Beaumont Hill.

Bob Gottier photo

SSW 8980 works through the wide open spaces at El Casco.

SP 8919 rolls by coupled to a borrowed BN RCC.

SP 9017 was delivered in March 1969.

Rear view of SP 8300.

This November day finds SP 8300 part of a helper set working the west side of Beaumont Pass.

SSW 9058 was delivered in March 1969.

SP 8314 passes under the signal bridge at El Casco on its way over Beaumont Pass.

SP 8925 is on the point of a classic head end consist of four SD45s heading east as they pass under the signal bridge at El Casco.

Assisting SP 8925 East is this four unit mid-train helper with the crew on board SSW 9380.

SSW 9380 was delivered in March 1975.

SSW 9385 is part of a helper set going under the signal bridge at El Casco on Beaumont Pass.

A rare visitor to Southern California, SP 5111 spent most of its career in the eastern part of the Espee system.

Freshly painted SP 6675 lacks a maintenance assignment location usually stenciled under the cab number.

SP 8309 along with two GP40-2s head east up the hill.

Looks like SSW 7640 got a fresh coat of paint after only two plus years of service.

SSW 7776 heads east on the Espee mainline out of Los Angeles.

SSW 7776 was placed into service in March 1980.

SSW 7776 was later repainted to SP 7776.

Rear view of SSW 4148.

MP 6026 is on an Espee freight on the Sunset Route.

SP 1602 is on an eastbound train working up Beaumont Hill.

Side view of SP 1602.

SP 6814 continues over Beaumont bound for Indio and points east.

SP 6814 is making good time on its trip east up Beaumont Pass.

SP 6814 slows as it passes by the signals.

SP 7315 is on the point of this mixed seven unit all EMD consist. While hard to see, note the non-standard white number boards.

SP 7357 wears the ill-fated SPSF red and yellow paint scheme.

SP 7379 rolls through the crossover at the west end of El Casco.

SP 7379 East meets a westbound waiting for it to pass before continuing on to West Colton.

SP 7379 is joined on this trip east by a GP40-2 slug set. While the GP40-2s are working hard I doubt the slug is engaged on this mainline freight.

SP 7557 has been out of Sacramento shops for two years and still looks fresh as it heads east over Beaumont Pass at track speed.

SP 7951 is westbound with an interesting Rio Grande, Cotton Belt, Missouri Pacific, and Southern Pacific consist in tow.

SP 8573 has a nice coat of weathering after a few years on the road in this paint scheme.

Eastbound stacks and racks climb toward Beaumont. SP#9335 was retired by UP 4/18/2000.

An eastbound SP manifest works upgrade toward Beaumont near the El Casco crossovers. SP 7446 was later rebuilt to SD40-2 CEFX 3140. Date of photo approximate.

Four B39-8Es drag an eastbound stack train up the 1.6% grade toward Beaumont. SP 8003 was later UP 5612, UP 1803. Date of photo approximate.

A matched set of B39-8Es bring a westbound intermodal train down from Beaumont. SP 8016 was later UP 5625, UP 1816. Date of photo approximate.

Eight EMD SDs work upgrade through San Timoteo Canyon between Ordway and El Casco with eastbound stacks and racks. Date of photo approximate.

EsPee extra 6886 west at El Casco.

The extra 6886 west passes the "water bottle" at El Casco.

Southern Pacific 8503 Eastbound leads a UP intermodal through the El Casco signal bridge on a foggy morning which included a light drizzle.