Bakersfield to Mojave cab ride aboard a Southern Pacific Oil Train

[@TheRrxing]

I can never get tired of watching this. I remember it was a SP train in the movie Duel with Dennis Weaver.

[@michlo3393]

And that was Soledad Canyon. The same pool out of Bakersfield ran those trains. Back then, when Duel was shot, it was double-ended with LA guys going north and Bakersfield guys going south, and a short pool that terminated in Palmdale if I remember right.

[@sonnydean1617]

No one could ever say that the SP wasn't a mountain railroad.

[@Mozdoc]

This video is a time capsule for me since I live in Lancaster just further south of Mojave and I still do; making frequent drives to Mojave, Tehachapi, The Loop, and sometimes further to Bakersfield. In nineteen ninety I was only eight years old when this was taking place. In all my childhood I can remember seeing some of these road names of Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, and Rio Grande and I miss them so much. The railroads back then were so much more colorful with all the different companies passing through here. Now everything that does pass here is Union Pacific except when a unit from another road on loan comes by. Occasionally an old road unit that has only its number plates repainted to its new owner but still wears its old paint scheme comes through and it makes me a bit tearful how all that is gone now. Even the caboose is a bonus to see since those have been retired now. Its fascinating seeing things in this video that I'm familiar with but know that the course of its history has changed. The Loop is still there. Highway 58 is still there. The historic Tehachapi Depot burned down and was rebuilt. The Cal-Portland Cement Plant is still there. The wind turbines are all modernized tube tower high output now instead of the lattice frame towers. The curve of Highway 58 with the rails was destroyed in favor of a new bypass of Mojave making it a shadow of its former self. I really wanted this to continue further on and see Lancaster from the rails how things used to be.

[@neanderthal88]

Echoing many other comments this is a great memory. Thank you. The engineer on this train was Don Custer, RIP. I didn't recognize the others.

[@tulyar1043]

Amen.

[@GirlDad605]

When I was a kid we used to go hiking along the Tehachapi Loop. Loved watching the trains go through there.

[@markfrench8892]

I miss Espee and everything associated with it. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the dragger detector in this video. It brought back some memories. We use to call them Gladys after the woman who did the voice recording for the detectors on the Espee.

[@railfanallen]

Two thumbs up. I miss Espee and those magnificent tunnel motors.

[@santeebandit3246]

Tunnel motors were awesome. I sure do miss the whine of the older EMD locomotives.

[@ironcityrailfan8467]

Thankfully a few are preserved in museums and three are working down here on the Wheeling and Lake Erie.

[@trainmandan05]

I wish I could show the amount of appreciation I have towards these guys for filming their work, showing how railroading used to be on roads and times, long past. Thanks for posting!

[@santeebandit3246]

Thank you for bringing back so many memories of camping at the loop with my family. Been visiting Tehachapi since I was just a baby. I'm 46 now. Parents moved there about 8 years ago. So many very fond memories watching the ATSF, and SP through the mountains. The long walks with my father, and brother up to Marcel, and just everything that came with being in the Tehachapi mountains. Loved it so much. Thanks again for sharing your trip with us. Understand the camera battery issue, loved it regardless.

[@caderamsey8878]

I'm so glad they recorded this. Knowing that the Espee would be Gone in a couple of years. May of 1996, (I think?)Is when The Espee was sold to Union Pacific. Now the Espee is Gone, we have Amazing videos Of the Espee.

[@spaceacademy]

Love hearing the old SP Dispatcher in the background.

[@finaldraft151]

+spaceacademy - Agreed! A blast from the past - Sure do miss the SP and Dispatcher WR-52. Even heard some traffic between WR-52 and the old SP Blitz Local at the beginning of the video.

[@cats0182]

The expanse of open land out there is breathtaking.

[@dr.leonardhofstadter5866]

Wow this was just spectacular, amazing. Reminds me of the days back in schulenburg texas 1992, i sure miss seeing the old southern Pacific locomotives. But seeing this brings back them old days, long live Southern Pacific.

[@amtrakjohn]

One of the best cabride videos I've ever seen; done at a very interesting time in a world famous location. Filled with great details like "stretching the rail with burning rope" and even a way car here and there. How about that ranch house for $38 K? Thanks for posting it, gentlemen! Miss the SP all the more now.

[@ellisjackson3355]

There's another 90s cab ride video on a KCS train similar to this one. Should be easy to find on KZbin. They went from New Orleans to I forgot their destination

[@paulchamplin8953]

Awesome video! I watched those oil cans for years struggle up and down the grades and it was great to have a cab view. Subscribed & Liked.

[@robgarrett4609]

That was cool,.the gyra in the tunnel!

[@michaelmorgan7893]

Boy, those "Tomcats" and "Big Jacks" had a nice sound to them. Nothing like they have now.

[@Loc0motive]

Wow! This has to be the Most Amazing video of Southern Pacific to a true SP Enthusiast! I use to see these all the time on the Pacific coast line. I sure do miss seeing these Trains. And hearing that awesome horn. Thank You so much for sharing!!!

[@jjstrains4547]

Thanks for the ride. I could here that brake valve exhausting. Don’t miss that. Never liked it. Wasn’t till later in my career that Chessie started venting that thing under the floor.

[@adangochez8400]

The sound of that amazing machine is like music to my ears 👂

[@williamanderson6142]

Love rewatching this? Especially shots looking back at other end,brutal horsepower..just amazing.

[@davegeisler7802]

Listen to the sound of that EMD 645 Prime Mover in that Locomotive , wow !

[@DAS9081]

Best sound ever!!

[@Railroadin818]

This is one of my favorite runs, but we go from Bakers through Barstow into Needles.

[@paradiseroad6405]

...I used to make a 2000 mile round trip from Colorado twice a year to watch the Oil Cans on Tehachapi...thanks for the video...

[@warrenwilliams6212]

This was a nice blast from my past. Great video. Thanks for sharing. I really miss these locomotives.

[@alexschmollinger6576]

Rest in Peace Southern Pacific I love the SP Oil Cans which is my favorite SP Train

[@johnwalters1341]

A couple of minor nits: The tunnel identified as "Tunnel 6" is actually Tunnel 7 (T6 was daylighted after the 1952 earthquake). At the east end of Woodford, the bridge is identified as a crossing of Caliente Creek. The railroad actually leaves Caliente Creek at Caliente and follows Tehachapi Creek eastward, so this bridge is the 4th crossing of Tehachapi Creek. "Waylong" siding at the Tehachapi Loop is actually Walong (named for W. A. Long, an old-time railroad official). A fun video of a great railroad.

[@miclc0628]

+John Walters Thank you for your corrections, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@trainknut]

+miclc 062 Quick note on top of that: You said in the video "Nathan M3" horn. But that's actually an old chime P3, which of course was the standard airhorn on the vast majority of SP units, including the SD40T-2s which you rode. Of course, this could just be mis-speaking or a stutter, it's only a single letter difference.

[@joenichols590]

The Arctic Gamer I actually own an old cast P3 at my shop it will eventually go on my truck

[@trainknut]

Otto von Bismarck People like *you* are absurd, there is absolutely no need to get so offended on behalf of somebody else. The point of this is not to get him to change it, like you said this was a quarter century ago, most of the things on the line have changed since. The point is to educate people who might be otherwise informed on the little details of the video.

[@roberthodgson4509]

John Walters

[@dominichetherington2287]

hi from England this is in my opinion the best railroad vid ever!!!!featuring the best railroad ever the good ol espee wow one of the best 29mins @3 secs of my life

[@CallsignGarza]

Oh man I live about 30 minutes away from there. No more southern pacific just Union Pacific. Awesome man. Great video

[@jackcapewell4373]

BNSF as well

[@ssweeps]

Need more awesome videos!

[@anthonywashington8520]

Great video,miss the friendly southern Pacific...Great railroad..

[@uplandrailfan7307]

Anthony Washington So do I before Up bought it out.

[@admydragon]

This video always makes me happy after every revisit.

[@amtrakatsfnyc]

Great video. This brings back strong memories of 1968 when i rode aboard the San Francisco Chief [ ATSF Train #1] and we went on the loop in the wee hours of the morning and made our on time arrival in Fresno at 5:45 A.M. Thank you for sharing.

[@Bonserak23]

Ha! hopped this route to LA last winter, it was dark though so didn't really get to see much.

[@walterjaygould6110]

The lead unit of the head end consist is my favorite engine. I selected it to be our "camera car" because the short hood end had a larger compartment in which

[@deadhead82]

Awesome sound when meeting those two trains at Mojave.

[@steverudder3321]

As a trucker, I've been up and down that pass many times, but it's nice to see it from a different perspective. And if you change the playback speed up to 2, it makes you feel like you're almost out of control!😳

[@MarkLeezer]

Just the best time in Railroading.

[@lukehowland6282]

I drive my rig down 58 every night, find my self racing the train on this rail offen.

[@PullPot-eq4gv]

I love the dynamic brakes and the engine chop with it.

[@BNforever2009]

that is cool!! I heard that's one of the heaviest trains that was running on the SP too.

[@oldspguy4786]

Now this is railroading the way I remember. No wide cabs, no "on board" computers, no funny control stands and best of all no cute little orange and green safety vests. Glad I got out before Big Yella swallowed everything up.

[@texanleons]

My Uncle Wayne Gregory was Superintendant for Santa Fe in Long Beach up until the late 70's.

[@nateb9167]

Awesome video! Takes me back to my Tehachapi trips in the 90s

[@JohnsKeith]

This was an excellent video as I had never seen many of these locations before even after visiting Bakersfield for 2 years and Mojave area off and on for the last 20 years. Thanks for sharing and please add more if you have them. Keith Johns

[@ceciliacicchinelli4797]

I used to hike around Tehachapi in the 90s. 10 units on a train, lots of noise. Wonder if it's different now with higher horsepower and long trains.

[@hobbeekid]

Sooooo Awesome!!! thanks for sharing the cabride!!!

[@atc2853]

Thanks for sharing this with us miclc 062, awesome video! Don't get to see the SP from the conductors seat very often, wish the SP could come back. That also sounded like an entertaining crew you got to ride with too.

[@getreal1276]

Always Wanted To Work For Southern Pacific. Remember All The Cabooses When I Was A Kid.🗻🌅🌄🌃🏭🏩🌄🌅🗻

[@merlestewart7025]

Love the cab ride with narration!!!

[@trainknut]

That beautiful P3 horn!

[@SpencerAK74M]

Also known as the best horn ...

[@haroldsmuck3569]

(from Canada) Priceless my friend, excellent

[@epacm50]

I missed the old NS and classic Conrail!!!!

[@thirdgengta]

Great video. Thanks so much for posting. I really miss the SP.

[@erk396ss]

Amazing video ... great to see ol espee action ..

[@diegohorton869]

Oh look it’s my normal job. Been there before. Glad you like it 👍🏽

[@missbish1000]

Really good, would love to take a trip like that myself some day.

[@markstengel7680]

Very nice just like being there. live few miles Canyon Country BNSF roars by near me several x day love it. Good Job Well Done !!!

[@larryo3954]

I used to monitor this train and its counterpart for the VP-Operations at One Market Plaza. I was a member of OP&C, Operations, Planning & Control.

[@bluefj-wc3vz]

Fantastic documentation, thank you. My favorite years in railroading.

[@andrewarmstrong7310]

Head end brakeman, best job in the world. Damn, I miss those carefree days.

[@dinarterodrigues3064]

bom video da Southern Pacific, grande e forte locomotiva SD 40. Agradavel ouvir o ronco do possante motor diesel/eletrico. Bela maquina. Parabens Southern Pacific.

[@railfanallen]

I miss seeing those tunnel motors and the Espee in general. I think they would have been around a bit longer if they weren't doing so bad in their final years of operation.

[@smokayman]

More like the Santa Fe completely raped them. During the pre merger, the companies were basically already merged with SF having management intertwined with SP. SF thought it would be a good idea to consolidate and sell off millions of dollars in assets (largely property) that belonged to SP when it "appeared" that the merger wouldn't be approved. When they pulled out, SP was left in a hole it would never recover from.

[@tulyar1043]

@@smokayman Thanks for the info. I was in the LA area back in 1990 and wondered why one of Espee's yards had been closed. Now I know why. The hole Espee was in meant Uncle Pete could move in a few years later and take over. Look what happened after that!!! System melt down!!!

[@andrewdawson7175]

Beautiful, thank you!

[@williamlane6130]

Magnificent video. Thank you for sharing this with me really enjoyed watching.

[@doct0rnic]

4:09 rail conversations never change

[@ericgruber_guitarded]

Hell now if you work for a Class I you pretty much are the guy working all the time with no days off. The reason I left after 15yrs. Loved being an engineer but I don’t live to work. But you are right about those conversations 😂.

[@tcvideosennistexas]

really funny,,,,,as the video starts with the brakeman's door open and approaching a crossover switch,,,,,I instinctively looked at the approaching switch points ,,,,,,guess old habits never die!

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

I miss seeing the old black and red SP locos.

[@brandedmcgowan7688]

jed-henry Witkowski dark grey and scarlet red miss SP/SSW from Arkansas

[@hectorguzman8435]

It’s cool to compare the before and after. Some of the stuff that was just like in the video when I hired out with UP and some of the stuff that is gone and that has changed quite a lot recently.

[@iverharstad]

I love those locomotives

[@dgarcia8421]

Born in 1990...the weather looks like how it used too...

[@PacTel54321]

Thanks for posting this!

[@woody95124]

Very cool Video....

[@alfredbaroni2133]

Wow Pretty Awesome,,, and I thought riding in switch 6s and sw 1500s on the clovis branch was cool lol

[@danielkennedy7845]

What a great video, great times!!! long live the SP and Santa Fe!!!

[@SPTunnelMotor]

27:18 That's the unfiltered sound of power.

[@rolpfeiffermuller935]

Thanks airing the outstanding vid.Bliss

[@williamanderson6142]

Never gets old

[@Belleville197]

That's a Nathan P3. The P3 was standard on the SP.

[@svelements]

who cares?

[@Belleville197]

I care... And the guy who made the video cared enough to mention it, even though he was mistaken... And you cared enough to respond.

[@svelements]

Bozo? I'm sure that's a insult but not a very good one in my opinion.

[@nonstopmaximum2141]

I wonder if those wrecks are still down there.

[@howdoyoulikethat5253]

Just kind of wondering..........Why do these modern locomotives do not have the beautiful architectural styling of the STEAM LOCOMOTIVES, of days gone by ? 🚂🚂🚂 Thank You for the ride along, and we appreciate your hard work ! P.S. Rail Road owners......How about giving your trains a bath once in a while........You know, just a little make over, so that they always look SHARP ! 😀

[@선규황-k5n]

곡선에서 서울발 여수엑스포행 무궁화호 1517호 탈선사고로 사고현장에서 과다출혈로 안타깝게 숨진 양모 기관사님이 생전에 순천역에서 탑승해서 쪽문옆에 앉아서 정기관사 정씨의 업무를 보조하시다가 서울발 여수엑스포행 무궁화호 1517호 탈선사고로 사고현장에서 과다출혈로 안타깝게 목숨을 잃었습니다.

[@brentmiller3951]

The day of this train ride was my 14th birthday 1\15\ 90

[@thatbeardedsoapguy5082]

thanks for posting this. Awesome footage!

[@slimonion1975]

i love that rainbow...sweet

[@rucusrucus6191]

Hell Yeah! Old School! Hyatt traction motors!

[@TheSkunk1996]

Great video!!!!!!!!!

[@timosha21]

Choo choo! I'm a train and I approve this excellent video!

[@jo6520]

I turned 5yeara old one that day in 1990 lol

[@1fb1gtcs]

Very nice, thanks for sharing.

[@bossco2001]

Nice. Thanks for sharing

[@JoeyTIchy]

That's a Nathan P3 not an M3.

[@ktsenya2]

Man that was great!

[@fiatman71]

I miss hearing the tone at the end of the dispatchers transmission.

[@jameshobbs9604]

Ha ha , my late father Curtis Hobbs used to video the rides too , would think you must have known him,,,

[@sphinxrising1129]

This would be so cool to get to ride on a train :)

[@michaelharrop8725]

I soooo miss those days!!

[@JLScott3178]

MEN: The old SP! Great work sir!

[@miclc0628]

+JLScott3178 Thanks, JL!

[@Deathcult82]

Me playing Run8 :D Awesome footage!

[@davecanoy3248]

Good stuff!

[@Nicola636128]

Great video!