Tehachapi Speeds?

The track speed between Caliente and Tehachapi has not changed in years, it's still 25mph Eastbound (uphill) and 23mph Westbound (downhill) with the exception of occasional slow orders. The change your friend may have experienced is more likely a result of new motive power and other non-track related factors allowing trains to travel at maximum speed more regularly. In years past, many drags (usually SP) would grind uphill at all of 10-15mph fighting for all they were worth. These days, this is less and less common (but it does still happen). The track work has consisted mainly of concrete ties and new rail, no realignments or super-elevation of curves. Other than that, Tehachapi hasn't changed since the early 1980's.

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Kevin Stevens
www.trainweb.org/KernJunction

 

On the BNSF side, it's probably 80% dash-9's (zzzzzz.....), but UP is still pretty interesting. There is a good mix of their own power, and lately there has been a good bit of leased and foreign power. Recently spotted at the UP service racks at Bakersfield (in the last two weeks): CSX, NS, CP Rail, BNSF, GATX, CEFX, LRCX, and an ex-Texas Mexican GP60 (sorry, I don't remember the reporting marks but the unit # was 7700). Throw in an occasional winged SD70M and the still present SP power, and UP is the source of a wide colorful variety of motive power through Bakersfield. BNSF is still colorful though, as its power is in at least four different color schemes, and LMX and Oakway units still come through from time to time. Unfortunately, there are just too many H2 dash-9's these days

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Kevin Stevens
www.trainweb.org/KernJunction

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kevin Stevens:
On the BNSF side, it's probably 80% dash-9's (zzzzzz.....), but UP is still pretty interesting. There is a good mix of their own power, and lately there has been a good bit of leased and foreign power. Recently spotted at the UP service racks at Bakersfield (in the last two weeks): CSX, NS, CP Rail, BNSF, GATX, CEFX, LRCX, and an ex-Texas Mexican GP60 (sorry, I don't remember the reporting marks but the unit # was 7700). Throw in an occasional winged SD70M and the still present SP power, and UP is the source of a wide colorful variety of motive power through Bakersfield. BNSF is still colorful though, as its power is in at least four different color schemes, and LMX and Oakway units still come through from time to time. Unfortunately, there are just too many H2 dash-9's these days

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think the ex-Tex-Mex GP60 belongs to Helm now; I'll have to double check some of my notes. And I agree with you on the BNSF H2 Dash-9's...they're everywhere in and around the LA Basin and are getting pretty boring(to me, at least! ), although a few trains come through with older ATSF and BN power.



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Have A Nice Day!

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mankind:
I think the ex-Tex-Mex GP60 belongs to Helm now;<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You jogged my rusty memory, it is HLCX7700. Thanks for the help. That green and orange paint scheme sure stands out in a crowd of yellow and gray. I would have gotten a photo, but it was either buried in the service racks or out of a clear view from public property.

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Kevin Stevens
www.trainweb.org/KernJunction

[This message has been edited by Kevin Stevens (edited 09 November 2000).]

 

I also think that the C44-9W's are getting pretty boring.

Every once and a while I will see some neat things go by while sitting at Fullerton depot and watching trains. But as stated above, seems like all you see is -9,-9,-9,-9,etc.

That's why I would rather watch UP trains any day! Just more veriety with SP and all.



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Craig Martyn

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I was just passing thru when I came across this thread. I want to know what's wrong with the BNSF H2's? It took me a while to get use to the whole "Pumpkin" concept and now, I happen to like them...call me crazy, but I don't like the H1 scheme. To me, the H2's (or P2's) kinda remind me of my beloved Santa Fe.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by QTRAIN:
I want to know what's wrong with the BNSF H2's?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

While I can't speak for the rest of the posters, here's my explanation: It's not that I don't like the H2 dash 9's, it's just that they have become as common as cowpies on a farm. I enjoy a wide variety of locomotive models more than I do multiple paint schemes. Over the years, Santa Fe and SP units all wore the same colors but there were many different models (SD's, GP's, -7's, -8's, etc...). While I like the new UP SD70M's with wings, they too will become boring when there is 1000 of them out running around. In summary, it is a lack of variety, not dislike of the H2 paint that motivated my response.

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Kevin Stevens
www.trainweb.org/KernJunction

 

GE wide-nose engines are ugly, and being painted in H2 doesn't help. Long live second generation EMDs.

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Mike Smith lcso_927@hotmail.com
Eugene, Oregon

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