Line Inprovements

[KMCCLA]

I was wondering if anyone knows are there any plans on the UP Sedalia Sub for a siding extension in the Lee's Summit to at least Greenwood and/or Pleasant Hill? I travel one (or two) of the crossings, and they have it seems to be "extra" panels (example, the one crossing has a total of nine panels), some being much larger than the others. Also, two sections of 39 foot rail, two bundles of pre-gauged ties with tie plates, and then another bundle of regular ties. The same set-up is about a mile or so to thesouth (railroad east) at another crossing. I am beginning to wonder if they are not perhaps going to put in a siding extension. I do know that from Pleasant Hill to Strasburg there is a siding extension planned, and there is also a high speed-rail corridor being planned.

 

[BNSFEng]

Usually any track panels at a crossing are only for improvements at those crossings. I've seen that done many times. If there is no subgrade improvement next to the main line then there is no new main being put in. Has some subgrade work been done? Also, if they have track panels there and if they were putting in another main there would be signal work to be done by making the crossing wider with putting in a new set of crossing lights and/or gates so a new mounting would be built. Is any of that happening?

 

[KMCCLA]

Nothing is, happening as of yet in fact, everything as been sitting there for a couple of months now. The current crossing uses nine panels, from what it looks like, there are about 15 or so panels. No grading is being done, but my guess is that they might put it in when they replace the crossing, moving signals and everything else, so when they do the siding extension (if they indeed are) then when it comes to it, they will not have to mess with it at the time. Then again, they just might going to widen the road as well, but the panels that "concern" me are the ones that are much wider than the approach and the ones that go between the rails, in fact, they are roughly twice the size of the approach panels -- like something that would go between two tracks at a crossing. I am still not sure what is going on, I have been waiting to see a M&W from UP in the area so I can ask what is going on with these crossings.

 

[KMCCLA]

Had time to count everything on this crossing.

15 panels - 6 short, 6 medium (roughly 4 feet wide), and 3 wide (about double width of the short ones), 16 ties with tie plates, 16 ties (nothing on them), and two sections of rail.

Not sure what is going on, but have a feeling that something is up on the UP.

 

[markgillings]

Can you find what you're seeing on this page from Omega Industries?

http://www.omega-industries.com/Crossings.htm

 

[KMCCLA]

Most of them look like that -- except there are three of them that would be the width of between the two tracks. I am guessing that there is going to be some work in the future, even if they just put in the duel crossing, and put in the track later. I do know several miles to the east the is a planed siding extension, and this line is a capacity -- always can tell when it is Amtrak time -- when the stackin and rackin the trains. I was just wondering if anyone out there knew about it to help confirm it.

 

[KMCCLA]

After doing some online research, I have found out that I am correct, they are going to double track this section. It will allow Amtrak to hit 90 MPH instead of 79. Most likely it will --from what I can guess -- go on the north (east) side of the track, since that is where the siding is to the east (north). It can be confusing along this section of the line. Although it is an east/west track (KC to St. Louis), this part runs in a north/south heading.

 

[Robert Gift]

After doing some online research, I have found out that I am correct, they are going to double track this section. It will allow Amtrak to hit 90 MPH instead of 79. Most likely it will --from what I can guess -- go on the north (east) side of the track, since that is where the siding is to the east (north). It can be confusing along this section of the line. Although it is an east/west track (KC to St. Louis), this part runs in a north/south heading.

Can you post a link of this on GooglEarth?

 

[KMCCLA]

Can you post a link of this on GooglEarth?

Best I can do is a wikimap/google map -- http://wikimapia.org/#lat=38.8808651&lon=-94.3576241&z=19&l=0&m=s&v=9.

This is the one crossing (Hamblin Road, Lee's Summit, MO) the other one is about a mile or so to the south (railroad east). This picture was shot about a year ago (5/5/10). The line will be double tracked south to Pleasent Hill, about ten miles to the south.

However, here are some links to to projects:
http://www.modot.mo.gov/newsandinfo/District0News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=47822

http://mccaskill.senate.gov/files/documents/pdf/High-SpeedRailMO.pdf