Western Railroad Discussion > Photos of Vaughn - Carnero Double Tracking Project

RollinB Wrote:
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> Can anyone who was on the AAPRCO special post
> images of the Vaughn - Carnero double track
> project?

Here's some photos that I took as we blasted through the area at track speed.  As you can see, like the Abo Canyon project, some of the new track construction is on the north side of the original line and at other times on the south side.  An all new fill and bridge is being built across the UP Golden State Route on the south side of the original one.  All photos were taken looking eastward except # 03.    

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Interesting that this junction is grade seperated over the years.  Certainly the AT&SF ran many trains - but did the old SP line see that much traffic?  Maybe too far to place a tower in the middle of no-where?  When was it grade seperated?

Thanks for the pictures. Definitely worth a thousand words.

It looks like the track centers are considerably farther apart than the traditional distance.  Will this allow normal track speed on one track while maintainers etc are on the other track?

Nice view of the changes at that bottleneck.  

Thanks for posting!  Always good to see capacity improvements.

Wider separation of mains has been a BN/BNSF standard starting in early 1990's. Largely due to Roadway Worker Protection initiatives by the FRA/Rail Management/Unions. Otherwise you run into having to either hold trains or the mw work where mains are closer together.
 

Excellent info in these fine photos, and an impressive project by BNSF. Beautiful puffy-cloud day out there.

Best regards,

Rob L.

Nice pics of the construction work.  Looking forward to seeing that this fall.

displacedneb Wrote:
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> Wider separation of mains has been a BN/BNSF
> standard starting in early 1990's. Largely due to
> Roadway Worker Protection initiatives by the
> FRA/Rail Management/Unions. Otherwise you run into having to either hold trains or the mw work where
> mains are closer together.
>  


i don't disagree with the above theory but in my opinion the wide track centers would be for H&W load movements being able to run without any necessary restrictions on the adjacent track with close track centers ... both are very valid reasons ...

Posted from Android

The existing grade separation is from the original construction of the Belen cutoff.

Good pics. Thank yoiu.  I see that they aren't done with the dirt wook yet as was reported last year as it was to short of a time for that much dirt to be moved. upkpfan

Thank you very much Agent!!  These images are better than anything I had hoped for!

As to the separation between the tracks, there was extensive excavation needed between Tejon and Carnero on either the selected route or the other proposed route which would have put the second track on the current alignment.  Because of the disruption to the high volume of trains which would have been caused by clearing on Form B train orders through the area where trucks would have had to cross the single main track and the necessity to stop all train traffic while blasting, it was decided to use a more expensive alternative and build the second track on a new alignment so that there would be no disruption to daytime train traffic.  80 trains per day is a load for single track under the best of circumstances.

Between Tejon and Vaughn as suggested earlier, the wide separation is maintained for worker safety while operating trains at maximum authorized speed.

rdb    

Is there much interchange between BNSF and UP at Vaughn?

The connection at Vaughn is used mainly for eastbound BNSF trains using the trackage rights on UP from El Paso to Vaughn.  From time to time there are detour moves caused by capital maintenance on one railroad or the other.  Occasionally there are special contract rates for unit trains originating on UP to BNSF points with run-through power.  There is no single car interchange at Vaughn and it is listed as an operating interchange only.

Now the single track spots on the Transcon are:

Fort Sumner: 2.3 miles - Pecos River Bridge

Sibley, MO: 1.4 miles - Missouri River Bridge

Is Avard-Loder, OK still single?

Any others?

Coalca Wrote:
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> Now the single track spots on the Transcon are:
>
> Fort Sumner: 2.3 miles - Pecos River Bridge
>
> Sibley, MO: 1.4 miles - Missouri River Bridge
>
> Is Avard-Loder, OK still single?
>
> Any others?

Noel to Avard  and Loder to Alva is scheduled for this year;  Alva to Noel is supposed to get done in 2017.

What about Augusta to Ellinor KS?  Isn't that still single track?

> Noel to Avard  and Loder to Alva is scheduled
> for this year;  Alva to Noel is supposed to get
> done in 2017.

Loder to Alva was placed in service roughly a month ago. Noel to East Avard is scheduled for completion this fall. The short section between East Noel and Alva, including the bridge over the Salt Fork, will be the final phase in a few years.

> What about Augusta to Ellinor KS?  Isn't that
> still single track?

Still single track but due to directional running via Newton it will unlikely become 2MT territory any time soon...

sums007 Wrote:
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> Coalca Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Now the single track spots on the Transcon are:
> >
> > Fort Sumner: 2.3 miles - Pecos River Bridge
> >
> > Sibley, MO: 1.4 miles - Missouri River Bridge
> >
> > Is Avard-Loder, OK still single?
> >
> > Any others?
>
> Noel to Avard  and Loder to Alva is scheduled
> for this year;  Alva to Noel is supposed to get
> done in 2017.
>
> What about Augusta to Ellinor KS?  Isn't that
> still single track?

Correct.  However, with directinal running between Mulvane and Elinor,
eastbound via Newton, there's not a lot of pressure to throw a second
track between Augusta and Elinor through the Flint Hills.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/15 08:43 by ntharalson.