More than 24 hours after the Blue Cut fire forced BNSF Railway to halt its cargo trains moving through the Cajon Pass, the first trains were expected to roll out again late Wednesday afternoon.
 
Lena Kent, spokeswoman for BNSF Railway, said she had just gotten word that the first train was going to attempt the route.
 
"It looks like we're getting ready to operate a train through the area," Kent said.
 
The railway had ceased operations at noon Tuesday as dry conditions fueled the fire's spread.
 
It has grown to a reported 30,000 acres as authorities have told more than 80,000 people to evacuate their homes.
 
The route along the 15 freeway through the pass is a major corridor for trucks and trains carrying goods to and from the Southland, particularly the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, which together make up the largest port operation in the country.
 
Trains have been stalled on both sides of the pass, Kent said, and the San Bernardino domestic rail facility was also affected.
 
She said she didn't yet know exactly how many trains were delayed, but that BNSF runs up to 90 trains per day through the pass.
 
Kent said she couldn't say what the financial impact may be.
 
The fire threatened some BNSF bridges, but no trains, and none of the railroad's infrastructure was burned, she said.
 
While some train crews had to evacuate the area, no employees were injured, Kent said.
 
"We had actually deployed some water trucks in the area once we learned of the fire, and we were using those to assist fire personnel to protect our infrastructure," she said.
 
Kent said she initially thought the trains were going to start running earlier Wednesday.
 
"We were given clearance to reopen," she said.
 
"However the wind shifted and we had to be shut down."
 
Paul Eakins.