BTB Blog

When Herb Sullivan took pictures of steam powered Santa Fe trains at Cajon Pass in California, a lot of things where different- except for the scenery. His terrific photos featuring the distinctive rock formation gave the particular curve its name. I spent the morning hanging out in the area after hiking in on the Pacific Crest Trail, leaving the car behind on a trail head near the I15 exit. Several trains came through in both directions and this one made it into…

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We’re back in the desert and after almost a whole week I finally got a hold of a train powered by other than BNSF engines. I did so at the flyover structure in Victorville, CA. In general, by going over and above the westward trains change to the left side of the line in order to utilize the steeper grade downhill on Cajon pass several miles to the west. In return, trains going uphill use the lower grade track which takes them on the left hand side for…

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to break a little bit with the ongoing “BNSF in the desert” theme, this photo of today features a picture I took some weeks ago while staying in New Orleans, LA. This lovely and beautiful city not only offers the French Quarter, cemeteries and swamps but also is home to one of the oldest, continually operated street car lines. Car 961 travels back to the barn after a long day hauling tourists and locals on the famous green line.

I know, it might get a little bit boring, at lest for the non-trainenthusiasts. Here is another picture of contemporary railroading in the Mojave desert. A solid set of orange and green, six-axle GEs haul a westbound container train out of Crozier Canyon. This location along “historic route 66”  can be found pretty much right in the middle between Seligman, AZ and Kingman, AZ.The area provides a lot of opportunities for rail-fanning, if one does not mind the heat and bumpy backroads.