MP 58.2 on the north track, Cajon Sub

Cajon Sub, Cajon Pass, California
MP 58.2 on the north track.

It doesn't get much better than this for me.

UP 6253, sporting a three window cab, leading a mixed manifest past the garden at MP 58.2

Unfortunately, this area has been closed since summer of 2002 to all types of visitors. Flames engulfed the vast majority of the Cajon area, destroying most of the scrub brush seen in this image. A recent announcement has postponed the re-opening of the area to public use. I really need a 582 fix...

Generally, the north track is for eastward movements, but on a winter Sunday in January 2001, this westbound UP manifest came down the hill on main one. Besides the north and south track (BNSF), there is the Palmdale Cutoff (UP) about 100 yards to the north. The cutoff can be seen in the background, and further up the hill you can see the cuts for the I-15 heading east towards Las Vegas.