A quiet afternoon in the Searles Valley is momentarily disrupted by the whine of dynamic brakes and the unmistakable rhythm of steel wheels on jointed rail, marking the return of Trona Railway's daily Searles Turn. Pushing against the trio of General Motor's SD40-2 series products on the point is a long string of empties bound for the potash loading facilities surrounding Trona, CA. Opened for business in 1914, the Trona Railway continues to link the mineral rich Searles Valley with the world via its connection with Union Pacific's, former Southern Pacific, Jawbone branch at Searles, CA.
