The Foothill Extension
Photo News Update Report
On Friday, January 3, 2014 for hours K.P. extensively photographed the Foothill Extension construction between Arcadia and Azusa, CA
Key photos will be shared with the forum on the following schedule, by (“by”) 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time:
Tuesday, January 21, 2014: Part A -- Arcadia-Monrovia
Thursday, January 23, 2014: Part B -- Duarte-Azusa
Saturday, January 25, 2014: Part C -- Foothill Blvd. Area of Azusa
Monday, January 27, 2014: Part D -- More Azusa
Part “A” (of A-D), Section 1 (of 1-7)
Arcadia-Monrovia
We west to east start at Santa Anita Ave. in Arcadia. Nothing popped out as different from the August 25, 2013 visit, and the future overpass supports cement-work appears the same.
Looking south, the east (left) and center (right) supports:
Looking west, the center support (left) and the west support (center and right).
Ramps have not been put in on either side yet. The west support is seen (left).
Signs, orange cones and markers are all over the place.
Continued in Section 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Deggesty (12-30):
I am sure glad the peacocks were quiet when I saw them!
vsmith (1-2):
You may be interested to know that K.P. spent hours photographing the Foothill Extension construction from Arcadia to Azusa on Friday, January 3, 2014 and took over 350 photos. Workers and equipment were everywhere!
A multipart post series on this should be ready for posting in a few weeks.
Take care all,
K.P.
They're putting rails down inside the maintenance yard, looks like track is going to be going down eastward from the yard towards the brewery. Its definetly moving along.
Have fun with your trains
These guys (peacocks) look a lot better than they sound; the first time I heard one, I had to be told that it was a bird; I cannot describe the sound, except that it was bad.
Johnny
vsmith (12-16):
Well, the laying of concrete ties is good news!
I thought I might be able to get out that way this past Tuesday, but things didn’t work as expected.
Hopefully soon, though.
Best,
Update: Gravel base is down, and they are laying concrete sleepers starting at the Brewery
Update as of Sunday, August 25, 2013
Part VI (of I-VI)
Irwindale, CA
Looking east from the Irwindale Ave. overpass, a bunch more concrete ties are seen. Also, there is no siding now (left). The old siding used to go east all the way to the I-210 Freeway, where it turned into the Main on the railroad bridge OVER the freeway.
The bridge over the track has a sidewalk on only one side, but the chain link fencing allows a small lens through it. Note the new signal on the right!
The new signal, its shadow, the fence’s shadow, and the shadow figure of yours truly …
A close-up of the new color light signals on a single mast
Note the above signal number plate. The new signals are number plated according to the OLD Santa Fe Second District mileposts, and those mileposts started at 0.0 in Barstow in the High Desert of Southern California. Because of government regulations, the line cannot be converted to “dark” territory without government approval. Because the Gold Line will have signals, likely the powers that be never applied for personal to convert the line to dark territory.
Some color aspects the signal is technically capable of no train will ever see, since only a BNSF local traverses the line once a day if even that.
This will conclude the series.
Part V (of I-VI)
At the old Irwindale Ave. bridge over the old Santa Fe track and siding, the siding has been shortened drastically, and no longer extends eastward under the overpass bridge.
A close-up view of the ties to the west:
Continued in Part VI
Part IV (of I-VI)
Monrovia, CA
From Myrtle Ave. (by the old Monrovia Santa Fe station) looking westbound:
Looking east:
Continued in Part V
Part III (of I-VI)
Arcadia, CA
At Santa Clara St. and First Ave., the diagonally going through the intersection old Santa Fe Main and side track has been paved over, likely after the tracks were removed.
Looking northwest, the station stop is taking shape.
In the last photo just above, note the Santa Anita Ave. bridgework taking shape on the far right.
The old all sides protective crossing gates are still standing from the Santa Fe days of the Super C and Super Chief.
Continued in Part IV
Part II (of I-VI)
One of the more far reaching of the changes is a track overpass being put in. Looking eastbound, a new bridge end construction is seen. Also, half of Santa Anita Ave. is newly graded and paved, while the old ‘over the old tracks’ part is still present. Compare the foreground roadway with the background roadway.
A close-up of the west bridge end’s new concrete-work:
From a west side business parking lot west of Santa Anita Ave., an eastbound view showing the back side of the new concrete end structure.
Continued in Part III
Part I (of I-VI)
At Santa Anita Ave. where the old Santa Fe Second District crossed the main street years ago …
… things are now a changing!
Continued in Part II
Now Building the Foothill Extension
Part “Q” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
Between Irwindale Ave. (left) and Virginia Ave. (right) is the railroad bridge over the 210 Freeway.
AERIAL: I-210 and the ex-AT&SF
At the railroad bridge over the freeway, an interesting thing was there: The east end of the siding was on the bridge!
AERIAL: Railroad Bridge over the I-210 Freeway
In the latter AT&SF days, most freight trains were westbound over the bridge, with the counterpart eastbound trains going via Corona. But that siding was relatively long – 6165 feet – and most meets could be made there.
In Azusa, at the Virginia Ave. grade crossing, near Sixth St., the grade crossing sidewalks were closed, so trackside photos could not be had.
Overall, the miles and miles of construction on the Foothill Extension is something more than the ordinary, and is something to see in person. It is hoped the limited photo views conveys in some small way what is happening now.
Part “P” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
By Highland Ave., more multi-piping is observed.
There were a whole lot of concrete ties stacked up by the 605 Freeway, among other things.
It seems there was other stacks of concrete ties, a little to the east, possibly by Irwindale Ave.
Continued in Part Q
Part “O” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
The east side of the street:
A telephoto looking east, and the 605 Freeway transition bridges:
Continued in Part P
Part “N” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
A westward telephoto from Highland Ave.:
A westward south side view:
A north side westward view now:
Continued in Part O
Part “M” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
As we move eastward, we come to a rather unusual roadway changing of directions.
AERIAL: Where Duarte Rd. Meets and Curves Into Highland Ave.
A southward view shows something different than just a single-track grade crossing: It already has two new tracks laid through it.
Just to the west, it appears (“appears”) that a Foothill Extension station stop is being constructed.
A straight-on westward view:
Continued in Part N
Part “L” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
Looking east across Buena Vista St.:
A mild eastward telephoto:
The paralleling Duarte Rd.:
Continued in Part M
Part “K” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
Near Duarte Rd. and Buena Vista St., another convenient place to park and take photo was found. Looking west:
The Buena Vista St. grade crossing with old Santa Fe style flashers and crossing gates:
Continued in Part L
Part “J” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
Along the east-west Duarte Rd., K.P. found a convenient spot west of Mountain Ave. to park and take a few construction photos.
Continued in Part K
Part “I” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
Looking east from the same general camera location, a key roadway artery, the old Myrtle Ave. curved grade crossing:
Two eastward views:
In the nearby public parking lot, an inviting billboard sign about the construction and the future.
-----------
Parts J-Q will be posted by Friday, May 3, 2013 noon Pacific Daylight Time.
Part “H” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
We move over to Monrovia, by the old Santa Fe Depot, and look west.
Continued in Part I
Part “G” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
Some ground views by that single-track bridge.
Taking the bridge down will be a show in itself, and probably will take place late at night.
At least there will not be any rail traffic for contractors to worry around, and the end-support walling on each side will be able to be rebuilt for two-tracks at the contractors’ leisure. Of course, there is always the possibility that a separate second-track’s bridge could be put up. Time will tell … Interestingly, there is walling, though angled, on the south (left) side whereas the north side has no such walling.
Continued in Part H
Part “F” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
A higher elevation northwestward view of that piping:
Another southeastward look at the railroad bridge east just down the line.
LINK: Aerial of That Single-Track Bridge
As discerned in the aerial, the railroad bridge goes diagonally over an intersection, the crossing of Huntington Drive and Second Ave.
Above, the north-south Second Street has a shoofly look to this day, undoubtedly so the bridge could be put in while the original north-south Second Street was kept open for auto traffic.
Continued in Part G
Part “E” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
More of that piping:
Just south of that tent (Part C), a staging area of some sort is present that has a Foothill Extension advertising sign in it, a bunch of construction related items, and TWO old ex-Santa Fe headless signal masts.
A medic squad with lights and siren heads east.
At least emergency responders don’t have to contend with long, long Santa Fe freights from time to time anymore (they were usually westbound). But, on 15 minute headways, Gold Line trolley-like trains passing an average of every 7.5 minutes, emergency responders may have no idea what is coming …
Down in San Diego (CA), some crossing gates go down and up 140 times a day!
Continued in Part F
Part “D” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
At the crossroads of Santa Clara St. and First Ave. downtown, the ex-Santa Fe line goes diagonally right through the intersection. View looks southeast (old Santa Fe eastbound).
Looking back northwest, that tent is seen, with a dug down pathway with multiple piping in it going into the distance.
Continued in Part E
Part “C” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
Looking east sequentially with progressively more powerful telephoto views from Santa Anita Ave.:
In the last photo above, note the green tent-like green item near the center, as well as yellowish bridge sides farther back.
The above three photos are quite a contrast from the below June 8, 2009 photo previous shown in another thread.
Continued in Part D
Part “B” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
Colorado Blvd. is now closed, and that single-track bridge has been removed.
From Santa Anita Ave, looking semi-west, that Colorado Blvd. bridging area is seen, as well as the cleared right-of-way back to the 210 Freeway.
Continued in Part C
The postings for this series will be in two groups, Parts A-I now, and Parts J-Q in two days.
Part “A” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
On a west to east basis, we start at a location between the east-west 210 Freeway and north-south Santa Anita Ave., at Cornell Drive that straddles the Gold Line Foothill Extension for several hundred feet.
Above, grading and construction equipment is seen, as well as the westbound lanes of the 210 Freeway in the background.
As seen below, a general area view from June 8, 2009 had a much different perspective, with the right-of-way having terrible overgrowth on it.
On June 10, 2011 the following photo of the old AT&SF Bridge over the two-lane Colorado Blvd. was shot, and subsequently posted in another thread.
Continued in Part B
Exceeding Expectations
Because of unexpected matters behind the scenes that concerned the “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” thread, K.P. was inspired to visit the Gold Line Foothill Extension area. While vsmith had conveyed matters quite well, what K.P. found on the Foothill Extension way exceeded his expectations! And, the expected few hours of shooting pictures turned into more like six hours, nearly 300 photos, and some hiking!
Things about the Sunset Route thread need to be finished up and posted first. Then time can be devoted to sorting photos, selecting appropriate ones, and composing material for this thread.
The Virginia Ave. Foothill Extension grade crossing in Azusa
What is presently taking place on a wide scale for the Foothill Extension may surprise you as it did K.P.
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