A BNSF manifest train led
by a Santa Fe warbonnet winds down through Bealville in
the morning sunlight. |
The train has 4 EMDs
placed midtrain, presumably to help with the climb out of
Mojave and braking on the way downhill. The second
pumpkin is BNSF 7304, rebuilt by Alstom in 1999. It has
an extended cab roof, different radiators and rear
lights... |
Heading upgrade between
tunnels one and two, another BNSF manifest train has a
BN green C30-7 in the consist and two helper engines. The
helpers are just visible through the trees above the
third and fourth engines. Believe it or not, this shot
was taken from the same spot as the previous two, of a
section of track a little further downhill. Ya gotta love
this place... |
Crossing at Bakersfield
before lunch. The train on the right is headed by a SP
SD70M, a C&NW Dash-9 and a Rio Grande tunnel motor. I
heartily recommend Rigo's tacos across the road from
here! |
At Sandcut, SP 8237 has
it's 'SP' on the nose freshly overpainted. A BNSF pig
train is hot on its heels on the adjacent track.
|
8237 is held at Bena and
overtaken by the higher priority train, which is seen
here skirting Caliente creek.
|
After the pig's passage,
8237 resumes its attack on the grade. |
At the top of Bealeville,
the same train is about to enter tunnel 3. |
A following BNSF train
emerges from the other side of tunnel 3. |
After exiting tunnel 3,
trains enter Clear Creek Ravine and head up to tunnel 5
and the big curve that swings around to the loop at Cliff.
Many uphill trains produce plumes of diesel smoke when
exiting tunnel 5, the longest in the Tehachapis. The
fourth loco on this train is a SF GP30. |
Another following uphill
train rounds the curve at Clear Creek. The lead locos in
the distance are entering tunnel 5. Helper UP 7037 is one of the
big AC60CW convertibles. |
Another UP train heads
into tunnel 3. |
At Caliente, UP Dash-8
9392, awaits a downhill as encroaching high cloud covers
the sunset. |
Early Saturday morning
sees a heavy coal train threading its way around the
Allard horseshoe, which is part of the long Bealeville
loop. The horseshoe is quite deep, as evidenced by most
of this long train being out of sight to the left. Four
big AC units are helped at the rear by an SD70M, Dash-8
and a repainted tunnel motor. |
Same train, same spot,
same half light. |
A string of double stacks
and trailers follows 4 pumpkin patch Dash-9s through the
curves at the western (downhill) end of Bealville.
Despite the optical illusion created by an elevated
position, the train is actually on a continuous uphill. |
Slightly further uphill,
a BNSF manifest with a refreshing lack of post-merger
colour trundles gently downhill. |
Another uphill train is
headed by an impressive quantity of locomotives,
something that has become rarer in recent years. As the
number of modern, high horsepower locos has increased on
both BNSF and UP, a large number of smaller, older and
leased locos have been released for other duties, sold or
returned to lessors. |
|
|
A BNSF manifest train led
by a Santa Fe warbonnet winds down through Bealville in
the morning sunlight. 
The train has 4 EMDs
placed midtrain, presumably to help with the climb out of
Mojave and braking on the way downhill. The second
pumpkin is BNSF 7304, rebuilt by Alstom in 1999. It has
an extended cab roof, different radiators and rear
lights...
Heading upgrade between
tunnels one and two, another BNSF manifest train has a
BN green C30-7 in the consist and two helper engines. The
helpers are just visible through the trees above the
third and fourth engines. Believe it or not, this shot
was taken from the same spot as the previous two, of a
section of track a little further downhill. Ya gotta love
this place...
Crossing at Bakersfield
before lunch. The train on the right is headed by a SP
SD70M, a C&NW Dash-9 and a Rio Grande tunnel motor. I
heartily recommend Rigo's tacos across the road from
here! 
At Sandcut, SP 8237 has
it's 'SP' on the nose freshly overpainted. A BNSF pig
train is hot on its heels on the adjacent track.
8237 is held at Bena and
overtaken by the higher priority train, which is seen
here skirting Caliente creek.
After the pig's passage,
8237 resumes its attack on the grade. 
At the top of Bealeville,
the same train is about to enter tunnel 3. 
A following BNSF train
emerges from the other side of tunnel 3.
After exiting tunnel 3,
trains enter Clear Creek Ravine and head up to tunnel 5
and the big curve that swings around to the loop at Cliff.
Many uphill trains produce plumes of diesel smoke when
exiting tunnel 5, the longest in the Tehachapis. The
fourth loco on this train is a SF GP30.
Another following uphill
train rounds the curve at Clear Creek. The lead locos in
the distance are entering tunnel 5. Helper UP 7037 is one of the
big AC60CW convertibles.
Another UP train heads
into tunnel 3.
At Caliente, UP Dash-8
9392, awaits a downhill as encroaching high cloud covers
the sunset. 
Early Saturday morning
sees a heavy coal train threading its way around the
Allard horseshoe, which is part of the long Bealeville
loop. The horseshoe is quite deep, as evidenced by most
of this long train being out of sight to the left. Four
big AC units are helped at the rear by an SD70M, Dash-8
and a repainted tunnel motor.
Same train, same spot,
same half light.
A string of double stacks
and trailers follows 4 pumpkin patch Dash-9s through the
curves at the western (downhill) end of Bealville.
Despite the optical illusion created by an elevated
position, the train is actually on a continuous uphill.
Slightly further uphill,
a BNSF manifest with a refreshing lack of post-merger
colour trundles gently downhill. 
Another uphill train is
headed by an impressive quantity of locomotives,
something that has become rarer in recent years. As the
number of modern, high horsepower locos has increased on
both BNSF and UP, a large number of smaller, older and
leased locos have been released for other duties, sold or
returned to lessors.