34 photos included after text.

Sullivans Curve is where the Union Pacific Palmdale Cutoff, and the BNSF mains 1 and 2 curve in a large horseshoe curve directly next to some large, rather impressive, rock formations.  Promotional photos taken at this curve for the Santa Fe in the 1940's and 50's by photographer Herb Sullivan were fantastic, and made famous by their composition.  The curve that he used so frequently was named in his honor, and rightfully so.

There are so many different great photo locations in and around Sullivans Curve, that you could spend an entire day there, and not use all of them.  I will explain to you some of them used frequently by many photographers and again, I incourage you to explore the area, and use your own photography skills to find your own favorites.

Getting into Sullivans Curve is a little tricky.  There are three main ways into the curve.  One way is off of the very beginning of Cleghorn Cutoff near the interstate, and the other two are off of Route 138.  I'll call the Cleghorn Road entrance the "south" entrance and the other two entrances the "north" entrances on "Road A" or "B".

SOUTH ENTRANCE

Leave the Cleghorn Cutoff on a road that goes to the north immediately after the exit ramp from the interstate at exit #129.  This road will parallel the tracks for a short time and then end.  Here, another dirt road will continue down a small incline toward the tracks where you will see quite plainly the mains 1 and 2 curve away from the other main 3 and continue uphill. 

Good photos are possible along this paved road in the mornings of summer or winter.  There are a couple of telephone poles that you have to work around, but you can get some good photos here.

You should also see at the end of the paved road that there are a couple of small buildings near the dirt road.  These are used by the officials for the Forestry Service, Bureau of Land Management, and of course the always friendly and understanding, private security services hired by the BNSF, as field offices.  If you see any vehicles parked next to these buildings, I do not recomend using the "south" entrance.  Drive to Route 138 and use the "north" entrance instead.

The dirt road will turn to the left and cross main 3 at a grade crossing.  Just after that, there will be another grade crossing for mains 1 and 2 just after they curve over a bridge.  ***Please remember to stop at all grade crossings while in Cajon Pass.  You will at least look like you are aware of safety to anyone that might be watching.***

After the grade crossings the road will be in a large open dirt area.  Keep away from the tracks and any stored railroad items that are laying around, and curve to the left.  In less than .1 mile, you will see to the right, a clearing in the trees that you can drive into.  While in the trees, you will cross a creek through the use of a ford.  I have never had any problems while driving in the water, just do not stop.  The ground is fairly solid.

Immediately after the ford, you will get to a fork in the road.  Turning right will get you to another grade crossing for mains 1 and 2.  Sullivans Curve is to the left, so turn left.  About 50 feet later, is another fork.  If you were to turn left, you would go toward the Union Pacific track on a dirt road that, in my opinion, will require a 4x4.  Use that road at your own risk. 

Turn right, and only a couple car lengths later, you will see a dirt road to the right that goes to a high tension tower.  This is a great area for early winter morning photos.  Remember this place.  Stay straight and after .1 mile will be an open area that is also great for early morning photos.  Another .1 mile will get you to a grade crossing over the two mains.  More great early winter morning photos are possible around here on the rocks nearby.

The large rock formations will be about 1/4 mile in the distance in front of you with the tracks going towards them.  That is Sullivans Curve, and you can go over the grade crossing to get closer to other photo locations on the inside of the curve.  There are countless photo possibilities from the inside of the curve from the many hills and rocks that you could use.  Just work your sun angles and you could be here all day.

NORTH ENTRANCE ROAD B

Get back onto the interstate and go toward Route 138.  Take exit #131 and turn left at the stop sign.  Just .2 mile after you go over main 3, are dirt roads to the left and right.  (The right one takes you to Steins Hill and I'll show you that soon.)  Turn left and there is a gate about 20 feet from Route 138.  If the gate is unlocked, as it usually is, go through it (close it behind you) and turn left on the next dirt road. 

Follow this service road for about 1 mile as it goes up and down a couple of hills.  It will also get rather close to the tracks a couple of times.  Thats ok, just pay attention.  This road is very smoth and can be driven on with almost any vehicle.  After 1 mile you will be next to a large cut and the tracks will be curving out of Sullivans Curve. 

Just before,or after this cut you can park on the dirt portion of the road.  Do not park on any of the gravel portions of the service roads.  I have been politely told by a security person that train crews have been instructed to report any vehicles parked on the service roads.

Climb up onto this large cut, and you can get a variety of different photo angles of the trains in either direction going into and out of Sullivans Curve.  There are several great places to be on top of this cut to take great photos.  Explore.  Enjoy.  Be safe.

NORTH ENTRANCE ROAD A        

From Route 138's exit from the interstate, again turn left.  Travel 2.7 miles to the road for Lone Pine Canyon Road.  Along the way you will pass over BNSF main 3, past "Road B", over the BNSF mains 1 and 2, and finally under the Union Pacific Palmdale Cutoff.  Lone Pine Canyon Road is the first left after you go under the U.P. track.

Turn left, and after the first curve, you will see a dirt road to your left less than .1 mile from Route 138.  This is "Road A" and goes all the way into Sullivans Curve.  Just as you turn onto "Road A", you should see the U.P. track as it curves through the towering Morman Rocks to your left.  From "Road A", you can get fantastic late p.m. photos in winter of Union Pacific trains as they roll downhill though those rock formations.  I will explain this area again when I discuss the Stiens Hill portion of Cajon Pass.

Continue on toward Sullivans Curve on "Road A" and the next three things you will notice are the Palmdale Cutoff curving on a bridge over Route 138, the BNSF tracks going under Route 138 and the north turnout for Canyon Siding on the Union Pacific track.  You can get great photos around here of trains at all of those places.  Just work your sun angles.

After .6 miles you will arrive at a grade crossing over the U.P. track that will take you to the BNSF tracks on the other side of the U.P. track.  There is a signal tower nearby that makes an interesting prop for some photos of trains on the BNSF tracks that are good in the late afternoon.

Just .1 mile later and another dirt road will go up the mountain to some high tension towers .6 miles away.  Great overhead photos are possible from up there but it is a steep hill and the road is only one lane.  Do not drive up that road if you are 1. driving a small car, or 2. afraid of heights.  When you get to where you are going, there is an open area  you can turn around safely in, but you are high up there and on the side of a mountain.  Be aware.

Back on "Road A", travel another .5 miles from the 1st grade crossing, and the road will face a cut that will force your vehicle so close to the tracks that you will almost be on the ties.  Be very careful here.  The good news is that the closest track is only a passing siding and not the main.  But if a train were to come around the blind curve on that track, it WILL hit you.  Therefore, I highly recomend that before you drive through the cut, walk around the curve and look.  If a train is not coming, then get back in your vehicle and drive through.

Also, if you are in a low profile vehicle, you could run into some trouble.  This portion of the road is on loose ballest and your tires can easily get stuck in the rocks, or you could "bottom out" the vehicle.  You don't need a 4x4, just go nice and steady and do not stop.  This is not the place for your small compact.  

Past that cut another .2 mile. is yet another grade crossing that now goes to the BNSF tracks at the large cut I mentioned when I described "Road B".  After the grade crossing another .2 miles is another cut that puts the road directly next to the tracks like the other one.  However at this one, you can look around the curve to the track on the other side of the horseshoe curve and see if there is a train coming.  If you do not see a train on the upper track, then it is safe to continue.  Drive like you did for the first cut, nice and steady.

After this second tight cut, travel another .5 miles all the way around the horseshoe curve to where the road goes up a hill to your right just before the other turnout for Cayon Siding.  On top of this hill next to the south turnout for Canyon Siding on the U.P. track, is a fantastic location for mid afternoon or late morning photos of trains on either the Palmdale Cutoff, or the BNSF mains 1 and 2, and in either direction.

Now you are on the outside of the curve for both the BNSF and the U.P. tracks, and again there are so many photo locations that I could not tell you of them all.  It is easy to park and walk all around Sullivans Curve and climb up the several rocky hills for different photo angles.  Just explore, but do be safe.  Please do not cross the tracks.