Cajon Pass

[GDRMCo]

Does anyone have a map of Cajon Pass they could send me and what operated on this line in the 1970s. Thx

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GDRMCo

Does anyone have a map of Cajon Pass they could send me and what operated on this line in the 1970s. Thx

I think you search for the area between Cajon and Martinez Spur. Don´t forget that in 1972 was the big linechange in Cajon.

When scans are helpful, it´s possible that I can help. Some maps are online in one side about Cajon - I search for the link.

Operations in the 1970´s: Near everything what was in use for AT&SF / UP and SP. It´s simple but true! Cajon was and is the gateway to the LA area!!!!

[Anonymous]

Check out this site, it has all you could ever want to know about Cajon:

http://spazioinwind.libero.it/cajon/index.htm

Also, look for books by Chard Walker. He wrote a few that are very good. He worked for ATSF for years as a 2nd trick trainorder operator at Summit (of the pass) - I think from 1948 thu around 1967 when they closed the Summit station and moved him out to the station in Victorville, not far from Cajon. He might have even worked in Barstow briefly around that time. He still lives in the area, though long retired now. His book "Cajon - Rail Passage to the Pacific" is the definitive work on rr'g in the pass. It was published back in the 80's, but is easily found at used books sites or stores and at a decent price. Also try to find the Trains issue from sometime in 1974 where they did a great - CLASSIC -cover article on Cajon by the noted Richard Steinheimer. I have it but I'm at work at the moment, so I forget the exact month it was in. To me that was the definitive magazine article on Cajon and it was contemporary to the era you asked about. Trains also started off their On Location video series with Cajon Pass as the first tape offered. They did that back in January? 1995 and even had a very nice companion On Location cover article in Trains that month. The video is outstanding, and deservedly won a prestigous video award. That whole series of videos is outstanding and worth getting - each tape covered a different classic hotspot (like Tehachapi, Horseshoe Curve, Feather River Canyon, etc.) I live at the foot of Cajon Pass myself, and it is as fascinating in person, dare I say even far better than it comes across in all of the books, magazine articles and videos done on it. If you ever get an opportunity to visit Cajon, jump on it. You won't regret it. I've known some railfans who had never been to the Pass in person but were so tired of seeing so much on it in the rail mags and books that they weren't that interested in ever going to see it firsthand. That all changed after they actually got a chance to come see for themselves. It can be spellbinding. Another great classic spot - Tehachapi, is only about two hours north of Cajon. Tha same things can be said about it. John Signor wrote the definitve book on it. His book is still readily available new in well stocked hobby shops. Good luck!

Greg

[wp8thsub]

Although he models an earlier era, Ted York has some good stuff on his site: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cajonpass52/index.htm .

[Anonymous]

Ted has a very nice Cajon layout. He's also a major contributor (perhaps THE major contributor) to that Cajon site I mentioned. He also did a lot of information gathering through the the mailng list on that sight back in the mid to late 90's before and while he was building his layout. I think Otto Krotil. (I foget how to spell his last name) was also heavily involved with the list then for the same reasons, except he built an N scale version of Cajon Pass, and his layout is also very nicely done. Both have been featured in (I think) MR and some of the annual issues of Great Train Layouts (in one issue I have they were done back to back.). I don't know if Otto has a website for his layout, though. Enjoy the hobby!

Greg.