Photo ops in the I-15 Corridor

Trains Magazine General Discussion
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I’ve written a prior post about my trip to Nebraska. I now find myself looking for help in locating areas to photograph BNSF and UP in the Cajon Pass area.

I have spoken with PR people on both roads and been told about ROW restrictions. I need to know about public roads in and around the area. The areas of concern are where Chard Walker did his work and also Sullivan’s Curve, in the pass.

I have found a web-site for Tehachapi Loop that gives me good locations along RTE 68

Can US Forestry Service maps show public roads in the area.?

I also need info on Barstow and places of interest on RTE 66 in the area,i.e places to partake of local food and culture

2

You might try the Google Maps. There are many places where you can watch or photograph trains from public property. There is a public road from the Cajon Jct CA 138 exit from I 15 which leads to the summit where you can look down on the tracks. There are publicly accessible dirt fire trail roads which are hard packed and can be driven on without high clearence vehicles. I understand there is a gas station at Cajon Junction where US Forestry Service maps are available.

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My Dodge Grand Caravan minivan made it to the top of Hill 582, even though it was loaded to the roof liner with my son’s possessions for his move back to Iowa.[:D]

4

Try the following link for San Bernardino National Forest visitor Map:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/forestvisitormaps/sanbernardino/

Sorry about no automatic link here, thanks to Trains forum code that for some reason does not like Safari and doesn’t enable the extra editing features.

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Another map source for Forest Service roads is Acme Mapper. Switch between the Satellite and Topo views to get the ‘lay of the land’.

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I have been to Cajon Pass area 3 times, once in September 2007 I spent 3 days covering the area from San Bernardino to the Hesperia crossover. get off I-15 at exit 124, go west to Cajon Blvd(Historic RT 66) make a right(north) as you follow Cajon Blvd the triple track BNSF & the UP will be on your left

across the wash. In the next 2-5 miles there will be 3 roads that go of to the left that will intersect with the tracks. Also the mainline will come up next to the road with some great photo ops. Make a left on

Swarthout Canyon Rd, it will cross the triple track and then the UP. Good for up close photo’s or video with roar and vibration. Continuing north on Cajon Blvd(66) you can go left just before getting back on I-15 and get close to tracks for shots. You have to backtrack to I-15 and go north on 15 to exit 131

to 138 west you will see where BNSF trks split and you crossvover a single SF trk then over 2 SF trks then the UP. When I was there they had many construction vehicles building the third track bridges and retaining walls so could not get to some areas. Then turn around on 138 and head east past I-15

about 2 or 3 miles and the triple track and up will come south and curve east alongside 138 there is an overlook about 75-100 ft right above the triple track and eye level with the UP about 1500 ft away.

The summit will be a 1/2 mile east. If you continue east on 138, in about mile you will make a left on Summit Valley Rd. It will meet the triple track and follow it with name changes all the way to the Hesperia flyover north of Hesperia. GO TO GOOGLE MAPS AND CHOOSE SATELLITE WITH STREET NAMES AND YOU CAN FOLLOW THE WHOLE TRIP. &n

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Ordered the San Bernadino National Forest Service map and also a Sequoian Nationa Forest map

Thanks for all the help

Cessna 310