A trip to California to visit family brought us once again to UP’s Mojave Sub crossing of the Tehachapi Mountains. To look at the locomotives, you’d think this was a BNSF line. BNSF traffic usually outnumbers UP trains and this day was no exception.
BNSF 7570 North has just crested the hill at Sandcut and is heading toward Bakersfield with a trainload of UPS trailers. Aug. 11, 2011 7:10 AM
As the signal changes from red to flashing yellow, BNSF 7670 North starts the descent into Bakersfield. Aug. 11, 2011 7:11 AM
Trail from missile launch as seen from near Tunnel 2. Aug. 11, 2011 8:07 AM
Though not railroad related, we saw this missile trail in the western sky while waiting for a train at Tunnel 2. This was the launch of the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the California coast, nearly due west of Bakersfield. Though the launch was successful, the flight of the test vehicle failed. It is not unusual to see Vandenberg launches from the Bakersfield area, though most occur at sunset.
BNSF 5379 South nears Caliente. Aug. 11, 2011 8:22 AM
BNSF 5379 South approaching Bealeville. Aug. 11, 2011 8:39 AM
BNSF 5379 South blasts out of Tunnel 5 between Bealville and Cliff. Aug. 11, 2011 8:43 AM
BNSF 5379 South crosses over its own train on the Tehachapi Loop, otherwise known as Walong siding. Aug. 11, 2011 9:11 AM
Photos by David Cooley.
The updated California Railroad Map book is now ready for shipment. The new edition features a spiral binding and new foldout area maps of Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Price is $18.00 plus $2.00 for shipping & handling.
Further information may be found at djcooley.com.
The 2009 edition of Sonrisa’s California Railroad Maps has sold out much quicker than I expected. Rather than simply reprint the same thing again, I opted to update the book and include some features introduced in the recently released Illinois book. These include a spiral binding, so that the book opens flat and can be folded back to hold your place without damaging the binding. Also, the state railroad locater map has been moved to the inside back cover, where it folds out for easy reference.
Included are two new enlarged maps that also fold out at the rear of the book. These cover two congested regions: the Bay Area and the Los Angeles basin. They should make finding the detail maps much easier. New, more detailed maps of the lines in the Los Angeles area have also been added.
The new edition retails for $18.00 and should be available late March. Watch for an announcement here or pick up an advance copy at Winterail.
Much of the information used to bring the book current was shared courtesy of David Curlee of Altamont Press. Though David has had to shut down the company, many of his comprehensive railfan timetables are still available through his web site at www.altamontpress.com/store. His latest release covering the Central West US should be available soon. Altamont Press timetables are also available through Sonrisa’s web store while supplies last.
