Western Railroad Discussion > Busy Times on the Trona

Received word this week that the Trona would be running a rare morning turn up to Searles, so despite it being Black Friday my dad and I ventured out to the desert to get some photos. As expected the area was overrun with offroaders, most of whom had little regard for social distancing and were generally unpleasant to be around, but despite this (and however much audio editing I'll need to do to the video due to folks not understanding to shut the hell up when there's a video camera pointed at a train) I still got some interesting shots.

-Morning shots allow for an interesting progression looking across Searles Valley from within the Pinnacles. Argus is in the background.

While I was setting up this shot I fell and scraped my hands up really badly on one of the Tufa spires that make up the pinnacles. No pain no gain, lmao.

-Z

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-Passing one of the trailer cities while approaching Garden City. There were thousands of people out in this area yesterday.
-Approaching Tunnel 29 after having cut off its train in the background and pulling a cut of cars off the Lone Pine branch into the yard.
-Some of the "locals"

-Z

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-Dust cloud from the "locals"
-From atop Tunnel 29 looking North
-The train backing back down the Lone Pine with its cut of coal cars. The power was going to run back to Searles Valley but we elected to get the hell out of there.

-Z

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-Bonus, we wound up at Danby for the afternoon. Westbound rounding the curves at Danby.
-Another westbound
-This ACe was a nice treat.

-Z

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-Eastbound
-One last westbound

Usual stuff, keep the bullcrap to a minimum in the comments and at least make some sort of effort to not be dicks to each other. Thanks for looking.

-Z

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Excellent images of the Trona. I wish I would have visited it more often myself.
 

-One last photo I forgot to post. Wide of the TRC at Pinnacles.

-Z

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Those Trona shots are remarkable.  Thanks for posting.

Nice series of shots on the Trona and down on the Needles Sub.... Thanks for sharing!

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

Being a huge Trona fan; Really enjoyed the Photos. Hard to beat stuff an Searles!
As a former off-roader I consider those folks as All-American as it gets. So glad to see
people out living their lives. As I am a high risk shut in,  they represent me!. 
Note; I have Searles, the correct track arrangement and all, on my model railroad. 
I also have an OHV RV camp site up above with ATCs, four wheelers et all. My hat
tip to my own past. Campsite is caller Spangler ( wonder why!) I have a sign but have
not put it up. 
Appreciate the images. off roaders and all. Next time try Glamis  LOL!

Guess that's the LOP53 though the shot looks like the EU shufling cars at Fleta. As to the off road guys and years past,
guilty as charged though we were never near any railroad.

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
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> Guess that's the LOP53 though the shot looks like
> the EU shufling cars at Fleta. As to the off road
> guys and years past,
> guilty as charged though we were never near any
> railroad.
>
> Out 

As far as I'm aware the cut of cars they were pulling off of the Jawbone stub track were loaded cars for an O-TNLB. Also this was all at Searles, not remotely close to Fleta.

-Z

No, I realize that but the traffic jam and the clogged tracks look like the daily grind at Fleta. Was curious if they
built the LB out of Searles or put it together in Mojave.

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No, I realize that but the traffic jam and the
> clogged tracks look like the daily grind at Fleta.
> Was curious if they
> built the LB out of Searles or put it together in
> Mojave.
>
> Out 

I'm honestly not sure, based on the symbol it would make sense for them to run through but I can't say for sure if they do they based off of my experiences. With UP reducing the number of trains going up to Searles, ops have been a lot lighter in the last year on their end. I've only caught one train going on the Lone Pine since 2017 despite going up to the Trona at least 4 times a year for the last while.

In addition, afaik once trains go off the Mojave sub up the Lone Pine car tracing says "arrived Searles" so tracking trains is pretty difficult on the line.

-Z



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/20 13:33 by z-trains.

The LOP53 seems like it's active at night which might be a clue, I hear them getting permission for the branch
at 8-9 at night. 

Out

LOP 53 is a day time job. The LOP 51 come on around 2 pm. A lot of MJMJ go up to Searles and LOP 81.
Dennis

Posted from iPhone

A night time job would make sense during the Spring/Summer/Fall when daytime temps above 100 are very common.
Run at night when the track is not being kinky!

It looks like "Road Warrior" got dispatched as they were coming out of the yard! 

That's OK it was a great movie and you have some super shots there!

Great series!

Incredible effort for some stunning images!