Western Railroad Discussion > "New" Summit

Summit in Cajon Pass has been a standard "sure-shot" location for many years, easily accessed via California State Route 138.  As a result of the new alignment of SR 138, the railfan overlook has been somewhat lowered in elevation and extended a bit westward, which now allows for a few new photo angles as well as being closer to the BNSF tracks.  After shooting the BNSF Christmas train,

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,4919043

and with several other trains running beneath clear sunny skies, it was time to take a few shots in low winter light.

Thanks for looking,
GK

1.  BNSF 3757 West, as seen from a lower, closer, vantage point.

2.  UP ACe 8968 is eastbound, a few minutes after the above westbound cleared.

3.  BNSF 7909 West, a bit later in the afternoon.    

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So photo #3 shows your perch at top right where you took your shot for photo #1?

mapboy

Correct mapboy. 

I agree, the new situation at Summit since the rebuild of the 138 road allows for more photo options than previously. This came as a pleasant surprise... I thought the reduced size parking area etc would make it more difficult for photo opportunities but, as seen from the above very nice images, there are some great angles to be had.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/14/19 09:48 by exhaustED.

Great light! Nice to see a Goatboat out there.

mapboy Wrote:
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> So photo #3 shows your perch at top right where
> you took your shot for photo #1?
>
> mapboy

Yes, as exhaustED posted.  Easy to lean over the chest-high barbed wire fence, about 3/4 of the way up the hill to the right.
GK

Really NICE shots!

Larry

"Reduced size parking area".  Is that to the west or the east from what's left of the former overlook?  How many vehicles approx can it hold?

GeneL Wrote:
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> "Reduced size parking area".  Is that to the west
> or the east from what's left of the former
> overlook?  How many vehicles approx can it hold?

There's room for at least 5-10 vehicles at the west end of the old overlook area I'd say. As you pull off the 138 into that parking area there's aguably room for even more vehicles on the railroad side of a traffic barrier that's there and which runs off down the side of the 138 on that westward slope.
So a lot less room than in the old days but still pretty good.

I like the new angle, the overhead roof shots on the average aren't that interesting.

Out

Great photos from new viewpoints.  Sunshine was really working for you on these.
Brian Stevens

NICE pics!!