A Dispatcher's Headache at the Tehachapi Crossover

[@Qrail]

Another great video. Thanks.

[@937mike]

Gotta love Angel's enthusiasm!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

She's a foamer for sure!

[@MRRAILFANVON]

@@MarkClayMcGowan ns 1073 penn central might come here mark and bnsf 7695 is comeing here but can’t find it on any camera will keep an eye on both

[@davecruzen9352]

Excellent video. I was not aware of the Tehachapi crossover. I must make it a day journey. Like that it is at a higher altitude. Away from the insanity of L. A. Look forward to more videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

It is used quite often. Thanks for checking it out!

[@jerrysimon793]

Thanks Mark for another awesom video

[@jovetj]

That lady in the lavender coat has such a great smile! I suspect she knows someone on the EB train there.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Angel. She is that excitable for every train, no mater where she is!

[@jovetj]

@@MarkClayMcGowan Oh, nice! I was betting her husband or father was on the one she was waving at so vehemently! :D

[@mikepate6404]

Thank you - beautiful scenery

[@sunnyormsby8402]

Thanks, Enjoyed!

[@bobselders8345]

Another great video Mark ! Thanks for putting it out there.

[@shanebarnes4333]

Great video Mark!Sure brings back memories of growing up there

[@cncpgreatlakesdiv4896]

Hi Mark awesome video thx for the post stay safe ,😊😊👍👍

[@wrangler70jkujeep74]

Most excellent 👍.

[@michaelnelson9002]

You’re most welcome. Always enjoy your random trains…and your speculating.

[@25vrd48]

Lumber smells a lot better than creosote crossties . Great video Mark .

[@bobparsons77]

Great early am video so thanks.

[@jasonharrington2106]

i miss sweater weather..i love bakersfield overcast

[@sgrizzz]

thanks for the work you put into these videos mark

[@daylightdave9405]

That was sum good catches Mark... I wish we could see sum sun up here in Sac. Town... its been brutal ! Anyways hand signals to check your headlight is take two fingers and point them at your eyes then at the lead engine and repeat a few times... Sum of the more experienced Engineers would pick up on that.. As a UP Engineer we got a Jackpot (what Dispatchers call it) where in Ozol (Martinez, CA) we were one of four trains all looking at each other @ a CP... well sum one had to back up and of 'course it was us... DD 🤪

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Yeah. I think that, sometimes, crews just don't want to acknowledge anything railfans do, even if it is helpful.

[@daylightdave9405]

Hey Mark... I never had problems w/ Railfanners, being one myself... Nowadays Im not really into it... I do have a problem w/ people running up to the Train or being on RR Prop., mainly as I was most concerned w/ their safety as you know we from time to time drag stuff, like a metal banding strip wiping around that could slice a person big time... A few times Ive called P.O's... anyways my thoughts... Enjoy your Videos. DD 😜

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

@@daylightdave9405 The railfans can sometimes be their own worst enemy. Here is a video I made about dos and don'ts kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIWqp2uhZ7aXnM0

[@billh3-21]

Hey keep looking for L.P. I joists on bulkhead cars.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Very cool Mark, lots of action all of a sudden! (Dave).

[@garykcs5532]

Great vid, we will be at that same spot first sat of May .. Gary

[@bighorn9119]

Where is that train going those are my favorite when I see FedEx ground trailers and multimodal

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

This one is probably going to the Bay Area, but that's just a guess.

[@catshotfourone7951]

Hey mark new sub here, I enjoy watching your videos very much and thanks for taking the time to do them good on you brother. I'd be interested in the line or branch whatever the proper nomenclature for it is that goes north from famoso to Richgrove, Ducor and Porterville I know it goes into Exeter beyond that I don't know. I was born in Delano and raised in Richgrove till I was a teenager and have fond memories as a kid watching and chasing trains working the packing sheds in the area, got my first and only cab ride when I was 5 or 6 there, got to sit on the engineers seat and blast the horn through a crossing fun times for sure.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Your timing is perfect. I just shot the last two pieces on my history of the Eastside Branch! Between injuries, illness, more injuries and basic time constraints, It has taken me three years to finish it! It will be up sometime next month. I was only able to catch one train while doing it, but do plan on chasing some out this year. Thanks for the and for checking it out!

[@catshotfourone7951]

No worries mark, I'm looking forward to seeing it and perhaps that amazing trussell between Richgrove and Ducor that must be original to the line sure looks it anyway. Big thanks Mark I'll be watching 🇺🇸

[@natgass8102]

Mark, nice day for train watching. How often to trains need a pair of helpers to get over the MTs going East, and related why do some trains already have enough power versus ones that don’t, is it because they departed from somewhere else that was short of power and knew they could pick up the extra power in Bakersfield? do both UP & BNSF do this, add helpers when needed? thanks

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

They always have enough power when they leave their terminals. BNSF has been stationing manned helpers outside of Mojave, then cutting them loose on the fly near Cameron, which I hope to catch on video at some point. Sometimes they'll have issues with power and will stall. It's a fine line they've been walking for a very long time! Also, having enough power for proper dynamic braking is as important as enough to get up the pass.

[@natgass8102]

@@MarkClayMcGowan thanks Mark, that’s an excellent point of needing the proper amount of power to hold back all those tons that gravity is pushing down the incline! I have seen videos of UP trains going down the river valleys with their heavy loads of lumber with the brakes on the rail cars are actually smoking!

[@anthony75040]

What about the Colton run

[@stevensipes1823]

What I like about new railcars is NO GRAFFITI!!! I love the smell of fresh cut lumber. I think it would be a great colone for men. Steven Sipes

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

You should market that idea! I'd buy some!

[@lvsluggo007]

That recent derailment down the grade has made a real mess of Tehachapi. Wonder how long it will take to do the cleanup, with that insane terrain.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

They haven't even started yet

[@erichill1230]

hey mark where is the bnsf yard office where you are at

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

At 16th and F Streets, downtown.

[@kens.3729]

The Importance of the Dispatchers Job to make sure Metal doesn’t crash into Metal because there are Millions of $’s worth of Goods on these train plus Human Lives.🙏

[@stevenpeterson7234]

What is your territory? How much do you travel? Do you see your family every night?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I am retired, but I was in the signal department, not train service. My hours were M - F, 7 - 3:30, and I was on 24 hr call (but rarely took overtime calls). I had about a 200 mile territory, and would spend a few days a month staying out of town on inspections or dealing with problems. In train service, you can expect to be home about every third day for 10-12 hours. Territory size depends on geography. Places like the Tehachapi/Cajon Pass run are shorter because of track speeds, faster territories are longer, but you can expect to work a 10-12 hr run either way.

[@alexschmollinger6576]

Awesome Footage of the BNSF Trains at Tehachapi California I love ❤️ Watching your KZbin videos of both Union Pacific and BNSF on Tehachapi Pass I love ❤️ Watching your KZbin Channel @MarkClayMcGowan 🙂🙂🙂💯💯💯💯💯🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@donstarr7261]

How about this suggestion, GO over to San Bernadino dispatch 250 and 248 and film Mathilde MSK dispatching trains! That would be good.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Sounds like a cool idea and I could probably even get in, but it is unlikely they would allow me to shoot any video inside. Never hurts to ask though!

[@brianhickey5949]

Now that's a busy place :) I guess when you have two main tracks and more than two trains moving, it gets interesting for the dispatchers. I wonder what role time plays in these trains - do they have a specific schedule or does it come down to crew rotation. I wouldn't think sitting idle for a long period would be a lot of fun for the crew at least. Good for us railfanners though :)

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

There are no schedules, but it has more to do with timing than time. The dispatchers have to plan ahead for meets and moves such as this, attempting to keep the higher priority trains moving, or at least, not stopping any longer than necessary, all the while being aware of how close crews are to going dead. I don't envy them their jobs!

[@brianhickey5949]

@@MarkClayMcGowan Thank you! I agree that it is a challenging job :)

[@djmasterty2309]

Don’t forget about the Shave and a haircut, two bits on the first train

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

The crews are pretty good about giving the depot museum crowds a little extra. Thanks for checking it out.

[@djmasterty2309]

@@MarkClayMcGowan yeah, I also like trains a lot and support the train horn strongly.

[@alexschmollinger6576]

You play Guitar 🎸 Mark ???? I play Bass Guitar Myself 🎸

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Yes. Been playing since 1976. I haven't played much since my battle with covid and my shoulder reconstruction. Something will get me motivated again. It always does!

[@emwungarand]

Nice Tier 4 leader

[@PrrempKbgur]

Is that a phone house round object

[@emwungarand]

@@PrrempKbgur a what?

[@PrrempKbgur]

@@emwungarand to

[@PrrempKbgur]

A concrete old fashioned phone booth used by rr to house crank phone before radio. Phone line to towers may be dispatcher

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Originally for dispatchers phones. You picked it up and it automatically rang them. Eventually phones were only used at control points where the phone was in the cabin. Most of these were either hauled off or used to small tool and equipment storage for track inspectors.

[@free2roam674]

You should all check out Demos videos from the Frank Slide area in SW Alberta. CP has been CheaP and is not putting enough power on WB trains which is causing almost daily stalls on the 2% WB grade. Classic CP stupidity, but makes for great entertainment. Cam