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Post by Gokhan on Nov 22, 2013 13:43:06 GMT -8
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Post by bzcat on Nov 22, 2013 16:19:40 GMT -8
Think of the children!
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Post by John Ryan on Nov 22, 2013 21:32:11 GMT -8
Think of the children! It's too late now...the train has probably killed them all...
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 23, 2013 2:20:24 GMT -8
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Post by roadtrainer on Nov 23, 2013 9:46:49 GMT -8
Went by Northvale rd. on Wednesday and I saw one of the kitties and several bowls of food and water, nice folks to feed those kitties.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 23, 2013 19:49:28 GMT -8
See the good old Mark IV in action at Westwood Boulevard, courtesy of the good old "Bob" Leabow, who used to post a lot on the old TTC discussion board and was a board administrator there: Bob was a frequent contributor there. I think that he moved out of the area, maybe to Arizona. Does this mean that he's back?
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Post by darrell on Nov 23, 2013 23:38:41 GMT -8
Building on Gokhan's photos last night, here's how it looked this afternoon between 3 and 4 p.m. They were still working on setting the ties on the ballast, including some shoveling by hand. I also had a pleasant conversation there with Heather Rozman, Community Relations Coordinator with Skanska. Looking west Looking east Looking south at the traffic detour Plates for the grade crossing And a view of the Sepulveda bridge without side forms but still with supporting falsework.
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 24, 2013 2:48:16 GMT -8
Alan K. Weeks and I were there earlier. I also ran into Heather and Warren of Skanska/Rados. I'll post some pics and video when I get a chance.
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 24, 2013 2:54:09 GMT -8
See the good old Mark IV in action at Westwood Boulevard, courtesy of the good old "Bob" Leabow, who used to post a lot on the old TTC discussion board and was a board administrator there: Bob was a frequent contributor there. I think that he moved out of the area, maybe to Arizona. Does this mean that he's back? He e-mailed you but just to let others know, Bob still lives in LA and is doing very well. He chose not to post on the new discussion board but he e-mails us often. He joins Alan K. Weeks' bimonthly photo shoots of the Expo Phase 2 and Foothill Lines, which can be viewed on expolinefan's site.
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 24, 2013 15:27:28 GMT -8
Pictures and a video of installation of the at-grade rail crossing across Overland Avenue. Rail goes on a hump at Overland Avenue at this location. First, the video starring Alan K. Weeks (the railfan who took Air Line [Expo Line predecessor] pictures in early 1950s) with his brand-new Nikon D5100 SLR and superzoom lens. Note in particular in the video how rail is actually a very a flexible, elastic ribbon that easily bends.Some of these pictures came very artistic. For better viewing and downloading the original sizes, go to the Google+ album here and click All photos. Looking east: Looking west: Looking northeast toward Overland Avenue Elementary: At-grade-crossing panels being counted: Ties (sleepers) being lifted: Looking north, thanks to not having a rail bridge, you can still see the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Mormon Temple on Santa Monica Blvd in the background. However, a better view with the lighted tower is in my night pictures from Friday: Westwood / Rancho Park Station: An attractive blonde woman crossing the freshly installed tracks at Westwood Blvd: Oops, she's gone before I could zoom: Note the date stamp on the at-grade-crossing panels. They were put in place only six days later: Details of the rail and panels. Wheel flanges fit into the groove on the inner side of the rail. On the outer side, there is a rubber boot. There is also a rubber boot on the inner side at the bottom of the groove. These rubber boots serve the function of protecting from dust and insulating the electric currents: I don't know what Car 2 is: Looking north:
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 24, 2013 19:05:16 GMT -8
Here is an automatic Google+ animation of the Westwood Blvd at-grade rail crossing:
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 24, 2013 19:30:28 GMT -8
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Nov 24, 2013 22:15:09 GMT -8
Nice pics! Looks like you guys were there for a while! BTW, "Car 2" looks like a gravel distribution hopper wagon. For evenly distributing gravel amongst the ties. The little brother of this:
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Post by darrell on Nov 24, 2013 22:56:57 GMT -8
A little after Gokhan was there, here are a few I took about 5 p.m. today. Twilight blended into artificial light for this wide shot. Both tracks were done; crossing plates were on the north track and the next step for the south track. You see the current end of track a little east of Overland. An artsy shot with Century City lit by the setting sun. Went back at 9 p.m. to see a small heater-scraper shaving down the old pavement before patching between the crossing and existing street. The lighting and dust look like some movie shots!
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Post by darrell on Nov 24, 2013 23:02:39 GMT -8
All the paving activity is better in a video (HD):
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 25, 2013 11:58:46 GMT -8
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 25, 2013 14:39:49 GMT -8
rajacobs' dream is coming true. They are working on filling the last remaining gap in the Palms retaining wall at Clarington Ave. It looks like this point will no longer be a vehicle-access ramp and the vehicles will have to use the Motor Ave and National/Palms/Exposition Bridges. Perhaps in about six months from now, Phase 2 tracks will join the Phase 1 tracks.
They were removing the last remaining falsework during next to the old bridge at Culver City Station.
I was thinking that if they wanted, they could easily build this line twice as fast. You hardly see any construction activity at most locations. They do something at a certain location and they leave and don't come back for six months. This is the difference between public projects and private projects. Private projects are finished with lightning speed but public projects take too long for human lifespan. It will be about 15 years since the start of the Expo Line project once it opens all the way.
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Post by darrell on Nov 25, 2013 15:00:24 GMT -8
Different part of Phase 2, here is the latest on the Santa Monica maintenance facility from the Santa Monica Mirror: New Park Proposed Near Future Expo Maintenance Facility In Santa Monica
Posted Nov. 25, 2013, 9:15 am Parimal M. Rohit / Staff Writer Parks in Santa Monica have made headlines recently. City Hall and Sacramento have been tussling over redevelopment funding for Tongva Park, while private fitness trainers at Palisades Park are soon to be subjected to new fees and regulations starting Jan. 1. As debates ensue over two open spaces surrounding the downtown core, a new park may quietly be arriving near Bergamot Station: Buffer Park. Proposed to be built next to a future Expo Maintenance Facility, the park is being designed to live up to its name and serve as an open space buffer between the rail yard and Exposition Boulevard. According to current design plans, Buffer Park is a proposed 2.35-acre linear park located along the north side of Exposition Boulevard between Stewart Street and Dorchester Avenue. The park’s schematic design plans came to the Recreation and Parks Commission for review Thursday night. While the meeting took place after press time, The Mirror looks at some of the issues commissioners were set to review. One of those issues: park dimensions. As the park’s proposed design was linear in shape, City staff stated Buffer Park designers “chose to create a park that plays with the idea of continuity while exploring the concept of small garden rooms where users can experience specific landscape and program elements.” According to City staff, those eight rooms within the proposed park would highlight contemplations, exercise, gardening, gathering, picnicking, and play. One room would be The Grove and would include sculpted landforms and mature Ficus trees. Another room, the Watershed Garden, would, according to City staff, be “designed as a seasonal performance garden” and include riparian grass and shrubs. “Site storm water runoff will be collected and treated in this area through the change in topography,” City staff stated. “The garden is designed to accommodate rain events during the rainy season and become a serene garden in the dry season. The Watershed Garden would also include boulders to accommodate informal seating and Sycamores for shade. Also proposed is The Bird Garden, which City staff describes as “a mixed forest” supporting bird habitat. “A series of bird towers designed as simple trellis structures will be planted with vines to provide additional areas for birds,” City staff stated. The Bird Garden proposes to include seven exercise stations, according to plans. The Meadow would feature a sloped lawn and promote play and relaxation, City staff noted. “Flowering trees will border the lawn on the northern and southern edges. A low retaining wall along Exposition Boulevard will provide seating,” City staff stated. “At the eastern end of the meadow large steps are proposed. The steps provide an opportunity for seating as well as an informal stage setting for programs.” Providing a play space for children would be the proposed Rock Garden, which would be universally accessible and, according to City staff, incorporate “play elements that focus on sensory experiences, movement and balance.” The proposed Community Pavilions would be the formal main entrance to the park and is where people could gather for events or meetings. City staff describes the Pavilions as the “community living room.” “Trellised pavilions with picnic tables are located in this space providing shaded gathering space for birthday parties and other group activities,” City staff stated. Also proposed is the Learning Garden. Focusng on aspects of gardening, this portion of Buffer Park aims to promote exploring “a new type of garden for the community.” Current plans for the Learning Garden show it would be broken into three zones: an orchard, a lab, and a demonstration garden. At the east end of Buffer Park would be The Forest, according to plans. The Forest would include Ficus trees to shade the pathway area and regional low planting. City staff also stated a half-mile jogging and walking path would circulate the eight rooms. Buffer Park might be in front of the City Council in early 2014, according to City staff. The park’s name might also be changed, as a community process to select a formal moniker is expected to begin in 2014. Construction of the park could begin as early as spring 2015. The Expo Maintenance Facility is scheduled be completed in February 2015, according to City staff. The park’s anticipated cost was not mentioned in the City staff report to Recreation and Parks commissioners Mia Lehrer and Associates provided the design plan and services for Buffer Park. Three neighborhood workshops were held to receive community input for how the park should look like and what should be included within.
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 25, 2013 16:00:12 GMT -8
I am predicting that the Expo maintenance facility will be a problem. There will be 57 or perhaps 60 cars operating plus spare cars on the Expo Line once Phase 2 opens. You are looking at about 65 - 70 or more cars. This facility has only 45 storage spaces thanks to this NIMBY-demanded park. How are they actually going to be able to operate the line? I have no idea but there are going to be a lot of problems -- never ending woes of the Expo Line. I guess they will keep storing four trains in the USC trench and they will store some on the main line.
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Post by TransportationZ on Nov 25, 2013 17:02:11 GMT -8
I am predicting that the Expo maintenance facility will be a problem. There will be 57 or perhaps 60 cars operating plus spare cars on the Expo Line once Phase 2 opens. You are looking at about 65 - 70 or more cars. This facility has only 45 storage spaces thanks to this NIMBY-demanded park. How are they actually going to be able to operate the line? I have no idea but there are going to be a lot of problems -- never ending woes of the Expo Line. I guess they will keep storing four trains in the USC trench and they will store some on the main line. Isn't there also a pocket track in Phase II? You could also store a train at the third track at the Santa Monica terminus. Metro must have thought this through before building this facility. Perhaps since the Long Beach yard is already operating Phase 1, Metro plans to keep some Expo trips out of the Long Beach yard?
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Post by darrell on Nov 25, 2013 17:30:21 GMT -8
Installation progress of the Expo Line at-grade rail crossing at Overland Avenue / Northvale Road / Exposition Boulevard as of 1:39 am Saturday. Remember all the talk of the large storm drain under Overland Ave, Cheviot Hills HOA opposition, etc.? Who would think we would see this day? All pics looking north: [...] Any sign of the top of the storm drain in this excavation? I notice they did nothing to reinforce it, unlike the big cap over the Foshay pedestrian tunnel.
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Post by RMoses on Nov 25, 2013 17:35:01 GMT -8
I am predicting that the Expo maintenance facility will be a problem. There will be 57 or perhaps 60 cars operating plus spare cars on the Expo Line once Phase 2 opens. You are looking at about 65 - 70 or more cars. This facility has only 45 storage spaces thanks to this NIMBY-demanded park. How are they actually going to be able to operate the line? I have no idea but there are going to be a lot of problems -- never ending woes of the Expo Line. I guess they will keep storing four trains in the USC trench and they will store some on the main line. Would hardly call this a NIMBY issue, a buffer park for a rail maintenance yard is completely appropriate in this area IMO. Have not done the math, but additional trains (cars) will be spread out in operation on the the additional phase 2 track, with the pocket track, 3 track at the yard and 3 track at 4th St seems adequate as long as the headway is maintained.
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Post by darrell on Nov 25, 2013 22:45:49 GMT -8
I am predicting that the Expo maintenance facility will be a problem. There will be 57 or perhaps 60 cars operating plus spare cars on the Expo Line once Phase 2 opens. You are looking at about 65 - 70 or more cars. This facility has only 45 storage spaces thanks to this NIMBY-demanded park. How are they actually going to be able to operate the line? I have no idea but there are going to be a lot of problems -- never ending woes of the Expo Line. I guess they will keep storing four trains in the USC trench and they will store some on the main line. Would hardly call this a NIMBY issue, a buffer park for a rail maintenance yard is completely appropriate in this area IMO. Have not done the math, but additional trains (cars) will be spread out in operation on the the additional phase 2 track, with the pocket track, 3 track at the yard and 3 track at 4th St seems adequate as long as the headway is maintained. After Expo phase 2, Foothill Azusa, and the Regional Connector open there will be four yards serving them - Santa Monica, Carson, Elysian Park, and Monrovia. Considering the Blue, Gold, and Expo Lines are operating out of just two yards now that would seem sufficient. There was a Metro staff report a few years ago that showed how this all would work (don't have the link handy).
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 25, 2013 22:48:59 GMT -8
Installation progress of the Expo Line at-grade rail crossing at Overland Avenue / Northvale Road / Exposition Boulevard as of 1:39 am Saturday. Remember all the talk of the large storm drain under Overland Ave, Cheviot Hills HOA opposition, etc.? Who would think we would see this day? All pics looking north: [...] Any sign of the top of the storm drain in this excavation? I notice they did nothing to reinforce it, unlike the big cap over the Foshay pedestrian tunnel. Ha! I was thinking about exactly the same question. I asked Warren about it and he said that the excavation was 3-ft-deep and the concrete-box-structure storm-drain is about 5.5-ft-deep. The box is about 12 ft x 12 ft I think. So, they were at least about 2 ft above the concrete box structure. There is no reinforcement. Interestingly, when they relocated the petroleum pipes, they had to pass them under the storm drain. So, they are now about 25-ft-deep. I wonder where these petroleum pipes lead to.
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 26, 2013 10:16:28 GMT -8
Interestingly, when they relocated the petroleum pipes, they had to pass them under the storm drain. So, they are now about 25-ft-deep. I wonder where these petroleum pipes lead to. So, Neighbors for Smart Rail couldn't have the train under but the petroleum pipes went under after all.
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Post by darrell on Nov 26, 2013 10:28:56 GMT -8
Interestingly, when they relocated the petroleum pipes, they had to pass them under the storm drain. So, they are now about 25-ft-deep. I wonder where these petroleum pipes lead to. So, Neighbors for Smart Rail couldn't have the train under but the petroleum pipes went under after all. I was surprised to hear that the petroleum pipeline wasn't just removed. I wonder what its new routing is, beyond the burrow below Overland?
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Post by bzcat on Nov 26, 2013 10:44:01 GMT -8
Would hardly call this a NIMBY issue, a buffer park for a rail maintenance yard is completely appropriate in this area IMO. Have not done the math, but additional trains (cars) will be spread out in operation on the the additional phase 2 track, with the pocket track, 3 track at the yard and 3 track at 4th St seems adequate as long as the headway is maintained. After Expo phase 2, Foothill Azusa, and the Regional Connector open there will be four yards serving them - Santa Monica, Carson, Elysian Park, and Monrovia. Considering the Blue, Gold, and Expo Lines are operating out of just two yards now that would seem sufficient. There was a Metro staff report a few years ago that showed how this all would work (don't have the link handy). Don't forget that Crenshaw line will also be up and running by the time Regional Connector is open for revenue service... and so we will have another yard located in Westchester. That yard will likely be dedicated to Green/Crenshaw line trains so the Carson yard will have more capacity to store Blue/Expo line trains.
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 26, 2013 10:48:25 GMT -8
So, Neighbors for Smart Rail couldn't have the train under but the petroleum pipes went under after all. I was surprised to hear that the petroleum pipeline wasn't just removed. I wonder what its new routing is, beyond the burrow below Overland? Oh, no, you can't remove them -- these are active pipelines. If you go to that section, you will see the new marker stakes and vertical pipes outside the sound walls. Perhaps they lead to some oil wells in the Santa Monica area.
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Post by Gokhan on Nov 26, 2013 11:02:47 GMT -8
It won't be efficient to operate the Expo Line from the Blue Line yard once Phase 2 opens.
They are short about 8 train-storage spaces. 4 trains can be stored in the USC trench. I wonder what the status of the satellite storage yard at Washington and Long Beach is. Perhaps they can store another 4 trains there. Palms pocket track is good for only 1 train and it's for daytime only.
They will run 5-minute headways on Expo Phase 2 right from the opening, which is in Spring 2016. They can't wait for the other yards that can be used after the Downtown Connector. In fact, after the opening of the Downtown connector, it will be more problematic considering that the Expo Line and Eastside Gold Line will run as a single line and the Eastside Gold Line doesn't have its own yard at the moment. It will be difficult to run the line from multiple yards belonging to other, unrelated lines.
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Post by masonite on Nov 26, 2013 11:08:19 GMT -8
It won't be efficient to operate the Expo Line from the Blue Line yard once Phase 2 opens. They are short about 8 train-storage spaces. 4 trains can be stored in the USC trench. I wonder what the status of the satellite storage yard at Washington and Long Beach is. Perhaps they can store another 4 trains there. Palms pocket track is good for only 1 train and it's for daytime only. They will run 5-minute headways on Expo Phase 2 right from the opening, which is in Spring 2016. They can't wait for the other yards that can be used after the Downtown Connector. In fact, after the opening of the Downtown connector, it will be more problematic considering that the Expo Line and Eastside Gold Line will run as a single line and the Eastside Gold Line doesn't have its own yard at the moment. It will be difficult to run the line from multiple yards belonging to other, unrelated lines. It doesn't seem like much of an issue to me. As others have said, they have a plan for it and since Carson isn't really any farther from Downtown than Santa Monica is. When the trains finish their runs at night, one or two can head to Carson instead of Santa Monica. Seems like no big deal at all.
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