Southern California was hit by a very cold Arctic air weather system which dumped heavy snow in Cajon Pass and the High Desert earlier in the week. I contacted Chris Parker to see if he wanted to go to Cajon Pass and he said he would get back to me. On Saturday morning, I left a message for him and boarded Pacific Surfliner 564 to ride to Irvine. On the way, Chris called back and it was planned that we would meet at 12:10 PM. I detrained at Irvine and crossed the bridge to wait for Pacific Surfliner 565 then boarded that train and Chris called back to tell me that Larry Boerio also wanted to go and he would drive. I arrived at LAUPT but the conductor to whom I was going to give the Million Mile DVD set was on vacation, so it was a wasted trip. I returned to Santa Ana on Pacific Surfliner 572 and drove home before changing into my long johns and took out my snow boots then fixed lunch.
Chris arrived first then shortly thereafter, Larry drove up and we loaded his car and soon were off to Cajon Pass, taking California Highway 57 north to Interstate 210 to Interstate 15. Before Devore, we exited the jammed freeway but were caught by an eastbound BNSF freight. Once he cleared, we drove through Devore and proceeded on Cajon Boulevard through Blu Cut to Cajon Junction. We jumped on the freeway to the next exit and drove up and over the hill on California Highway 138, taking Power Line Road and after the first track, turned right and drove to the hill between where the tracks split. Just as we arrived, here came our first train in the snow.
This short westbound Union Pacific train even had a DPU.
An abnormal winter time scene around the corner from Summit.
Next, a westbound BNSF train came down the old south track.
A while later, that BNSF eastbound from Devore finally passed through.
Chris Parker and Larry Boerio.
The author with Larry.
Another eastbound BNSF train passed by our location at Silverwood, after which we all decided we had had enough here, so drove to Sullivan's Curve and would finish the afternoon there.
A westbound Union Pacific train rounded Sullivan's Curve.
An eastbound BNSF freight.
We then drove to the far end, parked and I decided to do a little climbing to provide this view. Larry wanted to eat at the Summit Inn which sounded a good idea. We heard a horn and although it was on the down track, soon heard another and hoped for one last train.
A BNSF helper set returned down through Sullivan's Curve. We drove up to the Summit Inn and I had a steak dinner, after which, we drove home after a great afternoon of railroad photography in the snow of Cajon Pass.
