We ran off the former Western Pacific line before transferring to the rails of the former Southern Pacific to run to Lathrop in order to wye the entire train.
Curving onto the Fresno Subdivision.
The train took the southern leg of the Lathrop wye and when we received a green signal, we started to reverse.
The track on which we just had been.
Views as we reversed.
Our new pilot crew arrived.
We had a red-over-green and once the crew meeting was completed, we made our way south down the Fresno Subdivision. Dave, Kathy and I had lunch and I enjoyed an Angus beef burger and vanilla ice cream. After lunch, I worked on the story as the train ran to Merced where we switched out the Amtrak engineers and continued on onto Madera.
The San Joaquin River south of Madera.
A Union Pacific freight with a Ferromex locomotive in its consist. We ran through Fresno but were stopped at Calwa crossing by a BNSF stack train and Amtrak San Joaquin 714, both crossing in front of us at the same time.
Relco SW8 903, nee Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific 825 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1952 at the south end of BNSF's Calwa Yard.
A look towards the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Western Rail Incorporated (WRIX) SD38AC 201, nee Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range 201 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1971 was a new engine at Zacky Farms grain elevator in Traver.
Looking east at Traver.
Bravo Farms/Valley Farms CF-7 2631, ex. EconoRail, exx. Santa Fe 2631 1971, exxx. Santa Fe 313C 1971, nee Santa Fe F3 34C built by Electro-Motive in 1949.
Views east south of Traver.
A westward view south of Traver.
At Goshen was a San Joaquin Valley Railroad freight led by San Joaquin Valley BL20-2 2120, ex. RaiLink 2120, exx. Central Oregon and Pacific 2120; exxx. RailLink Mackenzie Northern 2120, exxxx. Locomotive Leasing Partners 2120, exxxxx. Electro-Motive Division Leasing 120, exxxxxx. Burlington Northern GP9 1978, nee Spokane, Portland and Seattle 153 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1956.
In Tulare was JD Heiskell GP9 1617, ex. Kruse Grain 1617, exx. JD Heiskell 1886, exxx. Burlinton Northern 1858, nee Northern Pacific 232 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1955
As well as JD Heiskell home-built locomotive 1886, nee Texas Northern 996.
JD Heiskell SD9 1886, ex. Norfolk Southern 59, exx. Southern 199, nee Central of Georgia 207 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1955, at Tipton.
View to the west south of Tipton. I walked back and visited with people in the lounge car before I posting the first part of the story on my website. The train ran into Bakersfield where we switched Amtrak crews and Union Pacific pilots then moved the train past the station so everyone could have a fresh air break.
The Coast Starlight at rest in Bakersfield.
Passengers enjoying the fresh air break.
My good friend Dave Smetko.
We departed the station and headed for the mountains ahead.
Views between Bakersfield and Sandcut where we crossed over to run around a BNSF freight train.
The BNSF train we would pass at Bena.
A scene around Bena. The train ran through "The Narrows" and up the grade to Caliente.
Where we would be in a few minutes.
The Coast Starlight at the Caliente horseshoe curve.
The train then climbed to Tunnel 1 and then Tunnel 2, taking us to Bealville.
Going around the Allard Curve.
We continued climbing to reach Bealville then ran through Tunnel 3 and past the remains of Tunnel 4.
Entering Tunnel 5 before running through Cliff then Tunnels 7 and 8 to Rowen, after which we climbed to Woodford.
It was snowing as we reached Woodford.
The train at Woodford.
We crossed Tehachapi Creek on the trestle below the Tehachapi Loop.
The Loop came into view as the train finished up the climb to the world-famous Tehachapi Loop. Now for the trip around the Loop.
Today's trip around the Tehachapi Loop. I would now enjoy the rest of this trip with no more pictures as it was time for dinner where I had the flat iron steak with vanilla ice cream. We had an extended dining car stay this evening as it lasted through another snowstorm through Tehachapi then on down to Mojave. We were stopped by the detector north of Mojave as a Union Pacific freight passed it.
I went back to my room and worked on this story as the train ran through Lancaster and Palmdale, being able to access the Internet in the lower level of the Pacific Parlor Car. We were stopped at Palmdale Junction for a Metrolink train before making our way down Soledad Canyon. It was pitch black as we proceeded through there and at CP Lang, met another Metrolink train but we held the mainline for this one, as I watched the Keith Emerson Band DVD again. The train ran through Saugus and Newhall, then through the San Fernando tunnel into the San Fernando Valley. We went through San Fernando, Sun Valley then slow running as we waited for another Metrolink train. That was followed by Downtown Burbank and Glendale, before we arrived into LAUPT at 9:57 PM, ending another interesting detour trip aboard the Coast Starlight. I said my goodbyes to Dave and Cathy Smetkto and wished them a safe trip home.
Pacific Surfliner 796 4/8/2011I boarded this train for the quick night-time trip home which left on time and stopped in Fullerton and Anaheim before dropping me off at Santa Ana. From there I drove home, ending another excellent Amtrak adventure.
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