Seattle - Everett Sounder Construction Update

[BNSFEng]

Originally Posted by markgillings

Some more significant changes today.

1-3) With 23rd Ave going dead, we got right to business removing the north end tracks to the turntable and long house.

Hey Mark, my plans don't really include some of the yard tracks so are they putting in a switch to access the oil spur from the west now and stub out the east end? Thanks for the great shots. It's neat to go by every evening and look for something else that's happened!! I missed the EBCS foundation last night, thanks for the photo. (I was on an Approach block heading toward the new Dwarf which had been a Stop signal for an earlier Sounder so I was FOCUSED!!)

[ES44AC]

The slow order was put in place because the signal guys disturbed the track while they are digging.

Originally Posted by BNSFEng

Hooray! But why the 25 MPH slow order yesterday when I didn't see any changes?? Did they move the track a bit?

[KristopherJ]

Stop by Friday to see what was goinging on. Mostly welding on the turnouts, some removeal of old ballest.

The EVEEVE was leaving Balmer Yard with lots of power.

Jay working hard placing rail for the turnouts.

Welding one of the joints on the turnout.

-KristopherJ

[KristopherJ]

One worker cutting a piece of rail for the turnout.

An overview shot of the crew working at the jobsite.

I was trying to figure out how these turnouts will tie into one another. It looks like there will be a short "run-a-round" track up at the north end. The track on the left will have a cross-over with the main, then tie into the main just north of the cross-over.

Looking south into the yard, more ballest was being dug out.

-KristopherJ

[natfoot]

I was there yesterday morning as well.
Went for a little walk.
Ballard to Seattle.

First you can see all from the bridge north.


There are a few Y tracks down there. Wounder what the plan is.


The other side of the bridge


More Track to be laid and curise ships on the horizon


You can see more of my walk Here: http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/94445...33461954_3KLyL
I am working on some weathering so there are lots of train car pictures.

[markgillings]

Originally Posted by UP Scott

What's the orange paint in this first shot, on the frog and switch points for? I see some on other things too.

Parts marked so that A&K will save them for us.

[markgillings]

Originally Posted by BNSFEng

Hey Mark, my plans don't really include some of the yard tracks so are they putting in a switch to access the oil spur from the west now and stub out the east end?

No, the general layout stays the same. A #11 will go in Main 2 under the Emerson overpass. Another #11 will be right behind it splitting to the oil spur and the roundhouse lead. A third #11 goes in the roundhouse lead towards the end of the oil spur and splits to the longhouse.

[BNSFEng]

Originally Posted by KristopherJ

...I was trying to figure out how these turnouts will tie into one another. It looks like there will be a short "run-a-round" track up at the north end. The track on the left will have a cross-over with the main, then tie into the main just north of the cross-over.

-KristopherJ

There will be turnout right at the end of the old B Lead which will connect into the Office Lead. There will be a #15 crossover that will begin up near there on the Old Main which will be Main 2 and that will allow Westbound train from Main 2 to cross all the way over into the yard on the Office Lead. The western most switch they were welding will tie the B lead into the Office Lead. So the track that is to the right of the welding truck will be moved over to tie into the switch.

Another benefit of having the crossover right down from the access switch to the Yard on the Office Lead allows a second West bound train to move over onto Main 1 or from Main 1 to Main 2 Eastbound without having to use Magnolia. Also, a Westbound on Main 2 could cross over to enter the A Lead or Depart the A Lead and head East while a westbound enters the yard from Main 1 and head down the B Lead or enter a yard track.

Now, it appears to me that the farthest switch sitting on the New Main 1 alignment up near MP 5.4 is the Main two switch for the crossover and once it is installed they can build the Main 1 switch which will enter the Yard on the Office Lead. Please correct me if I'm wrong, Mark.

[markgillings]

Originally Posted by BNSFEng

Now, it appears to me that the farthest switch sitting on the New Main 1 alignment up near MP 5.4 is the Main two switch for the crossover and once it is installed they can build the Main 1 switch which will enter the Yard on the Office Lead. Please correct me if I'm wrong, Mark.

I just spent 5 minutes looking between the plans and the pictures. I can't stand sloppily laid-out turnouts! I think that one may the Main 1 to Office Lead switch. It IS a right-hand turnout even though it doesn't look like it! I have yet to walk through the area. I've been laying the concrete ties.

As an aside, sometimes after a turnout is put down and called "good", I'll poke around by myself for 10-15 minutes with my machine pushing here and pulling there making it perfect! Sometimes good enough is good enough. But other times, all it takes is a little more effort to put down some paint lines and lay these things out straight!

[mmciau]

[quote=markgillings;247966]I just spent 5 minutes looking between the plans and the pictures. I can't stand sloppily laid-out turnouts! I think that one may the Main 1 to Office Lead switch. It IS a right-hand turnout even though it doesn't look like it! I have yet to walk through the area. I've been laying the concrete ties.

As an aside, sometimes after a turnout is put down and called "good", I'll poke around by myself for 10-15 minutes with my machine pushing here and pulling there making it perfect! Sometimes good enough is good enough. But other times, all it takes is a little more effort to put down some paint lines and lay these things out straight![/quote

Commendable action because sometimes if the turnout (switch) is not positioned as per its designed and correct layout, it will have added stress areas from eg poorly aligned plates and ties creating added stress.


Mike



Mike