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 Go back to our Website - click here |
updated: October 30: (7083 - 7088)
Cajon Pass Photo Collection 12/19 2017 |
I am very pleased to show some exclusive photos of these photographers:
Don E. Toles (DET), Gary G. Gray (GGG), Marc Fournier (MF),
Bruce "Doc" Jones (BJ)
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.
September 14, 2017: As per the latest
information of the Lytle Creek Ranger Station, we were told that the Cajon Pass fire closure has been lifted - good news indeed. (Don E. Toles) |
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 - non Cajon Pass - are at the bottom of this page (just scroll down) 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 |
For bigger size photos - please click on the 4-digit number below each photo (the first letters specify the photographer)..
Marc Fournier contributed the first photos for our 2017 album. | ||
Last week,
all of CA was hit by three powerful storms. NorCal received many feet of
snow while SoCal mainly had a heavy rain event. The day
after the final storm headed East (1/23/17), Marc decided to explore Cajon.
The UP/SP Palmdale Cutoff & the road following it were both closed as was
Hwy 138, due to large boulders and mud flows. The only way open into Cajon
was USFS 3N45, the steep dirt (MUD) road from the Summit Inn. After working
his way around three vehicles mired in mud up to their axles, he made it to
Hill 582 & WSI. Obviously, he did not spend any great amount of time in the
Canyon, since he still had to get out of there. His escape was made via the
steep ups & downs of the maintence roads for the HIGH TENSION ELECTRICAL
towers. On 24 Jan, Marc picked me up & we drove around, finally stopping near Oro Grande. (MF/GGG) |
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MF 01/23/17 Hill 582 - 7001 | MF 01/23/17 East from Hill 582 - 7002 | MF 01/23/17 BNSF 7719 WB - 7003 |
MF 01/23/17 WSI BNSF 5275 WB - 7004 | MF 01/23/17 WSI same train - 7005 | GGG 01/24/17 UP 9037 DPU EB Oro Grande 7006 |
MF 01/24/17 BNSF 3918 WB Oro Grande - 7007 | GGG 01/24/17 close up BNSF 3918 WB - 7008 | GGG 01/24/17 USAF C-17 - 7009 |
# 7009 USAF C-17 from March AFB shooting (practice) landings at SCLA (former George AFB) --- yeah, it was as low as pictured. (GGG) |
1/30/17: Marc, Gary and friends spent a day at WSI (West Summit Island) | ||
Marc called and off we went to West Summit Island to meet with Bob W., his son & nephew. It was a beautiful day with friends & a load of trains -- all using the BNSF #2 track. Our first train was interesting -- ONE TRAIN - THREE RAILROADS with FERROMEX 4653 as #4) and with CSX 3435 as the rear DPU. GGG/MF | ||
GGG 01/30/17 UP 7986 EB - 7010 | GGG 01/30/17 Ferromex 4653 - 7011 | GGG 01/30/17 CSX 3435 DPU same train - 7012 |
GGG 01/30/17 BNSF 6563 EB - 7013 | GGG 01/30/17 BNSF 4117 DPU same train - 7014 | GGG 01/30/17 UP 8644 WB manifest - 7015 |
GGG 01/30/17 same UP WB w/CSX - 7016 | MF 01/30/17 UP WB (below is MT-3) - 7017 | GGG 01/30/17 UP 8731 WB intermodal - 7018 |
GGG 01/30/17 same UP WB - 7019 | GGG 01/30/17 UP 5468 DPU same train - 7020 | MF 01/30/17 BNSF 7617 WB - 7021 |
3/09/17: Marc and Gary went to Gray's Hill | ||
Marc & I drove up to Gray's Hill today --- no sign of road construction yet. However, we were surprised by the appearance of the BNSF Business Train which has been roaming the SW lately. So, from the Flyover at BNSF Cajon Sub MP 39.1, BNSF 4293 is EB to Barstow. GGG/MF | ||
GGG 03/09/17 BNSF 4293 EB at MP 39.1 - 7043 | GGG 03/09/17 BNSF Business Train - 7044 | GGG 03/09/17 On the way to Barstow - 7045 |
3/17/17: A visit to Frost MP 38 (Mojave Narrows) | ||
Friend
Harold R. was camped at Mojave Narrows Regional Park adjacent to BNSF Cajon
Sub MP 38 (FROST). It was a great Mojave Desert spring day with plenty of
trains. The ONLY complaint we could muster was that all our trains were BNSF
--- hardly worth mentioning !!! # 7046-7048: BNSF MONSTER TRAIN --- BNSF 6265 (with Mid train & trailing DPU's) is WB. # 7051-7052: BNSF 8011 is EB through the Frost Forest on the Kemper Campbell Ranch. Our spring rains (all 7 inches), have really added color to our desert scenery. GGG |
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GGG 03/17/17 BNSF 6265 WB - 7046 | GGG 03/17/17 BNSF Mid Train DPU's - 7047 | GGG 03/17/17 BNSF Rear End DPU - 7048 |
GGG 03/17/17 BNSF 7719 WB - 7049 | GGG 03/17/17 BNSF DPU's on same train - 7050 | GGG 03/17/17 BNSF 8011 EB near KCR - 7051 |
GGG 03/17/17 Sam train to the Narrows - 7052 | GGG 03/17/17 BNSF 6685 WB - 7053 | GGG 03/17/17 BNSF 7763 WB - 7054 |
3/22/17 and 3/24/17: Cajon Summit with big changes for Highway 138 | ||
While
photographing the realignment of SR 138, we have been treated to numerous
rollby's from both the UP & BNSF. We are having an interesting site about the Highway 138 (East) Realignment Project - click here |
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MF 3/22/17 UP 2594 SB at UP Hiland siding (Cajon Summit) - 052 | MF 3/22/17 UP 5465 DPU's SB at UP Hiland siding (same train) - 053 | MF 3/22/17 Project Overview of Summit Overlook Hill - 054 |
MF 3/22/17 BNSF 8026 East approaches Summit - 055 | MF 3/22/17 BNSF 7844 West passes the first (of two) UP EB military trains near WSI - 056 | MF 3/22/17 BNSF 7829 is EB at Summit curve - 057 |
#058-065: UP 6577 with CSX is EB with a second military train. The train,
probably headed to Yermo / Ft Irwin, carries equipment of the 3rd Infantry
Division including M109A6 155mm Self Propelled Howitzers, M992A3 ammunition
support vehicles and various other support vehicles. Thanks to US Army Colonel (ret) Chuck Donaldson for his help in ID'ing the military equipment. |
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MF 3/22/17 UP 6577 EB - 058 | MF 3/22/17 - 059 | MF 3/22/17 - 060 |
MF 3/22/17 - 061 | MF 3/22/17 - 062 | MF 3/22/17 - 063 |
MF 3/22/17 Between tracks and old Hwy 138 will be new roadbed for Hwy 138 - 064 | MF 3/22/17 Last photo of second military train going uphill at Summit Curve - 065 | MF 3/24/17 With the UP Cajon Summit tracks in the foreground, a view of Summit Hill as of 03-24-17 - 075 |
GGG 3/24/17 UP 7667 is SB at UP Cajon Summit (Hiland) - 066 | GGG 3/24/17 UP 7273 DPU SB at UP Cajon Summit (same train) - 067 | GGG 3/24/17 BNSF / UP power mix is WB on the BNSF just RR West of Summit - 068 |
GGG 3/24/17 From above the UP Cajon Summit, UP 7643 is NB to Palmdale - 069 | GGG 3/24/17 From above the UP Cajon Summit UP 8684 SD70ACe DPU NB on same train - 070 | MF 3/24/17 BNSF 7620 is EB on BNSF MT-3 @ USFS 3N45 near WSI - 071 |
MF 3/24/17 - 072 | MF 3/24/17 - 073 | MF 3/24/17 - 074 |
updated: April 17, 2017
April 10, 2017: Hill 582 by Robert Starbuck |
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Robert Starbuck, a member of this Cajon Mafia
Photographic Group sends these photos: |
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ROS 4/10/17 Son Jim on the Hill - 7055 | ROS 4/10/17 Wild flowers on Hill 582 - 7056 | ROS 4/10/17 Wild flowers on Hill 582 - 7057 |
ROS 4/10/17 Panorama looking East toward Summit with MT-3 in the foreground - 7058 |
updated: May 15, 2017
May 12, 2017: "Gray's Hill" at MP 39.1 - Frost Flyover |
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Last Friday (5/12/17), after lunch with DET, Marc, &
Karl J (Chicago), we adjourned to 'Gray's Hill' for a bit of train chasing.
Train traffic was heavy but after 90 minutes, we split up with Karl & Don
headed toward the K-C Ranch. I waited on the Hill to make sure their
crossing of the very sandy stream bed, just under the Hill, was accomplished
without getting stuck. #7068-7069: While I was waiting for the wadi crossing, BNSF 3889 took the flyover pulling the ethanol "BOMB" WB. #7070: DET's brand new GMC Cajon Rover --- just a few seconds before encountering an array of purposely implanted railroad spikes --- which cost a bunch of labor and a new tire. Such is railfanning in Kalifornia GGG |
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GGG 5/12/17 BNSF 3889 WB on Flyover - 7068 | GGG 5/12/17 Ethanol "Bomb" Train - 7069 | GGG 5/12/17 GMC Cajon Rover of DET - 7070 |
updated: May 26, 2017
May 26, 2017: Great Video of Cajon Pass w/drone shootings |
5/26/17 - Cajon Pass: Gateway to the L.A. Basin by csx6900 incl. great drone pics (29'56"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFxpmRRgrRs |
updated: June 28, 2017
June 28-29, 2017: West Summit Island and Hill 582 | |
As most know, Bob Widholm (San Diego) often
drives his motor home up here - to spend a long weekend on West Summit
Island. Paul Westover (CA City - North of Edwards AFB) visited Bob and,
while in the area, took the following images:. #134: BNSF 3816 leads a very late AMT #3 West, past West Summit Island. #135: After joining DET on Hill 582, the trio found Robby the Rattler #XX. Realizing the these VARMINTS are protected by the State of California, they PROPERLY cared for & removed the creature from the Hill. PW / GGG |
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PW 6/28/17 Delayed AMT #3 WB past WSI - 134 | PW 6/28/17 Robby the Rattler on Hill 582 - 135 |
PW 6/29/17 UP 1996 is WB @ WSI - 137 | PW 6/29/17 AmTrak #3 WB @ WSI on MT-3 - 138 |
PW 6/29/17 BNSF 8175 EB and above UP NB on UPT - 140 | PW 6/29/17 BNSF LIGHT POWER move WB MT-3 @ WSI - 141 |
PW 6/29/17 Late afternoon UP 9027 EB on MT-1 @ WSI - 145 | PW 6/29/17 BNSF 8035 WB @ WSI on MT-2 - 139 |
updated: July 18, 2017
July 16, 2017: Hill 582 and UP Colton-Palmdale Cutoff (UPT) |
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Sunday (07-16-17) was HOT, HUMID
(for here), and SMOKEY (from all of the CA fires). However Marc & I braved
??? the Cajon weather to collect the attached. |
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GGG 7/16/17 UP 4712 is WB past the Hill - 7071 | GGG 7/16/17 A 7 hour late AMT #3 - 7072 | GGG 7/16/17 is WB on MT-3 - 7073 |
FROM THE UP/SP Colton - Palmdale CUTOFF (also called UPT) | ||
GGG 7/16/17 UP 7994 is SB near HiLand (Cajon Summit) - 7074 | GGG 7/16/17 UP 7449 is NB approaching Ranchero Rd in Oak Hills - 7075 | GGG 7/16/17 UP 7449 is NB approaching Ranchero Rd in Oak Hills - 7076 |
September 14, 2017: As per the latest
information of the Lytle Creek Ranger Station, we were told that the Cajon Pass fire closure has been lifted - good news indeed. (Don E. Toles) |
updated: October 3, 2017
September 30, 2017: Summit and Hill 582 |
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# 168: Summit Hill: We hope
the area in the middle of this image (where the dirt has been disturbed)
will be the new highway alignment and that the old Observation Point will
remain untouched. A few trains in poor light: GGG |
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GGG 9/30/17 Summit Hill - 168 | GGG 9/30/17 BNSF 4661 is WB at Hill 582 - 169 | GGG 9/30/17 BNSF DPU is WB at Hill 582 - 170 |
GGG 9/30/17 UP 8080 is WB on MT #3 - 171 | GGG 9/30/17 ArroWedge Container - 172 | GGG 9/30/17 newest design of ArroWedge - 173 |
updated: October 26, 2017
October 18, 2017: Summit and Hill 582 (Hesperia) |
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Doc Jones, Marc & I
(GGG) had a grand week with our visitors --- John & Roz Parker from AUS &
'SPIKE' from Omaha, NE. After the Hill 582 visit, the group went to
Hesperia to have lunch at "Da Dump" (Molly Brown's Country Cafe). BHJ |
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BHJ 10/18/17
BNSF 8215 EB at Cajon Summit 7077 |
BHJ 10/18/17 A light engine move WB, with 8 units coming down on MT-3 - 7078 | BHJ 10/18/17 BNSF 747 (Warbonnet) was built in 1997 --- is WB - 7079 |
BHJ 10/18/17 the group from left: GGG, J. Parker, Spike, Marc, Roz Parker - 7080 | BHJ 10/18/17 at the same time, a BNSF WB is passing the restaurant - 7081 | BHJ 10/18/17 John Parker is shooting the rear end DPU - 7082 |
updated: October 30, 2017
October 22/23, 2017: UP Hiland, WSI, Hill 582, Sullivan's Curve, Frost |
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Last week, while touring our great Aussie friends around the BNSF Cajon Sub and taking numerous "people pictures", we did see many trains. So, for those who have not already seen, here are a few of the RR traffic. GGG |
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GGG 10/22/17 UP 8156 is NB at UP Hiland (near Cajon Summit) on the W Colton / Palmdale cutoff. - 7083 | GGG 10/22/17 BNSF 7958 is EB at West Summit Island - 7084 | GGG 10/22/17
BNSF 3798 is WB at Hill 582 - 7085 |
GGG 10/22/17 BNSF 4209 is WB on Sullivan's Curve - 7086 | GGG 10/23/17
BNSF 5856 is EB at Hill 582 - 7087 |
GGG 10/23/17 BNSF 7768 is WB at Frost (BNSF Cajon Sub MP 38) - 7088 |
Bonus Photos (non Cajon Pass) |
new July 30, 2017: Pacific North West by Marc Fournier (scroll all the way down) |
Marc Fournier visited Tehachapi Loop on January 2, 2017 | ||
In early
January, Marc visited the Tehachapi Loop and was invited onto Loop Ranch
Property. # 7501 Monument Hill in middle of the loop. # 7502 - # 7506 From Monument Hill BNSF 6988 leads "THE GRAIN" or "THE WORM" Train NB through Tunnel 10 and onto THE LOOP. This very long & heavy train had nine diesel units in 4 X 3 X 2 configuration. # 7507 & # 7508 BNSF 6587 is NB with the NS 1071 (Jersey Central RR) heritage unit. MF |
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MF 01/02/17 Loop Memorial Cross - 7501 | MF 01/02/17 BNSF 6988 NB w/T-10 - 7502 | MF 01/02/17 Loop Ranch - 7503 |
MF 01/02/17 same train w/DPU's - 7504 | MF 01/02/17 we are inside the Loop - 7505 | MF 01/02/17 mid train DPU's - 7506 |
MF 01/02/17 BNSF 6587 NB - 7507 | MF 01/02/17 NS Heritage Unit - 7508 | MF 01/02/17 BNSf 4316 SB Caliente - 7509 |
Bruce "Doc" Jones and Spike visited Daggett on February 2, 2017 | ||
Spike and
I took a trip out to Daggett for a great (and much-needed for me) train fix.
It's a great place to watch trains. It's where the UP Salt Lake route joins
the BNSF rails for the trip down Cajon Pass. It's a very busy place. All UP
and BNSF traffic has to go by, including the BNSF traffic via the Mojave
Sub. toward Tehachapi. It's also a real racetrack with 79/70
(freight/passenger) speed limit. Between 11.00 h and 17.00 h we saw 20
trains. BTW, if you Google "Daggett" there is a ton of information on the place. Thanks to all for looking and enjoy. Bruce "Doc" Jones |
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BJ 02/02/17 BNSF 8516 WB intermodal toward Barstow - 0009 | ||
BJ 02/02/17 UP 5266 WB from Yermo - 0031 | BJ 02/02/17 same UP entering BNSF rails - 0033 | BJ 02/02/17 UP DPU 7376 same train - 0052 |
BJ 02/02/17 BNSF 3839 EB from Barstow - 0058 | BJ 02/02/17 BNSF EB meets BNSF WB - 0070 | BJ 02/02/17 NS 1105 on DPU EB - 0074 |
BJ 02/02/17 a beautiful day to be trackside - 0088 | BJ 02/02/17 EB meets WB - both at speed - 0092 | BJ 02/02/17 tail ends of both trains - 0095 |
BJ 02/02/17 UP 7239 "clears its throat" coming up the slight climb from Yermo and getting the signal to enter BNSF rails - 0101 | BJ 02/02/17 UP 7239 on a loaded coal train headed WB - 0106 | BJ 02/02/17 UP
4441, SD70M, on the "coaler" - 0112 |
BJ 02/02/17 2 EMD
SD70M's DPU on the "coaler" - 0129 |
BJ 02/02/17 GE
Tier 4 unit on BNSF 5056 WB - 0139 |
BJ 02/02/17 time
for some track inspection - 0140 |
Marc & Gary joined Bruce "Doc" Jones and Spike going to Daggett on February 15, 2017 | ||
Last Wed
(2/15/17), Marc & I joined Doc Jones & Spike (Omaha, NE) for a Daggett day-
including lunch at Peggy Sue's "50's diner" in Yermo.
http://www.peggysuesdiner.com/
# 7002 & # 7023 Our first train was the BNSF "Cadiz Turn" pulled by newly rebuilt & repainted GP60M's 148, 119, 101 & 144. My shot was ruined when Doc jumped in front of my camera --- earning him the new nickname of "WIDELOAD". This power, at Cadiz, will trade trains with the AZ & CA RR and return to Barstow. # 7024 & # 7025 UP 7505 & DPU leave BNSF tracks and head NE to Yermo on UP rails. # 7027 BNSF 4664 is WB with KCS unit. This train had just 'runaround' the train in the background. GGG/MF |
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GGG 02/15/17 BNSF 148 EB GP60M - 7022 | GGG 02/15/17 4-unit GP60M's - 7023 | GGG 02/15/17 UP 7505 to Yermo - 7024 |
GGG 02/15/17 UP DPU same train - 7025 | GGG 02/15/17 BNSF 4052 EB + Citirail unit 7026 | GGG 02/15/17 BNSF 4664 WB w/KCS - 7027 |
GGG 02/15/17 BNSF 5645 WB + warbonnet 7028 | GGG 02/15/17 BNSF 7025 East - 7029 | GGG 02/15/17 BNSF 6576 West - 7030 |
GGG 02/15/17 BNSF 7121 is EB. - 7031 | GGG 02/15/17 BNSF 7147 is WB. - 7032 | GGG 02/15/17 BNSF 7717 is EB - 7033 |
GGG 02/15/17 - 7034 UP 8016 transitions - - - | GGG 02/15/17- - from UP Yermo onto - - 7035 | - - BNSF - WB to Barstow. GGG 02/15/17 - 7036 |
GGG 02/15/17 Marc
got some interesting images: (See 7038 and 7039) - 7037 |
MF 02/15/17 A commercially owned (TBM of the Fresno, CA area) senior citizen C-130A flies Downwind for landing at Barstow-Daggett APT.- 7038 | MF 02/15/17 A cut of BRAND NEW tank cars EB from BNSF Daggett - 7039 |
TBM Inc. Hercules C130-A on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4ysPE6dAmQ | ||
Spike & Bruce stayed an extra hour in Daggett to capture the low sun and gathering clouds. Two days later a storm hit Southern California. It was the worst of the season and the worst in many years for the entire state. | ||
BJ 02/15/17 BNSF
8068 is EB through Daggett - 7040 |
BJ 02/15/17 BNSF 8222 is EB Daggett - 7041 | BJ 02/15/17 DPU for BNSF 8222 East passes two Helper sets East of Daggett - 7042 |
Northern
California Photo Collection March 2017 by Bruce H. Jones Updated: April 9, 2017 |
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3/16/17 UP 8224 WB at Thisbe - 03 | See all 28 photos - click here | 3/16/17 UP 5383 WB at Reno Jct. on former WP (current UP Winnemucca Sub) - 06 |
Pacific North
West Photo Collection June 2017 by Marc Fournier Updated: July 30, 2017 |
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6/17/17 Warren MT, the Montana Limestone SD50F's wait for assignment - 7522 | See all 24 photos - click here | 6/19/17 BNSF 9072 EB into the Mullian Pass Summit Tunnel - 7526 |
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 |
Cajon 19 with 2024 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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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 |
Go back to Cajon Pass Main Page - click here
(over all copyright by Werner
Meer, Switzerland)