Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

Anybody care to explain what the heck this is all about?

The FRA says this crossing is open and run by Metrolink as of 2007 but here there are four wishbone gates but no lights, crossbucks or bells.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 23.52,,0,3

AndrewFields wrote:Anybody care to explain what the heck this is all about?

The FRA says this crossing is open and run by Metrolink as of 2007 but here there are four wishbone gates but no lights, crossbucks or bells.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 23.52,,0,3

Lines is abandoned and metrolink is taking it over to use the line for commuter rail but hasn't yet expanded out there thats my guess

That crossing is just past the point where the Metrolink ends in Pasadena. The bridge over the 210 freeway was removed several years ago, and will need to be replaced before any expansion in that line happens. Unfortunately for Metrolink, the Pasadena line, while standard gauged, is electrically powered via a (fairly low) overhead power line. Where they need to expand into; Monrovia, Auzsa, Covina, etc, still has several freight customers being serviced by the very much full sized, diesel powered Union Pacific.

UP cannot operate on that particular Metrolink track without tearing out the overhead gantrys, and Metrollink needs the overheads to power the trains. That's one of the biggest travesties of the Metrolink: the incompatability. Blue line cannot operate on Gold line, which cannot operate on the red line.

There is a HUGE Miller brewing plant in Azusa that is also a HUGE customer of UP. Miller is not going to relocate just because some stupid jackass at Metrolink decides to have electric trains with no freight capability running through town. It'll be an interesting thing to see solved.

gedunk wrote:That crossing is just past the point where the Metrolink ends in Pasadena. The bridge over the 210 freeway was removed several years ago, and will need to be replaced before any expansion in that line happens. Unfortunately for Metrolink, the Pasadena line, while standard gauged, is electrically powered via a (fairly low) overhead power line. Where they need to expand into; Monrovia, Auzsa, Covina, etc, still has several freight customers being serviced by the very much full sized, diesel powered Union Pacific.

UP cannot operate on that particular Metrolink track without tearing out the overhead gantrys, and Metrollink needs the overheads to power the trains. That's one of the biggest travesties of the Metrolink: the incompatability. Blue line cannot operate on Gold line, which cannot operate on the red line.

There is a HUGE Miller brewing plant in Azusa that is also a HUGE customer of UP. Miller is not going to relocate just because some stupid jackass at Metrolink decides to have electric trains with no freight capability running through town. It'll be an interesting thing to see solved.

YOU mean metro rail, metro link is commuter train
unless your talking about the ghetto metrolink here in st louis mo

According to the OP, the FRA calls it metrolink. Who am I to argue with the always timely, accurate, and on-the-dot FRA???

Haven't we seen that crossing before? Looks familiar.

yep, posted about a month or two ago!

I know this is an old topic, but I came across a nice document from 2007 on the environmental evaluation regarding the Foothill Goldline Extension. That section right there is not open. It is very much defunct until LACMTA begins the Goldline Extension. The section of track east of the wishbones (between Santa Anita and First St.) is designated as a "team track", which is shared by multiple agencies. Some owners of private railroad cars currently store their equipment on that track, which is why you can see some old passenger cars on the siding near A&A Building Material. Daily freight use by BNSF on the rest of the mainline ends at Valley Grain in Monrovia and continues through the Miller Brewery and on into Fontana, where, according to the document, the locomotive activity originates.

There is minimal freight activity on this BNSF line. The grain company in Monrovia requires a weekly delivery of five freight cars. Apparently, there is a daily 20 to 30-car train serving the brewery. I live east of the brewery and rarely see a train on a daily basis, though.

If I read correctly, the governing document written back in 1992 concerning the purchase of the line by the LACMTA from BNSF said that freight service on that line will continue (with no restrictions on the number of trains) except during certain hours. They also plan to require a minimum of either 24 or 26 feet of clearance from the top of the rail to any wires to permit future electrification. They are even considering laying two additional tracks alongside the mainline and have two grade separations. I would LOVE to see them lay new track and grade crossings. :D

Were signal masts with lights and bells removed and we are now seeing what remains?

When no traffic, I would shunt the track to see if they still operate.
Why do some GooglEarth scenes get "filmy"?

Robert_Gift wrote:Were signal masts with lights and bells removed and we are now seeing what remains?

When no traffic, I would shunt the track to see if they still operate.
Why do some GooglEarth scenes get "filmy"?

Go for it. That's a Federal offense.