The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part I (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia, CA
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).
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part II (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia, CA
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:
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part III (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia, CA
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:
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part IV (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia, CA
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
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part V (of I-VI, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia, CA
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
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
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.
Continue
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part VII (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte, CA
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
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part VIII (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte, CA
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
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part IX (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte, CA
We now move over to Myrtle Ave. and Duarte Rd. in the Monrovia area.
Looking inbound (westbound):
Now, outbound (eastbound):
Continued in Part X
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part X (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte, CA
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
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part XI (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte, CA
A very heavy inbound telephoto (westbound) view: Construction workers are seen.
Metal poles for future vehicle stoplights:
Continued in Part XII
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part XII (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte, CA
The rails on wheels:
Continued in Part XIII
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part XIII (of VII-XIV, Overall I-XX)
Arcadia-Monrovia-Duarte, CA
At Buena Vista Street and Duarte Road: The grade crossing, looking inbound (westbound) into a setting sun.
Outbound (eastbound):
Continued in Part XIV
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
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!
-------<
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part XV (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
Duarte-Irwindale-Azusa, CA
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
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part XVI (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
Duarte-Irwindale-Azusa, CA
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
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part XVII (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
Duarte-Irwindale-Azusa, CA
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
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part XVIII (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
Duarte-Irwindale-Azusa, CA
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 t
The Foothill Extension Is Now Taking Shape!
Update as of Friday, June 20, 2014
Part XIX (of XV-XX, Overall I-XX)
Duarte-Irwindale-Azusa, CA
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
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 h
