I spent friday eve & sat morning in Cajon. I havn’t spent any real time here in 5 years or so. The BNSF line was as busy as I’ve ever seen it. The Palmdale line is about the same as its always been.
Heres what I saw between 4pm to 11pm fri and 5:30am -2pm sat:
Palmdale line: 1 work train…2 eastbounds(down)…3 westbounds
UPs on BNSF: 5 westbounds(down)…8 eastbounds
BNSF: 25 westbounds…16 eastbounds
Amtrak: 1 east…1 west
19 total UP
For a total of 62 trains in 15.5 hours. Not bad.
BNSF is now 3MT CTC from Summit to about 3 Miles east. While westbounds were lining up to decend, several eastbound were held for faster ones to overtake them. At times there were 5 trains in eyesight on the BNSF line alone, plus a work train on the palmdale line. Way cool.
I also saw several NS units, and a couple CSX units. I saw even more CN units including a SD50F cowl unit.
It’s great that BNSF has more trains rolling thru Cajon Pass.[:)] It makes for some good railfanning.
For Union Pacific, it’s one of four ways into Southern California. The coast, Saugas Line, Palmdale-Colton Cutoff and Beaumont Hill.
Actually, it is one of five ways. Don’t forget trackage rights on BNSF to Dagget. That’s UP’s original LA gateway. [;)] [8D]
That true. I forgot about the fifth way.
spbed
March 22, 2005, 1:52pm
5
Funny I just watched my Cajon pass video from 03. Sounded like you had a blast. [8D][8D][8D]
QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas
I spent friday eve & sat morning in Cajon. I havn’t spent any real time here in 5 years or so. The BNSF line was as busy as I’ve ever seen it. The Palmdale line is about the same as its always been.
Heres what I saw between 4pm to 11pm fri and 5:30am -2pm sat:
Palmdale line: 1 work train…2 eastbounds(down)…3 westbounds
UPs on BNSF: 5 westbounds(down)…8 eastbounds
BNSF: 25 westbounds…16 eastbounds
Amtrak: 1 east…1 west
19 total UP
For a total of 62 trains in 15.5 hours. Not bad.
BNSF is now 3MT CTC from Summit to about 3 Miles east. While westbounds were lining up to decend, several eastbound were held for faster ones to overtake them. At times there were 5 trains in eyesight on the BNSF line alone, plus a work train on the palmdale line. Way cool.
I also saw several NS units, and a couple CSX units. I saw even more CN units including a SD50F cowl unit.
spbed
March 22, 2005, 2:01pm
6
You must remember that the BNSF bay area traffic also moves thru Barstow/Cajon pass/Daggett. The UPRR bay area traffic moves overland via the Donner pass (ex SP) or the Feather River Canyon (ex WP). That is why you see more BNSF traffic in Cajon then the UPRR. Also the UPRR sends some of its Chicago bound traffic over the Sunset route, then the GSR to Hutchinson then the BNSF transcon to Chicago taking more of their traffic away from Cajon. [8D][:D][:)]
QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose
It’s great that BNSF has more trains rolling thru Cajon Pass.[:)] It makes for some good railfanning.
For Union Pacific, it’s one of four ways into Southern California. The coast, Saugas Line, Palmdale-Colton Cutoff and Beaumont Hill.
spbed
March 22, 2005, 2:03pm
7
JIC we do not meet in Aug can you furnish me with driving directions to where you were? Thanks [:D]
QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas
I spent friday eve & sat morning in Cajon. I havn’t spent any real time here in 5 years or so. The BNSF line was as busy as I’ve ever seen it. The Palmdale line is about the same as its always been.
Heres what I saw between 4pm to 11pm fri and 5:30am -2pm sat:
Palmdale line: 1 work train…2 eastbounds(down)…3 westbounds
UPs on BNSF: 5 westbounds(down)…8 eastbounds
BNSF: 25 westbounds…16 eastbounds
Amtrak: 1 east…1 west
19 total UP
For a total of 62 trains in 15.5 hours. Not bad.
BNSF is now 3MT CTC from Summit to about 3 Miles east. While westbounds were lining up to decend, several eastbound were held for faster ones to overtake them. At times there were 5 trains in eyesight on the BNSF line alone, plus a work train on the palmdale line. Way cool.
I also saw several NS units, and a couple CSX units. I saw even more CN units including a SD50F cowl unit.
Spbed,
ericsp
March 22, 2005, 3:47pm
9
QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed
You must remember that the BNSF bay area traffic also moves thru Barstow/Cajon pass/Daggett. The UPRR bay area traffic moves overland via the Donner pass (ex SP) or the Feather River Canyon (ex WP). That is why you see more BNSF traffic in Cajon then the UPRR. Also the UPRR sends some of its Chicago bound traffic over the Sunset route, then the GSR to Hutchinson then the BNSF transcon to Chicago taking more of their traffic away from Cajon. [8D][:D][:)]
QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose
It’s great that BNSF has more trains rolling thru Cajon Pass.[:)] It makes for some good railfanning.
For Union Pacific, it’s one of four ways into Southern California. The coast, Saugas Line, Palmdale-Colton Cutoff and Beaumont Hill.
Unless BNSF Bay Area traffic is coming from or going to the LA or San Diego areas, it will not go over Cajon.
spbed
March 23, 2005, 8:56am
10
Yes I was thinking of Daggett but posting about Cajon. Sorry. [:D]
[quote]Originally posted by ericsp
[quote]Originally posted by spbed
spbed
March 23, 2005, 8:58am
11
Thanks that will be super & I appreciate it. No hurry I will not be there till late Aug. [:p][:)][:D]
[quote]Originally posted by chad thomas