Cajon Pass California - 2024 railroad 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 19/19
2024

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

Bonos Photos - non Cajon Pass - will be at the bottom of this page (not ready)

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 our 2024 photo documentation with a visit of Bobby Deren on Hill 582.
Before his 2015 retirement, our friend & member of this group Bobby Deren was a B-747 Captain for UPS. His flying job often brought him into Ontario, CA airport and between flights he would join us on Hill 582 or here in Victimville. Although, we kept in E-mail contact, last week was his first in-person visit since 2015. OF COURSE, we had to meet Marc & visit Hill 582. January 4th was a very cool, windy and uncomfortable day but we braved the elements anyway.

GGG - 1/04/24 - 4002 - a dusting of snow on the mountains (Mt. Baldy) SW of the Hill.

GGG - 1/04/24 - 4001 Hill 582 w/memorials is looking good	GGG - 1/04/24 - 4003 Two old friends (Marc & Bobby) catching-up.

GGG - 1/04/24 - 4004 BNSF 5506 East approaches & passes the MP 58.2 control signals.	GGG - 1/04/24 - 4005 Close up of BNSF 5506 East passes the MP 58.2 control signals.

Last WED (24-03-13), Marc & I decided that we should journey to West Summit Island (WSI), to meet with Bob & Paul who were already camped there. For those who are not familiar, WSI is about 1.4 RR miles RR East of Hill 582 and is situated very close to where BNSF Main Tracks 1, 2 & 3 run close together and pass through Cajon Summit. GGG, Marc, Bob, Paul and Snoopy

GGG - 3/13/24 - 4006 Bob, Marc & Paul are obviously relaxed while awaiting the next train.	GGG - 3/13/24 - 4007 It is truly GREAT, how much positive & friendly reaction the U.S. flag and the "BEST WISHES" sign got from the train crews. IT WAS TRULY AMAZING & NOISY!

GGG - 3/13/24 - 4008 Two well-preserved true war bonnet units sandwich a KCS (CPKCS) unit WB at WSI. The mismatched panels were noted.	GGG - 3/13/24 - 4009 Paul & I photographed a nine unit BNSF "power move" WB on MT-3.

GGG - 3/13/24 - 4010 This nine unit BNSF "power move" WB may go to W. Colton Yard and/or the docks.	GGG - 3/13/24 - 4011 Paul & I caught a near six hour late AMTRAK #3 WB. The lateness can probably be explained by the addition of the BNSF freight unit for motive power.

GGG - 3/13/24 - 4012 Paul & I caught a near six hour late AMTRAK #3 WB. The lateness can probably be explained by the addition of the BNSF freight unit for motive power.	GGG - 3/13/24 - 4013 Greetings being exchanged with the crew of UP 2683 East

GGG - 3/13/24 - 4014 BNSF 3629 is EB at WSI on BNSF MT-1.	GGG - 3/13/24 - 4015 A sight seldom seen lately---BNSF 6032 leads a FULL stack train down the 3+% grade of what is now BNSF MainTrack (MT-3). Most heavy trains now use BNSF Mains MT-1 & MT-2 which are around 2%, leaving MT-3 for light stuff like AMTRAK.

GGG - 3/13/24 - 4016 Some will remember Bob's K-9 constant railfan companion named JAZZ, THE WONDER DOG. Time caught-up with Jazz, and Bob rescued a new K-9 railfan friend named Snoopy. As you can see, Snoopy is only barely interested in all the action & noise of WSI.	GGG - 3/13/24 - 4017 UP 6433 climbs the UP Palmdale cutoff toward Tehachapi while in #4018 another long UP is EB on BNSF MT #01 toward Barstow/Yermo.

GGG - 3/13/24 - 4018 at the same time another long UP is EB on BNSF MT-1 toward Barstow/Yermo.	GGG - 3/13/24 - 4019 in front is the long UP is EB on BNSF MT-1 toward Barstow and above are the DPU's for the Palmdale train toward Tehachapi on the UPT. I was there, and it confuses me also !!

GGG - 3/13/24 - 4020 A colorful consist of 3 BNSF units, 2 NS units up front . . . .	GGG - 3/13/24 - 4021 . . . . and a trailing KCS DPU are EB at WSI.

GGG - 3/13/24 - 4022 Marc was told that this HEAVILY SECURED set of GIZMOs has something to do with 'DRONES and RAILROAD SECURITY'. This heavy duty pen was built next to the abandoned security shack at HWY 138 and Post Office RD (Cajon Summit).	GGG - 3/13/24 - 4023 On the way back to Marc's home via the UP Palmdale Cutoff MOW road, we caught UP 5394 SB toward Cajon Summit.
For those unfamiliar with American slang, a GIZMO is an unnamed thingy, without which, the larger unnamed thingy to which it is attached, will not work. - It was a GREAT & FUN DAY - GGG

updated: April 14, 2024

Haven't heard from many of you lately, so I thought I'd stir the TRAIN CHASING/LOVING pot a bit. Last Wed (24-04-10) Jorge & I drove down to West Summit Island (WSI) and Hill 582. It was a near perfect day with moderate train traffic.
Hope you enjoyed, GGG & JL

JL - 4/10/24 - 4024 (WSI)
BNSF 4219 is West Bound (WB) down BNSF Main Track (MT) #3 with it's 3% grade. GGG - 4/10/24 - 4025 (WSI)
Hill 582 as seen from WSI --- about 1.2 miles

GGG - 4/10/24 - 4026 (Hill 582)
BNSF 3883 is WB on MT #3. The end of 3883's train is still at Cajon Summit & can be seen stretching across the near top of this page/picture. The 3% grade of MT #3 is very obvious. JL - 4/10/24 - 4027 (Hill 582)
The San Gabriel Mountains (still with snow) with the Mormon Rocks below.

GGG - 4/10/24 - 4028 (Hill 582)
UP 7771 is an EB manifest with LOADS of power. However, we think the last 4 UP units were Dead In Tow. Those same four UP units appear to have been stored?? outside in salty air, for an extended period of time - with no maintenance. GGG - 4/10/24 - 4029 (Hill 582)
BNSF XXXX (unknown lead number) is a HIGH PRIORITY EB, "Running Around" the UP 7771 manifest mentioned in #4028.

GGG - 4/10/24 - 4030 (Hill 582)
UP 7303 is the trailing DPU for the EB manifest train mentioned in #4028 GGG - 4/10/24 - 4031 (Hill 582)
Two nicely maintained UP SD-70's head a "Wood Products" SB on the 2.2% grade of the UP/SP Palmdale cutoff.

GGG - 4/10/24 - 4032 (Hill 582)
BNSF 7972 is EB with another amply powered train. The GP-60 MAY be hitching a ride to Barstow for inspection &/or servicing---which would be a usual practice for diesel power units that work the Cities & the Ports of the L.A. area. JL - 4/10/24 - 4033 (Hill 582)
On the way home we ran across (not over) Robby the Rattler #25 who seems to have lost an encounter with some (not ours) vehicle. This Robby will probably make a good meal for the several ROAD RUNNERS we noted in the area.

Cajon 1 with 2006 photos - click here	Cajon 2 with 2007 photos - click here	Cajon 3 with 2008 photos - click here
Cajon 4 with 2009 photos - click here	Cajon 5 with 2010 photos - click here	Cajon 6 with 2011 photos - click here
Cajon 7 with 2012 photos - click here	Cajon 8 with 2013 photos - click here	Cajon 9 with 2014 photos - click here
Cajon 10 with 2015 photos - click here	Cajon 11 with 2016 photos - click here	Cajon 12 with 2017 photos - click here
Cajon 13 with 2018 photos - click here	Cajon 14 with 2019 photos - click here	Cajon 15 with 2020 photos - click here
Cajon 16 with 2021 photos - click here	Cajon 17 with 2022 photos - click here	Cajon 18 with 2023 photos - click here
History of Hill 582 photos - click here	Ranchero Road Project - click here	Colton Flyover Project - click here
Highway 138 East Project - click here	Mojave River Bridges - click here	Green Tree Blvd. Project - click here

Cajon Pass 3rd Main Track Construction by BNSF in 2007 and 2008 BNSF was building a 3rd Main Track thru Cajon Pass. It was built along the # 1 (north) track (2,2 % grade). The only 2 tunnels in Cajon have been daylighted. This one of a time project was completed on November 07, 2008.
	3rd Main Track Project by BNSF 2007/2008 outstanding coverage on 9 Albums Photos by Don E. Toles, Gary G. Gray and Marc Fournier taken from 6/22/07 to 12/24/08
DET 8/24/07 Summit Curve - 061	See all 9 pages with 896 photos - click here	DET 10/25/07 T-2 EP w/BNSF EB train - 197

New 7/19: Accurate Map of Cajon Pass as of 2018 by Steve Jessup & Todd Gillette (RR Illustrated) - click here

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

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

Haven't heard from many of you lately, so I thought I'd stir the TRAIN CHASING/LOVING pot a bit. Last Wed (24-04-10) Jorge & I drove down to West Summit Island (WSI) and Hill 582. It was a near perfect day with moderate train traffic. Hope you enjoyed, GGG & JL

JL - 4/10/24 - 4024 (WSI) BNSF 4219 is West Bound (WB) down BNSF Main Track (MT) #3 with it's 3% grade.	GGG - 4/10/24 - 4025 (WSI) Hill 582 as seen from WSI --- about 1.2 miles

GGG - 4/10/24 - 4026 (Hill 582) BNSF 3883 is WB on MT #3. The end of 3883's train is still at Cajon Summit & can be seen stretching across the near top of this page/picture. The 3% grade of MT #3 is very obvious.	JL - 4/10/24 - 4027 (Hill 582) The San Gabriel Mountains (still with snow) with the Mormon Rocks below.

GGG - 4/10/24 - 4028 (Hill 582) UP 7771 is an EB manifest with LOADS of power. However, we think the last 4 UP units were Dead In Tow. Those same four UP units appear to have been stored?? outside in salty air, for an extended period of time - with no maintenance.	GGG - 4/10/24 - 4029 (Hill 582) BNSF XXXX (unknown lead number) is a HIGH PRIORITY EB, "Running Around" the UP 7771 manifest mentioned in #4028.

GGG - 4/10/24 - 4030 (Hill 582) UP 7303 is the trailing DPU for the EB manifest train mentioned in #4028	GGG - 4/10/24 - 4031 (Hill 582) Two nicely maintained UP SD-70's head a "Wood Products" SB on the 2.2% grade of the UP/SP Palmdale cutoff.

GGG - 4/10/24 - 4032 (Hill 582) BNSF 7972 is EB with another amply powered train. The GP-60 MAY be hitching a ride to Barstow for inspection &/or servicing---which would be a usual practice for diesel power units that work the Cities & the Ports of the L.A. area.	JL - 4/10/24 - 4033 (Hill 582) On the way home we ran across (not over) Robby the Rattler #25 who seems to have lost an encounter with some (not ours) vehicle. This Robby will probably make a good meal for the several ROAD RUNNERS we noted in the area.