Western Railroad Discussion > California here I come

I live in California,Missouri. Tomorrow night I plan on boarding Amtrak in Jefferson City, Missouri and catching the Southwest Chief in Kansas City riding it to Barstow,California. I have been wanting to see the Tehachapi Loop for over 30 years. I am hoping to meet up with some of you western railfans. I know nothing about the area and have a lot of questions . Looks like the weather is going to be great. Should arrive in Barstow Tuesday morning and plan on staying all week.

Thanks,Eddie

Eddie, Here is some reading for you before your trip.

http://www.trainweb.org/brettrw/uprr/mojavesub/mojavesub.html
http://www.trainweb.org/KernJunction/map.htm

Enjoy Tehachapi Pass. A great place to watch trains fight gravity.

How are you getting anywhere once you reach Barstow?

The depot is quite a lonely place when Amtrak #3 arrives in the morning and it's a long walk to town.

boxcar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I know nothing about the
> area and have a lot of questions . >
> Thanks,Eddie


That's bold! I hope you do some research in the next couple of days!

I'd recommend going all the way to LAUPT
on #3, then staying overnight in LA, then
boarding the San Joaquin BUS from LAUPT
to Bakersfield -- IF Amtrak will allow you to buy
a ticket on that Thruway bus WITHOUT riding the
TRAIN beyond Bakersfield. Stay overnight in
Bakersfield, then rent a car there, and go on to
The Loop. Please note: the Loop has had for some
time a locked gate denying access to the inside
to the Loop.

I have a rental car company that will pick me up in Barstow Tues morning. I may have to wait a while but I don't mind. I will be staying in Mojave the first four nights and Barstow the last two. I plan on railfanning between Barstow and Tehachapi Loop. I like shooting in rural areas. Thanks for the help.

Eddie

I went to Tehachapi Loop for the first time in March. It was everything I ever thought it would be and more. Be sure to set aside some time and explore the town of Tehachapi and definitely check out the museum in the depot right downtown. We had a fascinating tour that took about an hour and a half but it was very detailed about the area. Enjoy! I can't think a better way to spend some time.

Thanks for the info. Sure looking forward to this trip.

In Barstow, be sure to take advantage of the bridge across the tracks right near the Amtrak station. There's a pedestrian walkway on the east side (meaning it's a great photo spot in the afternoon)--lots of UP and BNSF action. It's five minute walk from the station.

Ok thanks. I will do that.

Eddiie:

>I plan on railfanning between Barstow and
> Tehachapi Loop. I like shooting in rural areas.
> Thanks for the help.

Be sure to spend a little time exploring the railroad between the loop and Bakersfield. The area around Caliente and Bealville is a scenic as the loop -- Caliente and Cliff are only two miles apart by line of sight, but are separated by 7 miles of railroad. And one of my favorite places for pacing trains is the Edison Highway, the old state highway that follows the railroad down into Bakersfield.

D F W

Ok thanks. I will definitely do that.