How It Was In December-January 2012-2013
Part III, Section “A” (of A-I)
On the south side of that jog, at Seventh St., looking north:
(The inconsistency in street signs, 4th (numeral) vs. Seventh (spelled) is the community’s doing, not K.P.’s!)
Another northward view, a telephoto:
The old line once from San Diego, looking north:
Continued in Section B
How It Was In December-January 2012-2013
Part III, Section “B” (of A-I)
The line to San Jacinto curves southeastward.
When this whole line is rebuilt, it would seem a more swooping curve arrangement more in line with fast commuter service will result.
Going the other way, south-southwestward, is the original California Southern route that once went to San Diego.
As seen in the last two photos above, catenary is strung. The Orange Empire Railway Museum (OERM) is in the background. Old trolley equipment is on site, and on some weekends and special events rides are given.
Continued in Section C
How It Was In December-January 2012-2013
Part III, Section “C” (of A-I)
The museum has signals, trolley cars, and some spectacular power!
A great place to visit!
Continued in Section D
How It Was In December-January 2012-2013
Part III, Section “D” (of A-I)
Back at the Seventh St. grade crossing again, looking north: Watch your step!
At the “D” Street grade crossing, looking northwest:
LINK: Where there are Now Apartments … Once a Track Triangle
Continued in Section E
How It Was In December-January 2012-2013
Part III, Section “E” (of A-I)
Looking southeast:
Continued in Section F
How It Was In December-January 2012-2013
Part III, Section “F” (of A-I)
A heavy telephoto looking back at Perris, from near the I-215 Freeway as seen in Section G.
A northwestward wide angle view.
Continued in Section G
How It Was In December-January 2012-2013
Part III, Section “G” (of A-I)
Three southeastward views: The overpass is the U.S. 395 / I-215 Freeway.
Continued in Section H
How It Was In December-January 2012-2013
Part III, Section “H” (of A-I)
Exactly where a Metrolink stop (the end of the commuter line) will be built is unknown, but looking several differing ways there are problems in this kind of rural area.
The land strip is narrow.
Farmland is present.
Because of the nearby freeway and roadways, the land is rather confined.
LINK: Aerial of Mapes Rd. and I-215 Area
Continued in Section I
How It Was In December-January 2012-2013
Part III, Section “I” (of A-I)
Green markings and a dug up roadbed were present near the Mapes Rd. grade crossing, near I-215.
What an old grade crossing control unit and battery box!
The left flasher lights must have replaced a knocked down one previously, because it has large flasher lights, whereas the right unit had small lights from years and years ago.
As seen above, this grade crossing presently does not even have crossing gates … at least not yet.
This will conclude the “How It Was in December-January 2012-2013” series.
The photos shown of the trolleys were at the ORANGE EMPIRE RAILWAY MUSEUM. oerm.org Various types of power is in operation every weekend and once a month live steam. The plan is to extend the rails to the old Perris station.
As far as I recall, there is a track connection between OERM and the Perris station, though the last few blocks are on what is now Metrolink trackage. It does look like there is room for a dedicated OERM track to the station, which would also allow the trolley wire to be extended to the station - the electrics are a lot cheaper to run than the diesels or VC #2.
Replies:
Avianwatcher (2-1)
Regarding your February 1, 2013 reply …
Thanks for catching that. It is NOT the Orange Empire Trolley Museum, but Railway Museum. A correction has been made on the errant post.
Several weeks ago when first working up a rough draft I caught that error, but was dealing with a few other related topics at the time and thought I had corrected everything, but I guess one draft error got by me. When posting the February 1 post I knew I should have given the draft one final proof reading before posting, but I was almost on remote control at the time …
erikem (2-2):
It looks like there is room for two-tracks to be routed by the old depot, one for OERM trains, the other for Metrolink.
But, where will the Metrolink downtown station stop actually be loca
K.P.
A 1960’s vintage Perris 7.5’ topo shows two tracks on each side of the station (total of four tracks), so historically there would be room - though Perris now has grown “just a wee bit” since then. A Metrolink station would require a fair amount of parking, so I’m not sure where the station would go.
FWIW, my first time at OERM was in 1976 and I’ve been a member since 1989.
K.P., thank you for sharing that awesome pictorial with us.
Some legal updates on the Perris Valley Line from earlier this week:
http://blog.pe.com/environment/2013/01/30/metrolink-suit-judge-serious-about-ceqa/
A judge is now hearing the lawsuit over the environmental impact report for the Perris Valley Line.
I hope the judge rules in favor of Metrolink and RCTC. The trains won’t have to move so slowly through Box Canyon with Class 4 mainline track.
At the multimodal transportation facility (bus & train stop) already complete at this location (33.783526, -117.229526) north of the depot.
The new platform and adjacent parking are visible just west of the existing tracks, from San Jacinto south to 4th Street (property goes to 6th Street!). Trackage will be rebuilt and relocated closer to the platform, and per their website OERM has a dedicated track ‘pocket’ for their special event trains - very cool!. Looks like a parallel track will be built to the pocket with room for a Metrolink connection south of 4th Street - don’t know what other plans the city has for that plot of land.
BTW the depot was sold by OERM to the City and leased back; it is mostly occupied by the Perris Historical Society’s collection.
Another PV line upgrade I noticed while map surfing - there are now two concrete tie supported sidings starting just opposite the March Field Air Museum. Anyone know who / what they are for, at least before the main track presumably is upgraded.
Replies:
Avianwatcher (2-1)
Regarding your February 1, 2013 reply …
Thanks for catching that. It is NOT the Orange Empire Trolley Museum, but RAILWAY Museum as you pointed out. A correction has been made on the errant post.
Several weeks ago when first working up a series rough draft I caught that error, but was dealing with a few other related topics at the time and thought I had corrected everything, but I guess one draft error got by. When posting the February 1 post I knew I should have given the draft one final proof reading before posting, but I was almost on remote control at the time …
erikem (2-2):
After your post, MikeF90 posted a great aerial link that shows concrete sidewalks on each side of a trackless strip, the strip presumably for an OERM track.
I am out that way at least once a month, so hopefully I will be able to document that area in photos for the forum.
mvs (2-2):
Thanks so much for the links. They gave a good picture of what is going on controversy-wise.
As far as that lawsuit, while I am not an attorney, it seems out of the court’s jurisdiction, at least in my opinion. The rail line through the area i
A Couple of Onsite Follow-Ups
Perris, CA
Part A (of A-D)
In the recent past, it was pointed out in this thread by erikem and MikeF90 (both 2-2) about a connection between the Perris Valley Line and the Orange Empire Railway Museum (OERM), Mike even linking an aerial of a cement platform opening for a future OERM track.
On Wednesday, February 13, 2013, K.P. had opportunity to pass that area, and two specific areas in Perris were focused on.
First, the OERM reserved platform area in downtown Perris.
A northward view: The platform is part of a complex that hosts Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) transit buses. Bus stalls are slanted (see photo bottom).
A southward view: The OERM opening (right of center) in relation to transit bus access (lower right).
A Couple of Onsite Follow-Ups
Perris, CA
Part B (of A-D)
Back at the reserved boarding / alighting museum future track platform, the situation is a weird contradictory one. In is unknown if a piece of passenger carriage could enter without sideswiping the makeshift protective fence.
The visible cement between the yellow strips above is vertical, though sometimes it looks horizontal by mental illusion.
The bus stop area is WEST (right) of the track, but the Metrolink stop area will be EAST of the track (left), according to Environmental Impact Report diagrams (left on photo below).
Hopefully, the material herein will be sufficient to give the forum an idea of the PVL’s Perris stop situation.
Continued in Part C
A Couple of Onsite Follow-Ups
Perris, CA
Part C (of A-D)
Next stop, the end of the line: The South Perris Station.
According to the EIR, the station is just slightly east of the San Jacinto River, the wooden bridge over it shown below, with the station land somewhere on the background right.
Just a few hundred feet to the east is another, but shorter, bridge. The station stop should be in that back greenery area.
Just past the bridging on the right is the slanted “T” intersection of Case Rd. (parallel to the track) and Murrieta Rd. (unseen); the bridge on the left is the same one as just above.
Continued in Part D
A Couple of Onsite Follow-Ups
Perris, CA
Part D (of A-D)
Looking back at the San Jacinto River Bridge, the track currently looks awful and rickety.
A cross view of the area with snowcapped mountains in the background.
The greenery looks attractive now, but is not normally that color most of the year.
If the Perris Valley Line comes to fruition, the transformation of it will be something to behold … and update follow.