Western Railroad Discussion > Trip to California, Tehachapi Part 2

After spending another splendid night in the unique and cool caboose at Cable, we awoke to find a Westbound train stopped down below us and soon discovered that the Mountain was a mess! Besides the train at Cable, there were Westbounds stopped at Marcel, Woodford and Bealville as well as BNSF's Eastbound Z at Rowen and an Eastbound BNSF manifest at Caliente and all were stopped waiting for Union Pacific's Westbound Z-train to pass through!

1) Early in the morning of Saturday, March 9th the only train moving was Union Pacific's ZLCTM (Los Angeles-Tacoma) seen here approaching the West switch at Bealville led by UP 2603 and passing a Westbound BNSF train.

We next waited at Caliente for the Westbound fleet that was following UP's Z-train and I don't think the railroads could put any worse looking leaders on the trains:{

2) UP 5596 was leading the MWCRV-08

3) BNSF 4627 was next with a mixed Intermodal and Auto train

-------------------Twelve More Pictures Posted Below----------------------------------

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4) Terrible looking UP 6540 was next on a long MWCRVX train running 3x2x1 with the BNSF Eastbound seen in the siding at Caliente in the background. 

5) We then headed up to Tunnel 5 to shoot BNSF SD70ACe 8540 leading on the Eastbound H FRSBAR3 07. The first good leader of the day:}

6) Next we got invited to a very Cool homeowner who's place is on 20 or so acres at Marcel and hoped to shoot Union Pacific's Eastbound IBRLC but unfortunately a Westbound BNSF was stopped on the inside track so all I could do was this view with the train heading around Tunnel #10 and  on the Loop way in the background.

-----------------------Nine More Pictures Posted Below-------------------------

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7) We then traveled back West to shoot BNSF 8381 East heading out of Tunnel #3 and around abandoned Tunnel #4 who's plugged Tunnel portal is back near the tank cars. This is between Bealville and Cliff sidings.

8) The rear DP was the highlight of the day with KCS 4013 and Warbonnet BNSF 721 even though it had an Orange door!

9) Next was BNSF 3832 heading East with a hot Intermodal train at Tunnel 1 with 5678 second engine. A cool number but not a cool looking engine:{

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

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10) Union Pacific SD70ACe 8814 was leading a monster 7500' long MRVLB at the W. switch at Bealville running 3x2 with a bunch of empty Intermodal cars in the middle of the train and they wonder why they sometimes have problems with derailments on Tehachapi!?!

11) Next we shot BNSF 5303 Westbound leading the H BARSTO1 08 exiting out of Tunnel #5 in the background.

12) Then it was time to meet up with some friends and catch the BNSF 7605 West with the V CLORIC1 06 crossing the 4th bridge over Tehachapi Creek at the West end of Woodford.

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



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/24 02:26 by SP8595.

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13) BNSF 6326 was Eastbound at Woodford with empty Cottonseed train X MODHAY3 28.

14) We then were invited back to the homeowners house at Marcel to wait for a Westbound train and it turned out to be a long BNSF Autorack train ( V BIRRIC3 07) running 1x1.

15 And we finished off the day with BNSF 3265 leading an Eastbound manifest train heading down the siding at Marcel to meet a BNSF Westbound train.

That finished off a Great 2 days at Tehachapi where we meet up with good friends, met new friends and topped off with staying in the caboose with the "old man":}



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/24 02:28 by SP8595.

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Great stuff, from a pretty cool trip. Kind of favoring that first shot.

Great set!  The first is my favorite.  Thanks for sharing.

texchief1

Excellent results from a memorable day, you guys did great! You can barely notice the "orange" door on the 721.

John I would say you had a stellar trip! Thanks for sharing....

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

Great shots in some nice green Tehachapi scenery! Especially like #1, with the sunlit train against the light and shadows on the hills.
GK

Excellent series! The many trains sure looked good in the green foliage.

Larry

Fantastic series, John! Really makes me want to lay-off and drive over there!

Outstanding photos! Especially the first one. - Eric B

Perfect timing to spend with your Father on Tehachapi mountain! Your pictures are colorful and distinguished. I have to agree, your #1 picture is a home run with the bases loaded! Thank you for sharing your trip Rail Fanning over the Tehachapi pass.

Simply the best!

:^)

Outstanding bunch.
JB

Looks like a fabulous trip!

  Fantastic shots; thanks for sharing!  I agree with others, the first shot is a winner.  I have to ask - any encounters with Fish & Wildlife officers?  I shot from pretty much the same location last April, and upon returning to my car had an expensive run-in with a rogue officer (the term used by a nice UP Police Office that I met later), who cited me, and I ended up with a ticket of $300+.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/24 10:00 by Curt.

Awesome pictures, gotta love some Tehachapi when its green.

Tom

Great set. A really nice trip. Especially like the views that show the
long winding trains as in #14
Brian Stevens

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