Western Railroad Discussion > A glimpse of Trona Railroad

Back on May 22 of this year, the daily Trona Railroad job from Trona to Searles Junction looked like this as it passed above Trona Pinnacles. It was about 102 degrees that afternoon, quite comfortable in shorts, a T-shirt and a couple gallons of water.

Be safe out there -

- Kit

Kit Courter
Menefee, CA
LunarLight Photography

---

That's a very tranquil and atmospheric place next to the pinnacles...when one of these loaded trains comes by with EMD power the tranquility takes a break for a few minutes! Nice shot.

OutStanding

...and stick rail too.........

That photo just screams gritty desert railroading!

Neat shot, neat location, I know the sound was great, but what an ugly locomotive. UGH. BSB

Thank you Kit!

Posted from Android

So that's what happens to the scarlet if you don't paint it for 30 years or so.

Great shots, thank you for posting.

I’ll take those “Ugly” locomotives any day, better then all this damn orange. Would also love to see all standard cab EMD lashups again!

Posted from iPhone

KA7008 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So that's what happens to the scarlet if you don't
> paint it for 30 years or so...

But you also have to heat the paint to 100+ degrees in the summer and cool nightly.  I'm surprised it all hasn't flaked off.

mapboy
 

NIICE..!!

I have been wanting to get into the Trona area to photograph this train. Can you give me a likely window of when the train runs so I will have a chance of being there at the right time?

Thanks,

Jim

chips7335 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been wanting to get into the Trona area to
> photograph this train. Can you give me a likely
> window of when the train runs so I will have a
> chance of being there at the right time?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jim

Saturday's are bad (no train usually). Rest of the week is better than 50% chance of a train daily. I've had good results on Sundays, Mondays, then there might be a day when no train runs up to Searles on Tues but then Weds onwards might have a train etc...a bit variable. As I say Sun/Mon seem pretty dependable...
The loaded train usually leaves Trona mid-late afternoon i.e. 2-4pm, getting to Searles about 45-60 mins or so later. The empties return often around/after sunset. There's also always the chance of a train (usually once a week) when coal loads will need to be brought down to Trona from Searles, typically around lunchtime. The last time I saw that it was on a Sunday.
Hope this helps.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/17 02:59 by exhaustED.

Yes it does. Next time I am in Barstow visiting family I will know when to try a Trona run. If the train doesn't pan out there is plenty of desert scenery in the area and on the way and back.

Jim

chips7335 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes it does. Next time I am in Barstow visiting
> family I will know when to try a Trona run. If the
> train doesn't pan out there is plenty of desert
> scenery in the area and on the way and back.
>
> Jim

Sounds good. If you're in Barstow and you see a westbound Union Pacific coal train that takes the BNSF route towards Mojave then that will be headed for Trona...