Hi everyone, I've noticed in the last few weeks coming home from work that there is some track work going to take place on the West end of the Redlands Loop. There are bundles of concrete ties sitting at the crossing at "E" St. in San Bernardino. I understand that the work will encompass the track between the "A" yard in San Bernardino and the SB "Stampede" ball park. The work is being done so SCAX can run trains to the ball park. Sometime in the future,SCAX will run all the way to Redlands. I've even heard rumors that someday SCAX will run all the way to the old Highland depot on the line to serve commuters and patrons of the San Manuel Casinos adjacent to the Highland depot. It would be nice to see trains run on the "loop" again as far as Highland. I guess we'll have to wait and see on that one.
Here's a map of the Southern California Division of BNSF. You'll notice that Metrolink owns a bunch of track, and though the map doesn't show it, a local paper has reported that they bought the line to Redlands. Metrolink is run by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority and according to their newsletter on the train, they make more money off lease-backs to UP and BNSF than they do on passenger fares. SCRRA is eligible to upgrade the tracks with federal dollars and the Class One railroads benefit from the improvements without having to spend the capital.
Geoangel, what's new on the stack of ties at Redlands Loop? Can you catch a few photos of the MOW equipment they use to set the ties, rails etc? You would be our front man in the field!
Watash and all, Nothing's changed as of yet. I pass the stacks of ties everyday to and from work,and always look to see if anything has changed. Nothing yet though. I keep everyone posted on any changes. Best regards to all here,
To all here, Just spotted stacks of concrete ties at the 3rd. St. crossing in San Bernardino where the "Redlands Loop" starts (just outside of the San Bernardino ATSF..er..BNSF yard. Shouldn't be long before the work begins. I keep everyone here posted on what I see and hear.
To all here, Work has finally begun. They are retieing just West of E St. and the passenger loading tracks in front of the old ATSF depot in Berdoo are torn out and being relaid. Pretty soon you'll be seeing Metrolink trains on the old Redlands loop. Bye for now.
To all here, The 7.2 million dollars needed to upgrade the first mile of the old Redlands Loop for Metrolink service is in Sanbags (San Bernardino Associated Govts.)hands. This work has already begun for the first mile. June 2002 is when the first Metrolink train to The Stampede stadium on "E" St. in San Bernardino is expected to run. Apparently,it will cost over 30 million dollars to upgrade the line so that Metrolink trains can run to their future terminus at the old Redlands ATSF depot. Without the $30M,it is unknown exactly when the Metrolink will arive in Redlands. Presently,Sanbag is working on getting the funds allocated for the whole project. I'll keep ya'll posted here if i hear anything new.
