| Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - the day when we met our 5 Swiss friends (photo 1141) on the Hill. We spent several hours (approx. 7 hours) on and around Hill 582. No question, we had a great time together and made lots of photos from diff. locations around the Hill. | ||
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| Hill 582 with Memorials - 3217 | Matthias, Nicole, Stefan, Diego, Eugen - 1141 EH | WM writing in the guest book - 1152 EH |
| Today, we had another visitor on the Hill. "Robbie - the Rattler" is, of course, a real rattlesnake. Eugen saw it coming up to the Hill and afterwards "Robbie" went in between the rocks and the cactus (South side) to take a rest and enjoy the sun (Stefan took photo 8370). So, whenever visitting Hill 582, be prepared and watch your step. And on top, when these snakes are coming, we do not hear them. Don provided the photo of the new warning sign on the Hill. | ||
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| New warning sign next to the bench - 193 DET | "Robbie" going uphill - 1145 EH | "Robbie" takes a rest on the South side - 8370 SW |
| Just before the Swiss group arrived on the Hill, we got a WB BNSF mixed freight on MT-2. Much more fun to have diff. cars instead of a double stack train. So, I was trying to take photos of all the diff. cars and on top, many are having graffiti. Do not forget: Cars make a train, not just the engines! | ||
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| BNSF WB with 5 units - 3107 | BNSF 7722 = GE ES44DC 4400 HP - 3108 | Actually all 5 units are ES44DC's - 3109 |
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| Going donwhill on MT-2 - 3110 | First cars are coil cars - 3111 | Square coil car hood - 3112 |
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| Old SOO Line grain hopper - 3113 | Graffiti does cover almost every car - 3114 | Pipe load on flat cars - 3115 |
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| The engines are heading for the tunnel area - 3117 | Covered load on CB flat car - 3118 | Modern TTX box cars - 3119 |
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| Box car, coil car - 3120 | Coil car, flat car, grain hopper - 3121 | Graffiti seems to be normal - 3122 |
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| Bird on BNSF coil car - 3123 | CB flat w/load of wood - 3124 | Canadian grain hopper - 3125 |
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| More CB flats w/load of wood - 3126 | End of first train - 3127 | The Swiss group has arrived - 8322 SW |
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| Second train is a BNSF WB on MT-1 - 3128 | BNSF 7855 = ES44DC - 3129 | BNSF is having plenty GE locos - 3130 |
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| 4 units are pulling this DBS train - 3131 | Eugen is preparing his movie camera - 3132 | After the DBS cars are some TOFC's - 3133 |
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| Marten reefer trailer (end of train) - 3134 | I left the Hill walking along the BNSF main - 3135 | I am standing outside the curve looking East - 3136 |
| The time has come to do some exploring around Hill 582. After the 2nd train passed, we started to do some hiking towards the former tunnel area. Photo 3135 shows Hill 582 from the West side (some people incl. MM preferred to stay on the Hill). On photo 3136 we can see a BNSF WB in the distance. I am standing just at the curve going to the tunnel area. | ||
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| Third train of the day. Locos pass signals - 3138 | Hill 582 at right side - 3139 | Getting closer - 3140 |
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| Rolling downhill on MT-2 - 3141 | 4 locos towards former tunnels - 3142 | DBS well cars are leaning in the curve - 3143 |
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| diff. height containers - 3144 | and diff. owners as well - 3145 | no comment - 3146 |
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| first part of train is all DBS cars - 3147 | and second part is TOFC - 3148 | End of train (3rd train of the day) - 3149 |
| As there was a break (no trains around), I used the time to continue my exploring towards former tunnel 1. It is quite interesting because I can follow the 3rd Main Track towards Tunnel 1. Before the 3MT construction, there was just a single track (North track) and now we have double track, MT-1 and MT-2. North of the BNSF double track we can see the UP (former SP) Colton-Palmdale Cutoff. | ||
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| Signal Bridge below Hill 582 - 3150 | we look backward to Hill 582 - 3151 | we look forward towards former Tunnel 1 - 3152 |
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| left is the old track, now MT-2 - 3153 | high-tech flange lubricator device - 3154 | right is the new track, now MT-1 - 3155 |
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| I am standing on UPT level - 3156 | BNSF tracks below and UPT above - 3162 | the shotcrete wall of former Tunnel 1 at left - 3163 |
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| Looking West towards Alray - 3161 | conventional flange lubricator on UPT - 3165 | After the cut we can see Hill 582 - 3164 |
| The UP track was built in 1967 by Southern Pacific. It is a connection between Colton Yard and Palmdale. It was built along the Santa Fe North track thru famous locations like Sullivan's Curve, Mormon Rocks and above the Santa Fe Tunnels. That's the place we are currently taking pictures from. SP avoided to make tunnels and therefore, made lots of cuts. The result of erosion can be seen on these 3 photos below. BTW: The UP service road along the UPT is also an official Forest Service road. | ||
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| How to make a cut on a layout - 3158 | never ending erosion - 3159 | thru wind and water - 3160 |
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| looking backward - 3170 | and forward on the UPT - 3166 | we can see the signal bridge and Hill 582 - 3167 |
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| Instead of a train comes a hi-railer - 3171 | Loran Rail Inspection Vehicle - 3172 | we do not know their mission - 3173 |
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| but we hope for a train by now? - 3174 | BNSF MT-1, MT-2 in front and below is MT-3 - 3175 | After all, the fourth train of the day - 3176 |
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| Stefan is on the hill at loco window level - 3177 | the locos are coming around the curve - 3178 | GE ES44DC on the point - 3179 |
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| the first Warbonnet loco - 3180 | EMD GP60M in bright red & silver - 3181 | total of 5 units will soon pass former tunnel 1 - 3182 |
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| special load on flat - 3183 | how nice to see a mixed freight - 3184 | grain hopper - 3185 |
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| grain hopper - 3186 | box car - 3187 | looking West - 3188 |
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| the locos are passing former tunnel 1 - 3189 | above is the UPT - 3190 | locos will soon pass former tunnel 2 - 3191 |
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| gondola - 3192 | tank car - 3193 | lumber, tank cars - 3194 |
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| tank, box, lumber cars - 3195 | box cars - 3196 | detail of graffiti - 3198 |
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| 2 DPU's (rear end helpers) - 3197 | GE power at the rear end - 3199 | heading for Alray and will soon pass under I-15 - 3200 |
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| going downhill on MT-2 - 3201 | the zoom lens helps a lot - 3202 | last photo of train no. 4 - 3203 |
| After the train no. 4 above was gone, I started to walk back toward Hill 582 along the UP track. Just after passing the last cut (photo 3170) we can see the signal bridge over the BNSF tracks and in the background Hill 582. We are looking to the East and see the West side of the Hill. | ||
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| Stefan is setting his tripot on an elevation - 3204 | North/West side of Hill 582 - 3205 | Signal bridge with solar power - 3209 |
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| seen from the UPT with BNSF tracks in front - 3210 | getting closer - 3212 | can you see the 2 railfans sitting? - 3214 |
| Back on the Hill, quickly talking to our friends and finally walking towards the South end of the Hill. We can see the curve (BNSF MT-1 and MT-2) towards the former tunnels on the left side and the BNSF MT-3 on the right side. Photos 3543 (just for reference - this train can be seen on part 3) and 3219 were taken from the position/location as seen on photo 3218. So, I was walking further back towards the South and MT-3. From this point, I have a chance to see behind the curve (tunnel area) starting with photo 3221. I just made it on time to catch a BNSF EB mixed freight with 9 locos. | ||
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| Curve towards former tunnel area - 3543 | South side of the Hill - 3218 | MT-3 towards Silverwood - 3219 |
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| BNSF EB mixed freight is our 5th train - 3221 | almost unlimited power with 9 locos - 3222 | coming round the curve - 3223 |
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| all GE power - 3224 | C44-9W with graffiti - 3225 | locos pass under the signal bridge - 3226 |
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| some coil cars - 3227 | gondola - 3228 | the locos will make a right turn - 3229 |
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| rusty grain hopper - 3230 | below the 9 locos is the BNSF MT-3 - 3231 | the engines are already at Silverwood - 3232 |
| We are lucky to see an all Auto Carrier BNSF WB train coming down on MT-3. There are 3 engines up front and 2 DPU's (rear end helpers). It is an endless train with a big variety of standard Auto Rack and Auto-Max cars. Many cars are having graffiti. Another advantage of taking photos of almost all cars is because of the speed limit of the train going downhill. So, do not be surprised to see a total of 43 photos of a single train ! ! | ||
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| Next is a BNSF WB on MT-3 at Silverwood - 3233 | train no. 6 is coming down on MT-3 - 3235 | and will soon pass Hill 582 - 3236 |
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| huge graffiti on an Auto Rack - 3237 | like a long snake - 3238 | the locos just passed the RR-xing - 3239 |
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| once again, all GE power - 3240 | I am standing at the South end of the Hill - 3241 | even the first car is having graffiti - 3242 |
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| BNSF 5200 = GE C44-9W - 3243 | BNSF 7311 = GE ES44DC - 3244 | BNSF 7200 built 1/09 (first of total 727 units) - 3245 |
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| Auto-Max, round BNSF logo - 3246 | Auto-Max, new "wedge" BNSF logo - 3247 | heavy graffiti - 3248 |
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| for a modern layout we have to put - 3249 | graffiti decals on almost every car - 3250 | no matter what type of car it is - 3251 |
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| I hope it is not boring to see so many - 3252 | pictures with all the diff. graffiti cars - 3253 | UP auto rack - 3254 |
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| endless string of auto carriers - 3255 | CP Rail auto rack - 3256 | BNSF rack w/round logo - 3257 |
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| I wonder how much paint/spray have - 3258 | been used to decorate all these - 3259 | interesting graffiti designs - 3260 |
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| CN - 3261 | CSX - 3262 | this string of Auto Racks will never end - 3263 |
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| it is interesting to see the mix of - 3264 | conventional (2- or 3-level) Auto Racks - 3265 | and articulated (Auto-Max) carriers - 3266 |
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| surprise to see an untouched UP car - 3267 | BNSF - 3268 | CP Rail - 3269 |
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| clean Auto-Max cars - 3270 | new "wedge" BNSF logo - 3271 | the original Auto-Max - 3272 |
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| CSX - 3273 | rusty Santa Fe car - 3274 | Southern Pacific - 3275 |
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| CN Auto Rack marks the end of train 6 - 3276 | MM is taking a photo of train 6 on MT-3 - 3277 | running around on the Hill - 1143 EH |
| As we saw a UP train coming down on BNSF MT-2 in the distance, we decided to go across the Hill on the North side to be on the sunny side. After a short discussion, some of the photographers (railfans) will be leaving Hill 582 (photo 1143) to go on the other side, which is between the BNSF tracks and the UPT. Once again, we got a mixed freight and many cars are full of graffiti. So, we took lots of pictures to show the different cars with graffiti. | ||
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| train no. 7 of the day coming round the curve - 3278 | UP WB on BNSF MT-2 - 3279 | Eugen is fixing his movie camera - 3280 |
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| a mixed freight with mixed power - 3282 | UP 7616 = GE GE C45AC/CTE - 3283 | no comment - 3284 |
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| UP 4680 = EMD SD70M - 3285 | UP 7185 = GE C44AC - 3286 | modern reefer - 3287 |
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| tank, reefer, box cars - 3288 | heavy graffiti - 3289 | box cars - 3290 |
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| grain hopper - 3291 | a string of CNW hoppers - 3292 | sprayers were very busy - 3293 |
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| and another one - 3294 | the trees above the car are from Hill 582 - 3295 | and more graffiti - 3296 |
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| no comment - 3297 | no comment - 3298 | no comment - 3299 |
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| no comment - 3300 | signal bridge - 3301 | UP coil car - 3302 |
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| we can see the end of this train - 3303 | no comment - 3304 | no comment - 3305 |
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| UP 7661 = GE C56AC/CTE - 3306 | DPU marks the end of train no. 7 - 3307 | train no. 8 at Silverwood - 3308 |
| Our next train is coming downhill passing Silverwood (photo 3308). I am still on the North side of BNSF MT-1/MT-2 (double track) and of course way too far away to take pictures of this train on MT-3. So, I have to climb Hill 582 and walk to the South side of the Hill as close as possible to get a good view of MT-3. | ||
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| BNSF WB DBS/TOFC train - 3309 | Diego is ready for this WB train - 3310 | coming closer on MT-3 - 3311 |
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| only Hill 582 can offer such a great view - 3313 | the cars are like a snake coming downhill - 3315 | 4 GE locos are pulling this train - 3317 |
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| BNSF 7796 = GE ES44DC - 3318 | BNSF 7441 = GE ES44DC - 3319 | BNSF 4003 = GE C44-9W - 3320 |
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| BNSF 5204 = GE C44-9W - 3321 | the engines are disappearing - 3323 | first part is DBS and 2nd TOFC - 3322 |
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| 2 x 20' cont. and on top 48' cont. - 3324 | diff. trailers on flat cars - 3325 | Roadway marks the end of train no. 8 - 3326 |
| The next train is coming down on MT-2 and I have to walk back to the Hill, go down to track level and go to the sunny side. On photo 3327 we are looking East, Hill 582 is on the right side (cut), BNSF Main 1 is at left (North side) and Main 2 at right. MT-1 is actually the new 3rd Main track and MT-2 was the old North track (MT-1). | ||
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| all concrete ties with heavy rail - 3327 | train no. 9 coming down on MT-2 - 3328 | BNSF WB DBS & TOFC - 3329 |
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| 4 GE locos seems to be standard power - 3330 | BNSF 7514 pass Hill 582 - 3331 | first unit reached the signal bridge - 3332 |
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| Schneider containers - 3333 | North side of Hill 582 - 3334 | last DBS car and first TOFC - 3335 |
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| seldom seen trailer - 3336 | end of train no. 9 - 3337 | Nicole and Matthias going back on the Hill - 3338 |
| As we are already on the North side of the BNSF tracks, we are at the right place for the next train which is a UP WB double stack on MT-2. We actually moved a little bit further down and used the platform of the signal bridge to get a different view of Hill 582. | ||
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| train no. 10 coming round the curve - 3339 | UP WB solid double stack train - 3340 | getting closer - 3342 |
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| two railfans are just above the first engine - 3343 | Hill 582 as seen from the signal bridge - 3344 | UP 5827 = GE C44AC/CTE built 2002 - 3345 |
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| UP 3969 = EMD SD70M built 2003 - 3346 | UP 3915 = SD70M w/flared radiators - 3347 | single cont. opens view to the Hill - 3348 |
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| K-Line containers - 3349 | 20' tank container - 3350 | Hamburg Süd on graffiti well car - 3351 |
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| last view of the Hill from this location - 3352 | the end is near w/UP DPU - 3353 | UP 7672 = GE C45AC/CTE built 2007 - 3354 |
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With these 2
photos we finish our super railfan's day on and around Hill 582. We
(Melinda & Werner) and our 5 Swiss friends (Matthias, Nicole,
Stefan, Diego and Eugen) say goodbye to the best location at Cajon Pass. Tomorrow, we (Stefan & Werner) will be flying over Cajon Pass with a Cessna. These aerial photos are already online. |
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| End of train no. 10 (our last train of the day) - 3355 | Take a look: click here | South side of the Hill seen from MT-3 - 3356 |
