MikeF90 (3-5):
Wow! You are right! The rail IS in the concrete.
The designers of such rail in concrete must be expecting the end of the world to come before the rail needs to be replaced.
Best,
K.P.
The concrete around the rails is often poured without rebar, making it easier to break up if repair or replacement is required. The “Concrete Breaker” was a common piece of work equipment for street railways in days gone by.
The Expo Line project office announced that phase 2 ‘train testing’ will begin on Monday, April 6.
Contractor testing of train clearance, OCS, signals and grade crossing protection should take ‘several months’ prior to turn over to Metro for pre-revenue acceptance and training.
Unusual marker seen at one station, perhaps part of the ‘art’:
Judging by the extensive postings on the Expo Line Fan site, the contractor team accomplished a lot in their first day of testing. A Peterbilt hi-rail truck pulled the test consist with the well known foam ‘wedgies’ to check clearance:
Most of the clearance testing was done under OCS power! Here the train has passed under I-10 heading west:
They used the crossover east of Military to head back in the other direction:
Testing west of Military will wait for another day:
Now I’m stimulated to go out and see this in person …
Here’s a drone-filmed aerial tour of the Metro Expo Line Phase II extension from Culver City to Santa Monica:
Fantastic video!
More progress photos have been posted on the Expo Line Fan site. An ‘after’ shot to my post above looks west under the I-405 freeway, showing the OCS messenger wire is in place with inches to spare:
Looking east from Sawtelle Blvd at the tight fit under I-405:
UPDATE: split up photo postings to reduce loading issues.
A closeup a of switch motor, will be harder to get when operational:
A few sections of the bike path have finally been paved …
Some views from the cab of a test train have recently been posted, starting at this one: http://www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/38133668
Press left arrow / key for the rest of this sequence. Note that track 3 is the south track and track 4 is the north (why I have no idea).
Photos from today’s testing show the test car passing under the I-405 freeway - the pantograph is way, Way down!
More photos at http://www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/38585520
Can’t wait for this to open. I love to visit Santa Monica but it’s awfully pricey to stay there. With the Expo line I hope to stay a stop or two inland and take the train to the beach. Beats traffic and parking fees.
It’s hard to find an ‘in between’ priced room, the only places I find near LR are dives or very high priced hotels. Check out the Hilton Garden Inn at the west end of the Green Line. Now back to topic …
The Expo construction authority is finally starting testing to downtown Santa Monica: http://www.buildexpo.org/wp-content/uploads/070915-Expo-Phase-2-Notice-TRAIN-TESTING-Santa-Monica.pdf Good to expand driver awareness of other vehicles that will always be victorious in a collision. [:-^]
Yesterday the first ‘clearance’ test train reached the downtown Santa Monica station platform; it was pushed by the usual hirail truck. Metro reports that this was the first passenger train this far west since 1953.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7joth0Wp0mg
Like those clearance gismoes. What Atlanta and a few other lines needs to do is install same on a regular train and anything hit by them ( cars & trucks mainly ) be a very expensive ticket. Word would soon get out and maybe not so many sideswipes.
The construction authority has not yet proclaimed ‘official completion’, nor has Metro announced a planned start of service date in 2016.
Meanwhile, the ExpoLineFan site shows more of the usual finish work like planting landscaping. Hopefully the new bike / walking paths along the ROW will be open to the public soon - they are really needed in this densely populated part of the county.
Update as of Friday, November 27, 2015
The Expo Line
The End of the Line Area
Santa Monica, CA
Part I (of I-III)
On the above date at twilight the Expo’s end of the line area was visited in Santa Monica (CA). Construction workers were onsite.
Approaching and just before the end of the line the two-tracks become three:
Reminiscent of the beginning of Disneyland’s Space Mountain ride and the rotating red light, the Expo line has red lights too. It is just that they are not gyrating.
Above, don’t look at the mesmerizing red light for too long or its ‘power’ might take over your mind! (Hehehe.)
Continued in Part II
Update as of Friday, November 27, 2015
The Expo Line
The End of the Line Area
Santa Monica, CA
Part II (of I-III)
K.P. found the universal crossover arrangement (two opposite crossovers) NOT the light rail traditional ‘X’ type, but of the back to back freight railroads type.
One city block to the east the universal crossover has a city cross-street going through it, with the counterpart crossover in the next city block (right, in the distance).
Back over by the station stop, an eastward view.
Continued in Part III
Update as of Friday, November 27, 2015
The Expo Line
The End of the Line Area
Santa Monica, CA
Part III (of I-III)
The crosswalks are obvious.
The end of the line is NOT exactly on a straight alignment, but the line angles noticeably as it goes into the stop.
Back a block to the east, looking southward, Santa Monica’s transit bus yard is present.
In theory, some bus drivers when the Expo line is running could get off their bus and ride the Expo Line home.
K.P. is not exactly familiar with the history of the area’s specifics. For those that may be familiar … Is the light rail street running here a carryover from the trolley days of the old Pacific Electric of a century ago? A mile or two to the south also is the basically east-west Venice Blvd., and that road has a strip of lawn between traffic direction sides, an obvious carryover from the long gone PE days. Back then there were two lines with a common origin that reached the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Is the line shown herein that other line?
This will end the series.
As mentioned at the beginning of this topic, the Expo Line mostly follows the ROW of the original SP/PE ‘Air Line’. The street running on Colorado is necessary as the original ROW west of 16th Street has long been sold for newer development.
The median of Venice Blvd was indeed the ROW of the Venice Short Line, converted to bus service in 1950. On Google Maps you can follow the original ROW from Venice Bl northwest along Electric (!) Ave, Main St and Neilson Way to DTSM. This ROW section was still in evidence thirty years ago but no more.
The VSL connected with the Westgate line (Ocean Ave & San Vicente to Brentwood) and the line along Santa Monica Blvd to Beverly Hills. Quite a few alternatives between DTLA and the ocean back then!