Cahon Pass question

[oplholik]

I would like to get up there sometime before it starts getting real hot here for some train watching and picture taking. Some years ago, quite a few years ago, when I was doing some gold prospecting, I remember an area on the east side of the freeway, back in the hills, and at the top of a hill, I think, was an area, maybe a holding area or staging area. There were several tracks and if I remember correctly there were some trains parked there. Does anybody happen to know where I might be talking about? If so just how do you get back in there? Any other places to go there for good rail fanning? I know places you can see from the freeway might be ok, but looking for places one might not see from the freeway. Thanks.

 

[BN8002]

well, the route I take when I go railfanning is to take the 15N and exit kenwood. turn left, go down to cajon blvd and turn right. You're kinda far fromt he trracks but it essentially runs parallel to the tracks. When you get into blue cut (as evidenced by the bluish green rocks) you get closer to the tracks. There is a street on the left side you can take which will go to a grade crossing and up to some homes. You can get some decent shots there.

From there you can go back to cajon blvd and run down to cajon and pick up the main there. Now BNSF has security crawling all over the pass and I'm not sure if you can cross the tracks in cajon anymore or not. Eitherway you can get some good shots from the road.

From there you can go back up to the freeway and get on the 15N and exit 138. You have a couple choices from here. You can go straight across the exit ramp to a road on the right(east) side of the on-ramp on te otherside of 138. And you can get back to an offroad area and get back to where tunnels 1 &2 used to be. Though if you park back here you need to get a forest adventure pass. They are available at the chevron station off of 138 next to the mcdonalds.I would also suggest having at minimum a pickup truck because of clearance issues. 4-wheel drive helps in some areas but isnt mandatory. If there is any threat of rain dont go in here without 4-wheel drive.

You can turn left(west) on 138 and past the gas stations on the right is a opening down to old 138 and you can get down to track level and get some photos. It stops at the trcks and you can do some hiking around here and I havent run into any security here.

Your last choice is to turn right on 138 from the freeway and follow that up to summit. Its a 2 lane road the winds around the hills. You won't be anywhere near the tracks for about 10 minutes or so but you will eventually get to summit and actually be looking down on the tracks. About 100 yards past the overlook is a road that goes up to the tracks. You can go up the road but the gate is locked and they have security up there. The last time I was there the guard was pretty rude to my dad and I. We were standing at the gate in legal ground an he started running his mouth. Now granted I know he gets a lot of morons up there but he wasnt very tactful. 10-15 years ago you could walk all over this area without issue and get some excellent photos, but those days are long gone.

Your last area you can go to is back to 138 and head east for another mile or so and there is a road that goes off to the left (north) That will take you to martinez spur. I think the spur is gone and now apart of main 3 but I'm not sure. Either way there is a grade crossing here and its wide open and pretty good for photos.

Hope this helps. I dont know what area you were speaking of. And all these directions are to the santa fe areas, I dont know how to get to the union pacific areas.

 

[sledgehammer]

For that matter, they might as well go ABOVE AND BEYOND the summit...and grabbing the first left for Hesperia (I think)...they can pull off ANYWHERE along side the road...shooting the line heading for Barstow...or the ole SP line above heading for Mohave...and then they SHOULDN'T be bothered by the jerkoff security (especially if they are shooting ACROSS the road...hint hint....)