A big thank you to these wonderful people. Santa was visiting "our" Hill 582 and even decorated a special Christmas Tree. 12/14/07 by GGG (big photo)
On the last day of 2007 Don, Keith, and I performed an "inspection trip" down in the Cajon. Ames Construction took a couple of weeks off for the holidays and it appeared that BNSF had also geared down operations for the New Year celebration. We understand that the new Control Point Walker, just RR West of Interstate 15 on the existing # 1 track, is a "done deal" and so we decided to document the area. The sun this time of year is not great for photography but - - -
Photo 307 shows the existing signal
at MP 60.2X (right in the middle of the new CP Walker switches/signals).
The new 3MT will replace this signal on the far side of the existing # 1
track.
Photo 308 shows BNSF 7778 WB through
the new (and not yet in service) WBCS (West Bound Control Signals) at CP
Walker. A switch is being built for shunting from the new 3MT to
existing Main 1.
Photo 309 shows the EBCS (East Bound
Control Signals) with the switch (# 1 to new 3 MT) already installed.
(GGG 12/31/07)
CP Walker will be a HIGH
honor to a great man and super friend !
Photo 318: T-2 EP --- 1923 extension to the 1913 tunnel (how many days will it remain?) --- ShotCrete wall is almost finished.
As of last Friday, 01-11-08, Ames
Construction had turned its upper Pass attention to Tunnel 1. Six large
machines and a number of large dumps were working on the
"north" side of T-1 (between the existing BNSF # 1 track and
the UP/SP track above). It appears to us that the plan is to get
the dirt down to BNSF track level, build the sho fly, and then remove
the remains of T-2 and all of T-1 concurrently. So,
here are five of the 01-11-08 progress at T-1.
Photos 327 - 328
show machines working at T-1 EP ---- between the UP and BNSF
tracks.
Photo 329 shows the dirt level atop
T-1. The shown track is UP. The area where the red truck sits
will be lowered about 50 feet to allow the new 3MT/sho fly to be built.
Photos 330 - 331 show T-1 WP with
even more equipment working to remove the dirt. (GGG)
Photos 337 - 339: Three of our more interesting pictures, even it
does not show the 3MT construction, we think it is worth to see. (DET/GGG)
# 1: DET photographed HELPERS BNSF 5422/FM 4659 EB at bridge MP
64.1X.
# 2: From West Summit Island, I (GGG) caught UP 4193 WB on the existing
# 1 while UP 8585 climbs the UP/SP Palmdale Cutoff NB.
# 3: From West Summit Island, DET sends UNPATCHED (RARE, RARE) SP 187 EB
to Summit.
Just spent a couple of days with Don, et al
as Ames Construction gears up for the final push. There's still a BUNCH
of work to do but the dirt North of Tunnel One is now down to the new
"track" level --- and both tunnels are just about ready for
the sho-fly. The five major bridge projects are nearing
completion. I call them MAJOR bridges, although there are many HIGHER
and longer bridges, since these carry millions of cargo tons daily, span
a sometimes RAGING river, and cross the San Andreas fault. So,
in the next few days, you're going to receive a BUNCH of pictures.
Starting
with the tunnels and working RailRoad West --- The
Tunnels --- The project is to remove thousands of cubic yards of dirt, down
to track level, and bypass both tunnels with a sho-fly. Next,
both tunnels will be destroyed and the Shotcrete walls, to the south of
both tunnels, will be completed. Lastly, next spring/summer, the new 3MT
and the existing # 1 track will be built/rebuilt in the cut.
Photo 340:
DET sends a great picture of T-1 WP as of 01-09-08.
Photo 341: Today, 01-19-08,
10 days later, the dirt North of T-1 is almost down to new track level
--- two shifts per day. Photo 342: T-1 WP with the Tie
laying machine (TLM) waiting on the new 3MT. Photo 343: TLM on
new 3MT. Photo 344: Not much
new on T-2 but the Sho-fly ROW is ready. (GGG)
To complete the two remaining bridges (W Cajon Junction and Blue Cut),
Ames is using some of the biggest equipment I've seen, to deliver and
place the spans. The W Cajon Jct bridge (MP 63.4) will have three spans
using six steel box girders while the Blue Cut bridge (MP 65) will use
four 90 ft concrete sections (two sides and two middle sections). The
steel sections are 25 tons each and the concrete sections are 78
tons each for the edge pieces and a bit less for the center section.
The steel
box girders were delivered to Cajon Jct via RR Flat car,
transloaded to trucks (pictures 347 and 348), moved to the bridge, to
be placed by Road Crane (349).
INTERESTING --- Evidently the Manitowoc could not lift the concrete
sections and so the Road Crane was brought from MP 63.4 to Cajon Jct to
unload them --- and then driven back to the Bridge to place the steel
sections. Photos 350 - 351 show the HUGE concrete Bridge girders for
Blue Cut --- which will be loaded on the same RR flats to be transported
to Blue Cut and unloaded by two cranes. According to our "sources",
the limited access to Blue Cut will require a SEVEN HOUR work window,
(01-21-08) on both existing tracks so that the concrete sections
may be delivered and placed. (GGG)
Hello, Calling all tunneling experts
While looking closely at the remains of T-2, we noticed horizontal
imprints in the concrete on both the inside and outside walls --
indicating framing. Also, large timbers are imbedded within the walls
along with some rebar. So, the question is, thinking about 1913/1923
technology, how'd they do that ??
Not a question/answer that will cure global anything -- just
interesting -- without concrete pumps, shotcrete etc. (GGG)
Photos 355 - 360: Assembly of
the 3 span bridge at MP 63.4 is complete. Using the aforementioned steel
box girders and the huge road crane, Ames is shown placing the third of
six 50,000 lb box girders in place. (GGG)
Photos 361 - 367: The bridge
structure at Blue Cut is finished. This bridge crosses Lone Pine Canyon Creek
and
the Main San Andreas Fault at MP 65.1.
These photos 368 - 372 will show to what lengths we'll go - to provide
you Cajon Crazies with photography of REAL RAILROADING ! ! HE HE
We actually had a great day (01-22-08) - grown men 4-wheeling in
the MUD near the tracks- can't beat it (GGG)
Photo 368: Leading edge of our present rain/snow storm from Hill 582. Also, you may see the foundations of the new signal bridge just RR West of "the hill".
Photo 369: From Sullivan's, looking East --- A bit of snow on the mountains. Photo 371: Marc and Don just RR East of the Curved Bridge at MP 64.1X.
Photo 372: UP 9695 heads SB with a ballast train at North Sullivan's Curve. (GGG)
Photo 368: Leading edge of our present rain/snow storm from Hill 582. Also, you may see the foundations of the new signal bridge just RR West of "the hill".
Photo 369: From Sullivan's, looking East --- A bit of snow on the mountains. Photo 371: Marc and Don just RR East of the Curved Bridge at MP 64.1X.
Photo 372: UP 9695 heads SB with a ballast train at North Sullivan's Curve. (GGG)
The new 3MT requires a bridge at MP 59.5X. This is the area
between T-2 WP and Interstate 15 where the existing BNSF # 1 crosses the
Santa Fe Fire Road. However, there is a second bridge over the fire
road which carries a little used setout track. Last week, that bridge
was raised to the level of the existing Main # 1 track bridge and large
concrete spacers were inserted --- problem solved. (GGG)
Photo 373: The old setout track and the bridge at MP 59.5X.
The track was covered to allow Ames trucks access to the equipment storage
lot. Photo 374: shows the area is question. Photo 375:
shows the setout track and existing # 1 bridges. Photos 376 - 377:
Close ups of the concrete spacers used to raise the bridge.
The plan is to level the ground north
of the tunnels, place a shoofly, remove the tunnels, and rebuild
the two tracks. From last week, here
are the images of Ames placing the sub-ballast for the shoofly. (GGG)
Photos
378 - 380 are of T-1 EP and the preparation of the sub roadbed. Note
the GPS/laser leveling device on the road grader. The TLM (Tie laying
Machine) and Tie train are in place and ready. Photo
381 shows T-1 WP with the sub road bed. Photo
382 shows Ames removing the dirt
between the South wall of T-2 and the ShotCrete wall.
Two more places, where Don and Gary have
taken many photographs, are GONE. However, each loss brings on new
opportunities.
First,
the hill just NORTH of East Sullivan's Curve. The loss of the hill
across from the tracks now allows us to see WB trains entering the
Curve.
Photo
383 is from the Sullivan's overlook and shows the hill as it was.
Photos 384 - 386 shows what's left of
the hill.
Second,
a hill just BNSF RR West at MP 63.7X of the above hill. The rocks here
had a special "pinkish" color.
Photo
387 shows the hill as it was. Photos
388 - 389 shows the hill as of last Monday with huge backhoes,
drills and dozers working.
The Shoo-fly by-passing both tunnels is in-place, however, sitting
on the sub roadbed. Ballasting should start next Monday. There are 50
cars of ballast sitting in Victorville. Our recent rains have caused
several instances of erosion as seen in DET-photos 390 - 391 --
look just above and to the right of the T-1 West Portal. Interesting
to see the TLM laying the Shoo-Fly. GGG-photos 392 - 393 of T-1
EP showing the sweeping curve needed to by-pass the tunnels.
