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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Updated: September 22, 2013

Cajon Pass Photo Collection
June 25, 2011
by Werner Meer (Switzerland)

 

Day 4 - FOUR - 224 Photos

high above Summit I-15
Silverwood Overlook
Highway 138 - Mormon Rocks

 

 

This time, I took photos (5550) from these locations: Summit, Silverwood, WSI, Hill 582, Alray (former Tunnel area), Mormon Rocks, Stein's Hill, around Highway 138, Sullivan's Curve, Cajon Station, old Route 66 (Cajon Blvd.), Swarthout Canyon Road and finally Palm Ave. Crossing. As I went to several overlooks high above, I was trying to take photos from far away. Not every photo was good because of the long distance, haze and the heavy wind.
Please note: As a train does not only exist of the locos but all the cars, I made plenty photos of the different cars (incl. graffiti).

 

Abbreviations found on this page: EB = East Bound, NB = North Bound, SB = South Bound, WB = West Bound, MT-1 = BNSF Main 1, MT-2 = BNSF Main 2, MT-3 = BNSF Main 3, UPT = Union Pacific Track, MP = Mile Post, DBS = Double Stack Train,  IM = Intermodal Train, DRR = Davies Ranch Road, SWC = Swarthout Canyon Road Crossing, WSI = West Summit Island

For bigger size photos - please click on the 4-digit number below each photo.
Each album covers a full day. Therefore, you may see the same location on several albums but on different days.

high above Summit I-15

Today, I went to Mason Clark to pick up my HO scale Joshua Trees. In the afternoon, I drove from Palmdale to Cajon and started my Cajon exploring from I-15 Summit. Just behind the legendary Summit Inn starts the dirt road (USFS 3N45) toward Silverwood. The elevation at this location is 4190 feet (1280 m).
The quality of the photos is not satisfactory because there is some haze which is getting too much with the tele zoom lense. But nevertheless, it still gives us an idea how it looks from high above. I recommend to click on the 4-digit numer to see the full size photo. We can see the tracks from Hill 582 (right side) up to Silverwood and Summit Curve (left side). We start our journey at 14.50 h.
WM 6/25/11 Uphill traffic on I-15 Summit - 2601 a WB DBS (Train 1) is passing Hill 582 - 2598 in the center above is Highway 138 - 2600
the trees of Hill 582 are hardly visible - 2599 (S-curve is MT-3) last photo of Train 1 - 2603 BNSF helpers on MT-3 at Silverwood - 2602
BNSF WB on MT-2 (Train 2) - 2609 the engines pass WSI - 2610 2611
2612 2613 2614
the locos are crossing USFS 3N45 - 2615 2616 2617
2618 2619 2620
2621 2622 the locos pass Hill 582 - 2623
2624 2625 last photo of train 2 - 2627
BNSF EB (Train 3) - 2628 the locos reach Hill 582 - 2629 I-15 at right - 2631
Hill 582 in the middle - 2632 2634 curved "S" = MT-3 - 2635
2638 2639 2640
2642 2643 2645
the engines reach Silverwood - 2647 2649 the engines enter Summit Curve - 2650
2654 2655 end of train 3 - 2656
With the next activities, I was really lucky because I got 2 BNSF EB trains going around Hill 582 on MT-3 and MT-1 at the same time !
In other words we will have a parallel race uphill towards Summit. The show started at 16.15 h and ended at 16.26 h with a total of 40 photos.
BNSF EB on MT-3 (Train 4) - 2659 BNSF EB on MT-1 (Train 5) - 2660 2 EB intermodal trains going uphill - 2661
overview incl. I-15 northbound lanes 2663 2664 2665
2667 2668 2669
2671 2672 2673
2679 2680 2681
2682 2683 both trains are leaving Hill 582 - 2684
both trains are long enough to cover . . - 2685 . . the distance of 2.2 mls (3,5 km)  . . - 2686 . . between Hill 582 and Silverwood - 2687
2688 2689 2691
2692 train 5 has 2 helpers and train 4 none - 2693 2694
2695 DPU's of train 5 - 2696 2697
both trains are rolling into Summit - 2698 end of Train 4 (right) + Train 5 at WSI (left) - 2699 last photo of Train 5 - 2701
Well, the show is over and I was satisfied. So, I left this overlook and drove down USFS 3N45 toward Silverwood.

Silverwood Overlook

These aerial views and the map will show the situation at Silverwood. On photo 1953 my position (overlook) is just at the right corner below, near BNSF MT-3.
It can easy be reached from USFS 3N45.
from the air Silverwood MP 57.2  1953 Map overview Silverwood MP - 1951 from the air West Summit Island MP 56.7  1952

 

Now, I am sitting on the Silverwood overlook above MT-3. Time is 16.46 h and the first train is a BNSF WB.
WM 6/25/11 BNSF WB (Train 1) - 2704 BNSF WB on MT-2 coming from Summit - 2705 BNSF WB is entering Silverwood - 2707
2709 2710 2711
2714 2715 2716
in the foreground is BNSF MT-3 - 2717 first engine is crossing USFS 3N45 -  2718 BNSF 7228 = GE ES44DC - 2719
BNSF 6663 = GE ES44C4 - 2720 2721 2722
2724 2725 last photo of Train 1 at 16.52 h - 2726
UP NB on UPT (Train 2) at 18.22 h - 2727 UP 5416 = GE C45ACCTE - 2728 UP 5389 = GE C45ACCTE - 2729
UP 5373 = GE C45ACCTE - 2730 UP 8588 = EMD SD70ACe - 2731 below the 4 UP locos is BNSF MT-1/MT- 2 - 2732
2733 2734 2735
2736 2737 2738
2739 2740 2741
overview from my lookout platform - 2742 2743 2744
There is a short story with the bush at the right side of photo 2742. I almost missed a WB train because it was not loud as it was coming downhill. So, I was running against the bush to take a photo. But oh wonder, there was a rattle snake just at the edge of the bush and made a lot of noise and was even standing up. Well, I immediately stopped and stepped back. Do not ask me how hard my heart was beating. Thanks God the rattler was warning me before attacking.
In other words, just be always prepared and take precaution while doing railfanning in Cajon Pass !!
2745 DPU UP 5410 = GE C45ACCTE - 2746 UP Train 2 - 2747
BNSF WB (Train 3) - 2749 2750 UP Train 2 and BNSF Train 3 - 2751
2753 2754 2755
last photo of Train 2 - 2756 BNSF 4792 = GE C44-9W - 2757 last photo of Train 3 (BNSF WB) - 2759
BNSF EB (Train 4) at 17.36 h - 2760 2761 2762
I did not wait until the whole train passed because it was once again just another double stack intermodal train. So, I left the Silverwood area, went back to Hwy 138 and drove down to the Mormon Rocks area.

Highway 138 - Mormon Rocks

The overlook of the UPT (Union Pacifc Track) is easy to reach using Hwy 138 from I-15 intersection. Drive Hwy 138 West over BNSF MT-3 and BNSF MT-1/MT-2 and under UPT, just after the underpass make a left turn into Lone Pine Canyon Road uphill and turn again left (dirt road) which runs parallel to the UPT. It is the service road for UP but also a US Forest Service Road (USFS 2N89). If we continue following this road, it will lead us to Sullivans Curve. Best time of the day is late afternoon/early evening as we have the sun in the back.
Overview Hwy 138/I-15 and UPT - 1182   Lone Pine Canyon Road Detail - 1183

 

If you do not know where to go in early evening, this is a great spot (lighted from the evening sun)  just along the Union Pacific tracks. Use USFS 2N89 which is also the service road for UP. We can also see BNSF MT-1 and MT-2. I start on this location at 18.49 h and have already luck because there are 2 different BNSF trains passing the Mormon Rocks
WM 6/25/11 BNSF EB (Train 1) on MT-1 - 2764 BNSF WB (Train 2) on MT-2 (behind) - 2765 2 BNSF trains at the same time - 2766
EB train 1 is a manifest - 2768 view looking left of Hwy 138 - 2769 right of Hwy 138 are the 3 locos of Train 2 - 2770
2771 2772 2773
modern 64' reefer with graffity - 2775 these reefers are on the EB train 1 - 2776 2777
5 tank cars are the EOT 1 - 2778 double stack cars elomg to train 2 - 2779 the locos are proceeding slowly - 2780
2781 Highway 138 goes over BNSF tracks - 2782 track in front = UPT - 2783
2785 begin of UP siding toward Sullivans Curve - 2786 2787
2788 2789 2790
2791 at the end are some TOFC's - 2792 endless string of DBS cars - 2793
heading for Sukllivans Curve - 2794 here comes BNSF WB on MT-1 (Train 3) - 2795 2796
front end of Train 3 and rear end of T-2 - 2797 2798 2799
both trains are visible - 2800 2801 2802
now, train 3 is slowly overtaking . . - 2803 . . train 2 toward Sullivans Curve - 2804 2805
2806 auto carrier on Hwy 138 - 2807 2808
this intermodal (Train 3) is having . . - 2809 . . several trailers behind the . . - 2810 . . container cars - 2811
my minivan brings me everywhere - 2812 2813 last photo of day 4 at 19.10 h - 2814
Even I started railfanning late, day 4 was once again very satisfactory and I went to Denny's at Palm Ave. for dinner.

Did you see page 1 of 2011?: Day ONE

Cajon Pass - 2011
Day ONE


Cleghorn Overlook
Hill 582 (1)
Highway 138 / Mormon Rocks


by Werner Meer
June 22, 2011

Updated: 7/28/2011
WM 6/22/11 UP NB on UPT near Hill 582 - 1219 See all 522 photos - click here WM 6/22/11 UP SB on UPT (Mormon Rocks) - 1422

Did you see page 2 of 2011?: Day TWE

Cajon Pass - 2011
Day TWO


Cleghorn Exit Overlook
I-15 / Hwy 138 Overlook


by Werner Meer
June 23, 2011

Updated: 8/15/11
WM 6/23/11 Sullivans Curve from Cleghorn - 1779 See all 600 photos - click here WM 6/23/11 3 trains around I-15/Hwy 138 - 11074

Did you see page 3 of 2011?: Day THREE

Cajon Pass - 2011
Day THREE

Hill 582 (2)
Noisy Point / I-15 Overlook / Alray
Blue Cut / UP MP 475

by Werner Meer
June 24, 2011

Updated: 9/15/13
WM 6/24/11 BNSF EB Noisy Point w/I-15 - 2328 See all 481 photos - click here WM 6/24/11 BNSF EB at Blue Cut - 2475

Did you see page 5 of 2011?: Day FIVE

Cajon Pass - 2011
Day FIVE

Silverwood Summit (North)
Silverwood Overlook (South)
CP Walker MP 60.2X
Highway 138 / Mormon Rocks

by Werner Meer
June 26, 2011

Updated: 9/28/13
WM 6/26/11 BNSF WB on MT-3  - 21080 See all 358 photos - click here WM 6/26/11 Locos at Silverwood - 2849

Did you see page 6 of 2011?: Day SIX

Cajon Pass - 2011
Day SIX

Hill 582 (3)
Summit
high above (Summit - Cleghorn)
Sullivans Curve

by Werner Meer
June 27, 2011

Updated: 10/03/13
WM 6/27/11 BNSF 121 = EMD GP60M - 30029 See all 359 photos - click here WM 6/27/11 huge Graffiti on 64' Reefer - 30071

Below are photos taken from the air on June 2, 2010. Even there was not a single train in the Pass during our flight, it
still gives an idea about the different locations. We also recommend to see our 8 diff. maps by Gary Gray (see below).

Cajon Pass
Aerial Photos

2010

by Werner Meer
June 2, 2010

Updated: 7/08/2010
WM 6/02/10 Hill 582, BNSF MT-2/-1, UPT - 4033 See all 150 photos - click here WM 6/02/10 Tunnel 1 shotcrete retaining wall - 4082

 

Werner Enterprises
Trucking Company

WE Trailers are often seen on Flat Cars (TOFC) running over Cajon Pass.
In addition, there are photos of WE Trucks on the road and new: take a look at the WE Terminal in Fontana, CA.
by Werner Meer
most were taken in 10/05, 7/08, 5/10 and 6/11

Updated: 8/01/11
WM 7/05/08 Cajon at Silverwood - 010 See all 237 photos - click here WM 10/05 Barstow Truck Stop - 032

Here you find some maps and more infos about Cajon Pass and the Tunnels, which are gone:

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

Simple Maps about Cajon Pass: click here

Railfan Map of Cajon Pass by Joe Perry:  http://www.chasingsteel.com/storage/RailfanMapofCajon%20Pass.pdf 

Map of Cajon Area (Inland Empire): http://www.visitcalifornia.de/media/pages/getting_around/maps/INLAND-EMPIRE.pdf 

Cajon Pass Map by Wikimapia (easy to enlarge every location):  http://wikimapia.org/#lat=34.3223857&lon=-117.4707127&z=14&l=0&m=s&v=9 

Here are photos of the 2 tunnels before construction started: click here


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