The former shoofly built after the 1952 Tehachapi earthquake.
The train entered Tunnel 5.
Climbing the grade at Cliff siding.
The trip between Cliff and Rowen.
At Rowen, Union Pacific 5398 West was in the siding.
We had a green signal at the east end of Rowen.
The trip between Rowen and Woodford.
The train climbed the grade at Woodford.
The journey between Woodford and the Tehachapi Loop. Now we would circle the Tehachapi Loop.
We had just completed our journey around the Tehachapi Loop.
Our train exiting Tunnel 10 and I returned to my seat to write this. We climbed the grade through Marcel and Cable to Tehachapi and the summit just east of town then dropped through Monolith and Cameron before reaching the Mojave Desert, and passing through Mojave.
Soon the train ran across the Antelope Valley through Lancaster and Palmdale.
Palmdale Jct and we were now back on the Palmdale Cutoff.
Views between Palmdale Jct and Hiland. It is always a joy to ride up and over Cajon Pass and I just sat back enjoying the views.
When we reached Blu Cut, a BNSF freight was running below us and finally we caught up to the front of it below Devore. I really enjoyed both days on the train over the Palmdale Cutoff.
The train reached the Sunset Route and with that, our trip over the Palmdale Cutoff came to a close. We ran straight through West Colton Yard to our next station stop at Ontario then from there, headed back to LAUPT. At CP Valley, we were stopped by a red signal and the eastbound Sunset Limited went by us on its way to New Orleans.
Our train made it across the Los Angeles River into LAUPT, arriving there at 3:39 PM. A special thank you to the Pacific Railroad Society for this most special train trip from Los Angeles to Bakersfield via the Palmdale Cutoff and Tehachapi Loop. I detrained a happy railfan once again and walked to the front.
Our train at rest in Los Angeles.
Amtrak 165 at rest in Los Angeles.
Amtrak 165 with the Goodyear blimp floating above.
Another view of the Goodyear blimp. I then walked over to board Pacific Surfliner 582.
Pacific Surfliner 582 4/3/2011I sat in the cab car for the trip home and it was a fast trip to Fullerton followed by Anaheim and Santa Ana, where I detrained then drove home, ending another excellent rail adventure.
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