Western Railroad Discussion > Scenes from Bagdad on the Needles Sub.

What once was a lively little town is now just a ghost town with nothing left but a raulroad siding, a cemetery and a few foundations if ya know where to look. In its day there was a hotel, the famous Bagdad Cafe which had Saturday night dances and other various buldings. 

Don Winslow
Glendora, CA
http://www.donwinslow.net/Railroads

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I believe that in the steam era, Bagdad was a helper terminal. Crews shoved WBs to Ash Hill and turned on the wye there to return to Bagdad. Outside job out of Needles, I imagine it was a low-seniority assignment.

eljay Wrote:
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> I believe that in the steam era, Bagdad was a
> helper terminal. Crews shoved WBs to Ash Hill and
> turned on the wye there to return to Bagdad.
> Outside job out of Needles, I imagine it was a
> low-seniority assignment.
In its day, Bagdad was a busy place. Before the freeways, old Route 66 had a lotta traffic and there were 2 Highway Patrol officers assigned as resident cops for the surrounding area. A bit east of Bagdad was the town of Cadiz and that was a water stop for the steamers. The old water tank lasted until it was taken down a few years ago. I used to use that for shade in the desert heat, 

Don Winslow
Glendora, CA
http://www.donwinslow.net/Railroads

Nice shots, Don! I imagine if you were to look up 'Desolate' in the dictionary you might find a photo from Bagdad there... I like the framing in #2 the  best. Thanks for sharing!

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

Very NICE series at Bagdad Don! It's been many years since I've been there, back in the blue and yellow days.

Larry

Thank you guys for the kind words. I have some photos I took over 50 years ago out here when there was still some of the mining structures still in those mountains in the background. Lots of history out there. 

Don Winslow
Glendora, CA
http://www.donwinslow.net/Railroads

No snake shots ?
 

Bill Miller
Galt, ON

Gee Don its good to see you posting I was getting a little concerned as I thought you had let your batteries get low in your pacemaker. Nice lighting and nice shots.

Robert Morris
Dunsmuir, CA
Robert Morris Photography

Great set Don!

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

"Bagdad Cafe" is one of my favorite movies.  With CCH Pounder and Jack Palance, it was shot right there in Bagdad and included several shots of passing ATSF freights.

bobs Wrote:
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> "Bagdad Cafe" is one of my favorite movies.  With
> CCH Pounder and Jack Palance, it was shot right
> there in Bagdad and included several shots of
> passing ATSF freights.

There is still a Bagdad Cafe and it's up closer to Batsrow in Newberry Springs. It has no connection to the original one in Bagdad. They just appropriated the name.

Don Winslow
Glendora, CA
http://www.donwinslow.net/Railroads

The Bagdad depot....

John Acosta
Palm Springs, CA

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Thanks for that photo of the Bagdad depot. Even all the trees are gone now at the townsite. There is one tree left to indicate where to turn into the townsite off of Route 66. There is some foundations left next to the tracks which may been where the old depot was. 

Don Winslow
Glendora, CA
http://www.donwinslow.net/Railroads



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/19 11:41 by DonWinslow.