In the late 2000s, BNSF Railway undertook the massive task of triple tracking southern California's Cajon Pass. This increased capacity on this vital link to Los Angeles (and the ports of L.A. and Long Beach). BNSF's Bob Brendza, director of facilities development for BNSF Railway at the time, was in charge of the project, which literally involved moving mountains (and, unfortunately, destroyed Cajon Pass' two tunnels in the process). But more trains could now cross the Pass, as capacity was increased from about 100 trains per day to 150! As BNSF's annual California Division Christmas Train descends Cajon Pass, near Blue Cut, it overtakes another westbound: a Union Pacific double-stack led by SD70M 3965. On the third mainline, on the other side of the passenger extra, an eastbound BNSF double-stack train can be seen climbing the Pass. It is quite a thrill to be aboard a train that is sandwiched between two massive freights! (Coincidently, Bob Brendza was aboard the Christmas train, as it is one of his favorite duties each year.)
