Western Railroad Discussion > Maintenance window closes & NWP reopens with 2 runs

Before I shot the meet at the Petaluma siding, I went over to the Depot and found the first SMART CTC power switch installed at the northend of the station gauntlet track. I then headed over the Haystack waiting for the fiber-optic plow train and the Petaluma turn. The contractor is busy with the prep work for the installation of the Galveston Bridge. Footings are being constructed and poured on the north side, while a pier has been constructed on the south side to enable cranes and pile drivers to build supporting columns in that area.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/14 18:40 by weather.

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Here is a closer shot of the pier. You can see some of the forms being constructed on site.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/14 18:40 by weather.

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The fiber optic train showed up first coming down the main line and stopping short of the south end of the Petaluma siding. The conductor ran out to throw the switch and the Petaluma turn entered the siding to pass the work train. This meet as the first of its kind at THIS siding in over 15 years on the NWP.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/14 18:42 by weather.

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The Petaluma turn runs through the siding and heads north to do its work in town. After that, i headed to Ignacio to see the work on the SMART double track and the Ignacio wye. Looking south you can see the two track crossing with the NWP main line to the left at the wye switch.

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Here is the view looking north showing more track work to be done to complete the D.T. I headed south to look what was happening at Los Ranchitos and the legacy NWP station at Cerro.

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There was quite a bit of activity looking north towards the Tunnel which is undergoing earthquake retrofit inside the 1400 foot bore. Looking north, the TOW is ready for its sub grade. Text and Photos by Mike Pechner

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I was wondering, how much track, etc., still exists inside Hamilton AFB ? I think there was even a wye there, back when.

Thanks, Nudge

Can not wait for the people in the homes next to the tracks to start yelling when the SMART trains are passing by.......

Now trackage left in HAFB.

Great pictures Mike, thanks for posting. Is SMART going to be double-track mains in places, or will it just be passing sidings? When UTA built the Frontrunner here in Utah they only have one stretch of track near Provo that's double-mains, and some more around downtown Salt Lake. But everywhere else the station is the passing sidings. So they will eventually have to come back and do more construction to increase the frequency of the schedules they run.

Nathan

Am I seeing something unusual here? Is the gauntlet track at the Petaluma station showing a DIVERGING move for the SMART train, which is opposite of what they're doing at the other stations?? If so, that's how it should be at EVERY station. The slowing SMART train takes the diverging route into the station, allowing the freight train to just keep on rolling.

The mainline switch at the other end has not been installed yet.

Not understanding the purpose of the gauntlet track.....

coach Wrote:
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> Am I seeing something unusual here? Is the
> gauntlet track at the Petaluma station showing a
> DIVERGING move for the SMART train, which is
> opposite of what they're doing at the other
> stations?? If so, that's how it should be at
> EVERY station. The slowing SMART train takes the
> diverging route into the station, allowing the
> freight train to just keep on rolling.

How does the other train just keep rolling . I thought the purpose was to make the track for the smart line up with the platform but they still overlap with the main , just offset a bit ? its not a passing track at Petaluma or are they doing something else?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/14 00:17 by kingman.

My understanding of the need for the gauntlet track is so freights can clear the hi-level passenger platform, while psgr trains can stop at platform without a large gap between platform and car.

JGFuller Wrote:
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> My understanding of the need for the gauntlet
> track is so freights can clear the hi-level
> passenger platform, while psgr trains can stop at
> platform without a large gap between platform and
> car.


No 1 image looks that way - freight trains straight through and PAX into station.

Michael McInerney
Marion, South Australia,

JGFuller Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My understanding of the need for the gauntlet
> track is so freights can clear the hi-level
> passenger platform, while psgr trains can stop at
> platform without a large gap between platform and
> car.


Freight can clear a high level platform without hitting it (with or without a gauntlet track), but the gauntlet tracks are for an archaic CA rule for which a conductor is hanging off a freight car. The gauntlet tracks keep a clearance so that person doesn't get smashed while passing a high platform.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/14 09:07 by Kraut.

Kraut Wrote:
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> JGFuller Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > My understanding of the need for the gauntlet
> > track is so freights can clear the hi-level
> > passenger platform, while psgr trains can stop
> at
> > platform without a large gap between platform
> and
> > car.
>
>
> Freight can clear a high level platform without
> hitting it (with or without a gauntlet track), but
> the gauntlet tracks are for an archaic CA rule for
> which a conductor is hanging off a freight car.
> The gauntlet tracks keep a clearance so that
> person doesn't get smashed while passing a high
> platform.

If said rule exists, it's not just a California rule. As a conductor, I appreciate not having my legs smashed.

I'd agree with Portlander. Hardly an "archaic rule". Pretty clear from the picture that a man on the side of a car would not clear the high-level platform.

Interesting set of pics!!! Thanks for sharing.