RailPictures.Net Photo: None Union Pacific None at Mojave, California by Alex Gillman

Community Response

Locomotive Details

Location/Date of Photo


Views: 11,884 Favorited: 84
Since added on June 09, 2017

+ Add to Favorites

+ Subscribe

+ Add to Photo Album

+ Post a Photo Comment

» Union Pacific (more..)
» None (more..)

» Union Pacific Mojave Subdivision
» Mojave, California, USA (more..)
» November 16, 2014

Locomotive No./Train ID

Photographer

» None (more..)
» None (more..)

» Alex Gillman (more..)
» Contact Photographer · Photographer Profile

Remarks & Notes

November 16, 2014- the date which will forever mark the end of an era on Tehachapi. It was on this cool, fall evening that many original, Southern Pacific searchlights saw their last sunset as Union Pacific maintenance of way (MOW) crews worked along the southern end of Tehachapi Pass readying new, LED "tri-light" signals to be cut in and take their place. While most of the focus on this evening from the local railfan community was focused around the iconic MP 377 signal bridge (which I admit, I took part in for a few trains), I couldn't be help admire the handsome searchlights further south near Mojave. As I departed south for home, one last searchlight caught my eye that was, like so many other searchlights that evening, surrounded by Union Pacific MOW trucks as crews prepared to dismantle these veteran signals that date back to the days of steam. Rolling to a stop on the edge of the road, I snapped on my telephoto lens and began to frame a silhouette of the iconic searchlight head against the sunset. Adding to the image in the background was a code line pole with taught wires, somewhat rare on Tehachapi as many have succumbed to the elements and dangled to the ground. Imagine my surprise, and a ting of frustration, however, as a member of the MOW crew here climbed the ladder up to the signal head and began working it over with bottle of lubricant...likely to loosen the tightly fastened bolts that hadn't been turned in years. With a new subject in mind, I widened my frame and captured the image you see here - a searchlight signal seen living out the final hours of its life as the sun set on the true end of an era on Tehachapi.

Photo Location Map

Photo Comments (6)

View Larger Map

User Photo Albums Containing this Photo (15)

+ Add to Album

UP/SP Album created by member Ty Kaneshiro	Album Views: 55,805

People of the Railroad Album created by member Ted Harrison	Album Views: 33,741
Photographs that depict train crews and other railroad employees at work. After all, the trains don't run themselves!

Signals Album created by member bigd1353	Album Views: 2,024

*Workin' On The Railroad* Album created by member KD Rail Photography	Album Views: 41,193
Photo albums dedicated to the Men, and Women that keep the Railroad running around the clock 365 days a year. From Dispatcher to Track Gangs, these are the people that make the railroad moves!

Railway Silhouettes! Album created by member Federico Santagati	Album Views: 48,617
Pictures taken with the strong contrast between Rail and Light in Dawn/Dusk/Sunrise or Sunset. Check the Flickr Group for more! www.flickr.com/groups/railway_silhouettes/

Railway Signals Album created by member Michael William Sullivan	Album Views: 272,947
Semaphores, lamps, signs, hand signals. Anything that sends a visible message to train crews.

Railroad Pole Lines Album created by member Matt Weldon	Album Views: 31,818
Photos showing the railroad pole lines. The pole line used four basic electrical circuits - telegraph, telephone, signaling, and power. Modern technologies of fiber optics, microwave, radio, satellite, and computers have been replacing the pole lines.

Railroaders Album created by member ollie	Album Views: 56,501
The men and women who make all this possible.

Artistic Album created by member ollie	Album Views: 69,417
Artistic scenes of trains

Sunrise and Sunset Album created by member ollie	Album Views: 31,784
Dusk and Dawn.

DreamTrains Album created by member coco13cos	Album Views: 3,007,002
Over 50.000 of RP's most appreciated and beautiful photos.

Nocturnal Nuances & Lights In The Night! (Between Sunset - Sunrise / Sundown - Sunup!) Album created by member Dana M.	Album Views: 445,414
A continuously growing album of photos that IMHO reveal the awesome and seldom-seen beauty of the railroad world from the dimming of day to dawn's early light! From dusk to dawn, trains roll on! (I'm still finding gems of sunset-to-sunrise surprises!)

Creative Railroad Photography Album created by member RP Archives	Album Views: 1,262,435
A far cry from the common wedgie ... and particularly well executed.

Silhouettes Album created by member Mitch Goldman	Album Views: 35,361
Effective Silhouettes

Classic Signals Album created by member Pete Greischar	Album Views: 172,220
Signals with character, many falling into history.

Add to Photo Album or Get Your Own Photo Album

EXIF Data for this photo: [What's this?]

This image contains EXIF headers - Click Here to show the data.

Photo Copyright © 2017 Alex Gillman. All Rights Reserved. Photo Usage Policy
This website Copyright © 2002-2024. All Rights Reserved.