TRAINMASTER BY WERNER MEER  US-RAILROAD-SHOP KILCHBERG
HOCHWEIDSTRASSE 3  CH-8802 KILCHBERG (ZÜRICH) SWITZERLAND (founded 1977)
PHONE *41-44-715-3666, FAX *41-44-715-3660, E-MAIL trainmaster@bluewin.ch
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updated: August 9, 2013

San Bernardino County Photo Collection
2012 - 2014

I am very pleased to show some exclusive photos of these photographers:
Don E. Toles (DET), Gary G. Gray (GGG), Marc Fournier (MF).

In addition, we have guest photographer 1, Robert Royer (RR), with some interesting pictures.
In addition, we have guest photographer 2, K.P. Harrier (KPH), with the latest pictures.
And last but not least, Ruedi Schai (RUS) and Eugen Haenseler (EH) of Switzerland,
and Patrick Bopp (PB) of Luxembourg.

A big thank you for sharing these excellent pictures with us. The initials identify the photographer!
Note: The copyright belongs to these gentlemen. Do not use any photos without written permission.

Union Pacific Flyover Project, Colton, CA
There is another and larger grade separation project being built in San Bernardino County.

The City of Colton, CA (just East of I-215 along I-10) hosts the double main lines of both the UP Sunset Route and the BNSF Transcon which cross at a FOUR-Unit diamond.

Except for UP trains using the Colton-Palmdale cutoff between Colton and BNSF Silverwood, all UP & BNSF trains traveling either way between Chicago & LA must traverse this area ---- with numerous delays. The requirement for a flyover has been obvious. All information needed is contained in the first 24 pages of:
http://www.sanbag.ca.gov/projects/colton-crossing/Colton_IS-MND.pdf
Website access as written on Project Sign: http://www.usa.skanska.com/coltoncrossing

Link:  Aerial of BNSF Connector before the Colton Flyover
To see some video footage of the Flyover Project, we recommend to enter "COLTON VLOG" on Google.
There are different films with construction machinery and of course trains passing by. Take a look !
More infos can be found here: http://www.coltoncrossing.com/

Abbreviations found on this page: EB = East Bound, NB = North Bound, SB = South Bound, WB = West Bound

For bigger size photos - please click on the 4-digit number below each photo (the first letters specify the photographer)..

We start our documentation on February 21, 2012. More photos will be added as the project will proceed.
From the camera of Marc Fornier. 2130: Project Sign. 2131: San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) aerial view of diamonds. 2132: Edited Google map of project. The white line represents the flyover. 2133: SANBAG ground image of diamonds. 2134-2136: Cat Auger and Cat MYSTERY MACHINE ---- The purpose of these machines can be found on PDF page 8, paragraph 1.2.1 concerning "The soils directly under the flyover". 2137-2138: Two west bound UP's approach the diamonds. MF/GGG
MF 2/21/12 Colton Flyover Project Sign - 2130 SANBAG Diamonds Aerial View - 2131 Google Map, edited by GGG - 2132
SANBAG Ground View of Diamonds - 2133 MF 2/21/12 CAT "Monster Machine" - 2134 MF 2/21/12 CAT Auger - 2135
MF 2/21/12 more infos on the link above - 2136 MF 2/21/12 UP 4382 WB Colton X-ing - 2137 MF 2/21/12 UP 7506 WB Colton diamonds - 2138
August 26: We are thankful to show the first 27 photos of our guest photographer, Robert Royer, taken between 1/27/12 and 7/26/12.
RR 1/27/12 Looking West from Rancho Ave. - 2542 RR 1/27/12 Looking East from Rancho Ave. - 2543 RR 1/27/12 Looking East w/I-10 - 2544
RR 1/27/12 Grading work in progress - 2545 RR 1/27/12 Looking West Mt. Vernon Ave. - 2546 RR 1/27/12 Looking West from Mt. Vernon - 2547
Photos 2548-2551: UP 7525 KG3LB double stack comes onto the Alhambra Sub at Rancho Ave., off BNSF Cajon Sub via transfer track at Colton.
RR 1/31/12 3 WB's at the Colton Diamonds - 2548 RR 1/31/12 Crossing to the other track - 2549 RR 1/31/12 2 WB's waiting in the distance - 2550
RR 6/24/12  - 2551 RR 6/24/12 Milikan Ave. - 2552 RR 6/24/12 Milikan Ave. - 2553
RR 6/24/12 Machinery in action - 2554 RR 6/24/12 Some grading was done - 2555 RR 6/24/12 Looking at the other side - 2556
RR 6/24/12 Soem material in storage - 2557 RR 7/04/12 Work at E Guasti - 2558 RR 7/04/12 Work at E Guasti - 2559
RR 7/04/12 Work at E Guasti - 2560 RR 7/04/12 Work at E Guasti - 2561 RR 7/04/12 Different machinery - 2562
RR 7/17/12 Work at E Guasti - 2563 RR 7/17/12 UP truck on bridge - 2564 RR 7/17/12 Work at E Guasti - 2565
RR 7/17/12 Work at E Guasti - 2566 RR 7/26/12 AL 525 E Guasti - 2567 RR 7/26/12 Flyover track - 2568
August 6: Access to the Flyover Project is nearly impossible however, Marc was able to get a few of the project --- looking West. 2518-19: The abutments are still being poured as are the walls of what will become the flyover "ramp". 2520: Looking at the area of the diamonds with Interstate #10 on the right, the ultimate vertical elevation of the flyover can be determined.  MF/GGG
MF 8/06/12 Abudments are being poured - 2518 MF 8/06/12 UP 7806 WB - 2519 MF 8/06/12 Diamonds area w/I-10 - 2520
August 25: Six more photos of our guest photographer, Robert Royer, taken between 8/25/12 and 8/28/12.
2586: Rancho Cucamonga, UP Tack Inspector over Milikan Ave. Flyover on Hi-Railer
RR 8/25/12 North Ontario - 2581 RR 8/25/12 Guasti, Miliken Ave. - 2582 RR 8/25/12 Guasti and Miliken - 2583
RR 8/25/12 Guasti, track sections - 2584 RR 8/25/12 North Ontario - 2585 RR 8/28/12 UP Hi-Railer on Milikan Flyover  - 2586
September 11: Four more photos of our guest photographer, Robert Royer, taken on 9/11/12.
2611: The first risers for the flyover are under construction. It gives us an idea how massive the whole bridge will be (thanks to the tele lens for close-up view)
RR 9/11/12 Looking East from Rancho Ave. - 2611 RR 9/11/12 Looking East - 2612 RR 9/11/12 Looking West from Rancho Ave. - 2613
RR 9/11/12 Looking West - 2614 RR 9/18/12 Loma Linda - 2648 RR 9/18/12 Loma Linda - 2649
September 18: Four more photos taken by Robert Royer on 9/18/12. Photos 2648-49: The beginning of a new signal bridge going up at SP542 Loma Linda, while construction continues on the new overpass being built at Hunts Lane (foreground). 2650-51: The new ramp is growing toward the fly-over.
RR 9/18/12 Mt. Vernon looking West - 2650 RR 9/18/12 Mt. Vernon looking West - 2651 RUS 12/10/12 - 2719
December 10: Ruedi Schai of Switzerland was visitting Cajon Pass and our friends, Don, Gary and Marc. Ruedi and Marc went down to the Colton flyover construction to take same accurate pictures of the site as it looks on 12/10/12. Sorry, but there is no detailed comment on this pics.
RUS 12/10/12 - 2703 RUS 12/10/12 - 2704 RUS 12/10/12 - 2705
RUS 12/10/12 - 2706 RUS 12/10/12 - 2707 RUS 12/10/12 - 2708
RUS 12/10/12 - 2709 RUS 12/10/12 - 2710 RUS 12/10/12 - 2711
RUS 12/10/12 - 2702 RUS 12/10/12 - 2718 RUS 12/10/12 - 2716
RUS 12/10/12 - 2712 RUS 12/10/12 - 2713 RUS 12/10/12 - 2714
RUS 12/10/12 - 2715 RUS 12/10/12 - 2721 RUS 12/10/12 - 2722
January 12, 2013: On this Saturday, Marc lead me on a tour of the Colton area - including the new UP / BNSF diamond / flyover, the Colton UP yard and the UP engine facility. The flyover pre-construction specifications stated that the flyover grade would not exceed 1.2% and that the flyover rail height would be approximately 40 feet above the BNSF rail.
FROM LA CADENA DR (East of the diamonds):
2747: The grade. 2748: Demonstrates the height difference between the flyover (upper bridge) and the present grade.
FROM THE DIAMONDS:
2749: Looking South(west) at the new Flyover bridge. 2750: Looking North (over the diamonds) at the new flyover bridge. I-10 is carried by the green bridges in the background. 2751: Looking West along the UP. The wider stance of the bridge is required to accommodate the BNSF to UP connector which can just be seen at the far middle right.
FROM PEPPER AVE: 2754: Looking West at the W Colton yard.  GGG / MF
GGG 1/12/13 The grade (the ramp) - 2747 GGG 1/12/13 Height of new bridge - 2748 GGG 1/12/13 Looking South(west) - 2749
GGG 1/12/13 Looking North - 2750 GGG 1/12/13 Looking West - 2751 GGG 1/12/13 W Colton Yard (looking West) - 2754

 

May 8: Eugen Haenseler of Switzerland was visitting Cajon Pass. He also made a stop at the Colton flyover construction to take some accurate pictures.
Eugen is also having some photos on our Cajon Pass Photo Pages. Take a look here: 2013 = XC-42
EH 5/08/13 UP Colton Flyover - 0458 EH 5/08/13 Below are the BNSF tracks - 0459 EH 5/08/13 The huge ramp is long - 0460


 

June 14, 2013: Ruedi Schai of Switzerland was visitting Cajon Pass. He also made a stop at the Colton Flyover (see below).
In addition, Ruedi is having a Cajon Pass Photo Page - take a look here: 2013 = XC-43

BNSF locos just passe under UP flyover - 7706 first loco is a Genset switcher - 7707 7709
7712 7713 7714
track in front is from BNSF to UP tracks - 7715 UP train is going from UP to BNSF tracks - 7716 the locos did already reach BNSF tracks - 7717
BNSF EB intermodal - 7719 it will go under the flyover - 7720 7721

There is an interesting documention with lots of photos by K.P. Harrier on TRAINS Forum under:
Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates (Colton Flyover). There are also other subjects (non Flyover) included !
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/120779.aspx?sort=ASC&pi332=254
(see also page 260 and 261: track laying on the Flyover)
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/120779.aspx?sort=ASC&pi332=260

(see more accurate photos like those below, starting with page 273)
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/120779.aspx?sort=ASC&pi332=273

July 18: K.P. Harrier (USA) took plenty photos of the Colton flyover project. I am very pleased to have the permission to publish his fantastic pictures taken during June 24 and July 15, 2013.
KPH 6/24/13 An eastward heavy telephoto from Rancho Ave.: The old Colton Depot was where the flyover is at now, somewhere across from the train’s head end in this view. - 4035 KPH 6/26/13 Even though Main 1 is in service over the flyover, much equipment is working by the east slope. - 4158 KPH 6/26/13 Heavy work by the east slope - 4172
KPH 7/08/13 A westbound train on the flyover 4709 KPH 7/08/13 Men and equipment work as the train passes. - 4717 KPH 7/08/13 Even though dirt was put into the flyover’s west slope, now some is being removed and carted away. - 4766
KPH 7/08/13 As mentioned on last photo - 4765 KPH 7/15/13 The west slope from Rancho Ave. looking eastbound towards the new signals for new CP SP538 RANCHO. - 4865 KPH 7/15/13 New signals for new
CP SP538 RANCHO. - 4888
KPH 7/15/13 Now that the old, ground level Main 1 is out of the way, the Main 2 end portion of the flyover is being constructed. - 4900 KPH 7/15/13 For a good foundation plenty iron is used for the concrete subroadbed - 4907 KPH 7/15/13 As noted previously, the east slope’s end portion is having construction taking place too. 4848
take a look at these latest (August 13 and 14, 2013) photos by K.P. Harrier:
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/120779.aspx?sort=ASC&pi332=279

 

July 31: Patrick Bopp (Luxembourg) spent his vacation in Southern California and took some photos of the Colton Flyover Project. I am very pleased to have the permission to publish his great pictures.  (WM)
PB 7/31/13 UP Colton Flyover: left bridge for BNSF/UP connector, right bridge for BNSF main tracks (behind is Interstate 10 (I-10)
PB 7/31/13 Still working on the 2nd track - 0017 PB 7/31/13 New signals and wall deco - 0024 PB 7/31/13 BNSF Main under Flyover & I-10 - 0027
PB 7/31/13 BNSF WB under I-10 - 0039 PB 7/31/13 Metrolink on the Way to LAUPT - 0081 PB 7/31/13 BNSF Chevy Hi-Railer - 0079
PB 7/31/13 UP Train on Flyover - 0051 PB 7/31/13 UP 5322 = GE C45ACCTE - 0070 PB 7/31/13 UP 1782 = SD40N rebuilt 3/13 - 0082
PB 7/31/13 UP 8517 = EMD SD70ACe - 0083 PB 7/31/13 UP EB on "old" track - 0084 PB 7/31/13 UP EB crossing BNSF tracks - 0093
Patrick Bopp (actually his friend) took a movie. It is a little bit unstable but still worth to see - take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iy5wduAy9s

 

Videos of the new Colton Flyover
October 19, 2013: Part 1 by zchcssel (3'48):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mahpoFQc2Ls
October 19, 2013: Part 2 by zchcssel (5'09"):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXNhBaC4-GQ
August 2014: Great overhead action on the Union Pacific Flyover in Colton, CA
8/11/14: by California Rail Productions (34'33"):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dT6SnHxg08
March 2015: Video of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
March 27, 2015: Colton Crossing Flyover by ASCE (2'38"):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ItEdTsDnmo
May 2015: Official Video of Colton Crossing
May 5, 2015: Relieving the Oldest Bottleneck in U.S. History w/different interviews by HDR (5'44"):
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JulD4jZTv9Y

 

Cajon 1 with 2006 photos - click here Cajon 2 with 2007 photos - click here Cajon 3 with 2008 photos - click here
Cajon 4 with 2009 photos - click here Cajon 5 with 2010 photos - click here Cajon 6 with 2011 photos - click here
Cajon 7 with 2012 photos - click here Cajon 8 with 2013 photos - click here Cajon 9 with 2014 photos - click here
Cajon 10 with 2015 photos - click here Cajon 11 with 2016 photos - click here Cajon 12 with 2017 photos - click here
Cajon 13 with 2018 photos - click here Cajon 14 with 2019 photos - click here Cajon 15 with 2020 photos - click here
Cajon 16 with 2021 photos - click here Cajon 17 future Cajon 18 future
History of Hill 582 photos - click here Ranchero Road Project - click here Colton Flyover Project - click here
Highway 138 East Project - click here Mojave River Bridges - click here Green Tree Blvd. Project - click here

 

8 different and detailed Maps of Cajon Pass with captions (Mile Posts and Location) by Gary G. Gray - click here
New 8/11: Maps "How to find" Hill 582, Sullivan's Curve, Noisy Point by Gary G. Gray - click here
Accurate Map of Cajon Pass with 3rd Main Track by Michael Amrine - click here

Go back to Cajon Pass Main Page - click here

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(over all copyright by Werner Meer, Switzerland)