Hey folks,
I will be heading to California on Friday and to the Tehachapi pass next week and was wondering if anyone can give me some information on where I can go east of the pass to see BNSF and/or UP trains moving at speed. Any information on town names, general distances from the actual loop, Route numbers etc., would be appreciated.
Additionally if anyone knows the best time for action through the pass, that would be appreciated also.
Thx Don
Make sure that your vehicle is in good shape and you bring blankets, water, foods and a little bit of cash.
Techachapi Pass is a wonderful place but can be pretty foggy in the mornings near the windmills, lonely in places and several towns where trains stack up waiting for thier turn to make the crossing.
As a former trucker I found I enjoyed the pass in good weather, but it cannot be taken lightly.
Lately, at least through the loop it has been BNSF during the day and UP at night, so I’m told. (I can only vouch for daylight hours.) Trains will move through Tehachapi itself at a decent pace in either direction and there are lots of places near the tracks to park, as the tracks pretty much parallel the main drag through town.
There may be pull-off spots off of Highway 58 between Mojave and Tehachapi that could afford a pretty good view; maybe others have specific suggestions. The BNSF line between Mojave and Barstow parallels 58 and can be relatively active, but I don’t know the daytime frequency. I don’t know if UP runs trains on that route as well.
That said, given the time of the year, I would suggest staying between Tehachapi and Mojave, especially since things are heating up out here and it’s going to be sucky hot on the desert, downright inhospitable.
East of the loop, How far east? You mention track speed, well they sometimes get up speed between Tehachappi and Monolith but only for a few miles as they have to slow down for the ascent. Once off the hill the 58 stays pretty close to the BNSF all the way into Barstow (70miles). I like North Edwards myself, its about 25 miles east of Mojave. Track speed out there is 70mph. You could also follow the UP down into the Antelope valley. The tracks are within sight but a little ways east of hwy 14. Take one of the exits and drive east and you’ll hit the tracks. Speeds on this line are 65mph. As mentioned, it gets stinkin hot out there this time of year. If you stick by the pass there’s at least a chance for a good breeze. I like to hang out at the BNSF/UP junction in Mojave myself. There is an overpass there for shade and you can see trains comming in all directions from a long ways away. Plus you can see several signals.
If I remember correctly, the Sierra Highway (old Highway 14, not to be confused with the current Highway 14) parallels the former SP tracks pretty closely between Rosamond and Lancaster.
They don’t really get moving until they are through Mojave. If you go East on 58 out of Mojave, you’ll notice various dirt roads off to the right side that lead to the track. Unless they have a bulletin up (which they might in this heat), they should get going up to speed a couple miles outside the town. Don’t go on the new highway fly-by around Mojave though… Go on the old section farther up. If you go too far though, you run into Edwards property, and it’s not recommended you go onto that. There’s one siding just West of where the Edwards property starts where they will do meets. But some days it is not busy at all. Maybe just a few trains.
Dave
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Between Mojave & Barstow the BNSF is operating at speed. The UPRR line from Mojave to Palmdale had very few trains on it when I trainfaned it. Do not miss the horseshoe curve at Caliente especially at the bottom where you can get super head on shots of WB trains taking the switch while a EBer is waiting for the WBer to pass. If you are going to the loop, loop bring a strong long lens as the distance from where you are to where the train goes over itself is quite a distance. In Tehachapi you can sit & watch the action right across the street (slow speed) before they enter the mountains or after they exit the mountains (double track here) [:o)][:p][:)]
[quote]
Originally posted by ChuckCobleigh
OK folks, remember its been AVERAGING 110+ degrees and 10% humidity in the Mohave these last few days, you go standing around in that heat and sunlight and your liable to end up DEAD, so water, water, water, water, add sunscreen and big a$$ sunhat !
How about Daggett, where the UP (ex-LA&SL) and BNSF lines split east of Barstow? About a 90 minute drive from Tehachapi; expect 80-90 trains there every 24 hours. Tough place to shoot in summer, but you can’t beat the action.
Thaks Too all…
Daggett is terrific. Still one of my all time favorites. Go there every year for at least 1 to 1 1/2days. Will be there next month again. I do not wi***o argue with you but you maybe you are being a little kind on the t/line Teh to Daggett. Have you eaten at Peggy’s Sues on the other side of the USMC base? You know if you go east on the road that Peggy Sues is on then make a right onto Daggett-Yermo road about 2 miles up the road you come pararell to the UPRR tracks to/from Vegas & I have seen some UPs really motoring there? Daggett-Yermo road ends at Field & you can jump onto the I their. What I do is when a UPRR leaves the BNSF tracks I motor to D-Y road & wait for the train say 3/4 miles east from where I entered D-Y road. When the UPRR comes by I then let the train pass me then put the petal to the metal videoing the action at the same time. It is a great rush. No cars, no trucks, no trees, no bushes to inhibit the filming[:o)][:p][:)]
[quote]
Originally posted by DRBusse
To answer to the initial question: from Mojave, follow the Hwy 58 westbound. After driving, say 20 miles, take the first exit to the town of Tehachapi (just prior the 58 overpasses the railroad). At the stop turn right, the road follows the railroad. There you have a few miles of relative flat land (from Summit and Monolith to Cameron), where track speed is 60mph. I’ve taken there good shots of freights running by. And it’s only a few miles from Tehachapi (the town), and only 15 miles or so from the Loop.
Hope this helps,
Dominique