Cajon Pass
Elevation	4190 ft.
Location	California,  United States
Range	San Bernardino Mountains/San Gabriel Mountains
Traversed by	I-15, Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway

Cajon Pass (elevation 4190 ft./1277 m.) is a high mountain pass between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in the United States. It was created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault. The pass provides an important economic link from the Los Angeles Basin to Victor Valley and the Mojave Desert. A topographical summit is a point on a surface which is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... The Himalaya as seen from the International Space Station A mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands or separated from other mountain ranges by passes or rivers. ... San Bernardino Mountains The San Bernardino Mountains are short transverse mountain range northeast of Los Angeles in southern California in the United States. ... San Gabriel Mountains The San Gabriel Mountains are located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, USA. The mountain range forms a barrier between the Greater Los Angeles Area and the Mojave Desert. ... Interstate 15, or I-15, is a north-south interstate highway in the western United States, traveling through the states of Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California. ... The Union Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark UP) (NYSE: UNP) is the largest railroad network in the United States. ... The BNSF Railway (AAR reporting mark BNSF), headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the largest railroad networks in North America (only one competitor, the Union Pacific Railroad, is comparable in size). ... In a range of hills, or especially of mountains, a pass (also gap, notch, col, saddle, bwlch or bealach) is a lower point that allows easier access through the range. ... San Bernardino Mountains The San Bernardino Mountains are short transverse mountain range northeast of Los Angeles in southern California in the United States. ... San Gabriel Mountains The San Gabriel Mountains are located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, USA. The mountain range forms a barrier between the Greater Los Angeles Area and the Mojave Desert. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... View of the San Andreas Fault on the Carrizo Plain in central California, 35°07N, 119°39W The San Andreas Fault is a geological fault that runs a length of roughly 800 miles (1300 kilometres) through western and southern California in the United States. ... The Los Angeles Basin is the coastal sediment-filled plain located between the peninsular and transverse ranges in southern California in the United States containing the central part of the city of Los Angeles. ... Victor Valley is a region of Southern California north of the San Bernardino Mountains in the Mojave Desert. ... Looking across from Emigrant Pass towards the Kingston Range in the eastern Mojave. ...

In 1851, a band of Mormon settlers led by Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich crossed Cajon Pass on their way from Salt Lake City to the Los Angeles basin. In commemoration of this crossing, a section of the pass where the railroad passes through (near Sullivan's Curve) is now known as Mormon Rocks. 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the most-recognized architectural symbol of Mormonism For other uses, see Mormon (disambiguation). ... Amasa Mason Lyman (March 30, 1813–February 4, 1877) (commonly known as Amasa M. Lyman) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Charles Coulsen Rich (21 Aug. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Salt Lake Citys top tourist draw. ... The Cajon Pass (elevation 4,190 ft/1,277 m) is a mountain pass separating the San Bernardino Mountains from the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in the United States. ...

Rail transport

An eastbound Union Pacific Railroad train working upgrade on Cajon Pass.

The California Southern Railroad, a subsidiary of the Santa Fe Railway, was the first railroad to use the Cajon Pass as a route through the mountains. The rail line through the pass was built in the early 1880s as part of a connection between the present day cities of Barstow and San Diego.^[1][2] Today, the Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway (the successor to the Santa Fe) use this pass to access Los Angeles. Due to the high volume of trains, noteworthy scenery and easy access, it is a popular location for railfanning; many action photographs of trains on Cajon Pass make it into books and magazines about trains. Download high resolution version (1392x948, 290 KB)Union Pacific Railroad 9214, a GE Dash 8-40C, leads an eastbound train up Californias Cajon Pass on May 10, 1991. ... Download high resolution version (1392x948, 290 KB)Union Pacific Railroad 9214, a GE Dash 8-40C, leads an eastbound train up Californias Cajon Pass on May 10, 1991. ... The Union Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark UP) (NYSE: UNP) is the largest railroad network in the United States. ... The California Southern Railroad was a subsidiary railroad of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (Santa Fe) in Southern California. ... In business, a subsidiary is a company controlled by another company or corporation. ... The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (AAR reporting mark ATSF), often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the largest railroads in the United States. ... Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. ... Nickname: Americas Finest City Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates: Country United States State California County San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders City Attorney Michael Aguirre City Council Scott Peters Kevin Faulconer Toni Atkins Tony Young Brian Maienschein Donna Frye Jim Madaffer Ben Hueso Area    - City 963. ... The Union Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark UP) (NYSE: UNP) is the largest railroad network in the United States. ... The BNSF Railway (AAR reporting mark BNSF), headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the largest railroad networks in North America (only one competitor, the Union Pacific Railroad, is comparable in size). ... Railfans practicing their hobby at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. ...

Road transport

The Mojave Freeway (Interstate 15) was built through the Cajon Pass and provides a major route from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The freeway runs above and parallel to an original stretch of old Route 66. This stretch, which is now known as Cajon Boulevard, is a short but well-preserved fragment dating back to a rerouting and widening of the highway in the early 1950's. Only the southbound/westbound lanes are in use; the northbound/eastbound lanes and corresponding bridges are closed to through traffic. It is along this stretch of road, accessible via either the Kenwood Drive or Cleghorn Road exits that some of the best aforementioned trainspotting areas may be found. The Mojave Freeway, previously known as the Barstow Freeway, is the name given to the segment of Interstate 15 in California between the Cajon Pass and the Nevada state line. ... I-15 redirects here. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... This article is about the city of Las Vegas in Nevada. ... Alternate meanings of Route 66: New Jersey State Highway 66, Interstate 66, and a company named after the route US Highway 66 or Route 66 was and is the most famous road in the United States highway system and quite possibly the most famous and storied highway in the world. ...

The historic Summit Inn, off the Oak Hills exit at the summit of the pass, is a historic Route 66 diner and has been at its present location since 1952. The Summit Inn is a historic Route 66 roadside diner and one of the few of its kind left in Southern California. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Some maps may show the Cajon Pass as a feature on CA 138, which crosses I-15 south of the summit. The highest point on I-15 is thus identified as Cajon Summit. However, this does not appear to be common practice on most maps or on road signs in the area.

Utilities infrastructure

In addition to transportation infrastructure, high voltage power lines cross the summit as well, providing Los Angeles another source of electricity generated from plants far away. Transmission towers Transmission lines in Lund, Sweden Electric power transmission, or more accurately Electrical energy transmission, is the second process in the delivery of electricity to consumers. ...

Natural hazards

During October and November of 2003, a number of wildfires devastated the hills and mountainsides near and around the pass, forcing the closure of Interstate 15. The following winter, rains in addition to burnt vegetation caused a number of landsides to further close the freeway pass. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fire in San Bernardino, California Mountains (image taken from the International Space Station) A wildfire, also known as a forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, or bushfire (in Australasia), is an uncontrolled fire in wildland often caused by lightning; other common causes are human carelessness and arson. ... Landslide of soil and regolith in Pakistan A landslide is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows. ...

In addition to wildfire hazards, the Cajon Pass is notorious for wind hazards as well. When it is gusty, it is especially difficult to navigate through it as the Santa Ana winds usually push through that area. The winds sometimes reach gale-force strength. As a result, there are usually high wind advisories as well as road signs posted throughout the area. It is not uncommon to see overturned trucks during such windy weather there. Santa Ana winds are warm, dry winds that characteristically appear in Southern California weather during autumn and early winter. ... Trucks can refer to several things: The plural of: Truck, the motorized vehicle Truck, other uses of the singular As a name: Trucks was a rock band Trucks is a short story by Stephen King Trucks is a movie based on the Stephen King short story Trucks! is a television...

Cajon Pass gets snow occasionally. Sometimes there is enough snow to close the pass temporarily. When there is snow, the California Highway Patrol will set up checkpoints on the freeway. Since most Southern Californians are without snow tires or snow chains, they are forced to turn back, or wait for the snow to stop and the freeway is cleared of snow. (CHP) is a state agency that acts as the state police force of California. ... A tire or tyre (see spelling differences and etymological origins) is a device covering the circumference of a wheel. ... Snow chains on a tractor wheel Snow chains, or tire chains, are chains which are affixed to the wheels of vehicles to provide superior traction when driving through snow and ice. ...

When there is high winds or snow in the Cajon Pass, it is fairly common for weathermen or reporters for Los Angeles-area televisions stations to do location reports from the Cajon Pass. Weather Underground redirects here. ... A television reporter A reporter is a type of journalist who researches and presents information in certain types of mass media. ...

The infamous San Andreas Fault passes through the Cajon Pass (crossing I-15 on the south side of the summit) and is partially responsible for the unique local geography. View of the San Andreas Fault on the Carrizo Plain in central California, 35°07N, 119°39W The San Andreas Fault is a geological fault that runs a length of roughly 800 miles (1300 kilometres) through western and southern California in the United States. ...

References

1. ^ Waters, Leslie L. (1950). Steel Trails to Santa Fe. Lawrence, Kansas: University of Kansas Press, pp 131-133.
2. ^ Serpico, Philip C. (1988). Santa Fé Route to the Pacific. Omni Publications, pp 18-24. ISBN 0-88418-000-X.

External links

• Photos of the Cajon Pass
• Location of Mormon Rocks in the Cajon Pass area