Buried deep within the "Proposed BNSF Cajon Third Main Track Summit to Keenbrook Joint EIS/EIR" is a section entitled TRAIN WATCHING AND PHOTOGRAPHY. The first paragraph reads as follows, "The Cajon Pass area is one of the most popular in the United States among railroad enthusiasts and photographers. The volume and diversity of rail traffic on BNSF and UPRR tracks attract railroad enthusiasts to numerous viewing locations, including:

Cajon Summit  /  Hill 582  /  Tunnels 1 & 2 / Alray  / Mormon Rocks  / Sullivan's Curve  /  Blue Cut  / Cajon Station  / Swarthout Canyon Road  / Keenbrook

"Train observers and photographers access vantage points using USFS roads and railroad service roads. In at least one location (i.e., Hill 582), an unofficial viewing site is maintained by and for train observers between the two BNSF main lines."

Let me tell you about Hill 582. I'm Don Toles, and I am co-creator of Hill 582, the only viewing location on the above list that is man-made as well as geographical. Hill 582 is a north/south ridge located between the #1-2 and the #3 tracks near MP 58X. The former Southern Pacific tracks, now owned by UPRR, are located a short distance further north, and are clearly visible from Hill 582. The proximity to all four tracks makes Hill 582 one of the prime viewing spots in Cajon Pass.

In 1992, I planted several Mojave Yuccas, an oleander bush and an elm tree on the hill. No particular reason for doing so, I just wanted to see if such plants would grow in Cajon's harsh climate. A year later I met Mike, and he became my partner in developing Hill 582. In 1993, Mike obtained a substantial quantity of used lumber that we used to build a retaining wall along the east side of the hill. We brought in sandy soil from a nearby wash to backfill behind the wall, thus giving us more usuable space along the narrow ridge that formed the hill.

In June of 1994, we decided it would be nice to have shade trees on the hill. We first planted three locust trees along the west side. Black locust trees are found near the railroad tracks at several locations in Cajon Pass, probably planted by track gangs for shade. Since they have existed for many years solely on the natural rainfall, we figured they would be well-suited for Hill 582. One of the locust trees died almost immediately, but the other two survived and continue to provide shade during Cajon's hot, dry summers. The locust tree that didn't live was replaced with a silver dollar gum tree which is a variety of eucalyptus.

Also during the summer of 1994, Mike and I began planting eucalyptus trees on both sides of the hill. Eucalyptus trees grow quite rapidly, and once established, they are drought resistant. And they provide shade! Also planted that summer were two tamarisk trees that I had rooted from cuttings taken from tamarisks growing along the I-15.

Disaster struck on October 10, 1995. A motor home caught fire on the I-15, setting the brush on fire. I was on the hill at the time, and I watched a strong Santa Ana wind quickly pushed the fire downhill towards Hill 582. Fortunately, the fire was stopped when it reached the USFS road next to the Southern Pacific tracks. A helicopter and numerous pieces of fire equipment had brought the fire under control. By the fall of 1995 the trees on Hill 582 were growing nicely, and they were clearly visible from the SP tracks. Forest Service officials directing the fire effort couldn't help but notice the trees on the nearby hill. That's when the egg hit the fan!

A few days after the fire, two Forest Service botanists visited the hill. They removed the two tamarisk trees and a dozen castor bean plants. I just happened to drive in that afternoon as a Forest Service truck was driving out. When I reached the hill, I could tell from the fresh dirt that it had just happened. I quickly concluded that the two women in the USFS truck were the likely perpetrators.

Mike was determined to find out why the plants had been removed. He inquired at the Lytle Creek Ranger Station, and was able to speak to one of the botanists. He learned that it is illegal to plant anything in the National Forest, something that simply hadn't occurred to us. The botanist's demeanor, fortunately, was pleasant, and she offered to meet with us to discuss the situation. The following week, Mike and I met with the botanist and her supervisor at the Ranger Station, and they told us what we could and could not plant on the hill. They also told us we could apply for a special use permit, but warned that it would cost at least $10,000 for an EIR, and probably take ten years to get a decision. "You guys don't want to do that, do you?" We could tell from that remark that the Forest Service was not eager to deal with the permitting process. Neither were we!

A week later, the botanist and her supervisor came up to Hill 582 to do a "walk-around" with us. Again, they told us what we could and could not grow. They had no problem with the Mojave yuccas, cacti and rosemary plants, as they are not considered to be invasive. They suggested several plants that would probably survive on the hill, including the Desert Bird of Paradise bushes that are now well-established near the northwest corner of the hill. They asked us not to plant any more eucalyptus or locust trees, since they are not indigenous to the area. Instead, they suggested that we plant pine trees, and they offered to donate pine trees IF we would be willing to transplant them from the tree "plantation" at Lytle Creek. We jumped at the opportunity, of course, and the pine trees have thus become our "connection" to the Forest Service. To accommodate a number of pine trees, we removed two of the eight eucalyptus and planted seven pine trees.

Mike dropped out because of health concerns, but I continued to expand the hill during the latter 1990s, building wood retaining walls on both sides of the hill and eventually replacing most of the wooden walls with rock walls. In 1998, the Forest Service land use officer provided me with a short list of guidelines to follow in order for the hill to continue to exist. No concrete slabs, block walls or structures may be built, and the hill must not become "a magnet for trash." I have diligently followed the guidelines, and the Hill's several caretakers constantly pick up and remove the inevitable trash that visitors leave behind. The guidelines also require us to obtain permission from USFS botanists before planting any new varieties on the hill. Everything currently growing on Hill 582 has been approved by the Forest Service. I have no intentions of any further plantings, as it's all we can do to just keep watered what we already have.

On June 17, 2002 a brush fire ravaged much of Cajon Pass. The fire, driven by strong southwesterly winds, burned along both sides of the hill, eventually reaching the I-15 freeway. The trees on the west side were badly scorched, and the wooden walls on both sides caught on fire. I watched from the SP tracks as the fire raged past the hill. A Forest Service Ranger standing with me predicted that all would be lost. Miraculously, the eucalyptus trees and the black locust survived, but three pine trees and several rosemary plants were destroyed by the intense heat.

A one-year fire closure was imposed on Cajon Pass in July 2002. Two Forest Service technicians volunteered to escort me into Hill 582 several times a month during the summer to bring water for the plants and trees. One of the technicians also brought water in on his own, and he tried to keep the wildlife dripper supplied with water. Upon arrival of the rainy season, I was told that I could no longer be escorted in, but they would resume escorting me in the spring when the rains had ceased. During the six months that I was denied entry, several rosemary plants and one pine tree died from lack of water. The rest of the plants and trees suffered also, but most of them managed to survive.

There have been several notable additions to Hill 582 in recent years. The Tony Andel memorial bench was placed in a shady spot on the east side in 1998. On Memorial Day, 2000, Mike Marzlo and three other railfans, including me, "planted" the drawbar and coupler on the east side near the north end of the hill. The drawbar became a memorial to Mike Marzlo in November, 2003, when the young BNSF diesel mechanic tragically lost his life in an automobile accident. Memorial plaques for William Garner, Dave Burton and Ed Delvers were also added to the drawbar site. A very recent addition is the Chard L. Walker memorial consisting of a brass plaque, the "582A" and the "G" number plates from the former signal mast that stood at the north end of the hill, and a large concrete remnant from the west portal of Alray tunnel # 1. Clearly visible are a portion of the 9 and the entire 13 numbers that were cast into the concrete to commemorate the completion of the tunnels in 1913. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to BNSF and the Ames Construction Co. for so generously providing Hill 582 with these historic mementos. I am also grateful for the several volunteers that bring bird seed, water and help maintain Hill 582 on a regular basis. Thank you Jerry, Lane and Marc!

Don E. Toles,  Highland, CA, June 2008