6 photos included after text.

Next, on our journey up Cajon Pass, is the small town of Devore, CA.  At this location, the Union Pacific track is right next to the BNSF tracks and at the same elevation.  The Union Pacific continues the Southern Pacific practice of calling this area "Dike".  As the Union Pacific tracks continue up Cajon Pass, they will seperate from the BNSF tracks and for the most part, be slightly above the BNSF tracks the entire way.

DEVORE

Devore is just south of the junction where interstate 215 veers off of interstate 15.  Interstate 15 will curve south, and cross over the tracks of both railroads within 1/4 mile.  Interstate 215 will start its journey to San Bernardino, CA at Devore.

The only exit from interstate 15 for Devore is at the exit for Glen Helen Pkwy.  Follow this road east, and then as it curves north for about 1 mile to the grade crossing at Devore.  An exit does exist from interstate 215 to Devore at exit # 54A, and it also leads to Devore Road.

The exit is kind of strange for southbound travelers on interstatee 215.  It is a "duel-mode" exit ramp.  While you are on the exit ramp, just before the turnoff for Devore, the ramp will also become the entrance ramp for northbound interstate 15 to southbound interstate 215.

Take the exit, and then again turn right to leave the exit ramp and continue to a "T" which happens to be Cajon Blvd.  Turn left on Cajon Blvd and go one block to a stop sign for Devore Road.  Now turn right, and continue on what is now called Glen Helen Pkwy to thew tracks less than 1/4 mile away.

There is a dry wash just north of the grade crossing that many other photographers have used for their photos.  The overpass for interstate 15 is in the background and you can either go towards it to where the tracks curve, or get your photos from on top of a small hill on the edgee of the wash.

Another good place is just off of the Grade crossing.  Either side is good.  Just work your sun angles to your advantage.  There are several great photo opportunities around Devore.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CAJON PASS

Before we continue past Devore, CA and go up into the pass, I'd like to tell you a little about Cajon Pass.  Some of these facts are to help you understand my terminology, some are to educate you as to what to expect, and some are to maintain your health.

AMTRAK

This is another place where an Amtrak train normally arrives just before sunrise but can be photographed if it is running late.  To find out any information about an Amtrak train, I recomend calling "Julie" the automated phone answering service for Amtrak.  The number is 1-800-USA-RAILS or 1-800-872-7245 and follow the simple instructions. 

On occasions, the westbound Southwest Chief train #3, can arrive late into Victorville, CA.  When that occures, you can get a daytime photo of that train at several locations in Cajon Pass.  I will explain where in more detail when I am explaining those perticular areas.  In general, the Southwest Chief is normally dispatched down the pass on main 3.

SIX FUN FACTS ABOUT CAJON PASS

FUN FACT 1 

The Union Pacific track called the Palmdale Cutoff, is by their way of thinking, a north to south track even though it runs parallel with the east to west tracks of the host railroad, the BNSF.  Because of that, I will from now on describe the trains of either railroad as traveling "uphill" or "downhill" when referring to a photo, or a train on the western slope of Cajon Pass between SanBernardino, CA and Summit.

The Palmdale Cutoff will continue north by curving north, away from the BNSF tracks, east of Summit so I will begin referring to the trains on the eastern slope as being either east or west bound since only the BNSF tracks continue east towards Barstow, CA.

FUN FACT 2

The BNSF is continuing the Santa Fe practice of dispatching trains up or down Cajon Pass with a "left-hand" rule.  After the second main was built in 1913, the former Santa Fe felt that trains going up the pass would have an easier climb if they were mostly on the easier 2.2% grade of the new track.  They further thought that the west bound trains would have an easier time braking their trains on the steeper grade of the old track like they had been.

That is to say, those uphill trains are usually on the north track(s), or now mains 1 and 2, and downhill trains are conversely, more often than not, on the south track, or the main 3.  With the addition of the third main in 2008, time will tell just how often the BNSF will now use the south track.

FUN FACT 3

Trains never travel very fast on the western slope of the pass so it is very easy to chase an interesting train to several locations if you wish.  Numerous photos are possible of the same train. 

Do be courteous and smart.  Do not drive past a train on a dirt road to get ahead of it and kick up dust or rocks.  Driving to fast on an irregular surface like a dirt road, you also might just lose control.  A crew member will call it in if you are creating an unsafe situation by the way you are driving, or because the engineer can't see down the tracks anymore because of the dust you have created.  Also, you never know if you might just have ruined a great photo of another photographer.

FUN FACT 4

Since the BNSF tracks seperate between the areas of Cajon Station and the Summit, it is very possible that while you are set up to get photos of trains on either the main 1 or 2 tracks, you might miss an opportunity to photograph another train on the other main 3 or visa-versa.  This situation is also true between the BNSF tracks and the Palmdale Cutoff.  Do not worry though, there are PLENTY of trains.

Also a photo in great sun for one main might be on the "wrong" side of the sun for another main.  Do not worry though, there are PLENTY of trains.

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FUN FACT 5

Because many of the dirt / service roads between Cajon Station and Summit, and around Cajon Pass are long enough to be in several sections, they will be refered to many times throughout the text.  I have given my own names to many of these roads to help identify them for you.  That had to be done so it would not be to confusing.

This same thought applies to some places or locations.  Some I have given my own name to identify it.  I will put my own made-up names to these items in "Quotes" so you will know what is an official railroad name of a legitimate place, or one that I made up.

FUN FACT 6

Finally, because Cajon Pass is as long as it is with so many curves, it is impossible to get every single possible photo location in just one, or two days.  Also, some photos that are great in one season, are not really that great in another.

I recomend that if you only have a couple of days, research what photos you would like to take, and where to be, and at what time of day to get the most out of your short time in Cajon Pass.  It is still very possible, with a little advance planning, to take over 100 great photos per day of trains while you are in Cajon Pass.

PERSONAL SAFETY

Remember your safety precautions while you are in Cajon Pass.  Read and print the "Railfanning in the desert - What to expect" site page, and carry it with you.  I would hate to have anything from simple stuff like forgetting suntan lotion, to the more dangerous stuff like rattlesnakes, ruin a highly anticipated railfan trip to Cajon Pass.