Cajon Pass - 2011 Photo Collection by Werner Meer

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
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Cajon Pass Photo Collection
June 25, 2011

by Werner Meer (Switzerland)

Day 4 - FOUR - 224 Photos

high above Summit I-15
Silverwood Overlook
Highway 138 - Mormon Rocks

This time, I took photos (5550) from these locations: Summit, Silverwood, WSI, Hill 582, Alray (former Tunnel area), Mormon Rocks, Stein's Hill, around Highway 138, Sullivan's Curve, Cajon Station, old Route 66 (Cajon Blvd.), Swarthout Canyon Road and finally Palm Ave. Crossing. As I went to several overlooks high above, I was trying to take photos from far away. Not every photo was good because of the long distance, haze and the heavy wind.
Please note: As a train does not only exist of the locos but all the cars, I made plenty photos of the different cars (incl. graffiti).

Abbreviations found on this page: EB = East Bound, NB = North Bound, SB = South Bound, WB = West Bound, MT-1 = BNSF Main 1, MT-2 = BNSF Main 2, MT-3 = BNSF Main 3, UPT = Union Pacific Track, MP = Mile Post, DBS = Double Stack Train, IM = Intermodal Train, DRR = Davies Ranch Road, SWC = Swarthout Canyon Road Crossing, WSI = West Summit Island

Today, I went to Mason Clark to pick up my HO scale Joshua Trees. In the afternoon, I drove from Palmdale to Cajon and started my Cajon exploring from I-15 Summit. Just behind the legendary Summit Inn starts the dirt road (USFS 3N45) toward Silverwood. The elevation at this location is 4190 feet (1280 m). The quality of the photos is not satisfactory because there is some haze which is getting too much with the tele zoom lense. But nevertheless, it still gives us an idea how it looks from high above. I recommend to click on the 4-digit numer to see the full size photo. We can see the tracks from Hill 582 (right side) up to Silverwood and Summit Curve (left side). We start our journey at 14.50 h.

WM 6/25/11 Uphill traffic on I-15 Summit - 2601	a WB DBS (Train 1) is passing Hill 582 - 2598	in the center above is Highway 138 - 2600

the trees of Hill 582 are hardly visible - 2599	(S-curve is MT-3) last photo of Train 1 - 2603	BNSF helpers on MT-3 at Silverwood - 2602

BNSF WB on MT-2 (Train 2) - 2609	the engines pass WSI - 2610	2611

2612	2613	2614

the locos are crossing USFS 3N45 - 2615	2616	2617

2618	2619	2620

2621	2622	the locos pass Hill 582 - 2623

2624	2625	last photo of train 2 - 2627

BNSF EB (Train 3) - 2628	the locos reach Hill 582 - 2629	I-15 at right - 2631

Hill 582 in the middle - 2632	2634	curved "S" = MT-3 - 2635


2638	2639	2640


2642	2643	2645


the engines reach Silverwood - 2647	2649	the engines enter Summit Curve - 2650


2654	2655	end of train 3 - 2656
With the next activities, I was really lucky because I got 2 BNSF EB trains going around Hill 582 on MT-3 and MT-1 at the same time ! In other words we will have a parallel race uphill towards Summit. The show started at 16.15 h and ended at 16.26 h with a total of 40 photos.


BNSF EB on MT-3 (Train 4) - 2659	BNSF EB on MT-1 (Train 5) - 2660	2 EB intermodal trains going uphill - 2661


overview incl. I-15 northbound lanes 2663	2664	2665


2667	2668	2669


2671	2672	2673




2679	2680	2681

2682	2683	both trains are leaving Hill 582 - 2684

both trains are long enough to cover . . - 2685	. . the distance of 2.2 mls (3,5 km) . . - 2686	. . between Hill 582 and Silverwood - 2687

2688	2689	2691

2692	train 5 has 2 helpers and train 4 none - 2693	2694

2695	DPU's of train 5 - 2696	2697

both trains are rolling into Summit - 2698	end of Train 4 (right) + Train 5 at WSI (left) - 2699	last photo of Train 5 - 2701
Well, the show is over and I was satisfied. So, I left this overlook and drove down USFS 3N45 toward Silverwood.

These aerial views and the map will show the situation at Silverwood. On photo 1953 my position (overlook) is just at the right corner below, near BNSF MT-3. It can easy be reached from USFS 3N45.

from the air Silverwood MP 57.2 1953	Map overview Silverwood MP - 1951	from the air West Summit Island MP 56.7 1952

Now, I am sitting on the Silverwood overlook above MT-3. Time is 16.46 h and the first train is a BNSF WB.

WM 6/25/11 BNSF WB (Train 1) - 2704	BNSF WB on MT-2 coming from Summit - 2705	BNSF WB is entering Silverwood - 2707


2709	2710	2711


2714	2715	2716

in the foreground is BNSF MT-3 - 2717	first engine is crossing USFS 3N45 - 2718	BNSF 7228 = GE ES44DC - 2719

BNSF 6663 = GE ES44C4 - 2720	2721	2722


2724	2725	last photo of Train 1 at 16.52 h - 2726

UP NB on UPT (Train 2) at 18.22 h - 2727	UP 5416 = GE C45ACCTE - 2728	UP 5389 = GE C45ACCTE - 2729

UP 5373 = GE C45ACCTE - 2730	UP 8588 = EMD SD70ACe - 2731	below the 4 UP locos is BNSF MT-1/MT- 2 - 2732

2733	2734	2735

2736	2737	2738

2739	2740	2741

overview from my lookout platform - 2742	2743	2744
There is a short story with the bush at the right side of photo 2742. I almost missed a WB train because it was not loud as it was coming downhill. So, I was running against the bush to take a photo. But oh wonder, there was a rattle snake just at the edge of the bush and made a lot of noise and was even standing up. Well, I immediately stopped and stepped back. Do not ask me how hard my heart was beating. Thanks God the rattler was warning me before attacking. In other words, just be always prepared and take precaution while doing railfanning in Cajon Pass !!

2745	DPU UP 5410 = GE C45ACCTE - 2746	UP Train 2 - 2747

BNSF WB (Train 3) - 2749	2750	UP Train 2 and BNSF Train 3 - 2751


2753	2754	2755

last photo of Train 2 - 2756	BNSF 4792 = GE C44-9W - 2757	last photo of Train 3 (BNSF WB) - 2759

BNSF EB (Train 4) at 17.36 h - 2760	2761	2762

I did not wait until the whole train passed because it was once again just another double stack intermodal train. So, I left the Silverwood area, went back to Hwy 138 and drove down to the Mormon Rocks area.

	The overlook of the UPT (Union Pacifc Track) 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). If we continue following this road, it will lead us to Sullivans Curve. Best time of the day is late afternoon/early evening as we have the sun in the back.
Overview Hwy 138/I-15 and UPT - 1182		Lone Pine Canyon Road Detail - 1183

If you do not know where to go in early evening, this is a great spot (lighted from the evening sun) just along the Union Pacific tracks. Use USFS 2N89 which is also the service road for UP. We can also see BNSF MT-1 and MT-2. I start on this location at 18.49 h and have already luck because there are 2 different BNSF trains passing the Mormon Rocks

WM 6/25/11 BNSF EB (Train 1) on MT-1 - 2764	BNSF WB (Train 2) on MT-2 (behind) - 2765	2 BNSF trains at the same time - 2766


EB train 1 is a manifest - 2768	view looking left of Hwy 138 - 2769	right of Hwy 138 are the 3 locos of Train 2 - 2770

2771	2772	2773


modern 64' reefer with graffity - 2775	these reefers are on the EB train 1 - 2776	2777

5 tank cars are the EOT 1 - 2778	double stack cars elomg to train 2 - 2779	the locos are proceeding slowly - 2780

2781	Highway 138 goes over BNSF tracks - 2782	track in front = UPT - 2783


2785	begin of UP siding toward Sullivans Curve - 2786	2787

2788	2789	2790

2791	at the end are some TOFC's - 2792	endless string of DBS cars - 2793

heading for Sukllivans Curve - 2794	here comes BNSF WB on MT-1 (Train 3) - 2795	2796

front end of Train 3 and rear end of T-2 - 2797	2798	2799

both trains are visible - 2800	2801	2802

now, train 3 is slowly overtaking . . - 2803	. . train 2 toward Sullivans Curve - 2804	2805

2806	auto carrier on Hwy 138 - 2807	2808

this intermodal (Train 3) is having . . - 2809	. . several trailers behind the . . - 2810	. . container cars - 2811

my minivan brings me everywhere - 2812	2813	last photo of day 4 at 19.10 h - 2814
Even I started railfanning late, day 4 was once again very satisfactory and I went to Denny's at Palm Ave. for dinner.

	Cajon Pass - 2011 Day ONE Cleghorn Overlook Hill 582 (1) Highway 138 / Mormon Rocks by Werner Meer June 22, 2011 Updated: 7/28/2011
WM 6/22/11 UP NB on UPT near Hill 582 - 1219	See all 522 photos - click here	WM 6/22/11 UP SB on UPT (Mormon Rocks) - 1422

	Cajon Pass - 2011 Day TWO Cleghorn Exit Overlook I-15 / Hwy 138 Overlook by Werner Meer June 23, 2011 Updated: 8/15/11
WM 6/23/11 Sullivans Curve from Cleghorn - 1779	See all 600 photos - click here	WM 6/23/11 3 trains around I-15/Hwy 138 - 11074

	Cajon Pass - 2011 Day THREE Hill 582 (2) Noisy Point / I-15 Overlook / Alray Blue Cut / UP MP 475 by Werner Meer June 24, 2011 Updated: 9/15/13
WM 6/24/11 BNSF EB Noisy Point w/I-15 - 2328	See all 481 photos - click here	WM 6/24/11 BNSF EB at Blue Cut - 2475

	Cajon Pass - 2011 Day FIVE Silverwood Summit (North) Silverwood Overlook (South) CP Walker MP 60.2X Highway 138 / Mormon Rocks by Werner Meer June 26, 2011 Updated: 9/28/13
WM 6/26/11 BNSF WB on MT-3 - 21080	See all 358 photos - click here	WM 6/26/11 Locos at Silverwood - 2849

	Cajon Pass - 2011 Day SIX Hill 582 (3) Summit high above (Summit - Cleghorn) Sullivans Curve by Werner Meer June 27, 2011 Updated: 10/03/13
WM 6/27/11 BNSF 121 = EMD GP60M - 30029	See all 359 photos - click here	WM 6/27/11 huge Graffiti on 64' Reefer - 30071

	Cajon Pass Aerial Photos 2010 by Werner Meer June 2, 2010 Updated: 7/08/2010
WM 6/02/10 Hill 582, BNSF MT-2/-1, UPT - 4033	See all 150 photos - click here	WM 6/02/10 Tunnel 1 shotcrete retaining wall - 4082

	Werner Enterprises Trucking Company WE Trailers are often seen on Flat Cars (TOFC) running over Cajon Pass. In addition, there are photos of WE Trucks on the road and new: take a look at the WE Terminal in Fontana, CA. by Werner Meer most were taken in 10/05, 7/08, 5/10 and 6/11 Updated: 8/01/11
WM 7/05/08 Cajon at Silverwood - 010	See all 237 photos - click here	WM 10/05 Barstow Truck Stop - 032

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