South Shore Double Track

[justalurker66]

Curbing and storm sewer installers still having a disagreement. (Will they fix this one by installing a flat grate in the asphalt?)

do you know how they resolved this?
i've been worried about this for almost a year.

The curb alignments won. Not sure what they did underground, but the grates were lined up with the curbs by the time the asphalt was laid.

[justalurker66]

At this point they've completed pretty much all of the grade work. Track is quickly approaching the EJ&E diamond in Gary from the east. They also shifted the existing main east of Lake Street this past week, too. The bridge abutments at CSX and Old Hobart are also in advanced phases of construction.

I saw the new ballast on the hill east of Lake St but didn't notice the shift. Make room for the new Track 1 !

The bridge over Old Hobart Rd is taking longer than I expected so I would not be surprised if the six week Lake St closure for reconstruction staring in August is pushed back. It would not be good to have Lake St and Old Hobart Rd closed at the same time. New signal installation seems to be going strong, both trackside and grade crossings for the entire length of the project. I can only think of two signals (plus the EJ&E diamond) that have not been placed trackside. (One at Shadyside also needs correction unless there will be another set of intermediates between Ogden Dunes and Shadyside. No "Approach Diverging" for the Ogden Dunes Gauntlet.)

[Dan Cluley]

Where is Shadyside?

[Saturnalia]

Where is Shadyside?

It is Milepost 48, just west of the overcrossing of the NS Waterlevel Route. Approximately two miles east of Ogden Dunes, near Air Products.

[Dan Cluley]

Thanks

[justalurker66]

I am hoping to catch actual videos of the signs in action, but here are a couple of animations showing the pedestrian crossing signs, The red LEDs alternate from side to side (instead of having normal crossing lights). The wording at the bottom lights when there is a second train.

One Train Present / Approaching

Two Trains Present / Approaching

[justalurker66]

The second bridge at Burns Harbor was built this week - over the NS Chicago Line.

The bridge over Old Hobart Rd in Miller seems to be getting closer as well.

[justalurker66]

Miller Station is coming along nicely ... the parking lot nearest the station is being constructed.

East of the station the new alignment will run with one track on each side of these poles.

The track heading east up the hill has been realigned (as Saturnalia noted).

Elsewhere along the line --

Michigan City ... the 11th St Station parking lot has received its base layer of paving. Washington St is open with a flashing red traffic light. Wabash St is closed (ready for brick paver treatment).
Ogden Dunes ... the signals for the east crosswalk have been installed (with "another train coming" signs). The remaining platform supports have been placed for the high level platforms.
Dune Acres ... a manual crossover has been completed between the new Main 2 and the former main (new yard track) just west of Mineral Springs Rd.

[justalurker66]

The bridge has been placed over Old Hobart Rd in Miller. One major bridge to go (over CSX in Miller).
In this picture I am standing in the shadow of the US 12 bridge over Old Hobart Rd ... the new bridge is the closest in the background.

I also caught the pedestrian crossing at Dune Park in action. Similar signs are in place and working at Kemil Rd and Beverly Shores. They will also be used at other pedestrian crossings. Still and video below:

I am only seeing minor changes east of Dune Park (temporary stop signs removed in Michigan City now relying on the permanent signs and traffic lights to control traffic).

[Saturnalia]

Wow those "bells" are horrible!

[DaveO]

beats the annoying alarm sound used at some ped xings.

[justalurker66]

Wow those "bells" are horrible!

I wish I could say it was poor audio quality on the video, but they were awful in person as well. Expect the same noise at the road crossings.

[justalurker66]

Update from last week's board meeting:

Substantial completion of construction work is expected in mid-November, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District President Michael Noland told the Board of Trustees at their regular business meeting.

“We are nearing the home stretch here,” Noland said.

More than 54,000 passenger rides on busses were provided in June, according to NICTD. Noland said both passengers and the railroad will be happy to get back on the tracks, which should happen for the Michigan City to Dune Park station leg in late September, and for the Dune Park to Metro Center leg sometime early in 2024.

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/nea ... bbdb3.html (paywalled)

[justalurker66]

From the project update email ... the OWLS (one way low speed) diamond where the EJ&E crosses the South Shore (and US 12/20 in the background). The design of an OWLS diamond allows the fast trains on the main line to pass with lower speed trains on the cross track. The design leads to less damage to the main line than a regular diamond. The new double track diamond replaces the previous OWLS diamond at this location.

[justalurker66]

Rainy Saturday ... but I did get a few pictures. In Michigan City ...
Shown are Franklin St and Wabash ... an overhead crossing light has been added to the arms that originally held traffic signals. A lot cleaner design than the original.

Verified - Old Hobart Rd opened yesterday and Lake St will close Monday in Miller so that will be the place to look for the next six weeks (although work continues at Ogden Dunes and elsewhere along the line).

[justalurker66]

This weekend in Miller ... Lake St closed and work is underway on the new Track 2 main and CSX connection.

To the east of Lake St track is being constructed to cross Lake St and connect to the east gauntlet at the platform.

At the west end of the platform Track 1 is to the right (south) and Track 2 is to the left (north).
Track 1 is near completion from the east gauntlet at the platform west to about Taylor St in Gary.
The track in the foreground is the existing main line.

[justalurker66]

Track 2 in Miller with the switch that will connect to the CSX connection (track running off to the left).

The old main line and CSX connection is to the north of the new tracks.

To the east of Lake St is Clay St where a new universal crossover is being installed. This week the new Track 1 was cut and is waiting for the final switch to be installed.

The track between where the old main will connect to the new Track 2 east of Lake St and then west of the station at the curve is about a half mile. As seen above, the gauntlet at the station is the most complete segment with switches and all four rails in ballast. There is still some work to be done before the rest of the new track is ready for trains.

[GP30M4216]

Thanks for your continued documentation, justalurker!

Is there a good diagram that shows the total scope of the changes in Miller? Or do I need to dig out the environmental study documents? The changes are more extensive than I realized.

[justalurker66]

Here are a couple of images to get you started (all information available on the public project website).

From the preliminary engineering plans, an overview of Miller. Red is new construction, green is relocation, yellow is removed track. The line drawing schematic does not show the actual curves. (The labeling has been moved in the screen shot to make the image smaller.)

From the "90% design" for Miller station. This is geographically correct and shows the track being built. The large parking lots and station building are complete.

Miller is major part of the project. The final station will be as good as (if not better than) any other station along the line.

[Saturnalia]

Miller is major part of the project. The final station will be as good as (if not better than) any other station along the line.

It will definitely be a rival to Dune Park in this respect, and a fitting eastern terminus for the short-haul 200 series trains. The Add-Track at Gary Metro is a pain by being between the two mains and on a hill. The new layover track layout will give the mechanical department a much improved working area for servicing equipment between runs.

The new alignment also reduces the curvature on the west approach to the B&O bridges, which is certainly a plus. Additional improvements to the flow of Lake Street, not the least of which is the elimination of the parallel US 12, is a huge bonus.