FoamersNW: A Late Winter's Adventure

For the past several years I have had the opportunity to take some time off to do some exploring and photography in the Desert Southwest. This past early part of March, I was accompanied by Steve Eshom and Mike Sawyer along what would be a five day experience in the desert. With a fairly planned trip, our first day and a half would be on Tehachapi. This year was fairly different that others with El Nino bringing in winter rains to an area which we were not familiar with.

What happens when you combine rain and Tehachapi? Emerald green hills - a sight like no other - one must behold it to appreciate it. Locals say enjoy the green as in just a few short weeks, it will cure out to the familiar brown which will endure throughout the remainder of the year. This year, we were about a week shy of the full bloom of the wildflowers, but the view was amazing, perhaps only Ireland could have done better.

We were hoping to photograph some railroad activity amidst the colorful scenery. In years past, Tehachapi has been a challenge for us - usually a trip to "The Hill" was punctuated with endless work windows and train problems that caused the line to grind to a halt. This year our luck held out - a couple of weeks previous was the derailment and subsequent tunnel fire at Walong - the line was open with only minor work occurring here and there. Arriving in Mojave to meet up with Darren Megowan, we were met with strong winds out of the pass that urged us to move west. Upon arriving at Bealville we found BNSF's sizzling hot Z-NBYWSP9 (North Bay, CA - Willow Springs, IL) sitting idle on the main waiting for track and time to clear up the line.

BNSF Z-NBYWSP9 at Bealville

After clearing up the Z train departed upgrade, its place quickly replaced by a UP Z-LTLC (Lathrop, CA - Los Angeles, CA) who pulled to a stop for the signal, and to drop off a UP Road Foreman sporting a smart SP coat. Receiving the green to proceed the Road Foreman pauses to roll the train by before departing back to Bakersfield in a company rig.

Whose Company Is This??

The trains will come and go, but what strikes me most is how the line interacts with the country - with the terrain. Throw some amazing colors that spring time brings and accompany it with some storm light, and the results can truly be memorable.

Z train climbing out of Tunnel 5

Be Careful

At the end of the steady and straight climb out of Bakersfield for southbound trains lies Sand Cut. This can be a dramatic spot to view trains starting their first assault on "The Hill". If the skies are just right, sunset can bring amazing reds and oranges and then with a little luck a train may show up.....