Union Pacific Railroad and the City of San Luis Obispo are upgrading the Grade Crossing at Orcutt Road just south of the Amtrak Station. The track at this point is double track main and this crossing is just south of a cross-over control point. This project began in earnest on April 18 when Orcutt Road was officially closed at the RR crossing -- it is expected to take 2 weeks to complete. Prior to April 18 work has been progressing on utility relocation and road improvements on the approach to the grade crossing. As part of this upgrade additional lanes on Orcutt are being added and a traffic signal installed just east of the RR Grade Crossing.
The city's description of portions of this project are contained in the following city council agenda: http://www.slocity.org/CityClerk/agendas/2007/071707agn/c2orcuttpjctspec90521.pdf .
Railroad Signal Notes:
1.) All cable is direct burial with 3 inch conduit sleeving only used under roadways. The cable is multi-conductor with heavy rubber insulation on each conductor and then a heavy plastic sheathing over the multiple individual conductors.
2.) The one place where a continuous conduit run is used is for traffic signal pre-emption --- a direct run of 3 inch PVC goes from the RR crossing signal "house" to the traffic signal controller cabinet.
3.) Multi-conductor cable for Power consists of 5 each #6 copper conductors --- power/return for Gate, power/return/common for lights and bell. This is used even to locations (such as the cantilever at this location where there are only lights and no gate).
4.) Multi-conductor cable for Gate Control consists of 7 each #14 copper conductors.
5.) Track wires are all single conductor direct burial #0. UP regs state each conductor should be spaced minimum of one foot from other track wires but this is often not rigorously followed depending on local conditions.
6.) Foundations are all pre-fab: concrete for the cantilever and aluminum/steel for the gates/lights.
7.) RR Crossing Signal electronics are located in the "house" -- a small building about 8' x 8' x 8'. This is in contrast to the "old-time" terminal cabinets that were approximately 6 feet high x 1 foot wide by 3, 6, or 9 feet wide depending on need OR the old B-Style Cases that were approximately 18" wide x 12" deep x 3' high (single) or 5' high (double).
8.) House contains 4 each Safetran Grade Crossing Predictors (one of each approach on each main line) and 2 Safetran Gate Controllers. Also included in the house are battery chargers, batteries, and a cell phone RTU for calling in status or trouble messages.
This crossing has something better than signals -- intimidate the driver. Maybe we should get some signs like this at OERM?
I worked at Orange Empire Railway Musuem this past weekend and had a little fun driving the Hi-Rail truck.
