Greetings,
As of right now I am hoping to head to Southern California in late April this year. This will be my first time out that way. I am looking for suggestions on locations to stay to check out places like Cajon and Tehachapi. Also any other suggestions for locations to check out for some good railroad action. I hope to fly into LAX.
Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions.
Keith Schmidt
I think if I were going out there solely to railfan, I’d get a motel room in Palmdale- it’s probably cheaper than most places in the LA area, and equi-distant from both Tehachapi and Cajon. Another sight worth hitting from there might be Sequoia.
I’m sure Chad will weigh in with his expertise, but there’s a lot of classic railfan sites I used to visit when I lived down there: Techachapi, Cajon, Berdoo, Daggett, Banning, Kramer’s Junction, Barstow, LAUPT, etc., etc., etc.
Palmdale is not a bad choice; in fact, if you are looking for one base of operations, it is probably the best choice. It’s a little under 50 miles from Palmdale Blvd and CAL-14 to I-15 in Cajon Pass and about 65 miles or so from that intersection to the Tehachapi Loop. Both drives are easy and fast.
There are a bunch of motels in the vicinity of CAL-14 on Palmdale Blvd, both sides of the freeway, or you can go north a mile or so to Avenue P for even more, plus plenty of restaurants from the Arches on up are in that particular area. My favorite stop has been a Me’n’Ed’s Pizza place on 10th street West, but that’s just a sentimental thing for me and the missus.
If you actually have more time to spend in each location, then you could stay in Tehachapi for the loop and other pass areas and stay maybe in Victorville for Cajon.
There are several decent motels in Tehachapi plus two really good restaurants on the main drag (incidentally across the street from each other and just off the main line).
Victorville, on the other hand, I am not familiar with these days, except that every time we blow through there on the fifteen, it seems that even more building is going on.
You can check out this EXTENSIVE forum and website
covering all railroads of Southern California.
Every forum section includes timetables and maps for that area.
This is a VERY EXTENSIVE website that should answer most of your
Southern California railfan questions:
http://www.socalrailfan.com/
and the forums page at:
http://www.socalrailfan.com/forums/index.php?styleid=2
Best Regards,
— Daniel
The Pepper Street overpass over the east end of the West Colton yard is popular. Becareful there as West Colton is in a bad area.
When I am in the LA area, I like to stop off at Dolores Yard, if I have time. It is next to Alameda Street, right off of Interstate 405 in Carson (not Long Beach or LA). This is also in a bad area, it is next to Compton (need I say more?).
I also like to check out the Mojave Yard. There is an overpass of the north end of the yard that have openings for camera cut out of the fence. I have never gotten around to using those.
There is a topic in the Trackside Guides forum about Tehachapi.
I am going for my birthday in late March & early April. If you click on the link you will see many. many pix from the Cajon/Bartow area. The loop is the loop & if you never have seen it then I guess you should see it once. Be prepared you have to walk about 1/2 mile on uneven ground to reach a spot to view it properly. Myself I prefer Caliente which is a little bit west of the loop.
Get off I15 at Cleghorn road & you can see Sullivans curve
Get off I15 at RT 128 or 138 (not sure) & you can see Mormons rocks
Get off I15 at Bear something or other road (know it from memory) then go south or east to Hesperia road (there is a Walgrens on the corner as a landmark) make a right & go up the hill & you will be real close to them grinding up grade & whizzing by down grade
By the way there is a terrific Chinese place on Bear whatever road in Hesperia next to the Home Depot
Do not forget Daggett/Barstow/Colton or Riverside either. Just look at my link for a preview pf those places
I am also going to go to Bakersfield to see the juncture there between the BNSF & UPRR
If you have any questions you can contact me at spbed@yahoo.com
[:)]
Hi Keith,
Southern Cal has sooo many good spots to watch trains. I like to get out of town myself so Tehachapi,Cajon,Barstow/Dagget are the places I like to go. Of course I think Cajon is a mustsee for anyone visiting. Let me know more specificly what you have in mind and I will make suggestions.
You say you’re flying in to LAX. Well I don’t know how much time you will spend here but assumeing a couple days. I would consider doing a loop and headding up to Tehachapi then over to Barstow / Dagget then going down to Cajon Pass then back into the Basin via San Bernadino and West Colton. There is a motel (best western I think) in Tehachappi across the street from the tracks that I stay at a lot but it only has one room with a view of the tracks which is a drag if it’s not available. Right next door to the motel is a good resturant to get breakfast that has a HO layout in front.
Mojave also has a couple motels with views of the yard. There are more ammenities in Mojave then Tehachapi. Barstow also has a couple motels that have views of the giant yard and engine shop there.
There is another motel in the heart of Cajon Pass at the I-15 / 138 interchange that has good views of the tracks but I have stayed there twice and both times were bad experiences (broken TV, Telephone and no hot water) but I think it’s under new management now so I don’t know if it’s still that bad. But it is a great location to base your activities from.
Let me know where you plan on going and I can give you the highlights.
No one mentioned San Timeteo Canyon out east of Redlands so I will.
Also Fullerton Amtrack station gets ALL of BNSFs action that ends up going to or from San Diego, Cajon and out to Indio
Keith…
I don’t know how much time you have for your trip, but Chad has a good point. Specify what you’re interested in seeing. There is so much out here it’s very easy to become overwhelmed.
You said you were hoping to fly into LAX. If you want to fly non-stop, LAX is the place, but be aware that LAX can be a major headache to get in and out of at certain times of the day. There are other, more convenient commercial airports, such as Ontario, which is closer to Cajon, and Bob Hope (in Burbank) that are much easier to navigate.
Yea, and you don’t have to walk miles to get to the gates either.
Hi Keith,
I grew up near LAX and know the place well. LAX is some distance from any mainline rail traffic.
The shops yard is near LAUS. The passenger depot is of the west side of the LA river and the shops yard is on the east side of the LA river. Lots of intermodal traffic coming and going from Long Beach to the south, West Colton from the east and the coast line to the north and west.
At West Colton it can be busy. I found that Sunday mornings between 02:00 and 11:00 is pretty busy. Not to worry other times of day and night are also busy times. Traffic comes from Long Beach to the southwest, the sunset route to the east, Cajon and Tehachapi to the north and some from the coastline to the northwest.
In Tehachapi, there is BNSF traffic between Mojave on the south side and Kern Junction (Bakersfield) to the north. BNSF travels over UP tracks on a trackage rights agreement. BNSF will be on its own tracks between Barstow and Mojave as well as Kern Junction and Richmond, California.
Cajon will see alot of traffic in a more unique way. BNSF and UP both go thru there. UP has its own tracks on the west side of the three or four tracks that go thru. UP has trackage rights on the BNSF tracks as well. The BNSF tracks, to the south head toward San Bernadino and Barstow to the north. I believe this is BNSF’s only way in and out of Southern California. UP parts from BNSF tracks in Daggett to the north and goes towards Las Vegas, NV and up to Salt Lake City. To the south the UP goes onto its own tracks in Riverside and into the yard at East Los Angeles.
UP’s East Los Angeles yard and BNSF’s Hobart yard are right across the street from each other.
If interested and time permitting, to the south Amtrak and Metrolink heads towards Oceanside. To the north and west Metrolink and Amtrak head towards the Santa Barbara area.
Greetings,
Thanks for all the great ideas. After doing some research Palmdale does seem to be a good spot for a “base camp”. I am hoping to fly out on a Friday and then fly back home on Wednesday. I guess I would also like to maybe see some “touristy” stuff around LA, like Hollywood and that kind of stuff.
What about Beaumont, I noticed that TRAINS has a Hot Spot guide to Beaumont. I will have to check out the SoCal website also.
Thanks again,
Keith
Ontario airport is closer to Cajon Pass, the Colton yard and the Barstow Yard.
It is an alternative to LAX.
Yes it is really terrific within 1 hour of landing in Ontario I am at a place enjoying the trains. Far better then LAX unless you wi***o see trains there also. [:o)]
[quote]
Originally posted by JohnLat
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I stay at a Days Inn in Ontariio which is much closer to everything then Palmdale [:)]
[quote]
Originally posted by ChuckCobleigh
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Kieth,
Beaumont Pass and the Sunset route down along the Salton Sea is another of my favorite haunts. I even lived out there for a couple years. I have never really explored San Timateo canyon but I know the line from Banning down to the Salton Sea quite well. Old highway 99 hugs the tracks for many miles down past Cabazon. This is a good place to pace / chase as the trains are lugging uphill or going slow downhill. You can get many pictures of the same train. Sometimes it’s busy enough to catch lots of meets in that area. Then if you head out along the Salton Sea you can run side by side with trains going 70-75 mph through superelevated curves. There is not much traffic out there and you can pull over just about anywhere. The light is on the right side for takeing pictures too. If you go out there you can stay in Indio. The Tropical motel has a great view of the tracks (from the second floor).
I lived in Palmdale too and I would not recomend staying there, but if it fits your program then I guess it will do.
Just out of curiousity, Chad, why wouldn’t you stay there?
First, I have a very low opinion of that area. I lived there for 6 months back in 97’. For a town that far out of the city it’s getto. But that’s a personal thing and I don’t want to get into that here.
Secondly, I don’t think there are any good places to stay that have views of the tracks. In less you have a reason to stay there why not go to Mojave instead? It’s only 20 miles further and has several motels with great views of the tracks, and all the amenities. Or the motel (best western I think) on East Tehachapi blvd. in Tehachapi. At least there you will not have to worry about the crack heads breaking into or stealing your car like in Palmdale.
Of the tourist spot, there are several spots to think about. Universal Studios is popular. They do have tours of the facillity. If baseball is an interest, the Dodgers are very close to Los Angeles Union Passenger Station. The Dodgers usually draw 30,000+ fans per game. The Kings (hockey), Clippers and Lakers (basketball) all play at Staples Center if thats an interest.