August 28, 2013 - Colton Crossing Project

The Colton Crossing as seen in 2011, with the east-west tracks intersecting the north-south tracks, forcing one train to wait for the other.

The history of the Colton Crossing goes back over 130 years.

For over 11 months, starting in 1882, the Southern Pacific Railroad used leagal and physical means to prevent a northbound train from crossing the SP east-west track at the Colton Crossing.

Virgil Earp (a special agent for Southern Pacific and later the first City Marshall of Colton) led the group that prevented California Southern Railroad from heading north to San Bernardino.

On September 13, 1883, after a court order was issued and an "at grade" crossing (called a "diamond") was installed, the first train arrived in San Bernardino from National City (just south of San Diego).

On August 28, 2013, a public celebration was held to dedicate the opening of the new Colton Crossing Rail-to-Rail Grade Separation, an 8,150-foot flyover structure that raised the UP tracks 35 feet above the BNSF tracks.

After 130 years the east-west tracks and the north-south tracks were finally separated by elevation. This alleviated congestion at the Colton Crossing, which now accommodates more that 100 trains each day.

Located south of Interstate 10, the new crossing allows UP freight trains to pass over the north-south tracks of BNSF.