Cajon Pass California - 2012 photo collection

TRAINMASTER BY WERNER MEER US-RAILROAD-SHOP KILCHBERG
HOCHWEIDSTRASSE 3 CH-8802 KILCHBERG (ZÜRICH) SWITZERLAND (founded 1977)
PHONE *41-44-715-3666, FAX *41-44-715-3660, E-MAIL trainmaster@bluewin.ch
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Cajon Pass Photo Collection 7/7
2012

Guest Photographers: to be announced
A big thank you for sharing these excellent pictures with us.
Note: The copyright belongs to these gentlemen. Do not use any photos without written permission.

Photos are sorted by date (not by location): oldest are on top and newest at the bottom - just scroll down!
Some photos were taken at one of these locations below (we usually mention the place of the photo):
Dagget, Barstow, Victorville/Narrows, Frost/Crossover, Hesperia, Lugo/Martinez, Summit, West Summit Island, Silverwood, Hill 582 Area, Alray/Tunnel Area, CP Walker/Davis Ranch Road, Mormon Rocks/Stein's Hill/Pine Lodge/HWY 138, Sullivan's Curve, Cajon Station/Junction, Graffiti Bridge, Swarthout Canyon Road Crossing, Blue Cut, Lower Canyon, San Bernardino, Colton Yard
+ Bonus Photos (Helendale, Barstow, Daggett, Yermo)

Abbreviations found on this page: EB = East Bound, NB = North Bound, SB = South Bound, WB = West Bound, MT-1 = BNSF Main Track 1, MT-2 = BNSF Main Track 2, MT-3 = BNSF Main Track 3, UPT = UP Colton-Palmdale Cutoff Track, MP = Mile Post, DRR = Davis Ranch Road, DPU = Distributed Power Unit (Helpers), SC = Sullivan's Curve, SWC = Swarthout Canyon Road Crossing, WSI = West Summit Island, KCR = Kemper Campbell Ranch, JAC-BAR = San Jacinto to Barstow Train

We start the year 2012 with a stop at the Kemper Campell Ranch (KCR) on January 2, 2012. This location is called Frost at MP 38. BNSF 7554 is WB and moves from the # 1 track to the # 2 track ---- which will become the # 1 track at the flyover one mile ahead. (GGG)

GGG 1/02/12 BNSF 7554 WB - 2001	GGG 1/02/12 BNSF WB TOFC w/3 locos - 2002	GGG 1/02/12 WB crossing at Frost - 2003
Thanks to DET, Marc & I were able to photograph the connecting of Main Track # 2 to Shoo-Fly track # 2 today at the Hesperia Ranchero Rd extension project. The job took about 10 hrs. MT # 1 will be connected to its shoo-fly track tomorrow (Monday 1/09/12). All photos of this project can be seen on our new page - click here.

GGG 1/08/12 Shoo-Fly East end dressing - 2004	GGG 1/08/12 UP 7182 WB at MP 48 - 2005	GGG 1/08/12 UP 4005 lite WB East end - 2006

GGG 1/08/12 Shoo-Fly West end - 2007	GGG 1/08/12 Final dressing of Shoo-Fly 2 - 2008	GGG 1/08/12 UP lite engines pass West end - 2009
On the way to lunch, we heard a RR crew report a brush fire at BNSF CP Lugo. Lugo is just two+ miles from Marc's home (actually between the Shoo-Fly of Ranchero Road Crossing and Martinez East of Summit) and the wind was really blowing. We decided, AFTER lunch, to check it out. We really didn't get all that close when from behind us came the roar of something flying really LOW. I got photos 2010-2012 on his second pass. BTW, the CA Dept of Forestry flies these rebuilt US Navy Sub chasers which are called "S-2T". I'm kinda proud of photo 2012 --- taken while "DUCKING" --- Notice all of fire "CHIEFS" vehicles --- didn't see any indians. GGG

GGG 1/08/12 - 2010	GGG 1/08/12 - 2011	GGG 1/08/12 - 2012
On Sunday, January 8, during the Shoo-Fly tie-in and the required single tracking, there was plenty of traffic in the MP 47-48 area. We then moved RR East to the signal seen in the images 2013-2018. GGG

GGG 1/08/12 BNSF 4936 WB MP 48 Train 1 - 2013	GGG 1/08/12 BNSF 5092 DPU's WB Train 1 - 2014	GGG 1/08/12 UP 7475 WB MP 48 Train 2 - 2015

GGG 1/08/12 UP 7387 DPU WB Train 2 - 2016	GGG 1/08/12 BNSF 7827 WB MP 48 Train 3 - 2017	GGG 1/08/12 UP 7182 WM MP 48 Train 4 - 2018

GGG 1/08/12 BNSF 7387 WB MP 47.4 - 2019	GGG 1/08/12 BNSF 7704 WB MP 47.4 - 2020	GGG 1/08/12 BNSF 6216 EB MP 48 - 2021
Today (January 31), Don Toles & I had a very nice High Desert day. A BNSF track gang has been working West from Barstow and has reached the Victimville area resulting in "single tracking" between Frost and Oro Grande. Upon our arrival, the RR was 'fleeting' trains EB prohibiting decent photography, however we soon enjoyed two WB'S along with the local wildlife. We were surprised to see geese feeding here in January. (GGG/DET)

GGG 1/31/12 BNSF 7501 WB at Frost - 2061	GGG 1/31/12 UP 7045 WB - 2062	GGG 1/31/12 Cow & Geese at KCR - 2063
Februray 2: Heard from Train Orders.com that five BRAND NEW BNSF ES44C-4'S would be pulling a very heavy and very long train WB on the Cajon Sub. The units were BNSF 6850, 6864, 6858 with 6857 & 6856 as DPU's. The train was "9548 feet and well over 10,000 tons" (Photos 2070-2072). Just after the above, I was surprised by UP 1995 EB. Because of single tracking in the area, UP 1995 was held at Frost for a WB. Photo 2073 from Gray's Hill.

GGG 2/02/12 BNSF 6850 + + WB MP 39.1 - 2070	GGG 2/02/12 BNSF 3 new ES44C-4 locos - 2071	GGG 2/02/12 BNSF 2 new ES44C-4 DPU's - 2072

GGG 2/02/12 UP 1995 EB MP 39.1 - 2073	GGG 2/02/12 UP 1995 EB MP 38 Frost - 2074	GGG 2/02/12 UP 8528 EB DPU MP 38 - 2075
Today (February 17), we had a great AM on Hill 582 followed by a visit to the Shoo-Fly and lunch at Da Dump. 2112: Interesting UP lash-up NB past Hill 582 on UPT: SD 90/43 # 8205 is followed by CNW 6708 (OLS) and SP 6164 et al. 2113-2114: UP 7505 is SB leading an OLD SP caboose. GGG NB: The photos of the Shoo-Fly (Ranchero Road Project) can be seen on this page: click here.

GGG 2/17/12 UP 8205, CNW, SP NB - 2112	GGG 2/17/12 UP 7505 SB on UPT Hill 582 - 2113	GGG 2/17/12 Old SP Caboose on same train - 2114
From WSI: West Summit Island by Marc Fournier. 2118: BNSF runs two past the Island while UP 8205 waits for four trains to clear Silverwood. 2119-2120: BNSF 7412 heads into the Summit Curve. 2121-2122: Marc was able to catch BOTH UP Olympic units within a few mimutes ---- on separate train ---- East & West bound ---- WOW. 2123: UP 8205 is finally allowed to transition onto the Silverwood connector for movement East on the BNSF. MF(GGG)

MF 2/17/12 Three trains at WSI - 2118	MF 2/17/12 BNSF 7417 EB on MT-2 - 2119	MF 2/17/12 EB heading for Summit Curve - 2120

MF 2/19/12 UP 7721 WB w/UP 2002 - 2121	MF 2/19/12 UP 6950 EB w/UP 2001 - 2122	MF 2/17/12 UP 8205 EB on Connector - 2123
Greetings from COLD SoCal, ! ! Last Friday (March 16), a group met on Hill 582 to greet good friends Dave & Wendy from Wales. After a very dry and warm winter, we met on the coldest and windiest day of this winter. Most of the time, we could only hear the trains passing the Hill. 2157-2158: The "perfect photographic meet" -- BNSF 6718 WB and UP 8593 EB -- too bad we couldn't see most of the action. 2160: The group under OLD GLORY and the Flag of Wales: DET, Mac, Wendy, Keith, Marc & GGG (right) & Dave (front left). 2161: The Flags proudly fly over Hill 582. 2162: Dave & Wendy at the Shoo-Fly in much better High Desert Weather. - Enjoy - GGG

GGG 3/16/12 BNSF 6718 WB - 2157	GGG 3/16/12 UP 8593 EB - 2158	GGG 3/16/12 BNSF 6903 EB - 2159

GGG 3/16/12 Dave & Wendy & group - 2160	GGG 3/16/12 Flag of Wales - 2161	GGG 3/16/12 Dave & Wendy at Ranchero Rd. - 2162
2238: On the way to the Ranchero Rd project this AM, I noticed BRAND NEW BNSF C-4 6968 parked dead on the Hesperia siding. Found that BNSF had sent the unit to help celebrate the completion of the Hesperia Industrial Spur. 2239-42: While photographing the 6968, BNSF 7712 West slowed to a stop, uncoupled from its train, pulled ahead and then backed into the spur to couple onto #6968. 2243: Needless to say, the hour it took to retrieve #6968 caused a backup. UP 7806 follows BNSF 7712 WB. GGG

GGG 4/19/12 BNSF 6968 GE ES44C-4 - 2238	GGG 4/19/12 BNSF 7712 WB pass new C-4 - 2239	GGG 4/19/12 BNSF 7856 EB pass WB train - 2240

GGG 4/19/12 BNSF 7712 pickup new 6968 - 2241	GGG 4/19/12 Face to face - 2242	GGG 4/19/12 UP 7806 WB Hesperia - 2243
There's probably no better way to spend part of a weekend than with friends chasing TRAINS, PLANES and a BRIDGE. Marc and I started Friday morning visiting Don & Jerry on Hill 582. Next, lunch at Molly's #2 in Helendale followed by a visit to Southern CA Logistics Airport (SCLA). Saturday started out with a visit to the Ranchero Rd project and lunch at Molly's #1 in Hesperia. Plane photos of SCLA are here: XC-36 - Ranchero Road - BNSF Bridge photos: XC-11 From Hill 582: 2254-55: BNSF 7241 is EB to meet UP 7835. 2256-58: UP 7538 and its mid-train DPU's are WB with an 11,000 ft train.

GGG 4/27/12 UP 4630 is WB on MT-3 - 2253	GGG 4/27/12 BNSF 7241 EB on MT-1 - 2254	GGG 4/27/12 BNSF EB meets UP 7835 WB - 2255

GGG 4/27/12 UP 7835 WB on MT-2 - 2256	GGG 4/27/12 1 x GE, 2 x EMD power - 2257	GGG 4/27/12 UP mid train DPU's WB - 2258
2286-88: A meet at Cajon Station --- UP 8655 leads the BRAND NEW UP 8718 and DPU 7615 WB at Cajon Junction on MT # 3. MF/GGG

MF 5/03/12 UP 8655 WB at Cajon Station - 2286	MF 5/03/12 brand new UP 8718 SD70ACe - 2287	MF 5/03/12 UP 7615 DPU WB - 2288

New Industrial Spur - City of Hesperia, CA
During Oct 2011, the City of Hesperia broke ground on an industrial Spur in an effort to attract new business. The new track departs the BNSF Cushenbury line just NE of Mollie's Cafe and travels North for a bit over a mile. This project is not connected to the Ranchero Rd (Shoo-fly) extension. (GGG)

GGG 12/06/11 Map of new Hesperia Spur - 1300	GGG 12/06/11 New Switch of industrial spur - 1301	GGG 12/06/11 Spur waiting for track - 1302
Last December, I sent out some pictures of a minor railroad construction project in Hesperia , CA. Just 3/4 mile NE of Molly's Cafe, the city has finished a new one mile+ spur in an effort to attract new light manufacturing to the area. The spur was built North from the Cushenbury branch and as always in the desert, planing and engineering for storm runoff is of utmost importance. It is ironic??? that to use the new spur, trains will leave the HEAVY rail of the BNSF Transcon, traverse (for .5 miles) the very light 10 MPH bolted rail of the Cushenbury branch and move onto the beautiful roadbed of the spur. I'll let you know when the first business is built near the spur. 2145-2146: With the Cushenbury branch in the background, the maze of flood control ditches is pictured. The concrete lined flood control ditch and a 6 ft fence run the entire length of the spur. 2147: Looking North, a bridge and a road crossing were built about half way down the spur. The white area in the hills is the limestone quarry for the Oro Grande TXI cement plant. FROM THE BRIDGE (Spur mid-point). 2148: Looking South at the cushenbury, the spur lead, the two track spur. 2149: Looking North at the spur end 'o track. 2150: Looking West at the best looking and smoothest protected grade crossing around these parts.

GGG 3/09/12 Cushenbury branch behind - 2145	GGG 3/09/12 Flood control ditch - 2146	GGG 3/09/12 Looking North - 2147

GGG 3/09/12 Looking South - 2148	GGG 3/09/12 End of spur (North) - 2149	GGG 3/09/12 RR-Xing looking West - 2150

Bonus Photos - non Cajon Pass

Helendale - Barstow - Daggett - Yermo - Tehachapi - Glamis - Ludlow - Afton Canyon

January 6: Marc & I drove north on US Rt 66 to find a new photographic vista. Between Helendale & Indian Trail Rd, Marc went cross country to find a spot well above Toles Towers (BNSF Cajon Sub MP 21 = 21 mls west of Barstow). And so, from the newly named Marc's Madness. GGG

GGG 1/06/12 BNSF 7508 WB MP 19 - 2031	GGG 1/06/12 BNSF WB 3 leading locos - 2032	GGG 1/06/12 BNSF WB DPU's MP 19 - 2033

GGG 1/06/12 BNSF 7767 WB MP 21 - 2034	GGG 1/06/12 BNSF 7490 EB MP 21 - 2035	GGG 1/06/12 UP 6792 EB MP 21 - 2036
February 3: Don, Marc & I drove back to the hills that look down on BNSF Cajon Sub MP's 18-20 near Helendale. From Marc's Mountain: 2076-2077: Both ends of a mile long train, lead by BNSF 7715, are visible. BNSF 129 & 128, probably on their way to local service somewhere, were DIT. 2081: Some crazies will go to the anywhere for a railroad picture. GGG, DET, MF

GGG 2/03/12 BNSF 7715 EB at MP 20 - 2076	GGG 2/03/12 BNSF 129-128 GP60M's - 2077	GGG 2/03/12 UP 8665 EB MP 20 - 2078

GGG 2/03/12 UP 8624 DPU's for 8665 - 2079	GGG 2/03/12 UP 8714 WB intermodal - 2080	MF 2/03/12 DET & GGG taking pictures - 2081

January 27, 2012: Marc & I took off for parts RR East this morning. Despite poor sunlight & very low train traffic, we had a great time exploring the desert. 2049-2051: BNSF Barstow yard notable today only for an extensive "dead line" of mostly GP-30U's ---- numbered in the 24XX series. Then it was off to the UP yard in Yermo to "inspect" the new DDG transload facility. Wet Distillers Grains (WDG) are what's left when corn or other grains are fermented into alcohol (ethanol). Wet DG's are way too heavy to ship and, of course, drying the product into DDG's costs energy - but the processors have found a market for the resultant cattle/pig feed in Asia. The transload facility will receive the DDG's from the Midwest in hopper cars, transfer the product into containers, reload the "cons" on another train and ship the cons to the LA/Long Beach (LB) ports for loading on container ships. So, there will be, stationed in Yermo, four container chassis and four chassis tugs. Each empty container, obviously, will have one end opened and a wood backed cardboard "80% plug" inserted---leaving a two foot tall lateral space at the top to blow the product into the container. The process of unloading one hopper and loading TWO "CONS" is estimated at seven minutes per hopper. 2052 & 2054: The orange devices will pump air into the hoppers. The air injection makes grains flow like a liquid. The hopper will unload between the rails onto a conveyor. 2053: Above a few of our finest WAR machines (the Abrams M1A1or A2 Main Battle Tank), two discharge chutes will load two containers simultaneously. If this wasn't enough info, the URL from the UPRR Web Site will explain the UP terms, prices, and why the UP recorded record earnings last quarter. http://www.upds.com/customers/carload/transload/plant_to_port/index.shtml After being, somewhat politely, asked to vacate the UP Yermo area, we decided to journey to Newberry Springs for lunch. On the way, in bad light, we were able to photograph: 2055: UP 6828 EB at Daggett - about to head north to Yermo. 2056: BNSF 7477 WB to Barstow. 2057-2058: BNSF 4014 powering up for the slight grade into Newberry Spings. Newberry Springs (20 miles East of Barstow on Rt 66 and just South of I-40) is "famous" for several things: 1. The Spring HEAT http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newberry_Springs,_California - 2. Pistachio nut farms - 3. The Summer Heat 4. The quarry from which BNSF get its Desert Rose ballast - 5. YUP -- the fall heat - 6. The winter COLD Oh, and the always Wind - 7. THE BAGDAD CAFE The Bagdad Cafe was the setting for a 1991 Jack Palance movie of the same name. The cafe is another great historical spot, along the "Mother Road" and is visited by tourists from around the World. http://www.moviefone.com/movie/bagdad-cafe/4551/synopsis - http://www.bagdadcafe.us/ 2059-2060: Two members of the Cajon Mafia invade the Bagdad Cafe for pretty good burger. GGG/MF

GGG 1/27/12 BNSF Barstow Yard - 2049	GGG 1/27/12 - 2050	GGG 1/27/12 old GP30U are stored - 2051

MF 1/27/12 UP Transload Facility - 2052	GGG 1/27/12 Abrams M1A1or A2 Tanks - 2053	MF 1/27/12 UP Transload Facility - 2054

GGG 1/27/12 UP 6828 EB Daggett - 2055	GGG 1/27/12 BNSF 7477 WB Daggett - 2056	GGG 1/27/12 BNSF 4014 EB Minneola Rd. - 2057

GGG 1/27/12 same BNSF at Minneola Rd. - 2058	GGG 1/27/12 Marc at Bagdad Cafe - 2059	GGG 1/27/12 Gary at Bagdad Cafe - 2060

March 13/14: Marc made two trips in March. The first was to Winter Rail in Stockton, CA. Naturally, he had to traverse Tehachapi pass twice and naturally, he had to do some RR photography. On the return trip, Marc hooked up with Aaron Bentsen of 7Idea productions. You may remember that, a few months ago, we mentioned Aaron's EXCELLENT Cajon Pass video. If his upcoming Tehachapi video even approaches the quality of his Cajon video, it will be extraordinary. http://7ideaproductions.com/catalog/index.php 2181: From the Westover's home above Cable siding, a BNSF business train is SB. 2182: UP 7909 passes under its train NB at Tunnel # 9 - "the loop". 2183: UP 7428 starts its climb on "the loop" (Loop Ranch). 2184: UP 7769 passes under its train SB. 2187: The ultimate in High Lifts -- http://www.highliftaerial.com/ 2189-90: NO KIDDING (Woodpecker's Territory): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Woodpecker 2191: UP 5428 passes the remains of Tunnel # 4 -- destroyed in the 1952 earthquake. http://www.scec.org/education/020721kern.html MF/GGG

MF 3/13/12 BNSF SB Business Train - 2181	MF 3/14/12 UP 7909 NB Walong - 2182	MF 3/13/12 UP 7428 uphill on Loop - 2183

MF 3/14/12 UP 7769 SB at Walong - 2184	MF 3/13/12 UP 7729 NB at Rowen - 2185	MF 3/13/12 UP 3971 NB at Rowan - 2186

MF 3/13/12 High Lift at Rowan - 2187	MF 3/13/12 Hardworking Woodpeckers - 2189	MF 3/13/12 Food Storage Post (nuts) - 2190

MF 3/13/12 UP Meet at Rowen - 2188	MF 3/14/12 UP 5428 NB Cliff - 2191	MF 3/14/12 Cliff from above - 2192

March 24/25: Marc at Glamis, CA. When you get tired of life in the BIG CITY and own a "FUN MOVER", you might as well head for the Glamis Sand dunes. Glamis is two miles East of NOWHERE, USA. Actually, Glamis is in far Southeastern CA between the Salton Sea and the Colorado River just North of Mexico. The nearest City of any size is Yuma, AZ. Click here: Imperial Sand Dunes - Mammoth Wash - Glamis Dunes - Buttercup sand dunes - DesertUSA So, once you get to Glamis, CA you can: 2193: Sit in your luxury Fun Mover, watch TV and drink beer -- or -- 2194: Drive a few miles and watch folks race their $50,000 sand rails and drink beer -- or -- 2195: Sit out back, watch the desert sunset and drink beer -- or -- 2196: Sit out front, watch the UP Sunset Route and drink beer -- or -- 2197-98: Chase UP 7732 with DPU UP 1982 EB to Yuma. 2199: UP 1982 crosses the Colorado River. 2200-01: UP 7732 arrives in Yuma. MF/GGG

MF 3/24/12 Railfan's Fun Mover at Glamis - 2193	MF 3/24/12 Sand Dunes Racers - 2194	MF 3/24/12 Desert Sunset Campground - 2195

MF 3/24/12 UP 7413 (SP/UP 1395) EB - 2196	MF 3/25/12 UP 7732 EB to Yuma - 2197	MF 3/25/12 UP/MoPac 1982 DPU EB - 2198

MF 3/25/12 UP 1982 EB to Yuma - 2199	MF 3/25/12 UP 7732 EB arrives in Yuma, AZ - 2200	MF 3/25/12 UP 7732 EB at Yuma - 2201

April 11: Last Wednesday, my good friend & neighbor George and I decided to visit Marc, Bob and Wiley who were camping, chasing trains and off-roading near Ludlow. The plan was to have breakfast and catch a few BNSF trains in Ludlow, drive to Crucero, Ca and then return to Victorville via Afton Canyon. 2229: The Ludlow campsite with George and Marc standing --- Bob and son Wiley (San Diego) and ????. 2230: BNSF 5436 WB passes the campsite. 2231: Marc returns to camp. 2232: From the camp looking North toward Afton Canyon (22 dirt road miles away). 2233: From Crucero Rd, a view of the sand dunes to the NW. 2234-35: Views from within Afton Canyon. 2236: Our only Afton train was actually before we entered the canyon -- UP 7806 SB on the UP Cima Sub. 2237: More proof that a $00.03 RR spike can defeat an oversized and fully armored hi-performance off-road tire. George was able to triple plug the HOLE. The plug lasted until Barstow where we had to change the tire in the COLD rain. Ya gotta expect a FEW LOSSES but what a GREAT DAY we had!!!!! GGG

GGG 4/11/12 Ludlow Campsite - 2229	GGG 4/11/12 BNSF 5436 WB at Ludlow - 2230	GGG 4/11/12 MF on Quad at Ludlow - 2231

GGG 4/11/12 Crucero Road looking North - 2232	GGG 4/11/12 from Crucero Rd looking NW - 2233	GGG 4/11/12 Afton Canyon - 2234

GGG 4/11/12 Afton Canyon - 2235	GGG 4/11/12 UP 7806 SB Afton Canyon - 2236	GGG 4/11/12 Tire repair Afton Canyon - 2237

8 different and detailed Maps of Cajon Pass with captions (Mile Posts and Location) by Gary G. Gray - click here
New 8/11: Maps "How to find" Hill 582, Sullivan's Curve, Noisy Point by Gary G. Gray - click here

Accurate Map of Cajon Pass with 3rd Main Track by Michael Amrine - click here