII
Part X (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
An inbound telephoto (westbound):
The spacing of the crossing gate mechanisms are a story in itself, with just a small passageway for pedestrians.
Telephoto outbound (eastbound) views, around the curve and looking at a nice straightaway:
Continued in Part XI
Part IX (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
We now move over to Myrtle Ave. and Duarte Rd. in the Monrovia area.
Looking inbound (westbound):
Now, outbound (eastbound):
Continued in Part X
Part VIII (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
Looking northwestward, walling rises up to the future two bridges over the intersection.
Currently, the location is difficult to maneuver around at, because sidewalks are often closed.
Continued in Part IX
Part VII (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
At Huntington Dr. and Second Ave. is the well-known Santa Fe diagonally over the intersection, single-track bridge.
The site is being modified to include a second bridge. The northwest side:
The southeast side:
Continued in Part VIII
Part VI (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia, CA
The crossing gates control box is somewhat large, and a weird brown color. The weird brown may or may not discourage graffiti. No boxes seemed to have graffiti on them.
A northwestward view: The new, incomplete platform (lower right) and that steep ramp to bridge over Santa Anita Ave. in the background center.
Looking southeast, a mild incline up to the single-track bridge that passes over Huntington Dr.
Just above, notice on the far right there is grading for a second-track to bridge over Huntington Dr. Catenary bases go up the hill between the future track alignments towards those bridges.
Continued in Parts VII-XIV scheduled for posting Friday, July 4, 2014 by 9:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, but may be posted up to 12 hours early. Coverage: Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte. (Parts XV-XX will be posted Sunday, July 6, 2014 by 9:00 P.M. PDT.)
Part V (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
At that Santa Clara Street and First Ave. intersection, the crossing gate mechanisms are in place, but flashers are turned aside and mast gateless.
As the old Santa Fe Railway line did at this intersection, the Foothill extension has a diagonal tracks crossing, but now the tracks are on much wider centers.
Continued in Part VI
Part IV (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
At the intersection of Santa Clara Street and First Ave., looking northwest, the light rail station stop, the shade coverings, platform, and ramp are progressing.
Continued in Part V
Part III (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
On the north side of the Foothill Extension tracks, looking inbound (northwest), businesses border right next to the overpass.
Now, we move to the bottom of the rather steep east slope:
Because Santa Fe Railway (now BNSF) gave up its rights over the line here, such steep slopes could be had for this future light rail line.
There are all kinds of construction things on the east slope.
Above, the concrete railing-like sides of the bridge over Santa Anita Blvd. are visible in on each side.
At ground level:
Continued in Part IV
Part II (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
The nose diving line after going over Santa Anita Blvd. quickly reaches ground level.
Above, the nice, new flyover makes the old buildings of the surroundings look out of place.
That above out of place looking building on the right used to look normal when the Santa Fe Railway was on ground level. Note the slanted spur on the right, with the old passenger car on it. That slightly curving spur used to continue (towards the camera) almost up to Santa Anita Blvd.
AERIAL LINK: Where that Curving Spur Once Was
A couple more inbound (westward) views on the south side:
Continued in Part III
Part I (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
Our first inspection is the new bridging over Santa Anita Ave. in Arcadia, which bridging seemed compete now. From the south, looking north:
It is hard to comprehend that where that just above bridge is at there was once a Santa Fe Railway “Second District” grade crossing with crossing gates and all.
The approaches, like this on the west side, seem quite steep.
A focus on the east slope: Right away, after going over Santa Anita Blvd., the line does indeed nose drives (rightward).
Continued in Part II
Posting Schedule for Series:
All posts should be up by 9:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time on the scheduled date, but may (“may”) be posted up to 12 hours early.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014: Parts I-VI
Arcadia
Friday, July 4, 2014: Parts VII-XIV
Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte
Sunday, July 6, 2014: Parts XV-XX
Duarte-Irwindale-Azusa (Foothill Blvd.)
About a Friday, June 20, 2014 Series
K.P. spent the good part of the day in the Los Angeles area, and in the afternoon focused on the Foothill Extension. Track had been and is being laid on the line. This photo looks inbound from Myrtle Ave. in Monrovia.
Station stops are forming, and there are now new bridge abutments for a second track bridge next to the old Santa Fe Bridge over Huntington Blvd. in downtown Arcadia.
A post series on all this will be forthcoming in a few days.
MikeF90 (4-13):
Great post … and link! The link’s photos were wonderful.
Man, I need to get out that way with my camera. I’ve been waiting for the track laying and obviously it is going on now!
Best,
K.P.
In between updates posted by Trains forum 'locals', the LA Metro Transportation Library photo archive set for the Gold Line Foothill Extension phase 2A (link) on Flickr should be browsed. Currently it contains 362 photos, so that may occupy some of your time.
The bad news is that the 'new' Flickr has a terrible interface. To see the latest photos, go to page bottom and click the highest numbered page button. There may be an advanced interface with 'sort within current set' but it is well hidden.
K. P. HarrierOn January 3, 2014 K.P. passed by that (Huntington Drive) bridge site again, and noted it is exactly the same as in the above photos. Thus, the question arises: Will that ex-Santa Fe single-track bridge remain as a short single-track section on an otherwise two-track light rail commuter line, or will the bridge be replaced or modified for two-tracks?
From looking at the above linked Metro library set, it appears that building abutments for another single track bridge has just started. It does seem to be a little behind schedule.
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! ***
Update as of Saturday, March 1, 2014
The Situation in Arcadia, CA
The Foothill Extension overpass at Santa Anita Ave. now has the horizontal concrete bridging in place.
The diagonal cross-tracks angling through the intersection of Santa Clara Street and 1st Ave. seem in place now,
The old grade crossing is still closed with barricades and with fencing.
K.P. was onsite only a few minutes, but in the darkness in could be seen that the station stop just to the northwest of Santa Clara St. and 1st Ave. had now skeleton covering structures starting.
Replies:
vsmith (2-20 / 2-24):
Thanks for the report.
Concerning the bridge over Huntington Drive in Arcadia …
A previously posted eastbound view from Santa Anita Drive …
… was heavily blown up, and because of the ‘above the rail floor bridge sides’ two tracks CANNOT be accommodated. Note that the second track (on the right above, an industrial track, would not fit over the bridge.
Two February 7, 2014 views of a new LA&SL (UP) bridge in Riverside over the 91 Freeway that is being widened: Its strength is ABOVE the tracks.
The bridges over Huntington Dr. and the 91 Freeway are of the same basic bridge design concept. The bridge over the Pasadena Freeway, the Arroyo Seco Bridge, is of a different structural design, and has its strength UNDERNEATH the tracks.
A railpictures.net photo, copyright Richard Sugg …
LINK: http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/9/1/4/1914.1136610000.jpg
With the strength underneath, a second-track for light rail could be accommodated, but is not possible with the strength above the tracks.
In that linked photo above, the train looks off center on the bridge, so it may have been easy to modify it. Or, maybe it was originally built for two-tracks!
I’ve wanted to get over to that Arroyo Seco structure to photograph it but your post beat me to it, hence, the link above.
So, exactly what the Gold Line Foothill Extension people plan on doing about the bridge over Huntington Drive is unknown, but time is quickly running out, so we should find out something soon. They could use switches or gauntlet trackage …
WIKIPEDIA LINK:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Sechsschienengleis.JPG/350px-Sechsschienengleis.JPG
…for a while or permanently, or have something else in mind.
That link for the tour was cool! I just hope it is available to be viewed for a long time …
Metro Red Line (2-23):
Both you live by a line and your friend living by a line! How convenient!
Take care all,
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