Western Railroad Discussion > Weekend trip out to Tehachapi-Day 2, Part 1

My Dad and I started out Friday, the 21st by driving down to Caliente bright and early in the morning.

1) The first train of the day had the UP 7719 leading the Brooklyn to LATC Z-train seen heading around the horseshoe curve and over Caliente Creek.

2) A view of the train stretched out through Caliente.

3) The train heading up the grade. The Autoracks seen at the far right on the house track are bad-orders from a previous derailment.

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4) The next train was a Westbound Barstow to Klamath Falls BNSF manifest train with clean 5540 leading. Unfortunately the train was pretty short and wasn't long enough to stretch out on the upper level of tracks.

We got word of a CSXT rear facing DP (thanks George!)so we next headed up to Walong.

5) The head end of the Westbound BNSF manifest train had the BNSF 4601, SD45-2 #1574 and UP 3820 and 2712. Notice that the West signals at Walong have been moved further up the curve with the combination of Walong and Marcel sidings.

6) BNSF 4886 and CSXT 5341 bring up the rear at Walong.

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/17 06:31 by SP8595.

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7) The rear helpers continue heading downhill at Walong. An Eastbound BNSF Intermodal train waits down below at Woodford.

8) BNSF 7605, 7794 and 3927 head East across Caliente Creek below the loop with the Q STOCHI.

9) Heading out of Tunnel 9 below the loop.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/17 06:17 by SP8595.

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10) This train would have been perfect to shoot from the North side of Hwy 58 as the head end and rear DP's were lined up nicely. Unfortunately as seen from this view above the Loop, both sets of power were back lit. Still pretty cool however:}

11) BNSF 7605 continues uphill near the old East end of Walong as the train continues through Tunnel #9 down below.

12) On the way back to the car, I spotted this critter sunning itself:}

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/17 06:22 by SP8595.

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We then headed back West to try and get another shot of the CSXT but only got a cruddy shot of it at Caliente. We knew we had one more Westbound heading our way so I hiked up above Tunnel #1.

13) Thinking it was a UP train, I was surprised to see this power! BNSF 4523, KCS 4184, KCS 4188 head West with the S ALTOIG as seen above Tunnel #1 with the train stretched out through Tunnel #2 and the rear Autoracks seen still heading through W. Bealville up in the background.

14) I helped this guy move off of the road down at Caliente.

15) With now high Sun conditions, we shot the BNSF 4235 heading East with the Z STOWSP through Tunnel #10 at the Walonger siding extension.

With a pretty good morning "in the bag" it was time to head for lunch over at the Keene Cafe:}



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/17 08:28 by SP8595.

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Great set of photos.

Wonderful trip with some nifty angles-love tunnel one with BNSF-KCS power! Glad Mother Nature cooperated this time.

Have you started planning your 2018 return trip?

John, nice shots of the CSX unit. Glad you got it. Unfortunately we missed the head power of the OIG train as we headed up the hill for the UP Z train.

Take care, Valleyman

Awesome shots, and thanks for helping that beautiful gopher snake to safety :-)

Great series of photos! Thanks for sharing.

Todd Skaggs
Dodge City, KS

Yes, great bunch. Good to hear Keene café still in business. Last time I ate there a movie star who I can't recall at this time was also eating. Chuck Conner from Rifleman also used to live in the area.
JB

Great photos.

Ronda Thomas

Excellent coverage! That photo at Tunnel #1 is a winner! Looks like you were the only one to get that OIG, I was way out of position.

GREAT stuff...!! Thanks for posting.

Really interesting angles for your photos. Thanks.

Great Series!

SouthWest RailCams
CA, NM, CO, TX, AZ
https://SouthWestRailCams.com

Bunch of nice angles and color. You certainly had better weather and choices of trains than I saw the previous week. Caliente sure provides a great setting. Very nice.
Brian Stevens

John that Gopher snake reminds me of the time your dad, the late Bob Kern and I were at Caliente waiting for a UP passenger special with the 6936 leading. Something went through the grass near where your dad was standing and he nearly jumped out of his clothes! Don't think you dad likes snakes very much!

Nice photos and thanks for helping the snake. Gopher snakes are often killed when people mistake them for rattlers.



Allen