Porter Junction rail project finally gets green light

[justalurker66]

Here are pictures of the area, taken on 4/2/2015

Your photos taken along Lincoln St at least a half mile west of where the siding will be installed.

The way the ties were laid out in bundles along the track I was wondering if work will be done between CP 482 and the new siding as well as at the new siding location. Or if they are just using that area as a convenient place to store materials. I'd expect more materials to be at the actual construction site for the siding construction.

Access to the construction site is limited. A half mile down the track from Waverly Rd. Overpasses on I-94 or SR-49 would not be a good place to stop. The track is lined with woods and private property.

Perhaps I should have followed the trespasser I saw last week walking down the Amtrak line with a fishing pole. (Not my style.)

[justalurker66]

Public grade crossing plus zoom lens:

Amtrak Michigan Line - Porter IN

There is a port-a-potty in place where the new siding will be.

Looking East:
The closest overhead bridge is I-94.
The back bridge is SR-49 (just past the current CP 238 Signal).
The new siding will be built east of the bridge over in the center of the picture.
(The siding will be beyond the closest bridge and under I=94.)

[Saturnalia]

So I'm guessing CP 238 will become the new EE Porter? With the obvious changes to signalling and all, of course

[justalurker66]

My guess is CP 239 will be constructed east of the closest bridge (RH turnout to siding) then CP 238 will become the east end of the siding (LH turnout). CP 239 will become the "one signal out" from CP 482 (if it is still indicated on NS ATCS).

[justalurker66]

Cantilever signals are up and turned at CP 507 (west of Whiting Amtrak).
The westbound cantilever is up and dark at CP 506 ... the eastbound bridge is under construction (four track signal bridge).
Trackwork is in progress between CP 506 and CP 505.

[tttodisp]

I have been seeing ATCS address 75501760040202 off and on for the last week or so. Has anyone seen any recent signal activity that might be linked to this?

Thanks.

[justalurker66]

Reports on another forum that the new signal bridge at CP 506 went live last Monday.

[tttodisp]

Supposedly, the new CP 506 will be cut in on 8/23, with CP 505 removed. The new CP 507 is then to be cut in the next day (8/24).

[justalurker66]

A notice to shippers from NS ...

To ensure Norfolk Southern maintains high standards of safety and service across our network, we will perform track work and upgrade our signal systems in Chicago, IL on Sunday, August 23rd and Monday, August 24th as part of the overall positive train control (PTC) initiative.

Trains will be rerouted when possible to minimize the impact from the planned 7-hour outages each day, but Intermodal traffic originating from or destined to Chicago, IL could incur transit delays of 4-6 hours.

[LakeATCS]

The old CP 505 and CP 506 were turned off at 1:58am this morning.

The new CP 506 is now on, but it's not doing anything interesting yet.

[LakeATCS]

Okay now it's doing some interesting stuff.

[justalurker66]

We should be seeing changes at 507 as well (new crossover?).

I have not been to Whiting in a few weeks to see changes beyond some signal work.

[justin_gram]

The last indications (or feed) that my computer's ATCS has received from CP 505 was at 00:12:00 CDT this morning, with CP 506 ending at 00:12:11 CDT, 11 seconds later.

[justalurker66]

The last indications (or feed) that my computer's ATCS has received from CP 505 was at 00:12:00 CDT this morning, with CP 506 ending at 00:12:11 CDT, 11 seconds later.

Via the aggregator the last update I saw was ...
CP 505 - 755501580150202 - 01:57:04 EDT
CP 506 - 755501580060102 - 01:58:18 EDT

CP 506 - 755501580060202 started feeding at 06:03:45 EDT this morning. (I had ATCS off last week and turned it on around 01:16 EDT ... just in time to catch 505 and 506's last reports.)

I have changed my custom layout to the new CP 506 but will leave decoding to the experts. I have not seen the actual track layouts at 506 and 507 post upgrade.

[justin_gram]

The last indications (or feed) that my computer's ATCS has received from CP 505 was at 00:12:00 CDT this morning, with CP 506 ending at 00:12:11 CDT, 11 seconds later.

Via the aggregator the last update I saw was ...
CP 505 - 755501580150202 - 01:57:04 EDT
CP 506 - 755501580060102 - 01:58:18 EDT

CP 506 - 755501580060202 started feeding at 06:03:45 EDT this morning. (I had ATCS off last week and turned it on around 01:16 EDT ... just in time to catch 505 and 506's last reports.)

I have changed my custom layout to the new CP 506 but will leave decoding to the experts. I have not seen the actual track layouts at 506 and 507 post upgrade.

Opps, then that must of been a time hotel internet gave out... I fell asleep with computer running.

I'll be watching for a new ATCS public layout update for CHI Line on Yahoo groups.

[LakeATCS]

507 will be taken down and replaced in a few hours.

ALSO, the tracks are being renumbered.

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, you will have
1, 2, 3, and Colehour Runner.

Track 3 will be 251 WEST from CP 509 to CP 507.
Track 3 will be 261 from CP 507 to CP 503

The Colehour runner will have an 5074E automatic signal at CD 507.1 for Eastbound movements approaching CP 506
The Colehour runner will have an END AUTOMATIC BLOCK sign at CD 507.1 for Westbound moves.

All new switches going in are GRS 5H.

[LakeATCS]

New changes look like this.

[LakeATCS]

Also SEPT 7, LABOR DAY. The Dune Park Overhead Bridge at CD 494.62 will be removed.

[justin_gram]

New changes look like this.

Looks good... Things should now be able to flow much better.

Also SEPT 7, LABOR DAY. The Dune Park Overhead Bridge at CD 494.62 will be removed.

This bridge, I'm guessing?

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6056965 ... a=!3m1!1e3

[justalurker66]

New changes look like this.

Thank you.

Also SEPT 7, LABOR DAY. The Dune Park Overhead Bridge at CD 494.62 will be removed.

This bridge, I'm guessing?

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6056965 ... a=!3m1!1e3

Strange name but that is CD 494.62 ... The bridge just south of there over CSX is already gone.