Riding Down Cajon Pass With Jack Delano - March 1943

Westbound  Santa Fe freight approaches Cajon Summit.

Train stopped at Cajon Summit, brakemen on top to set retainers.

Meeting the eastbound Chief.

Meeting the eastbound Chief.

Setting retainers at Cajon Summit.

Summit, California - Cajon Pass

Starting down Cajon Pass.

Going down Cajon on the South Track - MP57.

Near MP 60, South Track - San Gabriel Mountains in the distance.

Alray

Pine Lodge, California

Between Pine Lodge and Cajon - Note the debris barriers along the riverbank.

Cajon, California - North Track on the right.

Brake Club in hand at Cajon.

Cajon, California

Guard at the bridge at Devore.

Jack Delano never seemed to have rested with his camera. His photography for the Farm Security Administration, and the Office of War Information impress with his thoroughness and attention to detail.  Looking at his photos of the Santa Fe, taken in 1943, in the Library of Congress Archive, Delano apparently rode cabooses from Chicago to California, excepting for one photo that was taken from a observation platform.  

Cajon Pass USGS Photos - 1901 and 1919

"Cajon Pass, looking up from near the junction of Lone Pine Canyon. 1901."

Looks to be in the wash at Cajon Station. Hard to pace trains with a burro.

 .

"Tertiary sandstones in Cajon Pass, California, as seen from the Victor Road. 1901."
(Mormon Rocks)

"Panorama of Cajon Pass, from National Old Trails road, probably in SW 1/4 Sec. 13, T. 3 N., R. 6 W., looking northeast (at left) -south-west (right) at left is steep escarpment facing toward Pacific drainage of Cajon Creek. Beyond it, the land slopes gently to desert."

From the same vantage as above, but looking SW.

And an even wider panorama taken from nearer the summit of the old road.

USGS photo search.

Alray - Rocks Like Buttah!

Santa Fe eastbound, Alray, California - October 1991

Santa Fe eastbound, Alray, California - October 1991

A lot of California west of the Sierra is ancient sea floor, shale and mudstone. Alray was always an erosion problem for the Santa Fe, but what a landscape!

Alray Swirly

UP Eastbound auto rack train exits the second Alray Tunnel.

UP 9409 East at Alray, California - 1991

The coziest spot in Cajon, or at least it was. I wish I had spent more time trackside around this spot, but sitting down here pretty much precluded being able to see or photograph trains on the other two tracks.

Jacks in the Box

UP 6945E at MP57, a classic Fast Forty sandwich.

UP WB Van train at MP 57, Cajon Pass

Three UP DDA40X's on a Van train at Cajon Summit

More DD40 shots from the collection of Flavio Lage. Perhaps only one other transportation machine from the 1960's could be considered more awesome, and that would be the Saturn V.

Barstow, Cajon, and the PFE - 1967

Barstow 1967

RDS15s - Old Summit

SD24Bs Old Summit

City of Industry Yard
PFE Maintenance Yard on the right.

City of Industry
Notice the open Ice Reefer Hatches!

Colton Ice Desk