Western Railroad Discussion > Sunset Route Double Tracking Update - Ariz. to Calif.

UP continues to double track their "Sunset Corridor" between Los Angeles, CA and El Paso, TX. With 100% of the route from El Paso to Tucson,AZ double tracked already, work is progressing in California and Arizona to fill in the single track gaps.

Currently, the ROW is graded for 2MT's between Tucson and Casa Grande,AZ (Pic 1).

About 40 miles West of Tucson, at Wymola, a new switch (more than likely part of a new dual x-over) is being assembled (Pic 2).

Moving another 10 miles to the West at Battaglia Dr. in Eloy, (Pic 3) brand new track is ready to go into service, which currently extends between Casa Grande and Toltec.

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New cross overs being installed at SP927 Toltec (Pic 4)

Lots of new stuff in and around Casa Grande :D (Pics 5 and 6)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/11 20:54 by cabcar.

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New X-Overs at Thorton Road in Casa Grande - SP917. This is currently the East end of the new double track, which extends West to SP876 Estrella.

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Moving West into California now.

First picture showing two of the many piles of rock along the right of way between Ferrum,CA and Rogoza.

Next two show dirt / culvert work just East of Bertram.

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- Work Equipment at Bertram.

- Next two showing work around the old SP Bridge at Ferrum.

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Thank you for the update.

Anxious to see how they double track through Shawmut.

JMW

- Equipment at Bertram.

- One of the many new crossings installed for access to the north side of the tracks.

Thanks for looking!
--Robert

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Has the UP announced any plans for Double tracking down in Yuma, over the Colorado River ?

All of this in 100 plus temps....

miralomarail Wrote:
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> Has the UP announced any plans for Double tracking
> down in Yuma, over the Colorado River ?

I heard that they are in early engineering design on a new Colorado River Bridge. There are some tricky right-of-way problems on the west end of the bridge. Throw in the fact this new bridge will be located in two states over a navigatible waterway (read more Federal involvement), this might be the last segment of double track to be cut in.

jmw Wrote:
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> Thank you for the update.
>
> Anxious to see how they double track through
> Shawmut.

So am I - and thanks for posting. Also, Robert, any idea when Estrella-Tucson two tracking will be completed, forgetting, for the moment, the yard at Picacho?

They could put the gaunlet track back on the bridge in Yuma. It worked okay when it was in. I know its not double track but.................


Nudge

spnudge Wrote:
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> They could put the gaunlet track back on the
> bridge in Yuma. It worked okay when it was in. I
> know its not double track but.................
>
>
> Nudge

Would that really be any improvement operationally over the present CTC connecting to 2MT at either end? The CTC, of course allows going to either track at either end, which the gauntlet does not.

billio Wrote:
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> jmw Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thank you for the update.
> >
> > Anxious to see how they double track through
> > Shawmut.
>
> So am I - and thanks for posting. Also, Robert,
> any idea when Estrella-Tucson two tracking will be
> completed, forgetting, for the moment, the yard at
> Picacho?

The Ferrum to Rogoza segment in CA might have funding priority since UP will be running the LA trash trains on this line by this time next year (2 loads, 2 empties each way per day).


AM

I am not sure about the "navigable" description for the Colorado River at Yuma....possibly for a rowboat. I would just put another single track truss span adjacent to the existing one. You do not need something that would win a structural beauty contest in that part of Yuma.

The last time I saw the Colorado River (at San Luis) one would have been hard pressed to get their ankles wet!
...Lorenzo

LX15840 Wrote:
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> I am not sure about the "navigable" description
> for the Colorado River at Yuma....possibly for a
> rowboat. I would just put another single track
> truss span adjacent to the existing one. You do
> not need something that would win a structural
> beauty contest in that part of Yuma.

The site is very constrained. There is a highway bridge very close on the downstream side. On the upstream side, there is limited room for an abutment on the California end and the approaches would would require cutting into hills on both ends which have historic structures on them. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but its a lot more involved than just putting down a second span of similar design to the first.

And the injuns might have a say on the California side.

billio Wrote:
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> Also, Robert,
> any idea when Estrella-Tucson two tracking will be
> completed, forgetting, for the moment, the yard at
> Picacho?

Hey Bill,

I'm not sure when it will be completed. Currently SP876 Estrella to SP917 Casa Grande is in service, with all of the ROW ready for 2MT's Eastward to Tucson. I would guess the next section to go into service would be Casa Grande to Toltec, since that section already has new track on the ground. As for the yard at Picacho, I haven't heard anymore info on that either. Speaking of new yards though, the new Intermodal facility in Strauss,NM is under way. Their working on the preliminary grading work.

And double tracking the bridge in Yuma should be interesting. I remember hearing it was delayed from nearby tribal lands and a historic jail site that would be affected from putting in a second track. I think that portion will be the last to be DT'ed. We shall see..

Robert
Rancho Cucamonga,CA

A second bridge between Colorado, Ca and Yuma will probably not happen in my lifetime. Why?

Indian Land on one side.
Historic site on one side.
Historic bridge that can't be moved beside the bridge.

BNSF has sort of given up on putting a second Main at Sibley, Mo, and it does not have half the issues UP has in Yuma.

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