Wonderful! Its not often you see something like this, much less film something like it. I'm a little sad to see the realignment done, as I've only ridden down the track in front of the station twice in my whole life. But, its great to be able to see something like this. It looks like the realignment is on schedule for completion just in time for the 844's visit to Sacramento next month!
And now we're pretty much back to a near alignment with the old (1880-1926) CPRR Arcade Depot alignment…not exact, but very close. The new line sits almost on top of that period's "freight main" bypass that was just south of the Arcade Depot structure.
I need to edit myself! Now that I see by the closeness of the new tracks to the Sac Shops perimeter fence, the new main is right on top of the Arcade depot's principal passenger platforms…
Now I'm lost. I thought the purpose of the relocation was to shift rail tracks to a new, fixed high level bridge over the river a quarter mile or so north from where it is now.
Why go to all this trouble if they're retaining the current moving bridge?
OK, so when are you going to double track the main line and raise track speeds to 100 mph? Both the GE and EMD locos can do 100. Capitol corridor is just too damn slow. The worst is San Jose to Martinez, way too slow. Street running through Oakland is insane, elevate the tracks. Turns are too sharp (slow) on either side of Fremont.
Good ideas! MONEY! Who can afford the co$ts of elevating the track at this time? The construction process also affects businesses. May even cause businesses barely succeeding to fail. How can they widen turns?
I know it takes money. Elevating the track through Oakland, in lieu of street running, would increase train speed through the area as well as public safety, and reduce traffic congestion. Costs could be shared with Amtrak, UP, Caltrans and City of Oakland.
Re the turns, the worst offenders are on either side of Fremont as the train cuts over from the east bay line to Niles Junction. Seems there is enough real estate in both those areas to increase the turn radius.
Heading out there for the first time in a long time. This video was helpful. The changes don't look like too big of a deal. Thanks for taking the time to make the video and post it.
Follow up FYI…was there today, everything is done, no temp walkway, and I like it lots better than the old station. We now have information on several large screens instead of nothing at all as before.
elevating the track is really not an option as the grade would be too steep going into the yard and the numerous freeway overpasses would also be a problem as the would have to either brought down to ground level or raised even higher. Given that two of those overpasses have just been replaced, neither is going to happen.
Gary, I was born and raised in Sacramento, 60's-80's; still have family and friends there. I live in SoCal now. Planning to retire to Sacramento in a few years. I love your stuff! Keep it coming.
Are they planning to have passenger cars that have a lower floor than the current rail cars? I noticed near the end that the platform height was well below the floor of the cars.
I would have loved to have been there, and tried to work a deal to get a couple of the old Safetran Unilens II searchlight signals when they came down.
30 Comments
Wonderful! Its not often you see something like this, much less film something like it. I'm a little sad to see the realignment done, as I've only ridden down the track in front of the station twice in my whole life. But, its great to be able to see something like this. It looks like the realignment is on schedule for completion just in time for the 844's visit to Sacramento next month!
At the end of the video, it says temporary walkway until October. Where does that walkway go to?
Ah, okay. Thanks.
And now we're pretty much back to a near alignment with the old (1880-1926) CPRR Arcade Depot alignment…not exact, but very close. The new line sits almost on top of that period's "freight main" bypass that was just south of the Arcade Depot structure.
I need to edit myself! Now that I see by the closeness of the new tracks to the Sac Shops perimeter fence, the new main is right on top of the Arcade depot's principal passenger platforms…
Thanks for the view Gary. Come on now, we know its you SP. Ah yo yo yo !
Now I'm lost. I thought the purpose of the relocation was to shift rail tracks to a new, fixed high level bridge over the river a quarter mile or so north from where it is now.
Why go to all this trouble if they're retaining the current moving bridge?
OK, so when are you going to double track the main line and raise track speeds to 100 mph? Both the GE and EMD locos can do 100. Capitol corridor is just too damn slow. The worst is San Jose to Martinez, way too slow. Street running through Oakland is insane, elevate the tracks. Turns are too sharp (slow) on either side of Fremont.
um as I recall going up through donner pass is a lot of single track
cool
How many of the Old SP shops are still there now?
Your video is Amtrak
Good ideas!
MONEY!
Who can afford the co$ts of elevating the track at this time?
The construction process also affects businesses. May even cause businesses barely succeeding to fail.
How can they widen turns?
I know it takes money. Elevating the track through Oakland, in lieu of street running, would increase train speed through the area as well as public safety, and reduce traffic congestion. Costs could be shared with Amtrak, UP, Caltrans and City of Oakland.
Re the turns, the worst offenders are on either side of Fremont as the train cuts over from the east bay line to Niles Junction. Seems there is enough real estate in both those areas to increase the turn radius.
Temp walkway was still there in November when I arrived in 2012… Amtrak is still my favourite way to travel!
Heading out there for the first time in a long time. This video was helpful. The changes don't look like too big of a deal. Thanks for taking the time to make the video and post it.
Follow up FYI…was there today, everything is done, no temp walkway, and I like it lots better than the old station. We now have information on several large screens instead of nothing at all as before.
elevating the track is really not an option as the grade would be too steep going into the yard and the numerous freeway overpasses would also be a problem as the would have to either brought down to ground level or raised even higher. Given that two of those overpasses have just been replaced, neither is going to happen.
Great video. I have to get up there soon and have a look.
Bill, I'm not talking about Sacramento, I'm talking about downtown Oakland where there is plenty of room for the ramps up on both ends.
Enjoyed your video. It was nice to see Amtrak 2052, which is in my model N scale collection.
Great video, but be nice if you could keep subtitles up just a bit longer.
Gary, I was born and raised in Sacramento, 60's-80's; still have family and friends there. I live in SoCal now. Planning to retire to Sacramento in a few years. I love your stuff! Keep it coming.
I rode a train from Sacramento to San Jose a few days before the cutover. Nice to have been part of history that way.
Are they planning to have passenger cars that have a lower floor than the current rail cars? I noticed near the end that the platform height was well below the floor of the cars.
I remember watching this when I was a kid!
I think they could have made the walk longer if they had tried. Idiots.
I would have loved to have been there, and tried to work a deal to get a couple of the old Safetran Unilens II searchlight signals when they came down.
Cool horn action at 1:37
9:34 HoAASHSHXNSXYSHYXSHYSYSYSSGnk