The Memorial Day Weekend Mega Tour - Part 3

(Continued from: The Memorial Day Weekend Mega Tour - Part 2)

After stopping in at the Kelso Depot Visitor’s Center of the Mojave National Preserve and talking with the ranger, I had to devise a new plan. I wouldn’t be able to follow the Cima Subdivision’s trackage, nor camp along the route, as I had hoped to do.

I was still permitted to follow the trackage from Kelso to Cima, California via the Kelso Cima Road so, that coupled with the knowledge of a possible camp site relatively close to Cima, that the ranger told me about, gave me enough incentive to continue with my plans - albeit modified extensively.

I drove north towards Cima at a leisurely pace to enjoy the beautiful scenery and to get a idea appreciation of the lay of the land in hopes of identifying good photo locations. There were plenty of great views and vistas along the way - just no trains. “Perhaps they are a little further up the line,” I thought as I kept driving, knowing all the while that I was lying to myself.

I happened upon a control point (or siding) named CP Chase, which is the name of one of our puppies, and decided to wait for a train there. I took a few shots to make sure the camera settings and my framing of the subject were good. Here is one of the photos that I took so you can get a sense of the terrain and track structure:

CP Chase - UP trackage at Chase, CA in the Mojave National Preserve. [5/29/2010 - Cima Subdivision]

As the temperature rose, I realized that I had been on the road for nearly 12 hours at this point and I began to feel weary. As I sat at the crossing at Cedar Canyon Road, taking a bit of a rest, I looked out the windshield and studied the terrain. Off in the distance, running in a due westerly direction, was a faint line marking an obvious trail of some sort.

After considering my location and my knowledge of the area, I surmised that I was looking at the famous Mojave Road, used by many to access California at the coast. It was initially a route for the local Mohave Indians to hunt and trade along. It wasn’t until after I snapped this photo of the scene that I noticed the marker near the trail-head confirming my discovery (Remember I said I was tired!):

Traveling Through Time - Three arteries of travel, from ancient times through today, comprise this scene in the Mojave National Preserve. In the foreground is Union Pacific’s Cima Subdivision, in the middle of the frame is the Kelso Cima Road and in the distance is the ancient Mojave Road which was used by Mohave Indians to reach the California coast. [5/29/2010 - Cima Subdivision]

After waiting nearly an hour I decided it best to try to find a train rather than waiting for one to find me. I bid farwell to CP Chase and raced toward Cima, about 10 miles north on Kelso Cima Road. I made the trek in short order and remembered quickly why I was fond of this area so much. 

In my opinion, the area around Cima holds tons of photographic opportunties, with repsect to railroad photography. The are all of the requisite elements of grade, curvature, diversity, and beautiful scenery. The only thing missing, at the time I was there, were the TRAINS!

I began to sense a pattern. I would find a great location to shoot a train from and wait - but no trains would grace the scene for me. I know that the Cima Subdivision has lower traffic volumes than most of the other subdivisions that I chase, but this was down right sad.

I decided to seek out the camp site the ranger had told me about and set-up camp in hopes of a better tomorrow. I departed Cima, and all of the missed opportunites, heading south towards CP Chase. A short distance down the road and I had reached the turnoff for the camp site. 

Of of the disadvantages of carrying a “cozy condo” with you, wherever you go, is that your opportunities to turn around are reduced due to the vehicle’s size and weight. So was the case on this road. I had traveled further and further down this road to a point where I began to realize it might take some time to get there and, more importantly, leave there in the cover of darkness tomorrow morning. I had second thoughts about the appropriateness of the “secret camp site” for this particular trip. I looked for a place were I could safely turn around. There was none, as the following photo shows, and I was now committed to the find the camp site:

Road to the “Secret Camp Site” - This is the a photograph of the road that led me to the secret camp site described by the ranger. This was the mellowest part of the eight mile trek to the end of the road.

After a good hour’s drive I reached the camp site and could see why the ranger considered it one of the best in the park. The area was beautiful and remained predominately untouched by man. I found myself tucked into a draw, surrounded on three sides by mountains. The area was ablaze with blooming cactus and foliage of all sorts. It was insanely quiet.

I decided to make the most of it since I was here. I parked the truck and got something to eat. After lunch I decided to take a few a “nature” photos since I was miles away from the tracks by now. Here are two of the many shots I took of the local blooms: 

Mohave Pricklypear Cactus Bloom - The beautiful yellow bloom of the Mohave Pricklypear Cactus (Opuntia erinacea).

Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus Bloom - A gorgeous Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus flower (Echinocereus engelmannii).

I walked around, being mindful of the ranger’s last words regarding the “abundance” of snakes in the area, and took photos for about one hour when I thought I would rest up a bit in the camper. On my way to camper I saw a previously unseen, large anthill near the camper with the largest black ants I have ever seen! Unfortunately, the ants were heading out in a line straight for my camper! Enough was enough I decided to leave the fun and frivolity of the Mojave National Preserve and the Cima Subdivision behind me…

The Memorial Day Weekend Mega Tour - Part 2

(Continued from: The Memorial Day Weekend Mega Tour - Part 1)

With the high traffic level I encountered at Daggett in short order, I drove north on the Daggett-Yermo Road towards Yermo hoping that the Cima Subdivision provided ample traffic and photo opportunities. I had already seen two eastbound Union Pacific trains return to home rails and head off towards Yermo and I was in pursuit.

I had planned to follow the tracks via Yermo Road which roughly parallels the Cima Subdivision for the first sixteen miles north out of Yermo. I reached one of the few grade crossings on Yermo Road that I used to get on the sunlit side of tracks and wait for a train out of, or inbound to, Yermo. I set-up at Minneola Road at caught this eastbound intermodal after a short wait:

UP 7660 East at Minneola Road - UP 7660 (GE C45ACCTE), UP 7371 (GE C45ACCTE), and UP 4984 (EMD SD70M) are on the move again after a brief stop at Yermo, CA with this eastbound intermodal consist, seen here at Minneola Road. [5/29/2010 - Cima Subdivision]

By listening to the railroad’s radio traffic I gleaned that there was a westbound a dozen miles or so east of Minneola Road so I continued east. As I closed the distance and continued to listen to the railroad’s road channel, the picture became clear that the westbound train “in the hole” waiting to meet the eastbound that I had just photographed. Since the Cima Subdivision is single tracked, trains need to pass or meet other trains at locations designed for this purpose, called sidings.

I didn’t make it in time to see the meet. The crew of the westbound performed a “roll-by” inspection of the eastbound train as it passed the siding. The crew identified, and subsequently informed the other train via radio, that one of the containers the train was carrying appeared to be have been broken into.

It turns out that this is a big problem for the railroads, particularly in the more remote locations of the desert. This served to remind be to keep an eye open for riders and, more importantly, be careful of other folks that I might encounter track side because these criminals have been known to carry guns as well.

I did manage to capture the westbound as she meet me at the detector located at milepost 175.3:

UP 7631 West - UP 7631 (GE C45ACCTE) and UP 3991 (EMD SD70M) approach the hotbox detector at MP 175.3, near Manix, CA, with a westbound intermodal train. [5/29/2010 - Cima Subdivision] 

As the westbound hustled towards Yermo, I continued east on Yermo Road to another grade crossing opportunity at Alvord Mountain Road. Once I got to the intersection I saw the road blocks on Yermo Road preventing further use of Yermo Road east of the intersection for some reason. It became apparent that I would not be able to run along the tracks any further from Yermo Road so I decided to take a break on the south side of the tracks on Alvord Mountain Road.

I parked the truck in the shade of a small tree adjacent to the grade crossing and rested a bit in hopes of catching another passing train while I was on the “sunny side” of the tracks. After about a fifteen to twenty minute wait, with no radio chatter from detectors or crews, I decided to keep moving east.

I pulled the truck up to the grade crossing and slowed to get one last look at the signals for an indication that something was “lined” my way when I saw a white vehicle kicking up a serious dust cloud on the railroad access road headed towards me. 

Not wanting to sit on the crossing, but still curious as to who or what the white vehicle quickly approaching was, I parked on Yermo Road. I thought perhaps it might be a signal maintainer or other MOW crew.

The vehicle finally got to the grade crossing an although it remained on the south side of the tracks, it stopped near where I parked. I couldn’t quite make out the details of the sign that adorned the vehicle’s door but I could tell that it was either a Union Pacific Railroad Police officer or a “contract security firm” hired out by the Union Pacific.  Either way I garnered a long and curious stare from the single occupant of the vehicle.

I assumed that he might not be able to see who I was clearly so I decided to exit my vehicle and stand there in case he wanted to approach me and ascertain my intent for being in the area. Maybe this was sufficient enough for him to conclude that I was harmless because he promptly continued east on the access road after I exited my vehicle. Perhaps he thought I might have been connected with the break- in of that eastbound intermodal train - who knows.

Since I was forced to take Interstate 15 north to continue my trip I thought I would exit at the next opportunity and double back south down Yermo Road to continue my track side chase. The exit that I choose was Field Road. Here I made an immediate right turn onto Yermo Road and discovered two California Highway Patrol vehicle parked with the officers chatting and a permanent “Road Closed” sign and blockade behind them. Bummer, it was obvious that I would not be able to access that region of the Cima Subdivision without trespassing or using the railroad’s service road - something I was not willing to do. I got back on Interstate 15 and continued northeast.

I did plan to bypass the most picturesque region of the Cima Sub, Afton Canyon, which lay a few miles north of the Field Road exit because I was a solo vehicle weighing nearly 11,000 pounds. I did not want to bury the truck in the sand and not have a buddy close by to pull me out so I continued on to Baker, California.

After a pit stop in Baker for food and fuel, I turned onto Kelbaker Road which would take me into the heart of the Mojave National Preserve and facilitate my return to the tracks of the Cima Sub.

After about a 45-minute drive I arrived at Kelso, California and the beautifully-restored, former Union Pacific passenger depot which is now a Visitor’s Center for the National Park Service. I pulled into the parking lot, gathered my materials, and made a beeline for the depot to get some relief from the heat and talk to a ranger about my plans. It was a good thing I did.

Using the park map which was on top of the Information Desk counter, I outlined my plan for one of the rangers there. He promptly advised me that my planned route would take my onto Union Pacific’s private property because the shown road on the map was actually a railroad access road and not a Park Service road. He did advise me that I could take a parallel route over Powerline Road but it was one to two miles away from the tracks - certainly not ideal. “Bummer,” I thought.

I then asked about camping along Powerline Road and he proceeded to recite the Park rules and regulations governing camping inside the Park. Basically “roadside camping,” as he referred to it, is only allowed at selected preexisting sites and none of them where were I had hoped they would be in relation to the tracks. “Bummer,” I thought, once again.

At this point, I suspect due to a sense of pity on me, the ranger divulged the location of a little-known campsite near Cima that he thought might best suit me and my desires. We chatted about accessibility due to my truck’s size and weight. He asked if I had 4-wheel drive to which I said “yes.” I then explained about the 11,000 pounds of my truck’s weight and the difficulty that presents in sand. He said “it shouldn’t be too bad.” “Great,” I thought to myself,  “what’s that mean?” 

I turned for the door as I thanked him for his time and insight and especially the suggestion of the “secret” campsite. “Oh, one more thing” he added. “The rattlesnakes are out in abundance.” “Great,” I thought to myself. I knew what that meant…

The Memorial Day Weekend Mega Tour - Part 1

I didn’t plan to do what I did. I mean, I did have plans to spend two or three days of the Memorial Day weekend out trackside, camping in my rig and taking in the serenity of the Mojave National Preserve and, of course, trains, but it didn’t work out that way. It turned into “the mega tour.”

I had spent most of the week prior getting everything in order for the trip. I had the truck serviced and a part replaced that had broken on my last trip to Cajon Pass. The truck and camper both got a bath and I sanitized the fresh water tank and throughly cleaned the inside of the camper. Hell, I even used Carpet Fresh.

Finally, the rig was set so I sat down to finalize the route and get a rough idea of what I wanted to see and where I wanted to go. The rough plan was to go chase Union Pacific’s Cima Subdivision from north the area of Afton Canyon to the Nevada border.

I have not spent much time along the Cima Subdivision, in part because it is not the most accessible of subdivisions to chase. A good portion of the route is far from paved roads and runs right through the middle of the Mojave National Preserve. Now that I have a truck capable of making the trek on unpaved and unimproved roads, I felt up to the challenge. This was going to be the trip to really see the Cima Subdivision. My anticipation grew all week as I counted the days until Saturday.

Being a three-day weekend coupled with my route requiring me to take Interstate 15 towards Las Vegas, Nevada, I knew better than to try and leave on Friday night. For the uninitiated, the road to Vegas most weekends, let alone on a three-day weekend, is miserable - certainly no way to start a relaxing trip. Consequently I opted to leave before sunrise Saturday morning.

After far too few hours of sleep it was time for me to depart. I bid my family farwell and set off on an 85 mile detour because I forgot a key element of my navigation/tracking device at my office in downtown LA. Not what I wanted to do but necessary to let folks at home know my position as I made the solo trip.

Having retrieved the missing element I headed east, bound for my first stop which was Daggett, California. Daggett is the jumping off point for the Union Pacific Railroad which uses the BNSF tracks to ascend Cajon Pass and reach its home rails again at Daggett en route to Las Vegas.

I arrived later than I had hope as the sun had already risen but a quick look at the signals showed that the BNSF dispatcher had cleared the route for an eastbound UP train through the interlocking complex at Daggett. It arrived on the scene promptly thereafter and was a doublestack train:

Returning to Home Rails - UP 7416 (GE C45ACCTE), UP 5188 (EMD SD70M), UP 4500 (EMD SD70M) are on the point of this eastbound intermodal consist as it returns to home rails at Daggett, CA after making the run over Cajon Pass on BNSF trackage. [5/29/2010 - Los Angeles Subdivision]

Moments later, an eastbound BNSF stack train came into view and held short of the signal. A wait of a few more minutes provided the answer to the reason why. The dispatcher had apparently planned to run another, higher priority train to run around the BNSF train:

Powered to Go - (Above and below) BNSF 1036 (GE DASH9-44CW), leads 7 more units - BNSF 5469 (GE DASH9-44CW), BNSF 5138 (GE DASH9-44CW), BNSF 4804 (GE DASH9-44CW), BNSF 4742 (GE DASH9-44CW), BNSF 4778 (GE DASH9-44CW), KCS 4009 (EMD SD70ACe), and BNSF 4655 (GE DASH9-44CW), as they overtake another eastbound intermodal at Daggett, CA. [5/29/2010 - Needles Subdivision] 

BNSF was putting on quite a show, as always, but this trip was all about the Cima Subdivision. I packed up my gear as I quelled my desire to head east. I put the truck in drive and turned right on Daggett-Yermo Road bound for Yermo and adventures unknown…