THE PROTOTYPE 1947 - 1957

                Photograph by Herb Sullivan

LOCATION:  Cajon pass runs between the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains, connecting San Bernardino and Barstow, California.  It is the gateway between the L.A. Basin and points East.

RAILROAD: The tracks were owned by the Santa Fe, but shared with the Union Pacific.

TRACK:  The mainline is double tracked.  The tracks separate between Cajon and Summit Stations to take   advantage of grades.

GRADE:  The original line built through Cajon pass has a maximum grade of  3%.  When the second line was added, it's maximum grade was held to 2.2 by diverging the line through a large horseshoe bend known today as Sullivan's curve.  To take advantage of the lesser grade trains leaving San Bernardino, heading up the hill, ran on the new line which was on the left hand side.  Once up on the high desert the tracks cross over each other on a flyover at a location called Frost in order to return to right hand running.

LOCOMOTIVES: 2-10-2's / 4-8-4's / FT's / F-3's / F-7's / PA's / FA's /
TR-5's, Fairbanks Morse Switchers / GP-7's

PASSENGER TRAINS: The Super Chief, The Chief, El Capitan, City of Los Angeles, Pony Express, and City of Saint Louis were among the many that ran.

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