A westbound empty rail train slithers through the curves above Warren on the eastern slope of the Tehachapi grade, just as the railroad enters Cache Creek Canyon. For the next five miles the railr... (more)

North Star and semaphores… Under the watchful gaze of the North Star a pair of near century old Union Switch & Signal upper quadrant semaphores stand a silent guard along BNSF's Raton Subdivision ... (more)

With the rolling hills of Tehachapi's western slope radiant in the colors of Spring an eastbound lumber heavy Roseville to West Colton manifest approaches Caliente. Having just emerged from the co... (more)

Nickel Plate in 'Espee Country'. With a solid set of 'run through' power leading the charge, a westbound Union Pacific shooter pulls the grade up the eastern slope of Beaumont Hill approaching Ban... (more)

As aging wooden snow fences observe silently the eastbound 'Sinclair local' approaches its namesake. The local's normal consist of tanks & hoppers, bound for the Sinclair refinery, are accompanied... (more)

A westbound Union Pacific Z train emerges from the west portal of tunnel #1 near the old station of Knapp on the western slope of Donner Pass. Tunnel #1 is one of only a few 'Harriman era' double ... (more)

As afternoon fades to evening the howl of dynamics pierce the snow cap calm on the western slope of the Sierra, within moments the source of intruding sound peaks around the curve having just pass... (more)

As a new storm front moves over northern California and the Sierra Nevada range Union Pacific prepares for mother natures worst intentions. Running as the first line of defense to contend with the... (more)

With the mountain again clear after a early morning run west to Shed 10, Union Pacific's 'lead' spreader set drifts through Soda Springs, following closely behind the 'broken wing' spreader. The s... (more)

Nestled within the Searles Valley between the Argus and Slate mountain ranges lays the vast Searles Lake. Tapping the mineral rich wealth of the dry lake, where 98 of the 104 known chemical elemen... (more)

In 1899 facing the threat of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway completing their own link between northern and southern California via the Tehachapi range the Southern Pacific Railroad neg... (more)

Filled by the sound of howling dynamics and the warm colors of a desert sunrise amidst the crisp mountain air another morning dawns at the foot of the Tehachapi Mountains meeting an eastbound BNSF... (more)

The old guard at Walonger…… On September 11th, 1996 the vast empire of the Southern Pacific Railroad was folded into the camp of their age old ally and rival, the Union Pacific. Since that time So... (more)

Beginning in 1956 the Southern Pacific Railroad began major upgrades to their premier Sunset Route between Colton, CA and Yuma, AZ. These upgrades would focus on both ends of the 'Yuma Main' in tw... (more)

Searchlights below sea-level... As the sun climbs above the horizon in southern California's Coachella Valley a westbound Union Pacific hotshot sails passed the Union Switch & Signal searchlight i... (more)