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 (and other contributors).

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

Photos 505 - 597 on this page starting March 25, 2008 and ending April 25, 2008

3/25/08 UP SB above Tunnel 1 - 505	3/25/08 T-1 WP Ramp building - 506	3/28/08 T-1 WP Trucks transporting the dirt - 507
3/28/08 T-1 WP looking east - 508	3/28/08 Cut off Main # 1 visible - 509	3/28/08 T-1 EP Shotcrete wall to be continued - 510
3/28/08 BNSF EB T-1 EP - 511	3/28/08 BNSF EB T-2 EP - 512	3/28/08 T-2 is a truck-road for the dirt from T-1 - 513
3/26/08 Erosion Control near Bridge MP 57.2X - 514	4/04/08 BNSF w/Track Geometry Car - 515	4/04/08 Going down on the UP track - 516
Photos 515 - 516: Even not connected with the 3rd MT construction, it might be of interest to see ATSF/BNSF 512 pulling the FRA  DOTX 220 Track Geometry Car SB on the SP/UP track passing near Hill 582. Here are some more infos about this car: FRA Track Geometry Car DOTX 220
4/01/08 This piece of Tunnel has to be raised - 517	4/01/08 Cutting old RR ties to hold the rock - 518	4/01/08 Jerry & Marc are fixing that thing - 519
Photos 517 - 520: So, it was decided to raise the 1913 Memorial so that some decorative rock could be placed around it. Jerry, Marc, and Don went to work and produced the attached great display. (See also on page 5 photos 498 - 504).
4/01/08 The finished 1913 Memorial - 520	4/01/08 T-1 EP ShotCrete Wall construction - 521	4/04/08 BNSF EB pass T-1 EP - 522
4/04/08 T-1 EP ShotCrete Wall work - 523	4/04/08 BNSF EB pass T-2 EP - 524	4/04/08 The remains of T-2 will soon be gone - 525
Photos 521 - 523: The dirt above T-1 has been cut to tunnel roof level and, shortly, that portion of the ShotCrete wall should be in place. Of course, that will permit removal of more dirt from the South wall.  We are guessing that two more removals and concrete wall placements will complete the wall for T-1. Photos 524 -525: We understand that the portals and remains of T-2 will be demolished within the next few days. (GGG)
4/04/08 BNSF EB Sullivan's Curve - 526	4/4/08 New ROW is ready for the tracks - 527	4/04/08 BNSF WB Swarthout Canyon Road - 528
4/04/08 BNSF EB w/Coil Cars - 529	4/04/08 Retaining wall Swarthout Cyn Rd - 530	4/04/08 The widened cut is finished - 531
Photos 528 - 529: It appears that the grading and rock sub roadbed are finished to RR West of Swarthout Canyon Road. The following will show a few trains and the progress on the sub roadbed. (GGG)
2/06/08 Shows how strong the erosion is - 532	4/04/08 Cement slope should stop erosion - 533	4/09/08 Erosion control w/tunnel rubble - 534
Photos 532 - 533: This is from under the bridge at MP 57.2X where Ames has "installed" a cement slope to prevent more erosion. Interesting to see how it looked before the cement applying was done (532). Photo 534: Tunnel Rubble used as erosion control --- both from rain and off-roaders. (GGG)
4/09/08 T-1 EP more dirt is removed  - 535	4/09/08 T-1 EP the tunnel roof is visible  - 536	4/09/08 BNSF EB at MP 57.2X - 537
4/09/08 Silverwood - 538	4/09/08 BNSF EB at Silverwwod - 539	4/09/08 BNSF WB at Silverwood - 540
Photo 538: It shows the final configuration of the Silverwood area taken from the UP/SP Palmdale Line. From Left to Right are the Silverwood Connector (between UP and BNSF) and BNSF Mains # 1 - #  2 - # 3. Photos 539 - 540: These pictures were taken from Bowen's Knoll just North of West Summit Island. (GGG)
4/11/08 T-1 EP There is a hole on top - 541	4/11/08 The ShotCrete wall is growing down - 542	4/14/08 Safety fence for protection - 543
4/14/08 T-1 EP Scoring for "1913" - 544	4/14/08 Will the scoring be successful? - 545	4/14/08 UP EB around T-1 - 546
Photos 541 - 546: Loads of action at the tunnels today (Friday 4/11/08). Ames and DrillTech are really going "after" the tunnels. As you may remember, BNSF evidently wants to try to save the two remaining "1913" imprints in T-1 EP and T-2 WP. Photo 541: shows T-1 EP - note the hole in the roof of the tunnel and the "1913" on the portal. Photo 542: shows more detail of the hole and the length of the sleeper/deadman placed into the hill wall to retain  the ShotCrete wall. Photo 543: is of the safety fence protecting workers from THE HOLE IN THE ROOF. Photos 544 - 545: show the scoring of the "1913" on T-1 EP. The effort here is to score the concrete, then chip around the wanted area and remove the area intact --- HOPEFULLY. (We are trying to find out where the "1913's" will be placed ?)
4/14/08 Tunnel 2 - 547	4/14/08 T-2 demolition - 548	4/14/08 T-2 demolition - 549
4/14/08 Tunnel 2 - 550	4/14/08 T-2 demolition - 551	4/14/08 T-2 demolition - 552
4/14/08 Tunnel 2 - 553	4/14/08 T-2 demolition - 554	4/14/08 T-2 Cracks in the North wall - 555
According to the construction folks, the concrete used in the 1913 tunnels, and the 1923 extension, is the hardest ever seen. And so, it took one heck of a machine to tear the tunnels down. Yesterday, Monday, 4/14/08, it was time for the 1923 extension to T-2 EP to be destroyed. Ames used a machine we could only name JAWS. The concrete was 2 feet+ thick and had some steel reinforcement.  Photos 547 - 555: In the attached images, Jaws tore out the roof peak, came around to the EP and just pushed the South wall into the tunnel space. Of course, all this time the bigger pieces were being reduced by the hydraulic Hammer Drill. The last image shows the cracks in the remaining North wall.
4/11/08 BNSF WB at "Nasty Knoll" - 556	4/11/08 Finished retaining wall - 557	4/11/08 BNSF EB Swarthout Cny Rd  - 558
Here are a few of completed ROW sub-roadbed from Don Toles. In other words, the new ROW is ready for the track laying. Photo 557: The finished retaining wall at Swarthout Canyon Road. Photo 558: The repaved Swarthout Cyn Rd. Photo 559: UP 5436 EB at UP MP 475 (the 475 spot).
4/11/08 UP EB seen from UP MP 475 - 559	4/16/08 T-2 is almost gone - 560	4/16/08 T-2 West portal is still standing - 561
4/16/08 "Jaws" at rest (Tunnel eater) - 562	4/16/08 T-1 WP - 563	4/16/08 T-1 WP - 564
On Wednesday, 4/16/08 Ames had three machines on top of T-1. Photos 563 - 564: The backhoe and dozer were working to lower the dirt level at the South Wall - to permit DrillTech to build the ShotCrete wall down another several feet. Photo 565 shows the hammer drill destroying the crown of the tunnel. Photos 566 - 568 are of T-1 WP showing the destruction. Photo 569 shows the situation from the other side. The pre-cut section on the Tunnel Portal middle (East side) can be seen well. Hopefully, the 1913 can be taken in one piece.
4/16/08 Hammer drill on top of T-1 - 565	4/16/08 T-1 WP - 566	4/16/08 T-1 WP - 567
4/16/08 T-1 WP - 568	4/16/08 T-1 EP - 569	4/16/08 Realignment of Track 2 East of T-1 - 570
Photos 570 - 571: Just RR East of T-1 EP, BNSF is realigning Main # 2. We don't know exactly why --- more infos will be given later. Interesting to see how the track is moved by machines and it looks like putting flex track on a modeller's layout. Photo 572: This is the completed Main Track # 2 realignment -- just RR East of T-1 --- still requiring surfacing. Track # 2 was moved 8 feet toward track # 1.
4/16/08 Realignment East of Tunnel 1 - 571	4/18/08 Track # 2 was moved 8 feet - 572	2/29/08 Close-up of the "1913" - 573
4/18/08 The T-1 EP is gone - 574	4/18/08 Saved "1913" in the middle - 575	4/18/08 The "1913" is saved - 576
Photo 573: was taken on 02-29-08. Close-up of the "1913". See also Photos 544 - 545 which show the scoring done to help the removal. Photo 569 shows the East portal of T-1 with the prepared 1913 section. Photo 574: Long range shot of T-1 EP (only some concrete pieces are left over) --- note the blackened object between the large concrete blocks. Photos 575 - 577 show the saved "1913" segment. Many Thanks to BNSF and Ames for the idea and work that went into this preservation effort. (GGG)
4/18/08 Close-up of the "1913" - 577	4/18/08 T-1 with open middle section - 578	4/18/08 T-1 with demolished EP - 579
4/18/08 Ground level view of T-1 EP - 580	4/18/08 BNSF EB with the JAC-BAR - 581	4/18/08 Same train looking East - 582
4/18/08 BNSF EB pass left over T-2 - 583	4/18/08 BNSF EB around T-1 - 584	4/18/08 BNSF EB at MP 59X - 585
Photos 583 - 585: Last Friday, 4/18/08 -- from what's left of the tunnels -- let's just call it MP 59X (which is the MP between the old tunnels).
4/25/08 On photo 583 the WP was still here - 586	4/25/08 Leveling of sub roadbed - 587	4/25/08 BNSF EB pass former T-2 - 588
Photos 586 - 588: Tunnel 2 is GONE -- as in COMPLETELY. The West Portal was torn and removed. The ShotCrete Wall is finished. The new sub roadbed being leveled and compacted in the area once known as Tunnel 2.
4/25/08 T-1 ShotCrete Wall is continued down - 589	4/25/08 Close-up of construction - 590	4/25/08 South wall remains of T-1 - 591
4/25/08 Close-up of concrete pumping - 592	4/25/08 Lost and found inside T-1 - 593	4/25/08 Even an old pick was found - 594
A couple of weeks ago, the roof of T-1 was removed. Last week the barrel of T-1 was filled with dirt to provide another access road for both Drill Tech (the ShotCrete wall) and Ames Construction.  Photo 589: shows an overall view of the work atop what once was T-1. Photo 590: is a close-up of the work. The South wall of T-1 is visible just ahead of the dump truck. Photo 591: is a close-up of the South wall remains. Photo 592: is another close-up of the area with concrete being pumped into the sleeper/deadman holes. Photos 593 - 594: are closeups of two artifacts found within the Tunnel 1. Light RR Rails were placed across the floor of the tunnel as reinforcement. The concrete floor was then poured. NOTE THE DATE ON THE RAIL. Also, a wooden handle was found protruding from one of the walls. As the concrete was broken, a pick was found --- Evidently, both artifacts have been there since the tunnels were built in 1913. (GGG/DET)
4/25/08 BNSF EB pass T-1while work cont. - 595	4/25/08 UP 1996 DPU SB above tunnel area - 596	4/25/08 UP NB and Piggy Back EB T-2 - 597

Continued on page 7 - 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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