Overview,
Miscellaneous info,
Timetables,
Maps
Overview by Bret Wirick
Welcome to the Cima Subdivision! This page has been created to highlight the UPRR's Cima Subdivision and the many fine photo locations along its route. The sub is named after a specific area known as Cima Hill. This grueling grade remains one of the steepest climbs the UP must face on its march across the North American continent. Rising to over 4000 feet, Cima Hill has given the UP pause on several occasions, and has even produced a few runaways. This respect for the hill now results in most downhill trains on the western face barely making 20 mph! Getting ahead to that next photo spot is never an issue.
Along with Cima Hill, there are many other wonderful locations to visit. Steep canyons and heavy grades, coupled with high speed running across flat dry lakes and desert basins means you'll find a wide variety of operational situations that the railroad must work with. Stretching between Las Vegas, NV and Yermo, CA, this line sees about 20-25 trains a day, with about 50% of those seen during daylight hours. While not the busiest line in the country, the Cima Sub certainly has the locations, scenery, and variety of trains which more than make up for the moderately light traffic. The variety of trains and scenic vistas makes any railfan visit worth the effort.
The railroad runs trains in an east / west fashion, though most of the line is geographically running north / south. The sub lies in the Pacific Time Zone, with trains operating on a 24 hr clock (military time). Access is decent to most of the sub, with locations north (RR east) of Kelso, CA the easiest to reach. The sub is lined through some pretty desolate regions though, so be prepared for very little in the way of amenities between the end points. Paved roads are available in many locations and dirt roads make up the rest. It is actually possible to follow the entire sub, beside the main, on some sort of road, paved or otherwise. A few spots are harder to navigate, but we'll cover this more in detail in subsequent pages.
Pictures,
maps, and railfan guides are all part of the information you'll be
able to find here. The goal is to provide the new or veteran Cima
Sub railfan, the info and tools to have a successful and enjoyable
outing.
Miscellaneous info
West end: Yermo, CA - MP 162.0; East end: Las Vegas, NV MP 334.3;
Total route miles: 172.3; CTC, Single track with sidings.
Max track speed: 75 mph.
Major stations (locations): Yermo, Kelso, Cima, Las Vegas
Crew Change Points: Las Vegas, Yermo
Yards: Yermo, CA; Arden, NV
Junctions: Boulder Branch (UPRR) MP 327.8
Highest point: 4,207' @ Cima Hill, CA; Lowest Point: 968' @ Crucero, CA
Radio Frequencies: AAR 27 160.515 Omaha Dispatcher 07 - Las Vegas to Manix.
AAR 42 160.740 UPLA Dispatcher - Toomey to Yermo
Train Frequency: 20-25 daily;
Train Types: Coal, Auto, Intermodal, Cement, Manifest
Amtrak : none scheduled
Timetables
|
Mile
Post |
Speed |
Stations |
Siding
Length |
Photographer
Notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
334.3 |
20 |
Las
Vegas |
3MT - Yard |
|
|
332.7 |
70 |
Wyoming
Avenue |
|
|
|
330.5 |
40 |
Sands
Avenue |
|
|
|
328.6 |
|
Tropicana
Avenue |
2MT |
|
|
327.8 |
70 |
Boulder
Junction |
|
|
|
326.4 |
|
Maule
Avenue |
|
|
|
323.9 - 321.3 |
|
Arden |
8467' |
|
|
315.3 - 314.0 |
40 |
Sloan |
6282' |
|
|
310.0 - 308.1 |
70 |
Erie |
8843' |
|
|
307 |
|
*Detector |
|
|
|
301.9 - 300.7 |
|
Jean |
5721' |
|
|
297.0 - 295.8 |
|
Borax |
5792' |
|
|
288.8 - 287.0 |
|
Calada |
8791' |
|
|
278.2 - 276.9 |
75 |
Nipton |
5767' |
|
|
273.7 |
|
*Detector |
|
|
|
273.0 - 271.8 |
|
Moore |
5765' |
|
|
268.0 - 266.0 |
|
Ivanpah |
9835' |
|
|
263.9 - 262.8 |
|
Brant |
5751' |
|
|
258.5 - 257.2 |
|
Joshua |
6066' |
|
|
256 |
|
*Detector |
|
|
|
253.3 |
45 |
Cima |
2MT
- n6266' |
|
|
252.6 |
|
|
s9862' |
|
|
251.1 - 249.8 |
75 |
Chase |
5765' |
|
|
247.9 - 246.7 |
45 |
Elora |
5780' |
|
|
243.9 - 242.0 |
|
Dawes |
9025' |
|
|
240.0 - 238.7 |
|
Hayden |
5780' |
|
|
236.5 - 234.5 |
|
Kelso |
n9190' s9190' |
|
|
233.4 |
|
*Detector |
|
|
|
230.3 |
75 |
Flynn |
|
|
|
226.7 - 225.4 |
|
Kerens |
5754' |
|
|
219.5 - 217.7 |
|
Sands
|
9017' |
|
|
212.2 - 211.0 |
|
Balch |
5765' |
|
|
209.2 |
|
*Detector |
|
|
|
204.2 - 202.9 |
|
Crucero |
5775' |
|
|
197.6 - 196.3 |
|
Basin |
6196' |
|
|
191.8 |
40 |
Afton |
|
|
|
190.4 |
45 |
*Detector |
|
|
|
188.0 - 186.1 |
65 |
Dunn |
9529' |
|
|
182.9 - 181.7 |
|
Field |
5760' |
|
|
178.2 - 176.9 |
75 |
Mainx |
5775' |
|
|
175.3 |
|
*Detector |
|
|
|
168.7 |
|
Toomey |
|
|
|
166.4 |
60 |
Minneola
Road |
2MT - Yard |
|
|
163.8 |
|
East
Yermo |
|
|
|
162.0 |
20 |
Yermo |
|
|
Maps
|
Detail Maps w/Clickable Photo Hot Spots |
|
Click in the red squares
for an enlarged map that is printable.
 | |
