…Appreciate the photo update.
Update as of May 23, 2008:
Cantilevered bridge part of signal structure has been attached after being transported from Cajon to Blue Cut
The old and new signals are nearly a quarter mile apart. Also, note the difference in retaining wall textures
Thanks for the latest photos on Cajon Triple tracking. I was planning on going their this weekend but guess I will wait for July 4th instead.
I have a question, what kind of camera and lens are you using for most of your shots ?
Al - in - Stockton
I’ve been borrowing my wife’s 8 megapixel digital Sony that has some type of zoom capability. It is hardly a Hasselblad or Nikon, both of which I’ve owned in the ancient past.
Passengerfan:
If you are thinking about visiting on July 4, be mindful that Cajon Pass is normally dead as can be on THAT holiday, as it usually is on big holidays. If BNSF finally gets the third track laid, the dead July 4 holiday would be an excellent time to change the track alignments. While the photo below was posted previously, one can discern from it just how big that quick re-alignment project will be
Thx KP
I just bought a new Canon SLR with a couple of extra zoom lenses and am anxious to try it out. Thought I would give Tehachapi a try this weekend as I have to work today. Maybe watching and photgraphing the track realighment on the July 4th weekend might not be such a bad idea after all.
I only hope to come close to your photography it has been great, I have enjoyed all of the updates and look forward to your future photo endeavours .
Al - in - Stockton
As of Sunday, May 25, 2008:
The Track 1 (left) coming into the west end (foreground) of the new Walker crossovers has been alignment shifted, so Track 1 now aligns with Track 1. Track 2 is on the right.
Previously, Track 1 aligned with the Track 2 position. Note how close the unadjusted Track 1 WAS to the cantilevered signal support as opposed to the above photo.
As of Thursday, May 29, 2008:
Four photos at Cajon:
Workers have to clear the main for an eastbound (rightward) that includes a CSX AC pool power unit
Assembling a turnout
Attached switch motor
What is in the top background? Is it a row of turnout rail pieces awaiting assembly?
A photo between Cajon and Walker (formerly Alray):
View looks eastbound from a State Highway 138 overpass. Ribbon rail has now been loosely positioned
Nope - too short, too many, and appear to be too many bends / curves in them.
Typically, the shortest acceptable rails in a turnout are in the 20 ft. range, and there are usually no more than 2 of them in each turnout - perhaps 1 in each of the “closure” rails, which are the rails that connect between the heel (“pivot”) of the switchpoint rails, and the toe of the frog.
From the amount of curvature and bends in these, they look like rails that have been cropped for scrap - although crops are usually in the 24" to 36" range, and these appear to be 6 to 8 ft. long. Are they laying on top of the rails of another track ? (hard to tell with the telephoto’s foreshortening effect, the view angle, and the resolution of this image) Perhaps they have been set-up that way to facilitate scooping them up with the forks on a loader/ Pettibone/ lift-type machine ?
Alternatively, they might be stacked there pending being used as a skid (in lieu of the special purpose CWR rollers) for the CWR for the new track to be dragged and slid over into position. CWR is tough to move into position for a new track unless there’s already an existing more or less parallel track nearby - say, less than 100 ft. and without any obstacles over say 5 ft. high. Depending on the location of the new track(s), would there be a need for this ? I’ve done it a couple times myself in years gone by - worked pretty good in dry ballast / cinders/ gravel conditions - not so good in wet clay & mud.
Anyway, for what it’s worth.
By the way Kevin - thanks very much for your diligence in taking and posting these photos. Very unusal and informative “in progress” views of a fascinating major project at an important site that many of us can’t visit in person - certainly not where you’re able to get. Keep up the good work - look forward to seeing more, esp. as the actual track-laying gets under
Update as of May 31, 2008:
Westward from CP Walker, offloading continuous welded rail has reached Cajon
Track equipment is starting to arrive
A whole bunch of railcars loaded with concrete ties are now parked in the Martinez Spur east of Summit.
Thanks for the May 31 photos K P it’s beginning to look like July 4 may be the perfect time to get photos. Moving the tracks into place could be the perfect time to be there.
Al - in - Stockton
As of Thursday, June 12, 2008: An east to west report (CP Walker to CP Cajon)
A tie-work train’s locomotives wait all day at the west end of CP Walker.
Just west of CP Walker, a back road is closed for track laying
Track starts into curve and will change directions by about 150 degrees
The day before, Wednesday, the west working tie and track laying train stopped here
Back to Thursday, crewed crane rolls on flatcars shuttling ties back and forth the length of the train
Ties are conveyed to ground level
What the scene looks like behind the tie laying train. Note the difference in track centers alignment as the new track on the right goes from the background to over the
Thx KP
As usual your photos bring us right up to date with what is happening at Cajon Pass. Today was a bonanza of fine photography. Looks like the TV news was trying to cut into your photgraphy a bit. There camera’s are very heavy and makes them top heavy when they stand close to bridge edge like that a slight bump and you would have your photography spot all to yourself once again. Just Kidding!!!
Would your educated guess still think they are going to be aligning the tracks about the July 4 weekend. I have already started planning trip that way for the long weekend. Still going to take convincing better half. Hate to think how much that shopping spree is going to cost.
Can’t wait for the next installment.
Al - in - Stockton
…Thanks for sharing your great track laying photos. It’s always been a mystery to me the way new track is put down…Graded and then ties and rails installed and last…ballast installed “over it all”…It just seems it would be awkward to get the track up on top of the ballast and everything leveled and contoured correctly. I suppose now with so many machines, each with a special job to do, this process is accomplished and not too much thought of it.
Passengercar:
Reference both your June 7 and 13, 2008 posts about visiting Cajon Pass during the July 4 holiday weekend …
There has been some conjecturing that railroad WEST of CP CAJON the tracks would be realigned at that time because few trains will be operating. It has been quite difficult to second guess the railroad, but after assessing present developments, I now feel it is somewhat safe to say NOTHING will transpire project-wise on the the July 4 weekend. (I hope I don’t have to eat crow on this one.)
Last Thursday (June 12), the westward track laying train reached the mid point between CP WALKER and CP CAJON. However, it was observed Saturday (June 14) that a new stock of ties was on site, but no further westward progress had been made. (Note the lack of laid ties on the left.)
At CP CAJON, all the turnouts and future turnouts are present, except one.
The farthermost CROSSOVER (lower left) is missing a turnout, and its whereabouts is totally unaccounted for
The steep 3% track will likely soon be real
As of June 15, 2008:
Many Cajon Pass visitors have discovered that CP SILVERWOOD, about half a mile west of CP SUMMIT, is very difficult to visually see, and hence, what is actually there is kind of a mystery for them. Nevertheless, here it is. Union Pacific’s Palmdale Cutoff is the track in the bottom left corner
From top to bottom: (1) Track 3, the old steep 3% line; (2) Track 2, the old 2.2% line; (3) Track 1, the newly installed track adjacent Track 2; and (4) the Connector between BNSF and UP
UP’s own CP SILVERWOOD (lower left). Popular dirt roadway for locals and visitors alike goes underneath the BNSF
Between CP SILVERWOOD and CP WALKER. The new track is on the right. The UP line is in the top background
Believe it or not, but the top of the new cantilevered signal bridge at Blue Cut has met up with graffitists
The new grade crossing device at Blue C
That graffitti doesn’t surprise me. One thing I notice when I get out to LA every year is how bad graffitti is there. It’s by far the worst in the world and makes the whole area look like crap. I’m not sure if it’s gangs but it’s out of control. I noticed the same thing on new highway overpasses there. You’ll see freshly laid concrete retaining wall sections with a yet to be laid section next to it and the new one already has graffitti. I’m not sure what’s going on out there but sadly no one in charge seems to care enough to combat it. It makes CA as a whole look really bad to those who aren’t from there. Houston by comparison is an upscale finely groomed resort and it’s not exactly perfect here either. It’s sad to see that.
Update as of Wednesday afternoon, June 18, 2008:
Westbound tie and track laying train, after passing Sullivan’s Curve and the famous Mormon Rocks, ran out of ties and tied up for the night.
…Thanks to the above for photo updates.