Re: Big Boy Move
Author: Mike Swanson
Date: 07-30-2013 - 18:27
You all might want to go out there and look again, or at least use Google Earth (Bing Maps still shows the new station platforms under construction; way to go, Redmond!).
I can't tell if the old diamonds were restored (Street view is useless, as it hasn't been updated in this area; biig way to go, Google!), but there is a new spur which connects to the WB bypass track (and the transfer table for the shops, via another spur and connecting switch) and curves across both main tracks (just east of the old diamonds) to connect with the CSRM track via a switch directly west of the turntable; it's fully signaled from the diamonds east to the WB bypass connecting switch, and both that switch and the derails protecting the bypass track and both mains at the diamonds are dispatcher controlled. Looks like either Caltrans or UP realized that the new station track arrangement made having a more direct and permanent connection to both the mainline and the shops possible and decided to build it.