Bill Compton and I talked about going somewhere to take pictures and railfan. I suggested the BNSF Mojave Subdivision between Barstow and Mojave and we finally found a date that was convenient for both of us, which was January 1st and 2nd, 2016. I arose early on New Year's Day and did what I needed to do before Bill picked me up.
I saw my first train of the year, Pacific Surfliner 763, looking down 21st Street just as Bill arrived. We headed out onto California Highway 22, taking that to California Highway 55 to California Highway 91 to West Colton Yard, our first stop. Just as we arrived at Pepper Street, a westbound train was passing beneath us so we parked his truck and looked around.
GMTX NW2 721, nee Elgin, Joliet and Eastern 435 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1949 at West Colton, which was the yard switcher for many years.
A very empty departure yard at West Colton.
The DPU included patched Southern Pacific 6348. We left here and headed for Cajon Pass, catching up to a westbound Union Pacific freight at Dike so went up Swarthout Canyon Road and set up for our pictures.
Union Pacific 5719 West above Blu Cut. We returned to old Route 66 but saw a BNSF westbound on the approach so returned to Cozy Dell to set up on the rocks there.
BNSF 8265 at Cozy Dell. From here we took California 138 east to Forest Road 3N45 and set up on the hill before the BNSF bridge on the east side. Here we waited but not for long.
BNSF 7738 East and Union Pacific 5719 West just west of Silverwood.
Now a westbound BNSF train came so we had three trains in one picture.
BNSF 8183 West. There was another eastbound BNSF train coming up Cajon Pass.
BNSF 7738 east, after which we contiuned onward.
A true flying V in the sky at Summit.
BNSF DPU's 6650 and 7826 in the Summit Valley. From here we drove through Hesperia, Victorville and Oro Grande and we were almost to Helendale before we found our next train to photograph, so exited at Holcomb Ranch Road.
BNSF 4495 West at Holcomb Ranch Road.
Just as we were about to leave, this eastbound BNSF train blasted by our location. We continued on to Barstow then took California 58 out to the east switch of Jim Grey where we set up.
The view west.
Me and my shadow! The signal then switched to red-over-red and I knew an eastbound train was coming so Bill and I walked west to our photo location.
BNSF 4480 East at Jim Grey.
About thirty minutes later, we had a westbound train on the approach.
Bill Compton getting ready.
BNSF 7125 West.
BNSF 4383 West. From here we drove east to Lake Harper Road hoping for another train before sunset.
The view east.
The view west.
The sky became interesting.
Me and my shadow!
A desert view.
Looking west.
Big sun on the first day of 2016.
The sun and the rail.
Two sunset views. With no more trains, we returned to Barstow where we checked into the Best Western Desert Inn then went to Carl's Junior for dinner before returning to the room and calling it a night later on.
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