Western Railroad Discussion > Weekend trip to Tehachapi-Day 1

This past weekend, I flew out to California to spend some time railfanning with my Dad. We headed up to Tehachapi and had perfect weather for the entire time that we were out there! We also got to meet up with many long time friends and had a Great time just being out and chasing trains:}

The train traffic was consistent but it wasn't all that busy and the motive power was less than exciting but I guess that is to be expected as almost everywhere you go these days, it's just the same old BNSF swooshes and UP yellow. I miss the old days with SP Tunnel motors and Santa Fe Blue and Yellow engines but I guess we can't go back in time:{

After landing at Orange County Airport, we then fought the LA traffic to get North of town and realized that the Los Angeles to Lathrop Z-train was departing right behind us! We looked for some locations around the Saugus area but again the traffic was pretty bad so we just headed up towards Soledad Canyon.

Pictures taken on Thursday, March 14th.

1) Just West of Lang, the UP 5542 enters Soledad Canyon on the point of the ZLCLT-14.

2) From the Soledad Canyon Rd. overpass, just East of Ravenna.

3) At Ravenna the Z-train took the siding for this Metrolink train.

--------------Six More Pictures Posted Below-----------------------------

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4) At the Pear Blossom Highway overpass East of Vincent, we noticed UP's new attempt at trying to keep trespassers away:}

5) With a couple of Joshua trees in the background, the Z train heads towards Palmdale.

We then headed to Warren, which is just West of Mojave to hopefully get a couple of Westbounds but after waiting and waiting and waiting out in a stiff cold wind, I gave up and went back to the car. Just as I got in the car, a pair of Eastbounds came rolling past.

6) The first train was this BNSF hotshot, with the only shot I could get being going away.

---------------Three More Pictures Posted Below--------------------------------



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/19 21:05 by SP8595.

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7) Just as the rear of the BNSF Z was passing, then a UP manifest train dropped downhill on the other track heading Eastbound as well. Here is a shot of the rear DP power.

Due to lengthening shadows, we tried relocating and noticed that solid boxcar train the TO member "Fiftyfooter" posted yesterday but while trying to find a location, we got blocked by another Eastbound UP train:{

8) With only a couple minutes remaining of daylight, another BNSF Westbound was pulling out of Mojave so we set-up for a telephoto shot. 

9) A going away shot of the consist that included a Canadian Pacific and a Ferromex.

Not much the first day and we got "burned" with a couple of trains but that's how it goes sometimes I guess:{



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/19 21:04 by SP8595.

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Awesome Series John! Glad to hear you had a good time with your Dad! I really love Photo #7.  Can't wait to see what the next series has.

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



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/19 21:17 by RailFanAZ.

Nice set.  Really like #5 as well.  Good that you could spend some time with your folks.
Brian Stevens

Geez, about time...looks like a decent enough start, looking forward to more. 

Very nice series!  Rarely see Soledad Canyon. 

Sweet shots!!

Spectacular shots! Post more! === === = === JLH

Very nice series of shots!

Looks like a great time and what a bunch of excellent shots at different locations.
JB

ALL great shots, Soledad photos really stand out as I personally know how hard it is to get photos in that canyon. Knowing this is a warm up, can’t wait for the remainder of the trip!! :)

Looks like a great time!

Todd Busse

Nice pics!

Great shots and nice start to your trip!

Nice shots, John.  Thanks for posting.

Randy Lundgren

More! More!

Dick Ebright
Roosevelt, Utah   (but temporarily reporting from Rochester, MN)

John I have a personal question, don't you ever get tired of trains?

Out

Really great series of photos John.

Ronda Thomas

Posted from Android

John,
Good shots. upkpfan