Cajon Pass California - 2025 railroad photo collection

updated: February 12, 2025: (Photos 5007 - 5012) Cajon
February 19, 2025: (Photos BHJ-001 - BHJ-004) Sunset Route
February 26, 2025: (Photos 5013 - 5020) Daggett

I am very pleased to show some exclusive photos of these photographers:
Don E. Toles (DET), Gary G. Gray (GGG), Marc Fournier (MF).

Guest Photographers:
Bruce "Doc" Jones (BHJ)

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.

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

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).

updated: January 13, 2025

We start our 2025 photo documentation not with Cajon Pass but with West Palm Springs
Just after New Year Holiday, Marc spent four days camping & railfanning on the UP (old SP) Sunset route at W. Palm Springs, CA. Rail traffic was moderate, however Marc was able to photograph two of the UP HERITAGE units. ENJOY, Marc Fournier

MF - 1/08/25 - 5001 UP 8682 EB at West Palm Springs	MF - 1/08/25 - 5002 Same train heading East

MF - 1/08/25 - 5003 UP 8682 EB meets UP 3093 WB	MF - 1/08/25 - 5004 UP 3093 WB (note the 3rd unit)

MF - 1/08/25 - 5005 UP 1982 (MoPac Heritage unit) as 3rd unit behind UP 3093)	MF - 1/08/25 - 5006 UP 1943 EB "Spirit of the Union Pacific"

updated: February 12, 2025

BNSF Officier's Special from L.A. to Needles via Cajon Pass on January 21, 2025

On 21 Jan, BNSF ran a nine car Officer's Special (OS) from L.A. to Needles. Marc was in position to photograph the train however a VERY VERY BRIGHT sun and the SUPER reflective silver fluting on the train cars made photography extremely difficult -- at best. I have added a few screen captures of said train. GGG & MF

MF - 1/21/25 - 5007: BNSF 8112 & Officer cars climbing Cajon Pass in the Silverwood area

MF - 1/21/25 - 5008: BNSF Officer Special at Silverwood on MT-2

MF - 1/21/25 - 5009: BNSF Gallery Car "William Barstow Strong"

GGG - 1/21/25 - 5010: BNSF Officer Special leans into the Cajon Summit curve

GGG - 1/21/25 - 5011: From the Summit/Lugo railcam, the BNSF OS heads toward the actual Cajon Summit

GGG - 1/21/25 - 5012: The special slowly takes the Barstow Depot track -- for an extended stop

Bonus Photos - non Cajon Pass

updated: February 19, 2025

DOC JONES on the SUNSET ROUTE (taken on Feb 15, 2025)

After an insanely busy holiday season 2024 and a really rough start to 2025 I finally had the opportunity to get trackside. This past Saturday (15 Feb) my friend Pete and I headed out the former SP Sunset Route from Redlands toward Cabazon, CA. Those of you who have railfanned this area wouldn't recognize it from the development of homes and businesses. We did find some good spots where the tracks are not surrounded by homes and got a few photos. As the railfan gods would have it the sun was mostly on the wrong side and neither of us wanted to risk crossing the tracks at our tender ages of 70+
For those of you who have railfanned San Timoteo Canyon in years past please Google it and see how much development has taken place over the years. Pretty soon it will be solid housing from Redlands to Beaumont.
Take care and enjoy, Bruce (Doc) Jones

BHJ-001 - 2/15/25
found this patched SP unit on a EB manifest east of El Casco. BHJ-002- - 2/15/25
WB manifest east of Cabazon (Mons)

BHJ-003 - 2/15/25
WB manifest at Beaumont (Strapac's Curve) BHJ-004 - 2/15/25
EB stacker just east of Ordway

updated: February 26, 2025

Action at Daggett by Marc Fournier (taken on Feb 22, 2025)

Last week (25-02-22) Marc spent some time photographing BNSF Mainline action at Daggett, CA. Daggett (population 200) is about 10 miles East of Barstow on I-40/BNSF Needles Sub and hosts the Union Pacific Cima Sub rail connection to the West Bound BNSF Main. Enjoy, Marc Fournier

MF 5013 - 2/22/25
UP 5941 transitions from the UP Cima Sub onto the BNSF Needles Sub MF 5014 - 2/22/25
UP 5941 on the BNSF Needles Sub heading WB to Barstow.

MF 5015 - 2/22/25
NS 1229 heads a combination BNSF Power Move / Double Stack train. MF 5016 - 2/22/25
BNSF 8077 is EB passing NS/BNSF WB Double Stack train

MF 5017 - 2/22/25
BNSF 3944 EB intermodal train MF 5018 - 2/22/25
BNSF 3944 is EB to meet a stopped NS 4733 WB.

MF 5019 - 2/22/25
NS 4733 proceeds WB to Barstow MF 5020 - 2/22/25
BNSF 4032 is WB to Barstow

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	Cajon 20 with 2025 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.
	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
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

DOC JONES on the SUNSET ROUTE (taken on Feb 15, 2025)
After an insanely busy holiday season 2024 and a really rough start to 2025 I finally had the opportunity to get trackside. This past Saturday (15 Feb) my friend Pete and I headed out the former SP Sunset Route from Redlands toward Cabazon, CA. Those of you who have railfanned this area wouldn't recognize it from the development of homes and businesses. We did find some good spots where the tracks are not surrounded by homes and got a few photos. As the railfan gods would have it the sun was mostly on the wrong side and neither of us wanted to risk crossing the tracks at our tender ages of 70+ For those of you who have railfanned San Timoteo Canyon in years past please Google it and see how much development has taken place over the years. Pretty soon it will be solid housing from Redlands to Beaumont. Take care and enjoy, Bruce (Doc) Jones

BHJ-001 - 2/15/25 found this patched SP unit on a EB manifest east of El Casco.	BHJ-002- - 2/15/25 WB manifest east of Cabazon (Mons)

BHJ-003 - 2/15/25 WB manifest at Beaumont (Strapac's Curve)	BHJ-004 - 2/15/25 EB stacker just east of Ordway

Action at Daggett by Marc Fournier (taken on Feb 22, 2025)
Last week (25-02-22) Marc spent some time photographing BNSF Mainline action at Daggett, CA. Daggett (population 200) is about 10 miles East of Barstow on I-40/BNSF Needles Sub and hosts the Union Pacific Cima Sub rail connection to the West Bound BNSF Main. Enjoy, Marc Fournier

MF 5013 - 2/22/25 UP 5941 transitions from the UP Cima Sub onto the BNSF Needles Sub	MF 5014 - 2/22/25 UP 5941 on the BNSF Needles Sub heading WB to Barstow.

MF 5015 - 2/22/25 NS 1229 heads a combination BNSF Power Move / Double Stack train.	MF 5016 - 2/22/25 BNSF 8077 is EB passing NS/BNSF WB Double Stack train

MF 5017 - 2/22/25 BNSF 3944 EB intermodal train	MF 5018 - 2/22/25 BNSF 3944 is EB to meet a stopped NS 4733 WB.

MF 5019 - 2/22/25 NS 4733 proceeds WB to Barstow	MF 5020 - 2/22/25 BNSF 4032 is WB to Barstow