BNSF 5×2 Power: Heavy Port Stacker Climbs Cajon With No Mid DPUs

Описание: A heavy BNSF port stacker climbs the Walker side of Cajon Pass with an unusual 5×2 power setup you don’t see every day. Instead of the typical mega‑monster layout with mid‑train DPUs, this train runs five units up front, no mid‑train power, and two trail DPUs pushing 177 wells — about as big as you’ll see without a mid‑train cut.

I’m down at the crossing for this one, giving a different perspective than my usual higher‑up Walker shots. From ground level you can feel the locomotives dig in, hear the deep, layered power working against the grade, and the horn rolling through the canyon as the train charges over the crossing.

Power lineup:
Head-end: 3915, 8260, 7145, 6982, 4354
Trail DPUs: 3755, 3722

The two rear units, 3755 and 3722, are ET44C4 helpers that specialize in shoving big stack trains up to Cajon Summit. They work out of San Bernardino with a two‑man helper crew, cut away from the train at Silverwood, and return downhill when there’s an opening so they can do it again. It’s a constant cycle of shove, cut off, drift back, repeat — pure Cajon railroading.

Port stackers are built around destination blocks, not just length. When the blocks line up cleanly, BNSF can run a long, heavy train without inserting mid‑train power. Rear DPUs provide braking control and shove while the five‑unit head-end does the pulling.

Shot at Walker, Cajon Pass.
Clean lighting, natural color, and full train coverage from head-end to trail DPUs.