Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “C” (of A-G, Overall A-O)
The Niland, CA Area
A gallery of photos about the Ames outfit and their yard: In the first photo, on the lower left, note the large drilling tool.
This very nearby scene may or may not be Ames related. Aerials do NOT show such a layout, so all this is probably connected to Ames.
Continued in Part “D”
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “D” (of A-G, Overall A-O)
The Niland, CA Area
Near the grade crossing and Ames yard, a couple of white hatted workers were digging:
The makeshift roadway to the Ames yard is clearly marked, near the main track that has UP trains flying by often. The below train is traveling eastward, photo leftward.
While K.P. was by that Ames yard, one of the maroon-red pickup trucks came out of the yard, stopped while blocking the street (there was no other traffic), and inquired in a leery voice what I was doing. When I explain I was a railfan taking photos of the two-tracking, they seemed relieved, chatted briefly, and continued on.
There seemed to be much paranoia right now for some unknown reason, and it could be terrorist threat related. There will be more about this later.
A tidbit about those maroon-red Ames full sized pickup trucks: It is unfortunate K.P. wasn’t thinking when he saw them everywhere a few times, as a bunch of those trucks scattered in one general area would have made a stunning photo!
Continued in Part “E”
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “E” (of A-G, Overall A-O)
The Niland, CA Area
By English Rd. on the west side of town, the presence of construction was quite obvious. View looks west.
Further west, in the M.P. 663.1 area, construction was very prominent.
Apparently, night work must be done here, for floodlights were present.
Continued in Part “F”
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “F” (of A-G, Overall A-O)
The Niland, CA Area
The construction at that M.P. 663.1 location had a little something more than usual: An active water flow that was being rerouted.
Continued in Part “G”
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “G” (of A-G, Overall A-O)
The Niland, CA Area
A broadside view of the new culvert-work:
A supervisor dutifully steps down for an inspection and seems to be finding things are moving along just fine.
There were cranes in the area, the right one with belted traction.
To be continued in Part “H” (of H-O), scheduled for posting Thursday, August 9, 2012 by 9 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, but probably earlier.
No problem, KP, glad to clear up the confusion. 
Excellent update around Niland on the double track work btw.
–Robert
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “H” (of H-O, Overall A-O)
By California’s Salton Sea
We now move west towards Salton Sea. Highway 111 (background) has a speed limit of 65 M.P.H. Freights are likewise here. (Passenger trains, Amtrak and UP) can go 79 M.P.H. This is fast running territory! A view looking eastbound from Frink Rd:
As reported last time, the grading is finished on the north side (bottom of the above photo) of the presently single-track line.
A wide angle view seems more in tune with the track speed here. Only grade crossing panels and ties are present as reported before and there were no signs yet of track laying on the finished grading.
West of Frink Rd. a tie laying machine rests in a spur off the Rogoza siding.
Back on June 23, 2012, that same spur had a track-tie laying machine in it also. The following June view is reshown. That was the photo where a Border Patrol officer was looking for illegals up from Mexico and the train was crawling by (westward, away from the camera).
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “I” (of H-O, Overall A-O)
By California’s Salton Sea
There was nothing to report by the Hot Spring Rd. grade crossing, another one of the very few grade crossings in this whole area.
Now, we arrive at one of the key locations K.P. was eager to inspect, the Range Rd. grade crossing, very near the east switch of the present Bertram siding, CP SP648 BERTRAM (M.P. 647.8). Note how close to the tracks Salton Sea is in the background. The second-track will be laid through the photo’s bottom area.
The future CP just east of the grade crossing was somewhat partially put together, and was being worked on.
But, as you can see, the photos are very limited in their visual scope. Unfortunately, a supervisor that was in a truck with UP markings on it, drove over and inform me that it was illegal to take photos as I was doing in the present terrorist environment. Who was he try
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “J” (of H-O, Overall A-O)
By California’s Salton Sea
There were centers of activity here and there as K.P. progressed further west on Highway 111. K.P. had been expecting this whole area to have had installed new signal masts with heads turned away, but none were even present.
A few miles east of the Mortmar siding, by Corvina Beach, where a new two-tracking CP is going in, there was a lot of activity. Empty ballast trains were parked. Unfortunately, it did not seem practical to take any worthwhile photos, as Highway 111 is lower than the Sunset Route here.
Near the west switch of the Mortmar siding (CP SP633 MORTMAR at M.P. 632.9), the area where a bunch of UP equipment was previously parked …
… was now all cleared away, and devoid of any such UP equipment and supplies!
From the Corvine Beach area, there was no future two-tracking westward, where two-tracking westward will end for now.
Semi-Good Fortune at Indio, CA
Since K.P. was a little ahead of schedule, a stop in Indio was made, at the Jackson St.
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “K” (of H-O, Overall A-O)
By Colton Crossing
Colton, CA
Now, we move over to Colton. The Sunset Route Colton trackage crosses the BNSF Transcon at M.P. 538.7. Little was seen to be going on that was reportable as an update, but the SOUTH of the Sunset Route pier was having concrete pored.
That is the pier that will be in the way of the future northwest quadrant’s transition track, so is being erected on the south side. That location will have a long upper cross section over to the north side.
A westbound (UP 4733) came along, and its being north of the new pier, proved the pier was SOUTH of the Sunset Route.
Continued in Part “L”
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “L” (of H-O, Overall A-O)
By Colton Crossing
Colton, CA
The northeast quadrant of Colton Crossing was went to, and a photo was taken of what that area looks like, by I-10, and the new pier structures being erected there. Arizona is to the left.
The Rancho Ave. overpass was driven over, but little to report was seen. However, the southernmost switching track (far left on the below previously shown photo) …
… had a wide strip of ground south (left) of it all dug out a foot or two deep all along that southernmost (leftmost) track, all the way back around the curve. Hopefully, next time more time will be available to pursue documenting that, and maybe why such is taking place.
Continued in Part “M”
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “M” (of H-O, Overall A-O)
The Mystery Trackage of CP AL525 GUASTI
Ontario, CA
Recently, cabcar posted a ground level photo of a revised CP AL525 GUASTI, a revision that became necessary because of the new southern alignment of the Milliken Ave. Flyover. In his actually seeing what he photographed, the scene undoubtedly made perfect sense to cabcar. But, K.P., by NOT being there, interpreted the photo differently, rather erroneously because of illusions that can be misinterpreted. K.P. visited the site area to try to eyewitness what was actually there.
Guasti Rd., assessable from Haven Ave. (to the west), was driven down. K.P. soon saw what looked like an abandoned construction inspired hill. So, up it he went. .What great, partial views could be seen therefrom!
The new east westbound signal is now a left side signal: Note the old foreground mainline track is now severed.
A wider angle:
The west side eastbound signals:
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “N” (of H-O, Overall A-O)
The Mystery Trackage of CP AL525 GUASTI
Ontario, CA
In comparing the present below August 3, 2012 straight southward view …
… with the below reshown July 31, 2012 angled view (just a week ago, and while under the NEW alignment) …
… or even this June 8, 2011 taken view:
!(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff19/kpharrier/sunset ca-texas/DSC03732.jpg)
… there are still questions of how things are.
Continued in Part “O”
Checking Things Out
Friday, August 3, 2012
Part “O” (of H-O, Overall A-O)
The Mystery Trackage of CP AL525 GUASTI
Ontario, CA
A never before shown same as above June 8, 2011 file photo with a wider angle, with more of the building location identifiers …
Angled views can be incredibly deceptive as to what is where. Forumites may want to compare the just above photo with the first Part “N” August 3, 2012 side view.
It is hard to assess the situation, but it seems likely the SOUTHERN west side eastbound signal was moved to make room for the siding’s alignment shift to the south, possibly forward or back.
Finally, two additional views shot August 3, 2012 of the WEST side eastbound signals, the south one and then the north one.
On the just above north signal, the small patch of lighter ballast on the lower right seems to suggest the Main’s mast was relocated slightly.
I’ll let the forum draw its own conclusion whether or not IF the two west eastbound s
Update as of Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Colton Flyover Area
Colton, CA
Part I (of I-II)
Bad News … Good News
Part “L” of earlier today’s “Checking Things Out” post series spoke of dirt dug down a foot or two alongside the southernmost switching track for West Colton Yard’s Departure Yard, the particular trackage is the trackage just west of WEST of Rancho Ave., in the general M.P. 538 area.
On Wednesday, August 8, 2012, K.P. managed to visit Rancho Ave. again with specific intent on photographing that dug down right-of-way. The bad news is that that dug down area is now already all filled in, possibly with new dirt!
The good news is, as can be seen in the above view, Main 2 has been moved over, in accordance with the flyover diagram plans. It was photographed with a yellow piece of track equipment on it The Main 2 track is no longer right next to the two switching lead type tracks.
A westward telephoto:
A wider angle with an out and back move for assembling a train for the Departure Yard.
Update as of Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Colton Flyover Area
Colton, CA
Part II (of I-II)
The Flyover’s Side Walling is Getting Higher!
From 9th St. looking south, the walling is getting higher.
More and more worker vehicles are on site. Note the ladder leaning against the walling on the right.
From the ground level, east side, Mt. Vernon Ave. overpass area, looking west, the flyover’s presently limited height structuring appears to have wet cement poured into it.
An Unexpected Place for a Signal
K.P. was surprised to find that the Main 1 side, which has no signals on the west side of the Santa Ana River, had a signal burial base put in the ground (lower right).
In the above photo, the Main 2 west side eastbound signals are for the CP SP941 MT VERNON interlocking, where the
K.P. You never had to drive a truck in California. Speed limit for trucks is supposed to be 55mph. Never did have trouble keeping up with trains by the Salton Sea though.
Thanks Again
IGN
Curses, Strangulations, and Influxes
The far western end of the Sunset Route has seen an influx of additional train traffic, but the increase is costing UP money!
This involves the so called I-5 Corridor, between Los Angeles, CA and Portland, OR / Seattle, WA. Before UP bought SP, the SP line between Los Angeles and Palmdale was sold to Metrolink, a commuter agency. When UP took over SP, freight trains still used the Los Angeles-Palmdale segment because of previously agreed upon trackage rights.
In recent times, however, and odd development surfaced. Metrolink changed the operating rules (which they had a right to do as owner of the line), and most UP trains using the line became severely handicapped with a 25 M.P.H. speed limit in the mountainous and canyon-like territory thereof – the curse. Add commuter rush hours to the scene and UP freights using the line became strangled, if they are even allowed on it.
To keep their trains moving, UP rerouted many of the effected trains via the Palmdale Cutoff … which line goes through Cajon Pass (the Palmdale Cutoff is the right track in the below photo, the left is BNSF’s Transcon) …
… thus adding trains to the Sunset Route between West Colton Yard (in Colton, the Palmdale Cutoff is slanted on upper left in the below old view) …
!(http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff19/kpharrier/sunset ca-texas/DSC06880.jpg)
… and Los Angeles, su
Bravo to K.P. on his continuing photo coverage [bow], but IMO this historical summary is a bit convoluted. SP built the Palmdale Cutoff (eastern part of the Mojave sub) in the 1960s with the express purpose of avoiding the congestion of downtown Los Angeles trackage. The new, larger West Colton yard would exploit this new routing but had to wait a little for capital in order to come online in the 1970s.
The tight fisted management of SP decided to invest most of their meager RR profits elsewhere rather than on RR infrastructure improvements. Double tracking was minimal in most parts of the SP. The mountainous, slow ex-Valley line through Soledad Canyon has only seen improvements under SCRRA (Metrolink) ownership.
The Mojave sub must be ‘fluid enough’ for UP’s I-5 traffic otherwise we would see more investment - very unlikely considering the expense of new trackage in the rugged Cajon Pass. Yah, I think they’ll be using the triple tracked BNSF for the time being. LH crossover at Silverwood, anyone? [;)]
I always thought that an eastbound crossover fromt eh Santa Fe to the Cutoff would work very well at Devore. That and a second track all the way to around the point where the Cutoff goes underneath I-15 near Hesperia would keep things very fluid for UP.
Plus such a connection could offer BNSF a shortcut for its trains heading to Bakersfield and could serve as anincentive to get BNSF to help pay for the additional trackage and possibly more sidings between the end of the double track segment and Mojave. After all, ATSF had seriously looked at a “Barstow Cutoff” from Cajon Summit to Mojave years ago and thisis one way it could become reality now. Vern