The Coast Starlight came off Ansel Hill into Mojave.
At East Mojave, a BNSF train waited for us to pass before following us west.
There was a Union Pacific freight here.
Stored aircraft at the Mojave Airport.
We started the climb up the east slope of Tehachapi Pass.
Our train ran through this nice old signal bridge.
One really gets sense of the grade in this view.
Curving away from the High Desert into the mountains.
Ascending the grade towards Cameron.
A grove of Joshua Trees.
Still climbing the grade!
There were many windmills on the top of the mountains ahead.
Looking back down the grade.
Windmills on every ridge.
The train ran through Cameron.
A BNSF grain train going down grade here.
More curves and more windmills.
Looking back down the grade.
Looking north.
Rounding the curve into Monolith.
Another look back.
The train ran through Monolith.
We met another eastbound BNSF freight.
Still running through Monolith with Lehigh Southwest Cement Company's plant being the focal point. There was once a small community with as many as 350 residents, originally known as Aqueduct, which dated to about 1908, when the plant was being used by the City of Los Angeles to supply cement for the Los Angeles Aqueduct and other Los Angeles Department of Water and Power projects. Across the road from the plant, the company built homes for workers with families and a bunkhouse for single men. In the early 1920's, a group of investors bought the facility, renamed it Monolith and began producing cement for general use and sale.
Although the area surrounding the cluster of houses was barren in the early days, gradually cottonwoods and other trees planted by the company and residents matured and provided shade and beauty. In addition to the residences, there was also Ed Tompkins' Monolith Store, which provided groceries and other goods to the town, and included a small post office and cafe.
Mine tailings northwest of Monolith.
Looking back at Monolith.
The Coast Starlight had crested Tehachapi Pass at Summit switch.
We passed through the town of Tehachapi with its water tower.
About to pass underneath the signal bridge.
Another eastbound BNSF train.
Windmills and the BNSF freight.
We left the Tehachapi Valley behind and now would follow Tehachapi Creek towards Cable.
The train went through the Cable crossover.
The tracks twisted and turned on their way to Cable. The Coast Starlight came to a stop and we all wondered what we were waiting for at the end of double track. I called Carole Walker, my travel agent, who told me that the Chief Executive Officer and President of Amtrak, Alexander Kummant, had resigned and that William Crosbie would be the acting CEO until a replacement was named. Soon someone on the rear platform saw the southbound Coast Starlight coming up the grade.
The southbound Coast Starlight passing our train at Cable. Once we received a green signal, we continued our northbound trip.
Passing through Cable.
Our train had crossed Tehachapi Creek.
Entering the 259 foot Tunnel 17.
Our passage through that tunnel.
The 259 foot Tunnel 16.
The 330 foot Tunnel 15.
The 513 foot Tunnel 14.
On the way to Marcel.
Rolling through Marcel.
We met a westbound Union Pacific freight here.
The 307 foot Tunnel 10, after which we could see the Tehachapi Loop.
