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  • MIKE AND JESSY'S AWESOME CROSS-COUNTRY TOUR!

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 #411305  by Otto Vondrak
 
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Mike and Jessy are on a two-week tour... maybe they are coming to a railroad station near you... from Mike:

"On Friday, June 8, 2007, Jessy and I embarked on an ambitious two-week vacation that will ultimately take us through New York, NY; Kennebunkport and Portland, Maine; San Francisco, California; Sacramento, California; Los Angeles, California; and Albuquerque, New Mexico. So far, we’ve had a blast in Maine and San Francisco !

We’re posting photos as we go, so check them out here:
http://mikeroque.com/photos/v/recent/

You can also watch for updates on my blog here:
http://mikeroque.com

Check it out! Maybe we'll run into you!"
Last edited by Otto Vondrak on Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 #413368  by Otto Vondrak
 
From Chris Stilson:
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"A picture of when me and mike went railfanning today 6-19 please post on there sticky. Mike and I railfanned the UP/BNSF Mojave sub all day and got some great shots. This is a picture of Mike shooting a BNSF southbound in the Caliente Siding. --Chris"

 #414136  by Otto Vondrak
 
Railfanning the BNSF/UP Mojave sub.

The Mojave subdivision may be one of the most photographed lines in the world. The reason it is photographed is that it is the home of the famous Tehachapi Loop. But the line is much more than just the loop. From the Orange Fields in Bakersfield in the North to the Mojave desert in the south it is a very scenic line. Also with approximately 80 to 100 trains a day on a mainly single track main with sidings it makes for a great meets.

I was able to take Mike and Jessy out for a little railfanning adventure on the line.


First stop was the Mojave Yard in Mojave, CA.

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This is a BNSF southbound just north of Mojave Yard

<a><img src="http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/55/455/3/2 ... EAJ_th.jpg" border="0"></a>



Next was a stop at the world famous Tehachapi Loop. If you don’t believe me we had a chance to meet a nice couple from England that was visiting it on vacation.

<a><img src="http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/64/464/1/1 ... Poh_th.jpg" border="0"></a>


Here is the same train going away from the loop

<a><img src="http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/55/455/9/1 ... pxD_th.jpg" border="0"></a>



This is the start of the chase of this BNSF southbound in Caliente siding. The speed limit in this area is only 23 mph. So it is very easy to chase individual trains as you can see in these next few shots.

<a><img src="http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/55/455/9/3 ... ChQ_th.jpg" border="0"></a>



Here is the same BNSF southbound just outside of Caliente siding. With Mike visiting I figure he should get the good shot since I can come back anytime.

<a><img src="http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/62/462/9/1 ... nDB_th.jpg" border="0"></a>

This is about another 3 miles down the line in Bealville siding. The train turns back on itself so it is only about a mile from the last picture.

<a><img src="http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/63/463/2/5 ... BVp_th.jpg" border="0"></a>



Here is the same BNSF southbound entering Woodford siding about 1.5 miles north of Tehachapi Loop.


The dispatcher was nice to us and gave us a nice parade of trains.

<a><img src="http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/62/462/4/7 ... lxp_th.jpg" border="0"></a>


The next train to pass us was another BNSF southbound.

<a><img src="http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/52/452/7/5 ... rMr_th.jpg" border="0"></a>



That southbound was held for this northbound. Which once was in the clear had to wait.

<a><img src="http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/24/565/0/5 ... AxV_th.jpg" border="0"></a>



For another southbound that was fouling the main.

<a><img src="http://thumb3.webshots.net/t/55/455/6/0 ... vzU_th.jpg" border="0"></a>


On our way back we found this one with some problem sitting on the siding in Tehachapi.

Overall it was a great day for railfanning!

~ Chris Stilson: R&IT West Coast Division