Hello. I’m very new to your forum but I have some questions only you all may know. I am curious to know the age of the parallel set of SP tracks where they cross Monte Vista Avenue, near UP M.P. 517.37 in San Bernardino County, CA. Specifically, the southerly set of tracks still has wood ties; I’m assuming these are not that old, but I thought I would ask. I saw on the forum that the signals just east were recently replaced. Is there anything else left within this immediate vicinity of an early vintage? How long has the storage yard been there? That small trestle just east of the intersection at the LA&SL line-- does anyone know the age of that? This is all just west of Sunsweet/ Narod.
I am doing some of historical research on the area as part of the proposed grade separation at the intersection, and I want to make sure I understand what’s on the ground there; if it’s still the same or has changed over the years. Thank You
The ex-Southern Pacific single track mainline (left, concrete ties) crosses Monte Vista Ave. in conjunction WITH the North Montclair siding (right, wood ties).
The ex-Los Angeles & Salt Lake is a slight bit to the south, and is seen in the background right of the above photo.
The SP line is circa 1875, whereas the LA&SL is circa 1905.
Out of curiosity, Gunner, are you with SANBAG? A citizen’s overpass pro or con group? Or, are you perhaps a historian? Your lingo doesn’t sound like a railroader or railfan, so it just got me curious …
I am the architectural historian doing the historic resource evaluation for all of the buildings, structures, and objects near the proposed grade separation. I basically take a look at everything there and make determinations on potential National Register eligibility. This involves knowing if a feature is original, if it is has its historic integrity, and what the backstory (historic context) is surrounding it. So, as part of this work, I need to learn everything I can about the historic context and stories about about everything in the area, including the rail-related elements. I have already written a little history of the communities of Narod and Monte Vista as part of the project-- I’ll be happy to post them once the report is signed off. We do all this intensive research and writing, and then it never sees the light of day.
Yeah-- I know… I’m green at this. Gunner is not a rail related term in any way; it is an homage to my dad. I don’t know rail extensively by any stretch, but I have enjoyed learning about it, and I work with it pretty regularly as part of my job. I am extremely passionate about historic information of all kinds, primary source research, and when possible, historic preservation. I guess that is why I do what I do. I must say that I am completely blown away by the level of content that rail enthusiasts in particular seem to know about their subject, which is why I joined the forum here.
Thank You for your info, and any further assistance is most appreciated.
From a historical point of view, you are inserting your effort at an odd time railroad-wise. In the last couple of years the searchlight target signals, some of which have stood in the area for at least fifty years, have been changed out to color light types. Both are seen in transition in the below November 21, 2011 photo.
That above photo shows the west switch of the LA&SL Montclair siding. Perhaps it was 20 years ago the siding was shorter and UP extended it west to the present west end.
UP also built the LA&SL Montclair yard, and that may be the reason the siding was extended.
In 2004 this forum contributor stopped at the LA&SL Monte Visit Ave. grade crossing to just look it over, since I had not been there for a while. It was almost premonition-like that the west switch of the Montclair siding was seen not to have a siding derail. The thought crossed the mind that if a cut of cars got loose out of the Montclair facility they would roll past the switch, across Monte Vista Ave., and speed downhill all the way to downtown Los Angeles!
It wasn’t two months later that very thing happened! So that the runaway wouldn’t head-on a commuter train, the speeding cars were deliberately derailed in the City of Commerce, near Los Angeles. The National Transportation Safety Board in its final report blamed an incorrect procedure for the runaway, and ordered UP to install a derail at the place I saw there wasn’t one!
This is great and helpful information K.P. Thank You. I wish I had more to contribute to this forum. Maybe at some point down the line I’ll have something good to share.
