Battling the stiff grade out of Bealville as the sun dips below the horizon, Amtrak 11, the southbound Coast Starlight, turns toward Tunnel 3 as it detours over Tehachapi Pass. Turning inland after Oakland for a trip down the Central Valley, No. 11 finds itself negotiating the steep, northern slope of Tehachapi at dusk after Union Pacific closed the train's normal route down the coast at Ventura to replace bridge spans in a 36-hour work window.
The GE Genesis series are well known for being Amtrak's locomotive. With confirmation of retirement from Amtrak themselves, their time is limited. Now is your chance to catch them before the chargers arrive!
