Cajon Pass 2010 - Page 6/9

Updated: April 5, 2011

For bigger size photos - please click on the 4-digit number below each photo.

To get a better idea about these locations you can find 2 aerial photos (wich I took during this trip) with captions by Gary Gray.
Alray - Baldy Mesa Road MP 59.5X (former Tunnel 2)  -  197-1	Former Tunnel 1 (all 4 tracks visible)  -  197-2

Alray - former Tunnel 1  and Tunnel 2 area

On Sunday, May 30, 2010, we went to Alray MP 59.5X with Beat & Christa Wüest. Alray is easy to reach using Baldy Mesa Road (parallel to I-15 just enter to the right of the freeway entrance toward Barstow at the Hwy 138  intersection). At this location there were 2 tunnels built back in 1913. During the 3rd Main Track construction of BNSF, both tunnels have been daylighted. Now, we have the new double track of BNSF MT-1 and MT-2 (built 2007/2008)  and the Union Pacific Track (UPT) former SP line (Colton cutoff), built 1967. We are having a great photo documentation of the 3MT construction. Take a look: click here
5/30/10 - shotcrete wall of tunnel 2 - 2355	BNSF MT-1 and MT-2 (looking uphill) - 2356	Tunnel 2 was daylighted in 2008 - 2357
looking back toward I-15 and the underpass - 2358	imagine, there was a tunnel before - 2359	we are now on UPT level - 2360
BNSF WB on MT-2 coming from Tunnel 1 - 2361	BNSF WN getting closer - 2362	pass shotcrete wall of Tunnel 2 - 2363
former Tunnel 2 was at MP 59.2X - 2364	we can see I-15 in the distance - 2365	UPT above is also visible - 2366
double stack container cars - 2367	JB Hunt containers - 2368	20' Tank Container - 2369
train is rolling under I-15 - 2370	Marten truck on I-15 (sometimes on TOFC) - 2371	BNSF WB EOT (TOFC at the end) - 2372
behind the curve was Tunnel 1 - 2373	here comes the next BNSF WB train - 2375	the former Tunnel 2 shotcrete wall - 2374
BNSF WB on MT-1 - 2376	BNSF 7396 = GE ES44DC built 2008 - 2377	3 locos are pulling this intermodal train - 2378
rolling downhill heading for San Bernardino - 2379	no comment - 2380	no comment - 2381
TOFC is common in the USA - 2382	behind the DBS cars are TOFC's - 2383	the last TOFC's coming round the curve - 2384
UPS trailer on flat car - 2385	EOT pass Tunnel 2 shotcrete wall - 2386	Werner near UPT (Tunnel 2 left) - 2388 BW
behind the curve was Tunnel 1 - 2387	a lonely Yucca between UPT and BNSF - 2390	Beat with safety jacket - 8023 WM
shotcrete wall of former Tunnel 1 - 2391	heavy erosion between UPT and BNSF level - 2392	left MT-2 was old track, right MT-1 new track - 2393
looking East - 2394	behind the S-curve will be Hill 582 - 2395	looking West (behind curve was Tunnel 2) - 2396
Photos 2397 - 2425: Sorry about showing so many photos of the very same train, but that's the way how we experienced it from the first loco to the last car (actually DPU - helper loco). We are standing near former Tunnel 1 at MP 58.9X on UPT level.
UP EB coming from I-15 underpass - 2397	always heavy traffic on I-15 at the back - 2398	a mixed freight shows more variety  - 2399
UP is having trackage rights on BNSF - 2400	UP EB on BNSF MT-1 - 2401	no comment - 2402
we are having 3 locos at the front end - 2403	1st loco 7424 = GE C45ACCTE built 2009 - 2404	2nd loco 8618 = EMD SD70ACe built 2007 - 2405
3rd loco 5083 = EMD SD70M built 2002  - 2406	we have box cars - 2407	singel double stack well car - 2408
hi-cube box cars - 2409	covered hoppers - 2410	us usal - full of graffiti - 2411
a lot of paint to write: HURTS - 2412	the engines are heading for Hill 582 - 2413	looking back to I-15 - 2414
snaking uphill - 2415	graffiti on UP box car - 2416	lots of covered hoppers - 2417
graffiti on UP hopper - 2418	hoppers - tank cars - hoppers - 2419	looks almost like a unit train - 2420
looking East - 2421	rear end DPU (helper) can be seen - 2422	we have 3 locos up front and 1 at the end - 2423
UP 6829 = GE C44AC built 1996 - 2424	EOT heading for Hill 582 and Summit - 2425	it is quiet again, UPT above and BNSF below - 2426
While Beat and Werner took photos around Tunnel 1 area, Melinda made 3 photos from the same UP train at Baldy Mesa Road (BMR).
UP EB mixed freight seen from BMR - 6586	lots of outdoor activities - 6587	UP EB rear end helper - 6588
After the UP EB train on BNSF tracks has passed, it was getting quiet and we were walking back toward our home base to Christa and Melinda at Baldy Mesa Road. Too bad, we did not wait long enough as there was a BNSF WB coming down on MT-2. So, we made a few photos looking towrad the underpass of I-15.
BNSF WB on MT-2 going downhill - 2427	JB Hunt double stack - 2428	the locos reached I-15 underpass - 2429
as seen from the home base - 6590 MM	second part of this intermodal is TOFC - 2430	BNSF WB EOT pass under I-15 - 2431
We were walking down after the BNSF WB train to our home base and suddenly, a UP SB was coming over the UP bridge at Baldy Mesa Road (where our ladies were waiting for us). So, we really had to run to be ready for taking some photos. At least, Melinda (MM) took some photos as well.
UP (former SP) bridge at Baldy Mesa Rd. - 2354	UP SB on UPT (bridge) - 2432	UP 5426 = GE C45ACCTE built 2005 - 2433
2nd loco 5431 = GE C45ACCTE - 8046 BW	3rd loco 5462 = GE C45ACCTE - 2434	these diesels need a loco wash - 2435
view from the home base - 6591 MM	no comment - 6592 MM	no comment - 6593 MM
During this train was passing, I was walking away to get a different view. Melinda was still close to the bridge as you can sse on her (MM) photos.
lumber packs - 2436	more lumber cars - 2437	no comment - 2438
tank and lumber cars - 6594 MM	covered hoppers - 6595 MM	Beat standing at the back of his rental car - 2439
train is rolling under I-15 - 2440	on the auto carrier are 2 new Chevy Camaros - 2441	Beat & Christa in front of their red Ford - 2442
finally, the DPU is coming - 2443	UP DPU 5358 = GE C45ACCTE built 2005 - 2444	no comment - 2445
	These are the last photos of this location at Baldy Mesa Road MP 59.5X. There were lots of outdoor activities with quads and motorcycles because it was a Sunday and actually a holiday (Memorial Day Weekend). Therefore, below we show some bonus photos. Afterwards, we went to Silverwood. See our page 5 - click here
End of UP train - 2446	final frame	UP is going downhill and the truck uphill on I-15 2447

Map of Alray area (former Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 2) with captions by Gary Gray

Bonus Photos of outdoor activities at Baldy Mesa Road

Sunday, May 30, 2010: Memorial Day Weekend. At Baldy Mesa Road (just under and around the UP bridge), lots of people bring their vehicles on trailers or pickups to start their "desert adventure". No question, the US Forest Service (see photos 2351 and 2353) was also around and checking the activities. We also had a chance talking to the USFS people. They were very friendly and a lady even knew about railfanning. They were wishing us good luck and lots of great pictures.
USFS emplyoees - 2351	USFS, let's check the forest roads - 2353	BMR with UP bridge - 2354
unloading their vehicles - 2350	make a test ride - 2352	- 2349
- 6577 MM	- 6578 MM	- 6579 MM
- 6580 MM	loading on the trailer - 6581 MM	- 6582 MM
nobody too young for driving these quads - 6583 MM	getting experience - 6584 MM	of course, the kids did not go far away - 6585 MM

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

Go back to Cajon Pass Main Page - click here