Tehachapi 2 

Nov 98

Home

teha01.jpg

BNSF train heads towards tunnel 2 after climbing away from Caliente

teha02.jpg

The same train negotiates the curves east of Cliff

teha03.jpg

Same train, same location

teha04.jpg

Back at tunnel 2, another BNSF train heads uphill with motive power including a cabless BN Dash 7

teha05.jpg

Heading out of the short tunnel, the train approaches Bealville with the B unit puffing some smoke

teha06.jpg

Back down west of Caliente, a 4 unit GE helper set heads back west, passing a double stack train waiting its turn to attack the hill.

teha07.jpg

Back up north of the loop and Cliff, another BNSF train heads uphill. This one includes a Santa Fe cowl unit and two HCLX lease units

teha08.jpg

Help! I'm stuck. Two BNSF SD45's and a LMX B39-8 have come to a halt at the entrance to Tehachapi yard with a 123 wagon train of empty steel coil cars.

teha09.jpg

So some light engines are dispatched to help - 10 of them! The 13 loco consist is about to move off with a mix of power including dash 8 and 9, SD40-2 and two cabless BN units. The loco at right is providing assistance at the back of a loaded steel train which

has just passed.

teha10.jpg

The 13 loco train enters Mojave. Only the first 4 of the 10 loco helper set were under power although they all seemed to be running.

teha11.jpg

At Mojave the train crosses a westbound pig train with another BN cabless loco

teha12.jpg

First visible train on Sunday morning after the fog lifts is this 7 loco BNSF train at Caliente. Behind the train, a UP train is heading down the hill, emphasizing the grade.

teha13.jpg

The UP train has descended the hill and negotiated the big 180 degree curve at Caliente to cross the BNSF train and exchange crews.

teha14.jpg

At Walong the BNSF crosses over itself at the famous Tehachapi Loop. The locos are on the double track at Walong loop. the west switch of this siding is at the bottom right hand corner.

teha15.jpg

The same train at the east switch of Walong loop a few moments after the previous shot.

teha16.jpg

And here are some of those elusive mid train helpers cut in two thirds of the way through the train. The three locos are working hard, but this long train is moving at a reasonable pace.

teha17jpg.jpg

The next train up is a UP train with SP motive power in the form of two SD70M locos up front...

teha18.jpg

...and three EMD six axle SD units almost 40 cars back in the train. The only shot I ever got of a pure SP train with helpers.

teha19.jpg

The SP train showing the head end and mid train power.

teha20.jpg

At Woodford siding, which is in the far background of the previous photo, a BNSF double stack train heads downhill with 4 GE Dash 8/9s and an EMD SD60M in BN colours.

teha21.jpg

As the train moves past, a UP train headed by a SD70M in SP colours followed by a UP SD60M.

teha22.jpg

The same UP train slugs its way uphill and emerges from tunnel 10 which is where the earlier loop shots were taken from.

teha23.jpg

On the Bakersfield side of the hill, 4 EMD locos bring a hot pig train towards Sandcut and the start of another challenge on the hill, passing the BNSF train we saw at Woodford.

Home