A Late Winter's Adventure - Day 2

After a comfortable night in Tehachapi, we were out bright and early - before the sunrise to get set for our shots of the day. As with any and really all of our trips, we have a set routine. Up early - sometimes two hours before sunrise, out all day and in late, sometimes well after dark. One of the last things we do before getting into our hotel, is fill up the vehicle with fuel, and gather provisions for the following day - this allows us to get our right away that morning.

Since the wind was so fierce the day before on the Mojave side, we thought it would be good to try it out in the morning. Calm at Tehachapi - we might just luck out. The trip the previous year, we ventured up on top of the hill at Warren which is just upgrade from Mojave. This is a great overlook with the light good for mornings. The hill is populated with Joshua Trees which can be used to frame up a train or two. The chill in the crisp air slowly moderated as the sun shined brightly on our backs while waiting for the action.

Warren Joshua Trees

We were lucky enough to catch 4 trains in about two hours while up on the hill. Regular phone updates of train locations from Darren were a big help. After our green hills experience of Tehachapi from the day previous were enough of a tease to us to pry us back over the hill to set up between Caliente and Bealville. The forecast had called for increasing clouds throughout the day so morning and afternoon would be our goal.

The best example of the aerial view of the part of the railroad between the Caliente Narrows and the Cliff siding is to take a spaghetti noodle and twist and wind it around a fork - as the crow flies between one point an another may be just a mile or two, but from a linear standpoint is 8 rail miles. It is the closest you will get to a multi-deck model railroad but in 1:1 scale. If your knowledge of Tehachapi is only in books and in photos - they do not do it justice by any means.

Beyond Caliente, after negotiating a 10 degree horseshoe curve the grade steepes to 2.2-2.3%. Through 252ft. tunnel 1 and 219ft tunnel 2, another 10 degree horseshoe curve at Allard is negotiated. The grade crossing at Bealville is at the south siding switch - the line continues upgrade through 494ft tunnel 3, past the daylighted area of tunnel 4, before going through 1175ft tunnel 5. This described area is one of the most accessible on the north slope of the grade and can be very scenic.


Northbound downgrade at Tunnel 2

The overlook along the side of the Caliente Bodfish Road provides a great view into the Caliente Narrows and of any approaching southbound trains. Alerts for southbound trains can be heard when they are approaching the Bealville grade crossing still several miles upgrade. This time of year, the grass is lush and green and diesels in yellow or orange stand out very well.


Caliente Narrows

The area around Tunnel 2 is one of my favorite places on The Hill to set up. The sun angle this time of year is very favorable. Parking and clamboring up the nearby hill provides elevation to take an ordinary 3/4 brain rot shot and gives it a little more character. Two trains in so-so filtered light were ours for the taking.


Q-STOCHI6 (Stockton, CA - Chicago, IL)


B-NBYLAC (North Bay, CA - Los Angeles, CA) - note Q-STOCHI at Cliff siding 8 rail miles ahead


What I enjoy most about trips like this is what we as a group talk about between trains. Mike spinning takes about his Boomer time on the line, speculation about the next train location, next shot location, camera set-ups, and always the good natured hazing. This day we welcomed Darren into out world - the world of quazi-militant combat railfanning. We hope to shoot with him again very soon. Trains gone, light not far behind, its a hundered miles and a couple of hours off to Barstow!