Union Pacific Glidden Sub Set to Receive First Stretch of Double Track
The Union Pacific has started work to expand capacity on its Glidden Subdivision. The 187-mile sub that connects Houston and San Antonio will receive its first stretch of double track, 5 miles of 2 MT between Heacker (CP SA014) to the west end of Missouri City (SA 019).
The east end of the Glidden sub is particularly congested because in addition to UP’s Sunset Route traffic, KCS and BNSF trains operate via trackage rights between Heacker and Rosenberg (CP SA036). Serious ground work began in late July. Here are some images of the project as of July 31, 2012.
Looking west from Heacker (CP SA014) you can see initial grading. Note the red and red/yellow boards protecting the all-day Form B’s.
The next views are looking east from the Chimney Rock Road grade crossing, near MP 14.8. If you’ll click on the second image, you’ll be able to see the signal at Heacker in the distance.
Looking west from Chimney Rock, grading hasn’t started, but you can see the new cable trenching.
Still at Chimney Rock, a new base for the re-located grade crossing signal is already in place.
The next two grade crossings to the west are Hillcroft Blvd and Haviland St, near MP 15.6. There wasn’t much visible work there, other than some survey markers in place, which I didn’t bother to photograph.
The next shot is mid-way between Haviland St. and Fondren Road, looking west as contractors clear the right of way.
Proceeding westward to the Fondren Road grade crossing, near MP 16.25, contractors were running conduit. The next two images are looking east.
I was still at Fondren when an eastbound light power move, UP 4531, passed the newly cleared right of way west the grade crossing. The overpass in the background is Beltway 8.
My last stop was MP 17. The first two images are looking east toward the Fondren road grade crossing.
Turning to the west, you can see the overpass over the Beltway 8 feeder roads. When the Beltway was built through here, approximately 1997-1998, the UP overpass was built to accommodate a future second track.
The last two views are from the west side of the overpass. You can see the signal at the east end of Missouri City (CP SA017). I suspect when the second track gets here, they’ll tear out the Missouri City siding, using its alignment to accommodate the second main track.
An employee ventured a guess that this project would be complete by the end of the year, meaning that the days of train meets at Missouri City are an endangered species.
Southwest Rails 
Wonder about the bridge over the river at Richmond & the row through Richmond, much of which has city streets quite close to the existing single track row..?
I’ve also wondered about those areas. The cost of a second bridge over the Brazos would be huge and the political issues involved with acquiring additional property along “Mud Alley” would be interesting.
In addition, the the current UP overpass of Hwy 99 is single track, requiring another very expensive overpass.
It will be interesting to see if the double track is extended beyond CP SA019.
Well, I saw a story last fall that UP is supposed to extend it to Sugar Land (Likely SA025). Eventually, as traffic continues to increase, UP will likely extend the double track to Tower 17, but probably not until its majorly needed, as new bridges and ROW will be hard to get in Sugar Land and Richmond. And also, they will likely rebuild the SP siding that was east of Tower 17 (There were 2 SP sidings in Rosenberg at one point) before fully double tracking all 22 miles between SA014 and SA036.
This project could have been easily avoided if SP had of never abandoned/sold the Bellaire Branch Line from Eagle Lake to Bellaire Jct, which was a direct 2nd main line into Houston off the Glidden Sub. Hindsight 20/20.
I wonder if they are going to put in any crossovers or just turn Heacker into one. Have there been any talks about double tracking the Glidden Sub between West Jct and T.&N.O. or at least extend Stella Siding to West Jct.