The Coast Starlight waited in front of the Bakersfield station during our crew change and fresh air break. At 2:17 PM, the Coast Starlight departed for our trip around the Tehachapi Loop.
The north and southbound Coast Starlights passed each other at 2:24 PM just before we reached Edison.
The train started down the grade at Sandcut, leaving the San Joaquin Valley for good.
Rolling down the grade to Bena.
The view at Bena.
Views along our route into the Tehachapi Mountains.
The Coast Starlight took one of the many curves on this railroad.
Our journey as we passed through "The Narrows".
Rounding another curve on the way to Caliente.
Looking south.
Curving through "The Narrows".
Interesting rock formations along our route.
A signal in "The Narrows".
Looking south towards Tunnel 1.
The rains have made the hills green.
Curving into Caliente.
Rounding the horseshoe curve.
Climbing out of Caliente.
Looking down at Caliente.
Climbing towards Tunnel 1.
Looking down to where we had just been.
Between Tunnel 1 and 2.
Curving into Tunnel 2.
Looking down from Bealville.
One of the curves here.
Looking down from Bealville.
Curving through Bealville.
More downward views.
Rolling through Bealville.
The Coast Starlight was about to enter Tunnel 5.
The shoofly built after the 1952 earthquake.
Looking back down to Bealville from Cliff.
Looking at Caliente from Cliff.
Cliff siding.
Our route ahead.
Rolling through Cliff.
Looking down at Tehachapi Creek.
View across the canyon.
Tunnel 7.
Looking down at Tehachapi Creek.
Interesting rocks.
Heading for Rowen.
Rolling through Rowen.
The oak trees were waiting for their new leaves.
Mountain peaks between Rowen and Woodford.
The train curving towards Woodford.
Rolling through Woodford.
A green signal.
Curving above Woodford.
Crossing Tehachapi Creek below the Tehachapi Loop.
The Coast Starlight was on the approach to the Tehachapi Loop.
View looking up at the Tehachapi Loop.
The Coast Starlight entered Tunnel 9 and started around the loop.
The trip around the Tehachapi Loop.
Curving into Marcel.
Climbing above Marcel.
Nearing Tehachapi.
Curving into the Tehachapi Valley and the summit of Tehachapi Pass just east of town.
View near the town of Tehachapi, which we passed at 3:52 PM.
Interesting clouds near Monolith.
A Joshua Tree forest on an alluvial fan.
Curving downgrade by the Joshua Tree.
Looking down into the High Desert.
The Coast Starlight dropped down the grade to Mojave, which we passed at 4:24 PM. We ran over Ansel Hill and then across the Antelope Valley, through Lancaster at 4:50 PM and Palmdale at 4:56 PM.
Two views after Palmdale.
A beautiful sunset in Soledad Canyon as we ran the final miles towards Los Angeles. The Coast Starlight went through the San Fernando Tunnel and passed through Burbank Junction at 6:17 PM. We arrived at Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal at 6:32 PM on Track 12, 22 minutes late from our 6:10 PM scheduled arrival time. I detrained and walked over to a waiting Pacific Surfliner to take me home.
Pacific Surfliner 590 1/25/2009I boarded this train on Track 10 and waited on a late-running Amtrak Thruway Bus from Bakersfield, departing at 7:04 PM. It was a quick trip home and right on schedule, we arrived in Santa Ana and I drove home, ending another fantastic Amtrak adventure.
