This topic is for serious Cajon followers and NOT coffee shop types please…
As a Southern California High Desert local, I hope to visit the pass at least every 2-4 weeks and update the triple-tracking progress. Other Cajon visitors may find other important updates to share with us.
CAJON PASS:
Saturday, August 18, 2007:
At Summit, major grading for the third track has taken place, and is almost shocking to see for longtime visitors. A three-track cantilever signal bridge is now in place at the west end of the present crossovers. The upgraded Summit crossovers plant appears to NOT be a full flexibility arrangement. The missing switches will probably be put at Silverwood, slightly over half a mile downgrade to the west.
BARSTOW-DAGGETT:
About July 2007:
A third track is being installed. A new three-track cantilever signal bridge has been erected at the far west end of the new Daggett plant. Union Pacific track #1 (making for four tracks) will need a new eastbound signal positioned when the present signal bridge is deleted.
Thanks for the update. If you can post a picture or two, I would like to see them as we lived in Southern California for over 30 years and used to visit the pass fairly often.
…Warren smith promissed he’d provide lots of Photo updates of construction. He has already posted some. Check back a ways to find them. Beautiful views.
THE TRACK TO DAGGET HAS ALL THE BALLAST DOWN,I WAS THERE AUGUST 3rd AND ALL THAT WAS LEFT TO DO WAS TO TIE IN SIGNALS AND FINISH SIDING SWITCH AT EAST END IN DAGGET. ALL SIGNALS WERE UP AND SIGNAL MAINTAINER WAS CONNECTING ALL THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. TRACK WAS IN USE UP TO YARD LIMIT TRACKS AT EAST END OF BARSTOW YARD. THERE ARE FOUR TRACKS FOR ABOUT A MILE AS THE THIRD TRACK RUNS FROM THE DAGGET STREET CROSSING ABOUT A MILE TO THE WEST,AS THE TRACK OFF THE U.P. RUNS UP A MILE PAST THE STREET CROSSING HEADED WEST. THERE IS A SIGNAL TOWER IN PLACE AT THE END OF THIS TRACKAGE. WHERE THE JUNCTION OF THE OLD SANTA FE AND U.P. MEET THESE SIGNALS ARE BEING REPLACED WITH TRIPLE COLOR AND HOODS. THE U.P. TRACKS ARE ALSO GE TTING NEW SIGNALS FOR WEST BOUNDS. ONE OF THE UNITS INVOLVED IN THE WRECK NEAR KISMET,THE 4059 WAS ON THIS EASTBOUND CHECK IT OUT. PICTURES WERE ALL TAKEN ON 8-3-07,FROM BARSTOW OUT TO THE SIDING AT PISGAH EAST.
If all goes well I will again be out there end Oct maybe we can connect? The 3rd track you refer to is already in operation from East Barstow to the yard & has been for some time. They are now moving eastward & it will merge with the mainline track just west of the Daggett-Yermo road crossing. There are pix of this from my visit in July 07. Check out my web site in my signature & then the S. Cal galleries & you can see the progress of that 3rd track by going backwards thru the S. Cal galleries [:)]
I just got back from Cajon and got some pics of the new construction and caught the 1996 SP heritage unit, but I don’t know if I’ll have time to post them today. Stay tunned…
Yes, But in phases. They just started the section closest to the summit though (Alray? to Summit). Last year they completed the 3rd track up to Keenbrook. Between Keenbrook and Cajon I think most all of the work has been on retaining walls so far but I’m not sure cause I don’t hang out much below Cajon.
Gotcha! I thought so. Thanks! I have always wanted to get there-maybe this fall I can make it. It’d be much appreciated to get a tip on where to go/avoid.
The third track seems complete and is in operation. Old signals controlling entrance to UP (to Las Vegas) remain and still operational; new cantilevered signals governing UP train entrance to BNSF operational.
Work is progressing strikingly fast, EVEN CREWS WORKING ON SUNDAY! Railroad east of Keenbrook, concrete retaining wall construction to protect the third track has progressed rapidly. Tractors and a high crane are at Cajon where the tracks separate. Bridge supports construction by Highway 138 is progressing. Earthwork for the third-track at Summit seems complete, and thereat two of the three sets of signals on the west cantilever signal bridge are operational, and the old signals removed. At lease one two-track signal bride is in place at Silverwood. Silverwood will have 1/4 of the crossovers, and Summit proper will have the other 3/4’s of the crossovers in the Summit area, making for a very untypical crossovers arrangement.
Is there anything unusual about the construction I didn’t see? Most people don’t realize that Cajon Pass is there because the San andreas fault made it and it is right on top of it.
