Cajon Pass 2010 - Page 7/9

Updated: April 10, 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.
Sullivans Curve MP 63X looking South (we were at the upper right) - 199-1	looking North (our photo location is at left (USFS 3N89 marking) - 199-2

Sullivans Curve - Part 1 - May 29, 2010
 

On Saturday, May 29, 2010, after our visit to Hill 582, we went in the lafte afternoon to Sullivans Curve with Beat & Christa Wüest. Sullivans Curve 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).
Interstate 15 (Barstow Freeway) - 2252	I-15 w/Hwy 138 Exit seen from UPT - 2188	easy to reach McDonalds across I-15 - 2187
impressive rock formations cover Sullivans . . - 2190	. . .Curve, named after Herb Sullivan, . . - 2192	. . . an early RR Photographer - 2191
Beat climbing our observation hill - 2193	these rocks are to the right of the big rocks .- 2194	. . . and cannot be seen from the curve - 2195
how about modelling these rocks in scale? - 2198	north west side - 2197     close up - 2196	Beat shooting a photo on a great background - 2237
foreground: UPT w/siding - 2199	below: BNSF MT-1 and MT-2 - 2201	outside the curve are the rocks - 2200
BNSF EB at Cajon Station (I-15 above) - 2202	BNSF EB coming uphill (Cleghorn exit) - 2203	cars are still at Cajon Station - 2204
getting closer, still cars at Cajon Station - 2205	the engines enter Sullivans Curve . . - 2206	. .  on BNSF MT-1 (2 hikers are watching) - 2207
climbing uphill past the rocks - 2208	getting closer - 2209	BNSF 7433 = GE ES44DC - 2210
the 2 hikers crossed the UP tracks - 2211	2nd unit 7385 = GE ES44DC - 2212	the whole curve is occupied with cars - 2213
2 locos at the front end - 2214	the grade is 2,2 % - 2215	no comment - 2216
it seems to be a never ending train - 2217	soon, the locos will disappear - 2218	no comment - 2219
Werner w/EB train - 2220    Beat in action - 2238	below 2 x 20', on top 40' container - 2223	we have time to get some souvenirs - 2221 BW
the cars are leaning in the curves - 2226	the rear end DPU's are visible - 2225	getting closer - 2227
no comment - 2228	BNSF well car w/graffiti - 2229	no comment - 2230
2 locos at the rear end - 2231	no comment - 2232	BNSF 7435 = GE ES44DC - 2233
2nd unit 7625 is also a ES44DC - 2234	the front end did already reach Mormon Rocks - 2235	end of BNSF EB train - 2236
it is quiet again and time to leave this place - 2239	one last photo to prove we went to . . - 2241	. . . famous Sullivans Curve - 2243 BW
Big surprise, while walking back toward the place of our ladies and the cars, there was a BNSF WB intermodal train coming down on MT-2.
BNSF WB intermodal on MT-2 - 2244	BNSF 7831 = ES44DC built 2010 - 2245	as we are on UPT level, we are too low - 2246
Werner Enterprises trailer - 2247	and another WE trailer - 2248	the DBS cars can be seen above the trailers - 2249
going downhill to Cajon Station - 2250	WE trailers in the distance - 2251	Christa & Melinda are patiently waiting for us - 2253
No question, we had a great time in chasing trains at Sullivans Curve. Thanks God, we (Beat & Werner) have understanding wives for our Railfan hobby.

Sullivans Curve - Part 2 - June 5, 2010
 

6/05/11: Well, Railfanning is almost like taking drugs, you have never enough and therefore, I went again with Melinda to Sullivans Curve. As I saw a BNSF EB in the distance, I quickly parked the car above the UPT (just near the RR-Crossing as seen on photo 2253 above) and went down to the BNSF Main 1 and 2. There was no time to look for a good spot which would be elevated.
BNSF EB intermodal train . .  - 4584	. . . coming on MT-2 from Sullivans Curve - 4585	BNSF 7486 = GE ES44DC - 4586
JB Hunt double stack load . . . - 4588	. . . followed by TOFC - 4589	while the train was passing . . . - 4590
. . . I was walking toward Sullivans Curve - 4591	here are the rock formations - 4592	end of intermodal train - 4593
After the first train passed, I was walking around the curve toward Sullivans Curve. But the next train was already here and I had to stop (once again) without a nice overview, still standing on track level next to BNSF MT-1.
at least, we can see the famous rocks - 4594	BNSF EB on MT-1 - 4595	BNSF 7783 = GE ES44DC - 4596
graffiti on the tank - 4597	it seems to be the ethanol train . . . - 4598	. . . with 2 protection cars after the locos - 4599
can you see the cars in the distance? - 4600	no comment - 4602	looking East - 4604
still more tank cars coming - 4605	close up - 4606	EOT without helper and protection car - 4607
After the Ethanol train passed, I heared the sound of an uphill train and I went back to the UPT. I just made it on time because a UP NB train was coming around the curve and small cut (out of Sullivans Curve). Did you note - UP is having more EMD power compared to BNSF with lots of GE locos.
UP NB on UPT coming from Colton - 4609	Sullivans Curve is behind the cut - 4610	UP 8346 = EMD SD70ACe built 2005 - 4611
each loco has 4300 HP - 4612	2nd unit 8497 = EMD SD70ACe built 2006 - 4613	3rd unit 8314 = EMD SD70ACe built 2005 - 4614
heading for Mormon Rocks - 4615	most hoppers are rusty - 4616	nice example for weathering our models - 4617
private RR-X-ing (out of service) - 4618	end of train - 4619	McDonalds across I-15 - 4608
The UP NB train is gone - time to look across the UP tracks, the valley and Interstate 15 to see "our" McDonalds (photo 4608), who keeps us alive ! ! The time has come to drive a little bit further on USFS road 2N89 to Sullivans Curve. I went again to the same location as with Beat on May 29. In the distance (photo 4620) I could already see another UP NB train coming uphill (of course, on UP tracks). No time yet, to go on the observation hill.
cars of UP NB train in the distance - 4620	UP NB locos are already in Sullivans Curve . . - 4621	. . . in front of the rock formations - 4622
UP Main and UP siding - 4623	headlights are strong - 4624	I am standing on track level - 4625
all EMD power (SD70ACe) - 4626	UP 8323 = EMD SD70ACe built 2005 - 4627	3rd unit 8341= EMD SD70ACe built 2005 - 4628
2nd unit 8374 = EMD SD70ACe built 2005 - 4629	we have a mixrd freight train - 4630	and even a heavy load in between - 4631
transformer on special flat car - 4632	UP box car with graffiti - 4633	last view of transformer car - 4634
no comment - 4635	last hopper can be seen - 4636	EOT is going away - 4637
After the UP NB train was gone, it was quiet again and time to take some more photos of Sullivans Curve from different angles. I was walking closer to the famous Rock formations to be finally more or less in the middle of Sullivans Curve (but on the outside). Why so many photos from the same location? I just wanted to give an "in-deep" look of this particular place with the 2 UP tracks (Main and Siding) and the BNSF tracks (Main 1 and 2). The BNSF 3rd Main track was built along the inside of the "old" BNSF track. Want to see more about the construction? We have 9 pages - click here.
looking South - 4638	looking North standing on UPT level - 4639	same position looking South - 4640
BNSF MT-1 and MT-2 - 4643	inside the curve are more "unique" rocks - 4642	BNSF MT-1 and MT-2 - 4644
in the middle on UPT level - 4648	in the distance is a BNSF WB on MT-3 - 4645	same position - 4646
same position (4648) but forward BNSF tracks - 4650	same rocks (4642) but diff. angle - 4647	same position (4646) with BNSF tracks - 4649
After finishing the sequence above, a UP NB mixed train is coming uphill. In addition, there were 2 UP helpers coming uphill on BNSF MT-1. As usual, I was taking not only a few photos of this train but many, many more because a train is existing of a lot of cars and this variety incl. graffiti, I wanted to experience and show, of course, on this page. Therefore, you can see a total of 67 photos of this UP NB mixed freight train.
the first loco is just coming round the corner - 4651	UP NB train is slowly coming thru the cut - 4652	2 UP SD70ACe helper locos on BNSF tracks - 4653
pure UP action on two different levels - 4654	UP helpers on BNSF MT-2 and . . . - 4655	. . . UP NB train on UPT - 4656
of course, the helpers are faster . . . - 4657	. . . and leave the UP NB train behind - 4658	the engines just passed the rocks - 4659
3 GE locos and 1 EMD loco - 4660	UP 5377 = GE C45ACCTE built 2005 - 4661	3rd unit 5403 = GE C45ACCTE built 2005  - 4662
2nd unit 5276 = GE C45ACCTE built 2006 - 4663	4th unit 4747 = EMD SD70M built 2002 - 4665	auto rack with graffiti - 4664
and more graffiti - 4667	gondolas with metal scrap load - 4666	CSX box car with heavy graffiti - 4668
a mixed freight is always interesting . . . - 4669	. . . because of the big variety  - 4670	more auto carriers - 4671
no comment - 4672	surprise, BNSF WB just above the UP herald - 4673	no comment - 4674
so, I am lucky to get another train . . . - 4675	. . . at the same time with this BNSF WB . .  - 4676	. . . coming downhill on MT-2 - 4677
- 4678	- 4679	- 4680
- 4681	- 4682	after all, we can see the BNSF engines . . . - 4683
. . . behind the gondola - 4684	nice action as we have 2 trains . . . - 4685	. . . moving against each other - 4686
- 4687	- 4688	- 4689
- 4690	- 4691	- 4692
- 4693	the locos left the curve heading . . . - 4694	. . . for Cajon Station - 4695
- 4697	in the distance we can see I-15 - 4698	- 4699
- 4700	- 4701	- 4702
- 4704	- 4705	- 4707
- 4706	we an see the 2 DPU's of the BNSF WB - 4711	- 4708
- 4709	- 4710	- 4713
DPU of UP NB train - 4712	UP 5440 = GE C45ACCTE built 2005 - 4714	- 4715
- 4716	DPU's of both railroads cross each other - 4717	the UP NB train is slowing down . . . - 4718
. . and will finally come to a stop in the siding  4721	BNSF DPU's are both ES44DC's - 4719	- 4720
the helpers are elephant style backwards - 4722	most of the train is already at Cajon Station - 4723	last photo of this BNSF WB - 4724
Today is definitely a lucky day for me as there is another BNSF WB coming down on MT-2 and the UP NB train finally stopped. It is waiting in the UP siding for a SB train which we will see later. First, enjoy the BNSF WB intermodal train (and again with lots of photos, to be exact 27).
BNSF WB intermodal on MT-2 - 4726	it is almost like a film, having . . . - 4727	. . . several photos after each other - 4728
- 4729	- 4730	- 4731
BNSF 5168 = GE C44-9W - 4732	- 4733	- 4734
- 4735	- 4736	- 4737
- 4738	- 4739	- 4740
- 4741	- 4742	- 4743
- 4744	- 4745	after the double stack cars we have TOFC - 4746
behind the trailers are empty spine cars - 4747	- 4748	- 4749
another railfan is inside the curve - 4750	the locos can be seen at Cajon Station - 4751	last photo of this BNSF WB train - 4752
Here we go, the expected UP SB train is coming down next to the waiting UP NB train. Sorry, but I made again 48 photos of this train because of the variety !
UP SB is passing the waiting NB, . . . - 4753	. . . which is resting in the siding - 4754	we have a mixed freight - 4755
no comment - 4756	1st loco UP 5384 = GE C45ACCTE - 4757	2nd unit UP 5375 = GE C45ACCTE - 4758
3rd unit UP 5451 = GE C45ACCTE - 4759	all 3 locos round the curve - 4760	from auto rack to lumber car - 4761
and lumber to box car - 4762	sky box car - 4763	and tank cars - 4764
- 4765	- 4766	- 4767
- 4768	- 4769	- 4770
- 4771	- 4772	heavy used SOO Line box car - 4773
- 4774	- 4775	- 4776
- 4777	- 4778	- 4779
- 4780	- 4781	- 4782
graffitiy is spread all over - 4783	- 4784	natural weathering = rust - 4785
large graffiti - 4786	did anyone get an idea how to weather a car?  4787	aluminum hopper - 4788
- 4789	lumber cars - 4790	- 4791
UP WB intermodal on BNSF MT-3 - 4792	UP auto rack with "Building America" slogan - 4793	2 DPU's provide addtl. dynamic brakes - 4794
UP 5359 = GE C45ACCTE built 2005 - 4795	some auto racks are at the end - 4796	UP 5401 = GE GE C45ACCTE built 2005 - 4797
UP WB with Werner Ent. trailers on MT-3 - 4798	UP SB DPU's - 4799	the UP SB is disappearing - 4800
the UP NB can continue his journey - 4801	UP and BNSF are using diff, ballast - 4802	walking away and leave the curve behind - 4803
After the UP NB train left the siding, it was quiet again and the first shadows started to cover some tracks. Time to walk back to Melinda, but oh wonder, there was another BNSF WB coming down and no question, I had to take some photos (see below).
BNSF WB intermodal train on MT-2 - 4804	BNSF 5072 = GE C44-9W built 2004 - 4805	Schneider containers (orange) - 4806
JB Hunt containers (white) - 4808	no comment - 4809	no comment - 4810
no comment - 4811	the 3 locos are leaving the curve . . . - 4812	. . . and rolling down to Cajon Station - 4813
engines with containers in the distance - 4814	no comment - 4815	no comment - 4816
second part of this train is TOFC - 4817	Marten trailers ar often seen on the roads - 4818	Marten logo with flying bird - 4819
Swift is one of the big trucking companies - 4820	rolling down the curve . . . - 4821	. . . and passing the rocks - 4822
endless string of cars - 4823	UPS trailer on flat car (TOFC) - 4824	end of WB intermodal train - 4825
Melinda is glad that nothing happened - 4826	Werner is satisfied with the action - 4828	rattle snakes are common in Cajon Pass - 4830
The show is over and we have to say good bye to Sullivans Curve. We had 9 trains within 3 hours and it was very satisfactory. Melinda and Werner pose on the UPT with the famous rock formations in the background. The rattle snake was on the UP service road next to the tracks (but thanks God, already dead). Always take precaution while doing railfanning in Cajon Pass. Within 10 days we have seen 3 rattle snakes at different locations.

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