kendo26 Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 Does anyone know why they're laying track just north of the Cermak stop on the redline? The tracks branch off just before the train enters the tunnel. Seems like a strange place to lay track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 Is this independent of the old ramp that connects it to the South Side Main and the Loop L (now via the Orange Line)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kendo26 Posted March 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 Yes, It's north of the Orange Line crossover. It's right next to the Metra tracks and it looks like they are laying track on top of the subway tunnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Flyer Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 The crews that work on the tracks at night put them there to store their rail equipment during the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kendo26 Posted March 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 I don't think it's actual storage. They do have a lot of equipment and these tracks weren't there two weeks ago. I'll have to take a picture to better explain what I'm seeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nflyer22 Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 I don't think it's actual storage. They do have a lot of equipment and these tracks weren't there two weeks ago. I'll have to take a picture to better explain what I'm seeing. I saw it for myself today. It's really hard to explain, and also can't be drawn online in this forum box. I'll draw a picture later tonight, scan it, and post it online for you guys out there still eager for a picture of how it looks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nflyer22 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 I saw it for myself today. It's really hard to explain, and also can't be drawn online in this forum box. I'll draw a picture later tonight, scan it, and post it online for you guys out there still eager for a picture of how it looks. Finally, I got a picture; yes, I know it's horrible and bad, but it's the best I can do. The brownish line branching off from the northbound track is it. Original picture by Graham Garfield, used for illustrative purposes only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kendo26 Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Ok, Here's a picture taken from the Orange Line as I passed by. It's not the best either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Ok, Here's a picture taken from the Orange Line as I passed by. It's not the best either. I don't think this pic is showing what you want it to show. It looks like to me that it is the CNIC/Metra interlocking at Clark Street (and 14th). If you look to the center right, the building in the pic is the Clark Street tower and the track turning to the left is a connection between the 2 lines. To further support this, there is no 3rd rail anyplace indicating this would be CTA tracks. I would imagine this would be considerably further north than the you are speaking of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kendo26 Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 I don't think this pic is showing what you want it to show It's the area to the left of the Metra tracks where the construction equipment is located. the red box is partially hiding the redline entrance to the tunnel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 It's the area to the left of the Metra tracks where the construction equipment is located. the red box is partially hiding the redline entrance to the tunnel. Got it...Now I see what you are talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago13 Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Here's a Google Earth image of the area. You can see where the Red Line tunnel is. Are you saying the new track you're talking about is coming off the tracks going into the tunnel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Here's a Google Earth image of the area. You can see where the Red Line tunnel is. Are you saying the new track you're talking about is coming off the tracks going into the tunnel? The track in question branches off to the right of the northbound Red Line track just before the Red line enters the tunnel. This track that everyone has been asking about is a temporary track that the workers eliminating the slow zones have been using to store their equipment as they work on the Red Line subway tracks during those nights and weekends that the Red Line has to be rerouted to the elevated tracks in one direction or another for slow elimination work. It's similar to those temporary tracks that are currently on the side of the outbound Blue line tracks at the UIC-Halsted station that the Blue line slow zone construction workers are storing their construction equipment on while working on the Forest Park Blue Line slow zones. There used to be similar temporary tracks just east of the Kedzie-Homan station and just east of the Western station on the Forest Park/Blue Line branch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kendo26 Posted March 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 jajaun- Thank you for the explaination Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusHunter Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 The track in question branches off to the right of the northbound Red Line track just before the Red line enters the tunnel. This track that everyone has been asking about is a temporary track that the workers eliminating the slow zones have been using to store their equipment as they work on the Red Line subway tracks during those nights and weekends that the Red Line has to be rerouted to the elevated tracks in one direction or another for slow elimination work. It's similar to those temporary tracks that are currently on the side of the outbound Blue line tracks at the UIC-Halsted station that the Blue line slow zone construction workers are storing their construction equipment on while working on the Forest Park Blue Line slow zones. There used to be similar temporary tracks just east of the Kedzie-Homan station and just east of the Western station on the Forest Park/Blue Line branch. Do you think that this has anything to do with the block 37 superstation construction? Your explaination sounds good Jajuan, but what seems to be bothering me is that you guys are referring to this new track as if it was just constructed. ( I don't know I don't ride the Red line there too often.) Slow zone tie replacement has been going on in the Red Line subway since late last fall, and if this new work track has newly been installed, why would it be done when the tie project is half over. Also they would have to blow out those walls soon at block 37 and cut the platform at the Red line, a gigantic task, if they intend to open the station in less than 9 months. Also they would have to resignal everything down there for the new service. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 Do you think that this has anything to do with the block 37 superstation construction? Your explaination sounds good Jajuan, but what seems to be bothering me is that you guys are referring to this new track as if it was just constructed. ( I don't know I don't ride the Red line there too often.) Slow zone tie replacement has been going on in the Red Line subway since late last fall, and if this new work track has newly been installed, why would it be done when the tie project is half over. Also they would have to blow out those walls soon at block 37 and cut the platform at the Red line, a gigantic task, if they intend to open the station in less than 9 months. Also they would have to resignal everything down there for the new service. What do you think? It would make sense, but I think I remember Busjack or one of the other members mentioning rumor that the Block 37 superstation project was stalled due to financial issues. Yes the slow zone tie replacement has been going on in the Red Line subway since late last fall. However, recent overnight one track operation in the subway between the Lake and Roosevelt stations suggested to me that work still needed to be done on the portion of the tracks between those two stations. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's what it is. The most recent reroutings to the elevated tracks supports my thinking on this. The work being done in the subway now is to repair slow zones in the southern portion of the subway. In fact, the northbound track at the Roosevelt station is now currently part of a 6 mph slow zone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 It would make sense, but I think I remember Busjack or one of the other members mentioning rumor that the Block 37 superstation project was stalled due to financial issues.Not me, although I hadn't heard that there was any progress getting a private contractor to operate the airport service, once the consultant developed the preliminary proposal. You basically have 2 projects going there, the new ties, and the Block 37 crossover. The reference to the red box in the picture in the area of a spur looked like a crane to me, which would reinforce the reason you gave for the track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Not me, although I hadn't heard that there was any progress getting a private contractor to operate the airport service, once the consultant developed the preliminary proposal. You basically have 2 projects going there, the new ties, and the Block 37 crossover. The reference to the red box in the picture in the area of a spur looked like a crane to me, which would reinforce the reason you gave for the track. Sorry if I confused you as mentioning it Busjack. I just remember it was one of the members who would be pretty well informed about these kinds of things, that's why you came to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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