Western Railroad Discussion > UP 1996 on Cajon Pass today...

I just got back from following the UP 1996 special up Cajon Pass today:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1291207

I took a lot of pictures, so I thought I'd split it up into two parts. Special thanks for the information from gyralite and UPNW2-1083, from which I was able to make it out to Ontario this morning to catch the train. Thanks also to F40PHR231 for relaying my sightings. It was nice to meet T.O. members jst3751 and 'oldyellowwarrior' at Ontario, as well as the crew of the train.

So here's the pictures of the train in Cajon Pass today. The special departed Ontario at 12:05pm, and I headed up the I-15 to Cajon on a perfect afternoon.

Pics 1-4) The train at Dike (Devore) on the UP Mojave Sub at 12:55pm, with a BNSF baretable train in the background.

---

---

---

Pic 5) I caught up with the train as it was approaching the Swarthout Canyon Road grade crossing, as seen from below.

Pics 6-9) I decided to head straight up to Summit for my last photos of the train today. I was suprised to have the big Summit overlook all to myself. (But then again, most every other railfan seems to have a truck nowadays and probably went to Hill 582 or other areas within the Cajon bowl). The sun was starting to backlight the big curve, so I hiked down a bit to catch him with a bit more sun on the nose.

---

---

---

And the last of the group of photos from Summit today. The train made quick work of the hill, passing Summit at 1:25pm after crossing over to the BNSF Cajon Sub using the Silverwood connector track.

I heard mentioned today that the train will depart Las Vegas to come back to LA sometime tomorrow afternoon. I'll post my photos of the UP 1996 and train from Ontario in the near future. It's a nice problem to have when a train poses for over an hour and you have a digital camera. But then it takes time sorting through all the pictures :)

Thanks for looking,

Rich

---

---

---

Great catch Rich.

Excellent photos...great job!

I still just cannot accept that black-red-white nose. It is just a matter of time before somebody takes a can of spraypaint and puts some orange on that nose. Probably the next time it gets into Portland!

Nice pictures very good work. I have a question, on the return trip since both units are facing front is there a wye in vegas or do they go out of town to turn? Thanks for the info

GREAT job.

Nice catch! Thanks for posting photos.

I don't quite get puting the heritage units
on passenger car specials.... it sure would
be interesting to see some Daylight cars
trailing, though. I guess that will never
happen.

Great pictures. Blew mine away, but of course I knew they would. I really wish I could have stuck around longer I had a urgent priority issue I was working on for a client.

Nice photos but it's still FUGLY.
TAH

tc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice pictures very good work. I have a question,
> on the return trip since both units are facing
> front is there a wye in vegas or do they go out of
> town to turn? Thanks for the info


At the "Arden" yard just south of town, there is a wye there.

Mike
Henderson, NV

Nice shots.

I got my once in a lifetime chance at Cajon in October (technically, it was my second time there as I went over the pass on Amtrak back in '90, but it was at night and I had no idea that I was passing through such a famous spot), but it was cloudy and raining and I was with my girlfriend who was freaked out at the desolation/trash and apparent weirdos roaming around the area. We made it as far as Hwy 138 and three trains before I had to head back to L.A. to keep her quiet...

...it was still quite the experience...

Chris Hamby
Richmond, VA

Awesome work PasadenaSub!!
Thanks!

BOZZMAG!

No problem, it was good to meet you today. Sounds like you had a really quick trip!

Rich


bozzmag Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Awesome work PasadenaSub!!
> Thanks!
>
> BOZZMAG!

frcanyonsub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Excellent photos...great job!
>
> I still just cannot accept that black-red-white
> nose. It is just a matter of time before somebody
> takes a can of spraypaint and puts some orange on
> that nose. Probably the next time it gets into
> Portland!


a friend said to me today would not all the heritage locos have looked better if they were painted in the final color scheme of each the railroads they were representing ...so this unit would have been gray and scarlet with a large SP on the nose,and he reckons a DRGW black and gold would look great on one of them also...and it would have been cheaper and simpler in the painting of them not as mixed up as this one looks?

My personal feeling? That some people would complain if they were hung with a "NEW ROPE"...

Red Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My personal feeling? That some people would
> complain if they were hung with a "NEW ROPE"...


I had a good laugh with this one. My dad always uses that saying.

For PasadenaSub; Fantastic photos, Rich, glad I could help out. Nice that you got to talk to Gary and Duane. I'll be back on the train tonight to take it down to ICTF, with gyralite.-Brian

great looking photos and the 1996 sure looks even better up close. Beautiful loco.

UPNW2-1083 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Red Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > My personal feeling? That some people would
> > complain if they were hung with a "NEW ROPE"...
>
>
> I had a good laugh with this one. My dad always
> uses that saying.
>
> For PasadenaSub; Fantastic photos, Rich, glad I
> could help out. Nice that you got to talk to Gary
> and Duane. I'll be back on the train tonight to
> take it down to ICTF, with gyralite.-Brian


Wow, I wish i had those kind of connections at work !

missedcall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> UPNW2-1083 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Red Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > My personal feeling? That some people would
> > > complain if they were hung with a "NEW
> ROPE"...
> >
> >
> > I had a good laugh with this one. My dad always
> > uses that saying.
> >
> > For PasadenaSub; Fantastic photos, Rich, glad I
> > could help out. Nice that you got to talk to
> Gary
> > and Duane. I'll be back on the train tonight to
> > take it down to ICTF, with gyralite.-Brian
>
>
> Wow, I wish i had those kind of connections at
> work !

Maybe you would, if you quit missing all those calls! You should have answered your phone this morning.
If you stop chasing all those harmless little butterflies, maybe you'd have time to chase a train or two. You need a real hobby, like collecting belly button lint, or underwater basket weaving, you know, something that will get you recognised. LOL-Brian