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

Cajon Pass 3rd Main Track Construction by BNSF in 2007 and 2008
Page 3/9

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I am very pleased to show some exclusive photos by Don E. Toles (the famous Hilltender of Hill 582) and Gary G. Gray.
Pictures are prepared for the internet by Gary.
A big thank you to Don and Gary to share these excellent pictures.
Note: The copyright belongs to Don E. Toles and Gary G. Gray. Do not use any photos without written permission.

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

BNSF is building a 3rd Main Track thru Cajon Pass. It will be built along the # 1 (north) track (2,2 % grade). The only 2 tunnels in Cajon will be daylighted. I am very proud to show these pictures taken by Don E. Toles and Gary G. Gray.

For bigger size pictures please click on the 3 digit numbers below each photo!

Photos 202 - 300 on this page starting October 19, 2007 and ending December 14, 2007

10/25/07 UP NB Canyon Siding UP MP 470 - 202 10/19/07 UP SB pass Hill 582 (3MT visible) - 203 10/25/07 BNSF EB (Maersk/Sealand) MP 60X - 204
10/25/07 Retaining wall at Sullivan's Curve - 205 10/25/07 Manitowoc 100 Ton Crane closeup - 206 10/25/07 Helpers of above BNSF train (204). MP 60X is near Davis Ranch and also "home" for a new signal mast.(new ROW visible) - 207
Photos 205 - 206: For more infos on this Manitowoc Crane you may check this link below:
Click here: Manitowoc Cranes > Products > Lattice Boom Crawler Cranes > Model 222
10/26/07 First Train on 3MT w/Ballast- 208 10/26/07 Same Train from W. Summit Island - 209 10/26/07 New Ballast on 3MT w/retaining wall - 210
The first two (208 & 209) are of the relatively new BNSF Ballast cars (note the solar panels) dumping on either side and in the middle of the new 3MT. 
The third picture (210) shows, from the bottom: Existing Main #1, New 3MT, Retaining wall supporting the Silverwood Connector, The Silverwood Connector.
10/26/07 Material removal at Blue Cut - 211 10/26/07 New retaining wall at Blue Cut - 212 10/31/07 UP lite engines EB at MP 63.4 - 213
10/26/07 Cajon Station West bridge constr. - 214 10/26/07 # 2 Track bridge replacement - 215 10/26/07 BNSF EB train pass the bridge site - 216
Don sends a great sequence of bridge building/replacement at MP 62.9 --- immediately RR West of Cajon Station. As mentioned before, the abutments for the two existing tracks were wide and strong enough to support all three Main Tracks. Photo 214: Note that the #2 track and bridge have been removed. Photos 215 - 218: The #2 track bridge is being replaced. The old type bridge can be seen supporting Track #1. Photo 219: Just a few days later, shows Main #2 back in service and the new 3MT bridge in place. On the West side of the tracks, please note the pre-cast spans ready to replace the existing #1 Main track bridge. (GGG)
10/26/07 Bridge element mounting - 217 10/26/07 Bridge is mounted - 218 10/31/07 New 3MT Bridge in place - 219
11/06/07 Tunnel 1 WP, dirt removal - 220 11/06/07 T-2 EP, almost down at tunnel level - 221 11/06/07 Tunnel 2 WP, drilling for the wall - 222
11/06/07 Reinforced hole for bridge support - 223 11/06/07 Wall # 6 at Sullivan's Curve - 224 11/06/07 Wall west of bridge (photo 213) MP 63.5 - 225
10/25/07 Manitowoc 100 Ton Crane - 226 11/06/07 Manitowoc details - 227 11/06/07 Manitowoc details - 228
Photos 226 - 231: Specials thanks to Greg Martin, who gave us some details about this particular machine, the Manitowoc triple deuce (222B).
This specific crane has 160 feet of boom, three drum hoists, and the standard 230 HP Cummings Turbo Diesel engine. The crawlers are retractable and have automatic grease points on the rollers. It has a on board computer equipped with load cells and anti-two block devices for each working line. Currently the front drum is tied back, and the auxiliary drum is wound up on the drum. We are only using the rear drum with non-spin 7/8" line. (Greg)
More infos can be found here:
Click here: Manitowoc Cranes > Products > Lattice Boom Crawler Cranes > Model 222
11/06/07 Wall construction and Manitowoc - 229 11/06/07 Manitowoc details - 230 11/06/07 Manitowoc details - 231
11/11/07 Brdige progress RR East Cajon St. - 232 11/13/07 Action at Sullivans' Curve - 233 11/13/07 He made it on top at Sullivan's - 234
Photo 232: Showing the progress of the curved bridge just RR East of Cajon Station at MP 64.1X. One of the construction people told me that the holes for the bridge supports are 3-5 feet wide and up to 58 feet deep with complete rebar cages. (DET)
Photos 233 - 234: We had guests (R&R Scanes - NZ) this week. During our Cajon travels, we visited Sullivan's Curve where we spotted this backhoe climbing a steep and VERY NARROW hill directly across from the Sullivan's lookout. We estimated the climb at 35+ degrees and the backhoe had to use his bucket to PULL himself up the grade. We had always thought that the hill was solid sandstone but it seemed to crumble under the power of the machine --- which appeared to make life even more "interesting" for the operator. (GGG) Both photos by Robin Scanes of New Zealand.
11/09/07 Hammer Drill-Deadmen (T-1 WP) - 235 11/09/07 Trailer with sleepers/deadmen - 236 11/09/07 Shotcrete wall is growing T-2 EP - 237
Photos 235 - 237: Shows "Hammer drills" and the "sleepers/deadmen" parked between the tunnels - while dirt is removed from above those same tunnels. We were told that the "deadmen" were thirty feet long each -- and that at the top of the shotcrete walls, those deadmen were inserted 100 feet laterally into the hills.
11/09/07 NEW Silverwood Connector - 238 11/09/07 BNSF EB out of T-2 EP - 239 11/09/07 UP SB above tunnels on UP tracks - 240
On 11/09/07, there was one cold, gloomy, and humid day on Cajon --- but still no real rain. Photos were taken in the late afternoon by Gary.
Photo 238: It shows the connection from the UP/SP Palmdale Cutoff to the BNSF's new 3MT and existing BNSF #1 track. 
From left to right: 1) The Silverwood connector (I'm standing on the UP/SP Palmdale Cutoff), 2) BNSF new  3MT (hopefully BNSF will straighten the 3MT track), 3) BNSF existing #1 track, 4) BNSF existing #2 track (GGG)
11/07/07 Curved Bridge construction - 241 11/07/07 Close up site details - 242 11/07/07 BNSF EB on Main # 1 - 243
Photos 241 - 242 show the equipment and supplies necessary to complete the new 3MT "curved bridge" at MP 64.1X (East Cajon Station)
Photo 243 shows a BNSF freight over the existing #1 curved bridge headed up to Sullivan's curve. (GGG)
A few words to the correct MP numbers on MT # 1 (north main): The MP's on this track are referred to the X track in the time table and all bridges also have an X designation. It is just between Cajon Station and Summit and the X tells us it is the # 1 track and not # 2 track (which is shorter). As the main construction, we are documenting, is located between the segment of Cajon Station and Summit, we did not always add the X on the MP settings ! ! This is because the 3MT is being built along the MT # 1. Hopefully it does avoid any MP confusion ! !
11/04/07 Replacing Track # 1 Bridge - 244 11/07/07 New 3MT Bridge - 245 11/07/07 NS engines pass the new bridge - 246
Photo 244 shows work completed on the new 3MT and existing #2 track. The track # 1 bridge is being replaced. (RR West of Cajon Station).
Photos 245 - 246 shows all three completed bridges --- with the new # 3 MT without ballast and track. (same location)
10/30/07 Swarthout Cyn Rd widened - 247 10/30/07 Swarthout Cyn Rd relocation - 248 10/30/07 Hammer Drill above Swarthout Rd - 249
Photos 247 - 248: The Swarthout Canyon Road was moved 70 feet North to accommodate the 3MT.
Photos 249 - 250: Hammer Drills are removing the rock hills for the new BNSF 3MT. It requires much more effort to cut the rocks compared to dirt removal.
11/07/07 Twin Hammer drills in action - 250 11/21/07 T-2 WP Dirt removal - 251 11/21/07 T-2 EP Portal extension with rebar - 252
11/23/07 T-2 EP (2 days later) - 253 11/23/07 T-2 EP (looks RR East) - 254 11/23/07 T-2 EP crack in the portal crown - 255
Photos 251 - 257: Last week, the 3MT construction got really interesting. As we were told:  ----  While Ames Construction was uncovering Tunnel 2, a crack in the barrel of the tunnel was discovered. Evidently, falling debris was reported and the decision was made to remove the un-reinforced roof of the tunnel barrel. The Sunlight has not been great for photography, but here are the pictures from Don and me. (GGG)
11/23/07 T-2 View of barrel and WP - 256 11/23/07 T-2 WP as seen from the inside - 257 11/15/07 Bridge Construction at MP 61.5X - 258
11/15/07 Inserting a bridge element MP 61.5X - 259 11/15/07 View from above, unfinished bridge - 260 11/16/06 Nearly completed bridge (1 day later) - 261
Photos 258 - 262: The new bridge is located at MP 61.5X, near Highway 138. This location is also called Mormon Rocks, Stein's Hill and Pine Lodge.
11/23/07 Completed bridge and ready for track - 262 11/16/07 BNSF EB T-1 EP, still activities on top - 263 11/23/07 T-1 WP - Last days of this Tunnel - 264
11/13/07 As seen from Sullivan's Overlook - 265 11/23/07 Sullivan's Curve, hill w/o backhoe - 266 11/23/07 Hill removal at Swarthout Cyn Rd - 267
11/12/07 New curved bridge at MP 64.1X - 268 11/12/07 Bridge construction MP 63.4 - 269 11/12/07 Bridge supports MP 63.4 W. Cajon - 270
11/28/07 Huge Ames Drill Bit for Backhoe - 271 11/28/07 CAT D-10 Dozer, Swarthout Cyn Rd - 272 11/28/07 Ballast Regulator, Track Equipt. - 273
Photo 271: First is the rock drill which fits on the large backhoes. This piece is about 10 feet long. Location: Swarthout Canyon Road.
Photo 272: Second is the largest Bulldozer (D-10T) I've seen although I am told that there is an even larger D-11 Cat.
Photo 273: Third is the track ballast equipment waiting on the new 3MT near MP 58. (GGG)
12/03 Remains of Tunnel 2 - 274 12/03 Work continues for the shotcrete wall - 275 12/03 BNSF WB enters T-2 EP - 276
Last Monday (12/03/07), Don Toles, Marc Fournier and I were told that the remaining portions of the "NORTH" wall of T-2 would be removed. So, from above the tunnels on the UP/SP, Marc & Don grabed cameras and hiked even farther up the hill. Marc got two fine photographs of the exposed "north" wall. The "south" wall was left in-place to provide access for completion of the shotcrete wall. (GGG)
 Photos 274 - 275: T-2 Exposed North wall - photography by Marc Fournier. Photos 276 - 277: T-2 EP with BNSF 4174 WB by GGG
 Photos 278 - 279: Pictures of the actual destruction of the "north wall" by my friend Dave Gosney. Photography by Dave Gosney.
(A big thank you to Marc and Dave for sharing their photos with us - it is greatly appreciated) WM
12/03 Remains of Tunnel 2 (EP) - 277 12/03 Removal of North Wall - 278 12/03 BNSF Track # 1 is currently shut down - 279
11/26/07 Hydraulic Vibrator MP 61.5X - 280 11/26/07 Pile Removal - 281 11/27/07 UP 4269 WB passing construction 0.75 miles west of blue cut - 282
At the Pine Lodge/MP 61.5X Bridge, Ames Construction had to place pilings, before 3MT construction, to support the existing # 1 Main Track. Those pilings were removed using a huge hydraulic vibrator attached to the Terex crane.
11/29/07 BNSF EB curved Bridge MP 64.1X - 283 11/29/07 BNSF EB at MP 64.1X - 284 11/29/07 Bridge construction detail MP 64.1X - 285
11/29/07 BNSF 4557 EB into Sullivan's Curve (same train as on photo 283 going uphill) - 286 11/27/07 Sperry Rail Detector EB passing East End of Sullivan's Curve - 287 12/03/07 UP NB on UP track from Hill 582 (note: first snow of the Season) - 288
12/05/07 BNSF WB heads into T-2 EP - 289 12/03/07 T-2 WP North side removal - 290 12/14/07 Tunnel 1 WP  - 291
12/14/07 BNSF WB approaching T-2 EP - 292 12/14/07 Same WB train pass T-2 remainings - 293 12/14/07 Same WB train pass thru T-2 WP - 294
12/14/07 Same WB train toward I-15 - 295 12/14/07 ShotCrete Wall above T-2 - 296 12/04/07 Hill Grading at Sullivan's Curve - 297
12/04/07 Same place with WB BNSF - 298 12/10/07 Heavy work to remove the rock - 299 12/10/07 This hill will soon be gone - 300
Photos 297 - 300: Here are four of the hill North of the Sullivan's Curve 'overlook'. You may remember the previous discussion stating that the hill appeared to be very narrow and steep. See also photos 233 and 234 with the beginning of this hills' demise.

Continued on Page 4 - please click here

updated: September 27, 2008

Copyright by Don E. Toles & Gary G. Gray with permission, Werner Meer

Simple Maps about Cajon Pass:  click here

The History of Hill 582 by Don E. Toles - click here

Here are photos of the 2 tunnels before construction started: http://www.snapmania.com/users/trainmaster/cajonpasstunnels/

Excellent Aerial photos of Cajon before construction started by Dave Crammer: http://www.cajonpass.net/dca/index.html 
Dave Crammer published a 20 page report "Air Cajon" (Cajon Pass from the Air) in TRP (The Railroad Press) Magazine Issue # 71 (Oct/Nov/Dec, 2006).

More Aerial photos incl. 3MT (taken in 2008) by Dave Crammer: http://www.cajonpass.net/highabove.html 

Here is a very detailed report (390 pages) about the 3rd Main Track Construction with maps (PDF): http://www.cajonpass.net/FEIS-EIR-MAR07.pdf

Please check also my own Photo Gallery about California: click here

Lots of photos about Cajon Pass by Santiago Homsi jr, http://www.cajonpass.net 

Southern California Rail Fan by Dave Toussaint: http://www.SoCalRailFan.com
New Cajon Pass Book by Dave Toussaint:  http://www.socalrailfan.com/book.html

In Memory of Chard L. Walker (1922 - 2007) - click here


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