Trains.com

Greetings from the Mojave Desert!

Posted by Chase Gunnoe
on Wednesday, June 18, 2014

For the past several days, I have enjoyed visiting and photographing Southern California’s exciting railroad operations, ranging from the famous Tehachapi Loops, iconic Cajon Pass, and the sunny Amtrak Pacific Surfline. This is my third visit to California since 2012 and with each visit; I’ve found myself more enamored with the landscapes and photo opportunities.

The terrain and climate of southern California is most certainly a striking contrast to that of my home state of West Virginia. The beautiful desert landscape, impressive daily train frequency, and ability to utilize the “sweet” light of early morning and pre-dusk hours without dealing with towering mountains and narrows valley has been admittedly refreshing.

The diversity in terrain within southern California has provided much variety with each area visited. In visiting Tehachapi Pass earlier this week, I experienced above average traffic levels when compared to previous trips. Within an hour of sunrise, seven trains were either waiting for opposing traffic or slithering along the scenic Southern Pacific route in premiere sunlight.

A mixed freight for Bakersfield descends Tehachapi Pass with a quartet of BNSF locomotives.

Two days later, I watched the final minutes of the late evening sun illuminate a Union Pacific container train descending Cajon Pass. A beautiful weekend filled with abundant sunshine and beachgoers along the Pacific Coast yielded many opportunities along Amtrak’s Pacific Surfline north of San Diego.

Now, gradually returning east to Las Vegas in preparation for the return trip home this weekend, I’ve enjoyed revisiting the railroad towns of Barstow and Needles, nestled in the Mojave Desert in eastern California. I’ve always been fascinated with the abandoned communities that once dotted Route 66 and the photo opportunities between those abandoned towns and the railroad that operates adjacent to them.

While the summer solstice is just days away and the Mojave Desert is experiencing some of its hottest temperatures this season, the early morning and late evening sunlight is breathtaking. The long shadows and the warm glow casted by the low sun enhances the vastness of the intimidating, though inviting desert landscape in my opinion.

Today's adventures will direct us east towards the California/Arizona border and eventually into the Kingman Canyon area of the original Santa Fe Railway. An area affluent with scenery, trains, and (hopefully) sunshine! 

Returning west to Barstow after interchanging with the Arizona & California Railroad at Cadiz, Santa Fe painted B40-8W No. 543 brings up the rear near Ludlow, California.

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