A Late Winter's Adventure - Day 4 - BNSF Transcon

Refreshed from the previous evenings Kingman thunderstorm, we awoke in the morning with a plan - A plan to work east on the Seligman subdivison to the area of Crozier Canyon. We had planned to return to Barstow that night so we didnt want to venture too far east to make for a long drive back west. After checking in for the daily line-ups we were out at first light to set up for the classic shot at Walapai, where the main climbs on a fifteen mile tangent ramp up from the floor of the valley.

We had hoped to recreate the classic shot of a train approaching with another headlight in the distance, but in the instance, we werent too successful with the second train appearing just after the first one passed.


BNSF 7328 East leads the M-BARBEL (Barstow, CA - Belen, NM) at Walapai



S-LHTCLO (Los Angeles Harbor - Clovis, NM) charges upgrade with BNSF 5153 East

Route 66 - "The Mother Road" parallels the Transcon for many locations in the desert southwest, and this area is no exception. Peppered with faux - Burma Shave signs pitching driving safety and the occasional roadside attraction is commonplace on this stretch of roadway. A quick pull-off of Route 66 west of Hackberry led to a good advantage point of the dip and swale of the former Santa Fe.


A hot H-KCKBAR-9 (Kansas City - Barstow, CA) manifest hustles to try to stay ahead of a fleet of Z trains


Z-LACWSP (Los Angeles, CA - Willow Springs, IL) crosses Truxton Wash on a iconic Santa Fe bridge at Hackberry

A set of rocks with an elevated view at the west end of Crozier Canyon is our next location where we have a good view of the Truxton Wash, which the main follows the drainage most of the way from Hackberry up to the top of the grade at Yampai. Crozier Canyon at just a few miles long is probably one of the most difficult to access due to private property issues as well as just physical road access. There are times of year that travel in the canyon is just not recommended. It has been said that if a railfan could spend a week in the canyon, there would be very few duplicated shots. Given how much rain had fallen over the past few days, we decided to make the west end of the Canyon as our location to set up. The canyon would have to wait for another time.

The last time we were at the Canyon, we witnessed the impressive updrafts which would result in a severe thunderstorm that opened up right over us. This year, only rain greeted us.


Z-KCKSBD (Kansas City - San Bernardino, CA) rolls out of Crozier Canyon

Kingman Canyon is located just southwest of the City of Kingman, the main transitions between the newer part of Kingman to the old part of town through Slaughterhouse Canyon. A line separation comes back together albeit briefly in old town before dropping down into Kingman Canyon. This defile allows access to the Sacramento Valley and Wash which the railroad uses to make it down to the crossing of the Colorado River at Topock. The canyon is just a few miles long, but has a significant grade separation. Also laid in the canyon is a surface road called the Old Trails road as well as Route 66. A little off-road driving and rock climbing led to some great locations. Hiding behind a rockface to stay out of the wind and rain, we were able to see two trains in the matter of about an hour.


Z-WSPSBD (Willow Springs, IL - San Bernardino, CA) has dynamics in check as it heads downgrade through Kingman Canyon


A 186 car monster H-BARGAL (Barstow, Ca - Galesburg, IL) crawls upgrade through Kingman Canyon

Our goal for the afternoon was to try and get out from under the rain and try to capture some storm light. After a quick drive we were back on the Needles sub, working our way west towards Bolo Hill. The rain didnt let up as we had hoped, it only increased and looked like it was going to stay the course for the afternoon. This didnt deter our tenacity. We moved up to Saltus on the west side of Bolo Hill and set up for what would prove to be an interesting couple of hours.




We managed to leapfrog train Z-WSPSBD that we saw in Kingman Canyon and catch it again here at Saltus during a rain squall - and going away with the Cadiz local approaching.

The Cadiz local provides same day out and back service from Barstow, CA to the interchange with the Arizona and California at Cadiz, CA. Out of any train on the Needles sub, this train is usually the one with the most unique power, usually stabled by a large set of 4-axle power. On this day, the local slowed to work the tank car spur at Saltus with a blue and yellow Santa Fe GP60 for lead power. I wondered what the conductor was thinking about these guys with cameras in the pouring rain in the middle of the Mojave.









Dressed for the winter elements in the Mojave, the brakeman and the conductor go about their duties in a land that usually sports triple digit temperatures for most of the year. After the work was completed, the local notches out up Bolo Hill - maybe a little for our benefit.

Last light found us at Newberry Springs watching the distant building of a thunderstorm over Barstow while we waited for the first of the westbound fleet that we first shot at Crozier Canyon to arrive. The storm light photos we were hoping for never materialized, but some decent going away and low light prevailed.


Rolling into the storm at Sunset

Yet another day closes on the Mojave - the next day would be spent partially on the Needles sub, and then a switch over to the former SP.

A Late Winter's Adventure - Day 3 - Needles Sub

Barstow arguably is one of the best staging spots for a railfan adventure - striking distance to the Big 3 (Tehachapi, Cajon and Needles sub) and some of the lesser busy areas (Afton and Cima). In years past we would call Barstow home for several days in a row - working out onto the Needles sub. This year we would leapfrog from Barstow to Kingman before returning back to Barstow over a 3 day period.

The focus of this day would be the Needles Sub - For me, the Needles sub is as heavy duty and fast running as it gets - its BNSF's national life line of commerce. If the Powder River Basin is the gold of the crown, the transcon has to be the shiny beset jewels. 60-80 trains ply the line every 24 hours. Stretching 172 miles from Barstow to Needles, one not familiar with this area may think the desert is a flat desolate area. Desolate in some places, sure, but flat - no way. The mainline crests several grades during its stretch. Summits such as Pisgah, Lavic, Squaw Summit, Bolo Hill and Goffs create opeational challenges. Very few trains fail to make it across the subdivision in the allotted hours. Some Z-train crews are on the long pool - San Bernardino or Bakersfield through to or from Needles.

The summit at Lavic was to be our first stop for first light. Eastbound trains climb out of the dry lake bed at Hector through Pisgah where the first crest is made before heading down through a quick dip before climbing to the next summit at Lavic. From there its downgrade to Ludlow.




Lavic Curve at Sunrise


Z-RICWSP (Richmond, CA - Willow Springs, IL) coming out of dip into Lavic.


Q-LACCHI (Los Angeles, CA - Chicago, IL) starts downgrade towards Ludlow - Pisgah lava crater distant.

Creosote bush is punctuated with pumice and volcanic rock in the area - the nearby lava fields and Pisgah crater reminds the violent creations of the area.

Bolo Hill was our next area to check out. Previously Kit Courtier showed us how to get into the Bolo Hill area which is an excellent shooting location for east and westbounds. With my handy Garmin Nuvi, I marked the spots as waypoints Bolo 1, 2 and 3 for future quick shooting references. Having been on the Needles sub over a dozen times in the past 10 years, I am always finding new and unique photo locations. Many of them off are of Route 66 - requiring a little patience and luck.


Z-NYCLAC (New York City - Los Angeles, CA) making 70 per on Bolo Hill


Z-WSPNBY (Willow Spring, IL - North Bay, CA) at Bolo Hill - Cadiz distant.


Warbonnet led Q-STOALT (Stockton, CA - Alliance, TX) at Bolo Hill with Amboy crater distant.

Alphabetic towns laid out going east its an easy way to remember station locations; Amboy, Bolo, Cadiz, Danby, Essex, Goffs, Homer, Ibis, Java, Kleinfelter, Lava....East from Amboy is the grade to Bolo, then dropping back down to Cadiz before the long pull out of the Bristol Dry Lake bed to the crest at Goffs. From Essex to Goffs is a favorite spot to pace trains along old Route 66.


Q-ATGLAC (Atlanta, GA - Los Angeles, CA) cresting Goffs hill.

Along the base of the Dead Mountains is the Piute Valley - this is where the rail line picks up the drainage of the Piute Wash to find its way down to Needles. The area around Java has been an attraction as of late of us - with the sun in mostly favorable angles for the morning through evening. Ibis can be a great location for fading evening light as well.


M-BELBAR (Belen, NM - Barstow, CA)Climbing out of the Piute Valley


M-SLABAR (Slayton, TX - Barstow, CA) at Java


Z-KCKLAC (Kansas City - Los Angeles, CA) at Java


Kleinfelter


Pulling hard into Ibis


Meet at Ibis

As the evening descended upon us, we decided to move east for our hotel in Kingman, enjoying a desert thunderstorm that night while sitting outside having dinner. Truly a great trip so far....

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!

A Late Winter's Adventure - Day 1

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.....


Crossing Over


Sunset Silhouette


H-EVEBAR (Everett, WA - Barstow, CA)

San Diego - An American Paradise

San Diego - An American Paradise - or should the title be San Diego - A Winter Sabbatical. January 2008 will be the 9th year and a row that Arline and I head south in January to get away from the weather of the wet, cold and gray Pacific Northwest. Being removed from Southern California for 24 years, it is still something that we look forward to each year. We have managed to take GB's and GB's of photos on each trip, sometimes hooking up with the San Diego Digital DSLR Group on one of their group photo shoots around San Diego County. These photos were taken a couple of years ago while on one of our trips.

Mount Hood Galore

Recently inspired by a photo by Dan Schwanz on Train Orders about trains and Oregon's Mount Hood, I managed to find a compilation of shots taken from Memorial Day weekend 2007 in the Columbia River Gorge.

Thanks for taking a look.

RS

np/ Incubus - Drive

Morning Z Train at North Dalles, WA


70mph at Rufus, OR


Biggs, OR Overlook


Avery, WA


Wishram - Fallbridge