Glen Helen Parkway/Devore Rd. (San Bernardino, CA)

Updated August 15, 2008

Total Accidents: 4
Crossing DOT #s: 026103A, 747017U
TOTAL DAILY TRAINS: 108 (ESTIMATED)

The 026103A (milepost 70.97) crossing is used by BNSF and Amtrak.

The 747017U (milepost 480.10) crossing is used by Union Pacific.

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This crossing is very unusual. The cantilever you see in these first 13 pictures is the only signal with 12"x20" incandescent lights. The gate lights are 4" incandescent lights.

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There are 3 tracks here. There used to be 2 tracks, but was recently upgraded due to very high train counts. This crossing has two General Signals type 1 electronic bells. The other signal you see on the right has 12"x24" incandescent lights with 4" RECO L.E.D. lights.

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More views of the cantilever, including a look at a US&S gate motor.		The crossing activates. See more lights in the distance? Read on...
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The train crosses and takes quite a while to cross.		Facing West.	Rear views of the cantilever signal.

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Three cases total here.		A look at the 12"x24" signals. One of the relay cases belongs to this one signal.
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Another look at the 12"x24" signal. This signal has the 4" L.E.D. gate lights.	This is what the third relay case is for in picture 15. This is actually a double crossing! This signal protects the single UP track that gets 12 daily trains. This signal has 12"x24" WCH dotted L.E.D. lights, 4" incandescent gate lights, and a WCH type 2 electronic bell! Look at the ugly stenciled "4" on the tracks sign. It used to be a "3" in the past.
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Here is another train. Four BNSF trains came through this crossing in a 20 minute time period! None came by on the UP track. Picture 22 shows the third train that came by from the 12"x24" signal on BNSF's trackage.

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Another view of the train.	The UP signal activates keeping traffic behind the UP track in case a train does come by, so that a parked car doesn't get involved in an accident.

Notes: On the UP crossing, there's only one signal here! There should really be another gated signal to really maximize the safety of the double crossing setup. It's unknown why this street has 2 different names. It should really be Glen Helen Parkway. Devore Rd. used to be on the BNSF reports a few years ago, so that should tell me that Devore Rd. name has been replaced?

When a train goes by on the BNSF tracks, all 3 signals startup at once. The UP and BNSF cantilever gates go down first, while the 12"x24" BNSF signal waits. After the UP gate fully lowers, and while the BNSF cantilever's gate is about 3/4 down, the 12"x24" BNSF gate begins to lower. When a train finishes, all 3 gates rise at the same time.

It's unknown if the 12"x24" BNSF signal doesn't respond if a train goes by on the UP tracks.

All four BNSF videos are available on RrxingRick's Volume 2 DVD, now available!

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On March 7, 2007, the one UP signal looks in very poor shape. It was vandalized somewhat, and the gate light wires were cut off so that the Aurora lights couldn't light up. The signal was fixed a short time later, and the Aurora gate lights are working again.

You can see a new UP signal in pictures 25 and 27. It was put in sometime in early 2007 to make this an official double crossing. It is all L.E.D. too and has WCH L.E.D. gate lights.

These signals have been seen in action, and they do function as a double crossing, but only half of the lights flash. If a train is not on the UP tracks, then only the lights on the signals that block traffic from crossing the UP track light up, while the lights on the other side stay off.

It's kind of hard to explain, so instead of me trying to type, watch this Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ0EXabIdl0

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Pictures 28-30 shows track views on the UP track.

Here's the BNSF mast signal with no changes.

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Another view of the UP tracks.

Pictures 1-33 were taken by rrxingrick@aol.com.

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An overview of the crossing on the UP side.	The UP relay case.	Facing North on UP's track.	Facing South on UP's track.
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All lights are WCH 12"x24" with WCH red L.E.Ds.	The bell changed from a WCH electronic bell to a GS electronic bell.	The gate lights are still Aurora L.E.D.	Here's the other UP signal. It's all WCH, including the lights and gate lights.
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The gate mechanism is from WCH.	An overview of the crossing from the opposite side of the tracks.	Here's BNSF's relay case.	Facing North on BNSF's tracks.
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Facing South on BNSF's tracks.	A GS electronic bell on the cantilever signal gate.	The cantilever showing it's from Harmon	The cantilever lights are still 12"x20".
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Views of the cantilever signal.		Views of the gated mast signal. The GS bell on top is a bit crooked.
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A base for something.	A train comes by on the BNSF tracks and puts the signals in action. Note: The opposite BNSF signal doesn't appear lit in picture 56 due to the lights being in mid-flash.
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Note: The opposite BNSF signal doesn't appear lit in picture 58 due to the lights being in mid-flash. Both BNSF signals operate differently, and flash at different rates.		BNSF warbonnet 715 crosses in the lead.	A view of the cantilever lights.
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After about 3 minutes of blocking traffic, the gates rise.

Pictures 34-62 were taken by Bill Steck on July 28, 2008.