Bill Compton picked me up at 6:00 AM and we headed out for Cadiz. Cajon Pass was busy with trains but we drove straight to Barstow where we filled the car with petrol then drove east towards Cadiz. At Ash Hill, we found an eastbound BNSF freight and set up at East Siberia to photograph him.
BNSF 4009 East at Siberia. From here we went east to Cadiz to the grade crossing at East Cadiz.
BNSF 7327 East.
BNSF 7685 West.
BNSF 7410 West.
BNSF 7561 West.
BNSF 6662 West.
BNSF 4603 East. I was in contact with my good friend Randy Jackson who was aboard the train and keeping us advised of the location of Santa Fe 3751 as it made its way west from Arizona after the statehood centennial celebration. From East Cadiz, we drove southeast down Cadiz Road to just south of Milepost 186 and here we would get our first pictures of the day of the steam train on the Arizona and California Railroad. A truck came by and told us "1:45 PM in Cadiz". We had plenty of time so read the Los Angeles Times, did Sudoku puzzles and took the odd pictures while we waited.
An alluvial fan on Cadiz Mountain.
The wooden trestle at MP 185.9.
Our photo location. About 1:30 PM, we first had cars coming down Cadiz Road and then finally we saw Santa Fe 3751 coming our way.
Santa Fe 3751 just east of Milepost 186 of the Arizona and California Railroad.
The cab of Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751.
Amtrak P42DC 66 in its 40th Anniversary paint scheme.
Randy Jackson aboard the excursion train.
"Silver Solarium" bringing up the rear of the train and it was then time to move.
A pacing shot of Santa Fe 3751. We set up at the grade crossing on Cadiz Road and waited.
Santa Fe 3751 at the Cadiz Road grade crossing. From here we drove to the Ludlow Hill just west of Ludlow and set up for our next pictures. It did not take long for the BNSF freights to begin to start running below our photo location.
BNSF 7527 East.
BNSF 7563 East.
The most interesting freight train was BNSF 4438 East, with a pair of Canadian National SD70M-2 8890 and 8965 in the consist.
BNSF 6809 East. Now we would wait for Santa Fe 3751 and train to come through.
