http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_D_colcrossing20.275e932.html
http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_D_colcrossing20.275e932.html
Just ‘activated’ that link. Headline: “Construction to start this fall on Colton rail overpass” - mostly about the funding sources, and how - when other nearby crossing improvement projects are done - it will reduce the train horn noise, per the local residents (?), etc.
- Paul North.
Thanks guys, to spbed for finding the article, and to Paul for activating it.
There has been a kind of drought as to press news of late on the Colton Crossing matter, so anything was welcome.
On March 1, 2011 BNSF had a bunch of ties all along the right-of-way. The below view shows that, and looks north (east) from Valley Blvd. in downtown Colton, CA, and away from the diamonds.
By March 17, it looked like the tie trade-out work had been done, as old ties were stacked up in large piles. Apparently tie trade-out work had been done at night with floodlights. Colton Crossing is having the signals upgraded to tri-lights, but activating them is lingering.
Very near the diamonds: More evidence of the night work. View looks west on the Sunset Route (background).
On that last referenced March 17 date, somebody was doing something to BNSF’s triple-track mainline, as all tracks were fouled. View looks south (west).
On Sunday, March 20, a south of the diamonds northwest view: BNSF was s
Yes that is going to be rather interesting is to how they to intend to reduce the noise level for the residents since the majority of horn noise comes from the BNSF as they pass by each crossing as they move thru Colton & they are going to be the lower lever track. I wonder if some kind of no horn policy will be implemented & if they do that why even build the doggone thing? [:)]
The ‘horn noise’ issue is separate from the crossing separation project. Now that the latter is moving, the Valley Blvd separation (presumably underpass) project can proceed when SANBAG gets enough $$. As noted by the article, Laurel Blvd to the north is also slated for a separation.
That leaves the Olive, H and E street crossings in downtown Colton. The city could decide to close at least one of these crossings (IMO) without big impact. A two street ‘no horn’ zone should be affordable.
That’s a tamper - perhpas a Jackson 6700 Mark III ? - undoubtedly tamping the new ties, and a good chance it was also tamping the othe ties as part of a general ‘surfacing’ of the track - that’s a pretty good occasion to do that kind of work. And yes, that’s the out-in-front “light buggy” that’s mostly hidden behind the gray rail lubricator reservoir in the foreground, but it’s only been extended part of its normal and possible distance - notice the several sections of its extension “push bars” with the red tips that are sticking up into the air at the front of the machine, and their tiny wheels just below the squarish frame on the front. Did you have time or a place to stay and watch it work for a while and see all that fascinating machinery in action ?
Good catch, K.P., and thanks again for sharing !
- Paul North.
spbed (3-23):
As I understand it, the plan is to make Colton a “quiet zone” where trains traversing the community will NOT blow their horns.
MikeF90 (3-23):
Both “E” St. and “H” St. are supposed to eventually be closed. Olive St. will remain a grade crossing, and presently has a very nice large sign proclaiming the project.
There is little else left, except Laurel St., where a grade separating is planned, and Valley Blvd. is up in the air from what little I’ve heard. In my opinion, a grade separation at Valley Blvd. borders on an impossible situation. The business in the northwest quadrant of the present Valley Blvd. / BNSF Railway tracks looks to be landlocked if a grade separation was built!
As a kid, K.P. befriended a crossing gate towerman in a tower in the northeast quadrant of the above location. Yes, the crossing had wigwags and gates, with a manned tower with a switch to make the gates go up or down. Oh, how times have changed!
The above pictured sign also talks about 9th Street. That South Colton street running UP rail line is supposed to be eliminated in the Colton Flyover effort. However, MikeF90, the recent UP filing with the Surface Transportation Board about abandoning the Riverside Industrial Lead seems to contradict that and indicates the street running track will remain. Figure that one out!
K.P., thanks for the sign pic. The 9th Street ‘rail relocation’ subproject may have been stalled due to ‘sticker shock’ (that supports One online customer) - imagine that! They could close some alternate cross streets/alleys along there with minimal impact and maybe even some homeowner benefit.
Similarly with the Valley Blvd separation, the project would have to pay for a few small businesses to relocate. No Walmart size moves anticipated. IIRC the SE corner empty lot used to house a good Mexican restaurant [:'(].
What I can’t figure out are the rumors that the NW connector will remain - the WC yard east leads can be accessed from the Mojave sub, right?