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        UPRR's Cima Sub has some 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 Yermo, CA and Las Vegas, NV, 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 in types of trains that more than make up for the moderately light traffic, making any railfan visit worth the effort.

        Access: Much of the Cima sub has decent access trackside, with locations north (RR east) of Kelso, CA the easiest to reach. This sub was built 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 main along its entire route with a few yards of the tracks. A few spots are harder to navigate, but we'll cover this more in detail in subsequent pages.

        Lodging:  While plenty of hotels exist in Vegas, lodging trackside is virtually nonexistent south of the NV / CA border, until you get to Yermo. The lone standout to this rule is in Nipton, CA where there is a small motel. I actually know someone who stayed in it and they said it was nice considering where it is. Try the Hotel Nipton's website for more info. Additional lodging can only be found under the stars so be prepared for that if you chose this route. Baker, CA could provide a nice base camp for exploring the bottom of Cima Hill (the Kelso area). The Primm, NV casinos are probably the best for price and amenities though, and close enough to the tracks to make them a viable alternative for anything east of Afton Canyon.

        Food and supplies:  Same as lodging on this one. Be very prepared out here, as not much is available. Gas may be harder to find than a hotel, so don't come out here without a full tank. Cima Hill, for example, can be explored all day long on a tank topped off in Primm, NV, so I would suggest topping off at your last possible chance. If you get caught, Baker, CA has gas and is about 35 miles from Kelso, which is closer to you than Primm if you are at the bottom of the hill. Inside the Afton Cyn area you'll need to think about Yermo and the east end of the sub is of course in Vegas, with plenty to find there. As for food I try and bring a cooler with me to put in snacks, drinks, etc. This limits time used to return to civilization for lunch and or drinks. See my Desert Railfan Guide for additional tips and suggestions.