Santa Fe 5262 heads through the Tehachapi Mountains with a mixed freight on their way west along the UP Mojave Subdivision, California, in April of 1995. According to Wikipedia: The Tehachapi Mountains are a mountain range in the Transverse Ranges system of California in the Western United States. The range extends for approximately 40 miles in southern Kern County and northwestern Los Angeles County and form part of the boundary between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert. The Mojave Subdivision refers to a series of railway lines in California. The primary route crosses the Tehachapi Pass and features the Tehachapi Loop, connecting Bakersfield to the Mojave Desert. East of Mojave, the line splits with the Union Pacific Railroad portion continuing south to Palmdale and Colton over the Cajon Pass and the BNSF Railway owned segment running east to Barstow. Both companies generally share trackage rights across the lines. Tech Notes: Nikon F3 Film Camera, Nikon 300mm lens, f/stop and shutter speed not recorded

Santa Fe 5262 heads through the Tehachapi Mountains in northern California

Santa Fe 5262 heads through the Tehachapi Mountains with a mixed freight on their way west along the UP Mojave Subdivision, California, in April of 1995.

According to Wikipedia: The Tehachapi Mountains are a mountain range in the Transverse Ranges system of California in the Western United States. The range extends for approximately 40 miles in southern Kern County and northwestern Los Angeles County and form part of the boundary between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert.

The Mojave Subdivision refers to a series of railway lines in California. The primary route crosses the Tehachapi Pass and features the Tehachapi Loop, connecting Bakersfield to the Mojave Desert. East of Mojave, the line splits with the Union Pacific Railroad portion continuing south to Palmdale and Colton over the Cajon Pass and the BNSF Railway owned segment running east to Barstow. Both companies generally share trackage rights across the lines.

Tech Notes: Nikon F3 Film Camera, Nikon 300mm lens, f/stop and shutter speed not recorded

Santa Fe 4035 passes through tunnel 9 under their train above in the Tehachapi Loop as they begin to pull through the loop on their way west on the UP Mojave Subdivision in April of 1995. According to Wikipedia: The Tehachapi Loop is a 3,779-foot-long (0.72 mi; 1.15 km) spiral, or helix, on the Union Pacific Railroad Mojave Subdivision through Tehachapi Pass, of the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, south-central California. The line connects Bakersfield and the San Joaquin Valley to Mojave in the Mojave Desert. Rising at a steady two-percent grade, the track gains 77 feet (23 m) in elevation and makes a 1,210-foot-diameter (370 m) circle. Any train that is more than 3,800 feet (1,200 m) long—about 56 boxcars—passes over itself going around the loop. At the bottom of the loop, the track passes through Tunnel 9, the ninth tunnel built as the railroad was extended from Bakersfield, CA. The line averages about 36 freight trains each day. Passenger trains such as Amtrak's San Joaquin are banned from the loop, although the Coast Starlight can use it as a detour. Its frequent trains and scenic setting make the Tehachapi Loop popular with railfans. In 1998, it was named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It is also designated as California Historical Landmark #508. Tech Notes: Nikon F3 Film Camera, Nikon 70-300mm lens at 300mm, f/stop and shutter speed not recorded

Santa Fe 4035 passes through tunnel 9 under their train above in the Tehachapi Loop…

Santa Fe 4035 passes through tunnel 9 under their train above in the Tehachapi Loop as they begin to pull through the loop on their way west on the UP Mojave Subdivision in April of 1995.

According to Wikipedia: The Tehachapi Loop is a 3,779-foot-long (0.72 mi; 1.15 km) spiral, or helix, on the Union Pacific Railroad Mojave Subdivision through Tehachapi Pass, of the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, south-central California. The line connects Bakersfield and the San Joaquin Valley to Mojave in the Mojave Desert.

Rising at a steady two-percent grade, the track gains 77 feet (23 m) in elevation and makes a 1,210-foot-diameter (370 m) circle. Any train that is more than 3,800 feet (1,200 m) long—about 56 boxcars—passes over itself going around the loop. At the bottom of the loop, the track passes through Tunnel 9, the ninth tunnel built as the railroad was extended from Bakersfield, CA.

The line averages about 36 freight trains each day. Passenger trains such as Amtrak’s San Joaquin are banned from the loop, although the Coast Starlight can use it as a detour. Its frequent trains and scenic setting make the Tehachapi Loop popular with railfans. In 1998, it was named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It is also designated as California Historical Landmark #508.

Tech Notes: Nikon F3 Film Camera, Nikon 70-300mm lens at 300mm, f/stop and shutter speed not recorded

Santa Fe Railway 142 leads four war bonnets as they pull east through Tehachapi Loop with a “Piggyback” trailer train sometime in the late 1980’s, as they head for Tehachapi, California, and points east on the UP Mojave Subdivision, through the Tehachapi Pass. When I lived in southern California between 1981-1995, not counting a break where I lived in the Philippines for about 1.5 years, I spent a lot of time in these mountains and Cajon Pass, around the San Bernardino mountains! Over the coming year I’ll be scanning images from these and other locations and sharing them on Saturday evenings. According to Wikipedia: The Tehachapi Loop is a 3,779-foot-long (0.72 mi; 1.15 km) spiral,[1] or helix, on the Union Pacific Railroad Mojave Subdivision through Tehachapi Pass, of the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, south-central California. The line connects Bakersfield and the San Joaquin Valley to Mojave in the Mojave Desert. Rising at a steady two-percent grade, the track gains 77 feet (23 m) in elevation and makes a 1,210-foot-diameter (370 m) circle.[1][2] Any train that is more than 3,800 feet (1,200 m) long—about 56 boxcars—passes over itself going around the loop Fuji 6x17, Fuji 105mm lens, other exposure information wasn’t recorded back then. #trainphotography #railroadphotography #trains #railways #jimpearsonphotography #panphotography #6x17photography #trainphotographer #railroadphotographer #TehachapiLoop #SantaFe

Santa Fe Railway 142 leads four war bonnets as they pull east through Tehachapi Loop

Santa Fe Railway 142 leads four war bonnets as they pull east through Tehachapi Loop with a “Piggyback” trailer train sometime in the early to mid 1990’s, as they head for Tehachapi, California, and points east on the UP Mojave Subdivision, through the Tehachapi Pass.

When I lived in southern California between 1981-1995, not counting a break where I lived in the Philippines for about 1.5 years, I spent a lot of time in these mountains and Cajon Pass, around the San Bernardino mountains! Over the coming year I’ll be scanning images from these and other locations and sharing them on Saturday evenings.

According to Wikipedia: The Tehachapi Loop is a 3,779-foot-long (0.72 mi; 1.15 km) spiral,[1] or helix, on the Union Pacific Railroad Mojave Subdivision through Tehachapi Pass, of the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, south-central California. The line connects Bakersfield and the San Joaquin Valley to Mojave in the Mojave Desert.

Rising at a steady two-percent grade, the track gains 77 feet (23 m) in elevation and makes a 1,210-foot-diameter (370 m) circle.[1][2] Any train that is more than 3,800 feet (1,200 m) long—about 56 boxcars—passes over itself going around the loop

Fuji 6×17, Fuji 105mm lens, other exposure information wasn’t recorded back then.

May 5, 1989 - The crew from a eastbound Santa Fe freight prepare to do a roll-by inspection on a passenger train being led by Union X8444 at Blue Cut in southern California's Cajon Pass on their way west to the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Los Angeles Union Station, with E-unit 951 trailing. This was the first Southern California appearance of a Union Pacific steam locomotive since 1956.

Eastbound Union X8444 at Blue Cut in Cajon Pass, CA

May 5, 1989 – The crew from a eastbound Santa Fe freight prepare to do a roll-by inspection on a passenger train being led by Union X8444 at Blue Cut in southern California’s Cajon Pass on their way west to the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Los Angeles Union Station, with E-unit 951 trailing. This was the first Southern California appearance of a Union Pacific steam locomotive since 1956.

October 20, 2008 - The late evening light rakes across the base of Mormon Rocks as UP 5958 and 6266 (ex-Southern Pacific Unit) lead a west bound freight down the Cajon Pass in southern California. Local legend has it that the rocks were named for the Mormon pioneers who camped here after their descent from the pass ridgeline. Another legend calls the rocks the 'Chanting Rocks,' as when the wind would blow across the portholes in the rocks it was said the sound made was similar to a low chanting or singing.

The late evening light rakes across the base of Mormon Rocks…

October 20, 2008 – The late evening light rakes across the base of Mormon Rocks as UP 5958 and 6266 (ex-Southern Pacific Unit) lead a west bound freight down the Cajon Pass in southern California.

Local legend has it that the rocks were named for the Mormon pioneers who camped here after their descent from the pass ridgeline. Another legend calls the rocks the ‘Chanting Rocks,’ as when the wind would blow across the portholes in the rocks it was said the sound made was similar to a low chanting or singing.

June 23, 2006 - Blast From The Past - It was a hot, dry day as a Piggyback with BNSF 5232 leading headed east, meeting a Mixed freight headed up by BNSF 4438 waiting to head west toward Bakersfield, in horseshoe curve in the valley at Caliente, California as they made their way through the Tehachapi Mountains on the UP Mojave Subdivision. Thinking of visiting this area? Check out this page on the web! http://www.trainweb.org/brettrw/maps/caliente.html

It was a hot, dry day as a Piggyback with BNSF 5232 leading…

June 23, 2006 – Blast From The Past – It was a hot, dry day as a Piggyback with BNSF 5232 leading headed east, meeting a Mixed freight headed up by BNSF 4438 waiting to head west toward Bakersfield, in horseshoe curve in the valley at Caliente, California as they made their way through the Tehachapi Mountains on the UP Mojave Subdivision.

March 31, 2020 - Another of several photos I found on my old Mac G4 Laptop that I shot back in 2006 with my old Nikon D200 and thought I'd share a few of them. This mornings image was shot on June 20, 2006 and is of two BNSF intermodals making their way east and west through the Cajon Pass in Southern California on the Cajon Subdivision.

Two BNSF intermodals making their way through the Cajon Pass, CA

March 31, 2020 – Another of several photos I found on my old Mac G4 Laptop that I shot back in 2006 with my old Nikon D200 and thought I’d share a few of them. This mornings image was shot on June 20, 2006 and is of two BNSF intermodals making their way east and west through the Cajon Pass in Southern California on the Cajon Subdivision.

March 30, 2020 - I stumbled across this image and several others on my old Mac G4 Laptop that I shot back in 2006 with my old Nikon D200 and thought I'd share a few of them. This one is from June 6, 2006 of BNSF 4419 leading a business train east bound through Sullivan's Curve just west of Cajon Junction in southern California, headed to Barstow, CA. From the Web we learn that “Sullivan's Curve is where the Union Pacific Palmdale Cutoff, and the BNSF mains 1 and 2 curve in a large horseshoe curve directly next to some large, rather impressive, rock formations. Promotional photos taken at this curve for the Santa Fe in the 1930’s through the 1950’s by photographer Herb Sullivan were fantastic, and made famous by their composition. The curve that he used so frequently was named in his honor, and rightfully so.”

BNSF 4419 leading a business train eastbound, Cajon Junction, CA

March 30, 2020 – I stumbled across this image and several others on my old Mac G4 Laptop that I shot back in 2006 with my old Nikon D200 and thought I’d share a few of them. This one is from June 6, 2006 of BNSF 4419 leading a business train east bound through Sullivan’s Curve just west of Cajon Junction in southern California, headed to Barstow, CA.

From the Web we learn that “Sullivan’s Curve is where the Union Pacific Palmdale Cutoff, and the BNSF mains 1 and 2 curve in a large horseshoe curve directly next to some large, rather impressive, rock formations. Promotional photos taken at this curve for the Santa Fe in the 1930’s through the 1950’s by photographer Herb Sullivan were fantastic, and made famous by their composition. The curve that he used so frequently was named in his honor, and rightfully so.”

Blast From The Past - May 8, 1989 – In my lifetime I've been blessed to travel and photograph trains from around the world including Southern Pacific’s 4449 and Union Pacific’s 8444 (now 844) as they headed up the Cajon Pass in southern California. This was after they were on display for the 50th Anniversary of Los Angeles Union Station in 1989. It was an amazing thing to watch, photograph and chase!

Blast From The Past – May 8, 1989 – In my lifetime…

Blast From The Past – May 8, 1989 – In my lifetime I’ve been blessed to travel and photograph trains from around the world including Southern Pacific’s 4449 and Union Pacific’s 8444 (now 844) as they headed up the Cajon Pass in southern California. This was after they were on display for the 50th Anniversary of Los Angeles Union Station in 1989. It was an amazing thing to watch, photograph and chase!

October 20, 2008 - Union Pacific 5411 leads a mixed freight westbound past Mormon Rocks in the southern California's famous Cajon Pass. According to Wikipedia: Cajon Pass (/k?'ho?n/; elevation 3,777 ft (1,151 m) is a mountain pass between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in the United States. It was created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault. Located in the Mojave Desert, the pass is an important link from the Greater San Bernardino Area to the Victor Valley, and northeast to Las Vegas. Cajon Pass is at the head of Horsethief Canyon, traversed by California State Route 138 (SR 138) and railroad tracks owned by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. Railroad improvements in 1972 reduced its maximum elevation from about 3,829 to 3,777 feet (1,167 to 1,151 m) while also reducing the curvature. Interstate 15 does not traverse Cajon Pass, but rather the nearby Cajon Summit, elevation 4,260 feet (1,300 m). However, the entire area including Cajon Pass and Cajon Summit is often collectively called Cajon Pass. Sometimes the entire area is called Cajon Pass, but a distinction is made between Cajon Pass and Cajon Summit in detail. Mormon Rocks In 1851, a group of Mormon settlers led by Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich traveled through the Cajon Pass in covered wagons on their way from Salt Lake City to southern California. This prominent rock formation in the pass, where the Mormon trail and the railway merge (near Sullivan's Curve), is known as Mormon Rocks.

October 20, 2008 – Union Pacific 5411 leads a mixed freight…

October 20, 2008 – Union Pacific 5411 leads a mixed freight westbound past Mormon Rocks in the southern California’s famous Cajon Pass.

According to Wikipedia: Cajon Pass (/k-‘ho-n/; elevation 3,777 ft (1,151 m) is a mountain pass between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in the United States. It was created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault. Located in the Mojave Desert, the pass is an important link from the Greater San Bernardino Area to the Victor Valley, and northeast to Las Vegas.

Cajon Pass is at the head of Horsethief Canyon, traversed by California State Route 138 (SR 138) and railroad tracks owned by BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad. Railroad improvements in 1972 reduced its maximum elevation from about 3,829 to 3,777 feet (1,167 to 1,151 m) while also reducing the curvature. Interstate 15 does not traverse Cajon Pass, but rather the nearby Cajon Summit, elevation 4,260 feet (1,300 m). However, the entire area including Cajon Pass and Cajon Summit is often collectively called Cajon Pass. Sometimes the entire area is called Cajon Pass, but a distinction is made between Cajon Pass and Cajon Summit in detail.

Mormon Rocks
In 1851, a group of Mormon settlers led by Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich traveled through the Cajon Pass in covered wagons on their way from Salt Lake City to southern California. This prominent rock formation in the pass, where the Mormon trail and the railway merge (near Sullivan’s Curve), is known as Mormon Rocks.