Bill Compton and I drove out to Cajon Pass via West Colton, stopping at Pepper Street to see what might be coming our way today.
BNSF 7778 East was at West Colton Yard this morning. Would we see him later? From here we drove to Swarthout Canyon Road just as a westbound train was approaching.
BNSF 8144 West at Swarthout Canyon Road. We moved back to Cozy Dell and climbed up onto the rocks then I called Julie, Amtrak's automated agent, to find out what time Southwest Chief Train 3 had left Victorville this morning.
BNSF 7460 East.
BNSF 8255 East.
Amtrak's Southwest Chief, Train 3, running over three hours late as it went through Cozy Dell.
BNSF 8255 East. We drove to McDonald's at Cajon Junction so I could purchase hot cakes and sausage to go then went to Summit to see the changes after the road constructed finished. California Highway 138 is now much straighter and about three minutes faster. We parked at the east end of the new highway cut and walked up to the old viewpoint, which is half the size of what it used to be.
BNSF 8256 East going through Summit. I ate my breakfast then heard an eastbound train climbing the grade towards us and set up for pictures.
The new Summit view.
BNSF 7778 East.
BNSF 7595 West stopped at Summit. We then drove to the much lower viewpoint here.
BNSF 4226 East.
BNSF 7395 West, after which we drove to the California Highway 138 Pine Lodge Track 1 and 2 bridge and set up.
BNSF 7395 West. We then started to drive up to Hill 582 but were stopped at the grade crossing by a westbound BNSF freight.
BNSF 6654 West at the bridge west of Silverwood Crossing. We made our way to Hill 582.
An unknown eastbound BNSF ran behind BNSF 6654 West.
Views of new California Highway 138 with trains in each view.
BNSF 4422 West.
Union Pacific 8015 West.
Union Pacific 6886 North pulling an empty rail train.
Union Pacific 7431 West.
Union Pacific 8234 East.
BNSF 4157 West.
BNSF 4496 West with a baretable train.
BNSF 3766 East.
BNSF 7818 East.
BNSF 7005 West.
BNSF 5939 East.
Union Pacific 5272 West.
BNSF 6506 West.
BNSF 8067 East.
Union Pacific 8545 East with Norfolk Southern ET44AC 3656 in its consist.
The rear of BNSF 8067 East, our final train of the day, after which Bill drove me home to Santa Ana. It had been a great day of train watching in Cajon Pass today. Thank you to Bill for taking me out today.
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