Down at the Depot - Cima Sub Shots - Part 2 of 5

(Continued from: Better Late Than Never - Cima Sub Shots - Part 1)

After getting my fill of grade crossing shots and as the sun sank below the horizon I turned my attention to the Kelso Depot. It was past closing time so I had the exterior of the depot and it’s grounds all to myself which is nice because it came be a quite busy place during the day considering it’s remote location.

The depot, which now serves as the main visitor’s center for the Mojave National Preserve, was originally opened in 1924 and served the Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad with distinction until 1985. 

Kelso Depot-Monochromatic - The Kelso Depot backlit at dusk.
[2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

Lunch Room at the Depot - The refurbished “lunch room” of yesteryear, part of the Kelso Depot Vistor’s Center, is closed for the day.
[2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

Kelso Depot at Dusk 1 - The beautifully restored former Union Pacific depot at Kelso, CA is a true oasis in the desert.
[2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

Kelso Depot at Dusk 2 - The beautifully restored former Union Pacific depot at Kelso, CA is a true oasis in the desert.
[2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

As is often the case in the desert, once the sun sank the cool of the dark began nipping at me. I hustled into my truck and cranked on the heater. I glanced at the exterior temperature reading and it read 29 (F) degrees. “Brrrrr,” from this California boy.

I had often been to the far reaches of the Cima Subdivision, but I had never visited a siding and area than lent it’s namesake to the valley, Ivanpah, and I wanted to see what that location had to offer. I left the depot in my rear view mirror as I held my frozen fingers and hands up to the vents in hopes of regaining some semblance of feeling in them.

In part three of this excursion I will cover my run to Ivanpah and Coyote Crossing.

Better Late Than Never - Cima Sub Shots - Part 1 of 5

It was the Sunday before President’s Day and I had hoped to arrive mid-afternoon with plenty of time to find a nice spot to set-up camp. I know that I am getting older because I just don’t do things as fast as I once did - especially when it comes to physical chores such as prepping the camper and the truck for a trip. I left later than I wanted so I had to adapt my plans accordingly. My destination was the Union Pacific’s Cima Subdivision. In particular, I was targetting the area around Cima itself. By my calculations, if I hustled, and drove straight through, I might be able to catch some good light at the Kelso Depot. I headed out in haste.

As it worked out I made it to Baker with just enough time to top off the tank and get some soda for my pending foray into the desolate Mojave National Preserve. I did just that and then headed south on Kelbaker Road.

I always enjoy driving on such roads, especially after the grind of the run from Ontario to Baker on Interstate 15, which is an insanely busy freeway these days. However, my journey was not as bad as those folks headed into Los Angeles though. I kid you not, there was a 24-mile long traffic jam on the southbound I-15, from Afton Road all the way to the agriculture inspection point! Note to self - don’t take the 15 home!

Eventually I rounded a curve that afforded me a beautiful view of the Ivanpah Valley with Kelso nestled near the base of the cloud-shrouded Providence Mountains and, unfortunately, a setting sun. I found a safe spot to pull onto the shoulder and set up my camera to capture the scene. I captured the panorama shot scene at the top of this post. It came out nice but it’s size (120 MB) preclude me from posting here. Once I felt I had the shots I needed to compose the panorama, I raced down the road towards Kelso.

I arrived at the depot with the setting sun already underway. Oh well, win some, lose some. I was able to capture some nice shots of the tracks and the surrounding area. Here are a few of them:

Looking West at Kelso, CA - A view, looking west, of Union Pacific’s Cima Subdivision from the Kelbaker Road grade crossing at Kelso, CA.
[2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

Kelso Depot circa 2011 - A view, looking east, of the Kelso Depot and Union Pacific’s Cima Subdivision from the Kelbaker Road grade crossing at Kelso, CA.
[2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

Kelso Post Office - The former Kelso, CA post office.
[2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

In part two of this excursion I will cover my shooting of the depot proper in the waning light.