http://la.curbed.com/archives/2014/02/come_tour_the_halffinished_gold_line_foothill_extension.php
Local coverage picture tour
Have fun with your trains
Thanks for the pics! I live in the Los Angeles area too, but I don't get out to that part of the SGV that much, I've been following the Expo Line Phase II more since it's closer to me. I believe that line will open before the line to Santa Monica will start running. A friend of mine lives just a few blocks from the APU/Azusa College station, which is cool for me since I live just a few blocks from one of the Red Line subway stations.
Its moving along, rail & ballast are down at Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, base gravel is down along most of the 210 Freeway median near the bridge, rail was going down in the maintenance yard as well.
KP, given the lack of construction, I would assume that the bridge over Huntington Drive is wide enough for the double trackage, probably just barely wide enough. I haven't been able to see if any work has been done to the bridge over the San Gabriel river. They modified the existing bridge over the 110 freeway which originally was a single track to a double track still keeping the early 20th century bridge piers and span girders. Guess the much lighter nature of the light rail cars makes that possible. I expect the narrower cars and tighter allowable clearances are also why the bridge at Huntington Ave is remaining.
Second Section
When K.P. was a kid in the 1950’s and 60’s, while traveling west with his parents on Foothill Blvd. (that jogs into Huntington Drive east of the 605 Freeway) …
AERIAL LINK: Where Foothill Blvd. Becomes Huntington Drive
… he remembers going under TWO Santa Fe railroad bridges in the whole stretch. One was discussed in the multipart series just presented. But, where is the other bridge?
It was AS the one in this series, just an angled bridge over an east-west aligned street (“east-west aligned street”). He has never been able to find that second bridge. Apparently, things have changed radically, and that only an east-west street is now an intersection with a north-south cross street running through it, and right under the railroad bridge, the railroad bridge over Huntington Blvd. and 2nd Ave. in Arcadia.
AERIAL LINK: Possible Mystery Bridge Location
That aerial shows the north-south 2nd Ave. alignment curving to go under the bridge, as if 2nd Ave. wasn’t originally there.
Some reshown April 27, 2013 ground views of that bridge.
It has to be the bridge, because there are no others that remotely fit the description. But, as a kid, K.P. never in his wildest imaginations ever dreamed that the city would build a cross street underneath it!
On January 3, 2014 K.P. passed by that 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? If anyone knows, K.P. sure would like to know about it for obvious sentimental reasons …
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
The Foothill Extension
Photo News Update Report
Part “D”, Section 7 (of 1-7)
More Azusa
Looking west, a grade crossing electrical box is between the lines
With Target in the background, a pile of something is on the left between the two lines, and catenary bases are around the curving on the right.
There is supposed to be two Foothill Extension station stops in Azusa. It was K.P.’s desire to check out and photograph the further east one too, but the light was failing, so that will have to wait another time …
This will conclude the series. But, a Second Section immediately follows.
Part “D”, Section 6 (of 1-7)
From Pasadena Ave. in Azusa still, looking east, some type of metal fencing (center) for a ways also separates the BNSF tracks from the Foothill Extension tracks
Both lines looking east:
Looking west on the Foothill Extension alignment. Note the large shipping doors on the building on the right. The Santa Fe line and customer spurs use to be where the Foothill Extension tracks will be laid.
Continued in Section 7
Part “D”, Section 5 (of 1-7)
It is getting almost too dark for handheld photography, but a few last views, from at Pasadena Ave. now. Looking east at the new BNSF alignment. Surprisingly, the BNSF line for only serving a few remaining customers on it still have new automatic block signals!
Above also, the concrete and wood ties meet again. Apparently, the BNSF now branch line uses concrete ties except at grade crossings.
Looking west on the BNSF track. The BNSF line now has what appears to be concrete or metal panel fencing (left).
The Foothill Extension tracks will curve parallel to BNSF’s, and also have the concrete or metal panel fencing (left).
Continued in Section 6
Part “D”, Section 4 (of 1-7)
From Dalton Ave., looking eastbound and the curving commuter tracks, swooping all the way back into the distance.
There is that signaled BNSF track again (right).
That BNSF track, looking westbound. Note that the concrete and wood ties meet.
Continued in Section 5
Part “D”, Section 3 (of 1-7)
At Dalton Ave. now … Looking westbound, the alignment shift in the BNSF track.
Looking westbound at the future commuter tracks. The Target store is seen in the background of the just below photo.
Continued in Section 4
Part “D”, Section 2 (of 1-7)
As viewed from the center of the future tracks (bottom), it looks like the station stop platforms may be on both sides of the tracks and not in the center as in some places.
A telephoto of the station stop and the background freight curve:
Looking westbound, people should understand clearly this sign.
Looking eastbound again:
Continued in Section 3
Part “D”, Section 1 (of 1-7)
Right by the tracks, there is a new Target store on Azusa Ave.
Just east of Azusa Ave. a Foothill Extension stop is being built.
Another eastward view, with a from the north side view.
Note just above, the track in the background curves.
Continued in Section 2
Part “C”, Section 8 (of 1-8)
Foothill Blvd. Area of Azusa
In downtown Azusa now, by the old Santa Fe “Second District” at ground level, a westbound view of the track rising to go over the Foothill Blvd. bridge we were just by.
Notice the track over the present bridge alignment shifts to the left as it approaches the camera.
So, apparently, the new south (left) bridge will be for BNSF local freights, the old AT&SF bridge will be for eastbound (outbound) commuter cars (coming towards the camera), and the new north (right) bridge will be for westbound (inbound) commuter runs.
At Azusa Ave., there are now THREE tracks (two Foothill Extension and one BNSF), all newly laid.
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Continued in Part D, More Azusa scheduled for posting Monday, January 27, 2014 by 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
Part “C”, Section 7 (of 1-8)
The west side center pier framing.
On the southeast side, a strange stairway going to a fenced off cul-de-sac.
Above, a friendly but noisy chap kept a watchful eye on K.P.
Can’t you just see the wheels turning in that dog’s head, him thinking: “I wonder if I would freak out that cameraman if I gave him a photo location tip in English?”
Continued in Section 8
Part “C”, Section 6 (of 1-8)
More views from the south side looking various westward ways.
Part “C”, Section 5 (of 1-8)
OK, K.P. was going to try going under the bridge.
On the other side, and K.P. now as pedestrian, a Foothill Transit bus that was in the log jam crawls by.
Another bridge is being built on the south side.
Wow, just above, there was another lull in traffic!
Part “C”, Section 4 (of 1-8)
That ex-Santa Fe owned bridge is having another bridge built to its north.
This is why a “lull” in traffic was waited for!
The four lane road is down to two lanes, one in each direction, during the new railroad bridging construction.
Part “C”, Section 3 (of 1-8)
A telephoto looking eastbound from Virginia Ave.: The old Santa Fe mainline had jointed rail even in the early 1990’s. The bridge is over Foothill Blvd., the famous Route 66.
That jointed rail is definitely on borrowed time with Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) lying on the right-of-way now.
This is that Foothill Blvd., looking east, and the old Santa Fe bridge over it.
K.P. can remember being in the back seat of his parents’ car as a kid 50 to 55 years ago, and going under the bridge several times over the years. Back then, the bridge was silver and wondrous, but never a train was seen over it The Super Chief / El Capitan used to go over the bridge westbound (#17) in early morning or eastbound (#18) in the evening.
It took a while, but the above view was taken during a lull in traffic. A lull?
Part “C”, Section 2 (of 1-8)
Looking eastbound …
… both the south side …
… and the north side is all tore up.
Part “C”, Section 1 (of 1-8)
On April 27, 2013 when K.P. was last by the Virginia Ave. grade crossing in the City of Azusa, nearly 9 months ago, the grade crossing, including sidewalks, was closed.
The grade crossing was found this trip to be open, but much work surrounded it, including when looking westbound that the old Santa Fe mainline had been relocated.
Part “B”, Section 5 (of 1-5)
Duarte-Azusa
That big storage area of concrete ties with a rinky-dink fencing protecting it on April 27, 2013 …
… now seems to have better quality fencing put up. It almost has a concrete ties fencing look.
Continued in Part C, Foothill Blvd. Area of Azusa scheduled for posting Saturday, January 25, 2014 by 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
Part “B”, Section 4 (of 1-5)
An eastward outbound view from Highland Ave.:
Ribbon rail is now present.
Above, the 605 Freeway overpass is seen.
Part “B”, Section 3 (of 1-5)
At the Highland Ave. grade crossing, the west sidewalk is closed.
The station center platform is looking like a platform now. View looks west:
But, there is much left to do:
Part “B”, Section 2 (of 1-5)
Eastward views from Buena Visit Ave.:
In the middle photo above ... Duarte Rd. (right) parallel-follows the future Gold Line Foothill Extension for a ways.
Part “B”, Section 1 (of 1-5)
At Buena Vista Street, the old grade crossing gates and flashers are gone.
But, short sections of Gold Line Foothill Extension grade crossing tracks are in.
Westward views:
Part “A”, Section 7 (of 1-7)
Arcadia-Monrovia
Looking westbound again, it almost looks like a crude path has had cement poured into it.
Remnants of the old Santa Fe Mountain Ave. grade crossing:
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Continued in Part B, Duarte-Azusa scheduled for posting Thursday, January 23, 2014 by 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
Part “A”, Section 6 (of 1-7)
At Mountain Ave. looking directly west:
The grade crossing still hasn’t been improved, but the catenary pole bases are in place.
Looking east, an electrical base is being installed.
Over that above truck, the catenary bases go far back.
Part “A”, Section 5 (of 1-7)
An eastward (outbound) view:
As seen above, the bases for the catenary poles between the future tracks are in.
An interesting PR sign:
Part “A”, Section 4 (of 1-7)
We now go over to the Monrovia area, at Myrtle Ave., and the old Santa Fe Monrovia depot, where supply containers are present.
Two westbound (inbound) views:
Part “A”, Section 3 (of 1-7)
It should be noted in the last two views above (in Section 2), a block away to the southeast the old Santa Fe line diagonally crossed the intersecting of Santa Clara St. and 1st Ave., as in the below never before shown to the forum April 27, 2013 southeastward view:
That intersection / grade crossing is now totally closed off for about a half a block away in all directions. Likely, the electrical arrangement inherent in this type of commuter operations …
… has required such an installation road intersection closure.
According to reference material available to K.P., the speed limit for both freight and passenger trains through here in Santa Fe days was 40 M.P.H. Even that, what a windy experience that must have been for stopped downtown pedestrians!
Part “A”, Section 2 (of 1-7)
Half a block away, to the east, looking westbound (inbound):
Looking eastbound (outbound):
The background seems to have dirt forming as the early stages of a ramp for the overpass a block behind the camera at Santa Anita Ave.
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