Cajon Pass (CA) and the Sad Afterlife (of Boxcars)
Part I (of I-II)
To Stourbridge Lion and everyone interested:
After a life of transporting goods for its owner, this boxcar found a sad afterlife in Cajon Pass, in the general area of a control point named WALKER.
The boxcar was a little tipsy.
Barely visible, its old number was 11106. No railroad identification could be read.
Continued in Part II
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
Part II (of I-II)
The car was partially cannibalized.
A very nearby Intermodal train heads down Cajon Pass on the 2.2% Mains 1 and 2. Main 3 (of a different alignment) is a steep 3%.
This nearby, throws distance away boxcar met up with an even sadder fate and afterlife.
But, the slum look of the boxcars area is offset by the several famous Cajon Pass rock formations in the vicinity.
So, now you undoubtedly have a different perspective of Cajon Pass ... a perspective made possible by the founder of this tread, Stourbridge Lion.
Take care, everyone,
K.P.
Great stuff K.P.!!!!!!!
This is the reason I enjoy hosting these "Pun Topics" as it get photos posted that we might not have gotten to see otherwise and getting the story behind some of them makes it all the better!
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
CP WALKER is named after Chard Walker, a railfan and long-time Santa Fe operator there from the 1940's - 1970's, if I recall correctly. He was featured in a couple articles in Trains over the years.
Perhaps those boxcars are remains from a derailment that have just been left there ? Maybe someone torches off some of the steel sides from time to time to sell it for scrap metal prices ? The one looks like the 'vultures' have sure picked that 'carcass' clean . . .
- Paul North.
Paul D. North Jr. (4-5):
Chard Walker hired on with Santa Fe in the latter half of the 1940's, and for about twenty years was the Summit, CA operator and hoisted up train orders to passing trains in Cajon Pass.
For whatever reason, I visited one of the public libraries in San Bernardino about 20-25 years ago, and noticed a big sign hung up announcing a lecture that day. The lecturer was to be Mr. Walker and he was going to talk about trains and their operations! Needless to say, I returned and listened to Chard give an informative and trilling lecture!
The passing of Mr. Walker came at an odd time, when BNSF was triple-tracking Cajon Pass, and I believe what is now CP WALKER was originally going to be CP ALRAY, the traditional name of the location, a location named after Santa Fe's Al Ray. In that sense, Mr. Ray got a raw deal. However, amongst all the new, uniform type signals ...
... an odd, old, three-track signal bridge was put up.
I personally believe BNSF will try to get trackage rights on UP's Palmdale Cutoff so Cajon trains to and from Tehachapi will save 40 miles. The BNSF connection could be called ALRAY, so BOTH men could be honored. But, that is just my opinion.
I'll bet Stourbridge had no idea his thread would evolve into a Cajon Pass CP name discussion ... OK, now we can get back to boxcars ...
Best,
Colorado * Southern #1690 Boxcar
Here are some boxcars out at the Tracy Clark Power Station east of Reno/Ssarks NV. This photo was taken October 10, 2011.
Scott EspinRailfan - Reno NV
Great contributions Espins1,keep them coming!!!!!!!
Thanks!
This is one of only 3 photos I have of boxcars. On the west side of the Sacramento valley.
South of Winters on the old SP line now used by California Northern and UP.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
Another from the Sparks NV freight yard
Now listed as Building #2
I can't even imagine wooden box cars in service. It must have been horrific when a collision or similar type accident occurred with all that wood and limited structural integrity!
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.