Exploring the semi-abandoned SP/UP Railroad Bakersfield Yard

[@bob-bf3ru]

enjoyed the tour

[@oldgysgt]

If you go directly North from the turntable two city blocks, you will be in the 1100 block on Monterey Street. We lived at 1108 Monterey from 1948 to 1956 in a railroad built house. My best friend was Billy Walker, and his father worked as a steam locomotive mechanic for Southern Pacific. When they finally retired the last of the steam locomotives in the early 1950s, they retired him too.

[@donl1410]

Very cool! Thanks for the tour. I love the old pics.

[@patrickmartin8302]

Mark, Thank you for the video. Back in the mid-70s as a kid, I briefly trespassed and walked around the area of the turntable taking photos. The roundhouse was still partially there but as I recall it looked like it was in bad shape. I remember the bay window caboose SP painted for the bicentennial parked in one of the stalls. I grew up very close to the SP mainline in Bassett in the San Gabriel Valley, brings back memories.

[@jasondonovan5034]

My dad worked for SP in Cali until we moved to Oregon in '89. He was the highest paid conductor when he left SP in... 95 or 96. Im sure he passed through there quite a few many times. He was based in LA area, but Im sure went up there. Neat to see.

[@simflier8298]

Pretty cool! Always loved SP. Wish they were still around!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

A lot of people do! They were certainly easier to work for than UP!

[@Cnw8701]

@@MarkClayMcGowan If the SP were still around, I'd probably be working for them instead of FedEx.

[@chrisdurgala5548]

Thank you Mark for your videos. As a blind man who loves railroads. You are one of very few who give a narrative that allows someone who can’t actually see visualize what it is or what it did look like.

[@thirtballmonkey]

How the fuck did you leave this comment?

[@anthonygermano9363]

Great Tour, Thanks. I found it funny that the only trains moving were on the BNSF and in your last part of the video we see a CP locomotive. No UP to be seen. I still miss the SP. Take Care.

[@gabrielbennett5162]

My great uncle, Gordon Diebel, used to work in the Bakersfield Shops back in the steam era. He has the "boilermaker's handshake" (ie. missing a couple of fingers) and can still tell you how to rebuild one of those old engines from the drivers up.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

That's awesome. What a brain to pick! Thanks for checking it out!

[@paul-andrelarose3389]

Thanks MCM. This provides a good perspective on the human History that made this possible. 2021/04/16. Ontario, Canada.

[@davidpoulsen3640]

The old yard looks it's gone past the end of an era ! I grew up 3 blocks north of Niles street, went to school at Williams elementary school in the 60s . Thank you Mark for what you're doing. David Poulsen

[@oldtrucker672]

In the early 1950's my Dad was a Fireman on a Mallet that was working out of the Bakersfield Yard (from your video). One night my Mom and I went to the yard to visit my Dad on the job. We got to climb aboard the cab of a Mallet that my Dad was working on. After we got up in the cab my Dad opened the firebox doors and I got so scared I ran screeching for the door and was going to jump off that monster! I was about 5 years old and had never seen what I thought was hell. The sound alone was deafening. Just before I made the doorway my Dad caught me before I could fall the 10 or so feet to the ground. My Mom was mortified but my Dad and the Engineer thought it was all very funny. My Dad's Dad was an Engineer, and my Dad was a Fireman. I ended up driving truck for a living. I loved every minute of it. Thanks for the memories Mark.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

My pleasure! I drove trucks hauling oilfield freight when I was laid off in the early 80s. I enjoyed but the RR paid better! Thanks for checking it out!

[@navigator902]

Very informative, and historic.... still following you around Mark, your knowledge and awareness is essential qualities, we enjoy.

[@coryhoover01]

Pretty cool. If it’s still there turntable turn it a museum and they can donate certain old cars to it when they retire them

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

The turntable is no longer in use, but it is still an active yard, so it's unlikely UP will allow anything like that

[@coryhoover01]

@@MarkClayMcGowan good point

[@6Diego1Diego9]

so much history

[@odinssimulation4761]

Thanks for the video. It’s so hard to find educational videos about Bakersfield, Tehachapi or Mojave sections. I love the commentary. Please. Keep the videos coming.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I don't know if you've subscribed but I have a lot done on those areas with more to come. Make sure and click on the bell icon to be notified of new videos. Thanks for checking out my channel!

[@georgegong6813]

Thank you for the tour. Needless to say other foamers like myself wouldn't be able to do this for fear of being arrested or cited for trespassing!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I'm happy to be your liason and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@supercuda1950]

Make sure you carry a "notch 8 please" sign for when a train comes by.

[@gizgaz93436]

Thank You SO MUCH for this historic video Mark McGowan !! It brought back many memories. My Grandfather used to work the yard back in the 50-60-'s.Manuel Ruiz. An Uncle Louis used to be an engineer so I actually was able to "move" and be inside a train while in the yard back in the 70's. As a child, our family always drove the Beale overpass and I would always look towards the turntable and or many,many trains. While running track(cross country with BHS-77) I would run along the tracks from the high school as far West as we could run. Driving through town we were always "stuck" as the long trains hauled items out along East Truxtan/Baker st. Haahaha So many more memories including many old buildings. Again, Thank You !!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Forgive the long delay in replying. It took me awhile to figure out all this KZbin stuff, then I got busy, retired, and got even more busy! What a cool history you have with that part of town and the railroad! I appreciate you sharing it. I too, remember when the yard was a jumping place! I hope you are subscribed because there are many more videos of the area and more to come. Thanks for checking out my channel!

[@timothyxv171mmmpertinentgamer]

Awesome B&B Station Terrific Learning Something new History landmarks, Train yard can be useful for Something , Bakersfield nice home Very Interesting

[@Wonderingcrowbird]

Lived there in Baker Street and Jackson. Good times

[@Lily-ym3ro]

Remember hauling tons of produce into the rail there in Bakersfield and Fresno before the closed , miss Pulling piggybacks good job, I guess the good times really are over

[@averageguy7136]

I really enjoyed that tour. Thank you

[@stretchromer5393]

Just discovered your channel recently and I'm really enjoying your perspective on the places you take us. I"m a railroad fan and always loved trains and railroad stuff. Lived and grew up in Victorville, and was chased off Santa Fe property many times. Also lived in Visalia for a time so, am familiar with the Bakersfield-SJV area. I also follow while watching TV with my laptop on Goggle Earth to follow your content. Keep filming and I'll keep watching!'

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you and welcome aboard! Much more to come!

[@markhayes6407]

Really like all your videos and this one is very informative about all the former buildings and what they were for. I like the shots of yesteryear as well. Keep posting.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you. I wish I'd known I could make my own channel years ago! So much more I could have shared! Thanks for checking it out!

[@smvrr80]

Thank you for the virtual tour of the yard. I've driven by it many times and always wanted to stop and check it out.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

My pleasure! I wish I'd thought to get more stills when the buildings were there! Thanks for checking out my channel and sorry for the delay in replying.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thats actually a cool idea!

[@rileydog362]

Another great video Mark !

[@steelepls]

Wondered why they tore all the stuff down and you mentioned the magic work property taxes which when I think about California I am not surprised they did it. Nice to see what was. Thanks for posting.

[@WI6J]

Cool video Mark!

[@spacecalander]

Super great info. This was great.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for checking it out!

[@rynetreatch9558]

Looks like some power for the tank trains that head out to the BCT behind you at the end. It's cool to get to see those CP units every now and then. Something different! I would love to catch one of the heritage units one day, especially UP1989.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I'll keep an ear and eye out for Heritage stuff. Thanks for checking it out!

[@jeffreygosselin7576]

28;51. CP locomotive in the yard.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Yes. It's pretty common to see CP units in UP consists around here.

[@michealtrueblood5097]

Any chance looking inside of the depot?

[@donmartin827]

Great video! Nice to hear the history of what it used to be! Now if only you can shoot a video of the inside of the depot?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I did! It's on this channel in two parts.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

There is a two part tour of the depot on this channel!

[@donmartin827]

@@MarkClayMcGowan I'll try to find it, thanks!

[@donmartin827]

@@MarkClayMcGowan Okay, I admit it, how do I find the other part?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

@@donmartin827 go to KZbin and search Mark Clay McGowan. If you have a KZbin account, click on "subscribe" then when you want to see my channel, just go to "subscriptions" and click on me. If you want to know when I post new content, click on the bell.

[@roblangsdorf8758]

Did the UP get track age rights on the BNSF between Mojave and Barstow? Also, since the UP moved some functions to Roseville, where did they move other functions to the east or south?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

No, UP does not share trackage rights in that area but, in certain situations, are able to use that section. The closest classification yard east of Bakersfield is West Colton. UP uses the Palmdale Cutoff and Cajon Pass to get there while BNSF accesses their yard at San Bernardino from Barstow. Thanks for checking it out!

[@philfrizzell4571]

Is Bakersfield still a up crew change point

[@jazrobean1]

Neat-o, Guido!

[@johnnypotseed1700]

Could you pull up pictures what Truxtun Avenue used to look like way back in the day like early 1890s especially around the 200 block of Truxtun between Union Avenue and V Street

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I have a video on my channel called "Bakersfield: A Pictorial History". I don't think there is anything about that specific block though.

[@bfurailroad1104]

Cool video. This is where Merle Haggard used to Hobo around the rails at. Any chance you could get a video of the spot where his boxcar house used to be? It's on Yosemite street.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

They moved it to Pioneer Village a few years ago. I haven't visited there since but I have plan to do a video on the more interesting displays there as soon as it cools off.

[@odinssimulation4761]

When Merl lived in the boxcar, in Oildale, in Yosemite Dr..there was a lot of scrap cars and structures when the Oildale siding was severely limited by modern innovation. The depot station is even a bar now called “The Rustic Rail”.

[@johnholland3360]

Why is there a LVL with an arrow on the west portal wall of tunnel 17

[@jazrobean1]

Put a ;RESTAURANT on the turntable - - - it's CLOSE ENOUGH to the fence - - -

[@dennisthurman2070]

Is the turn table still there or was it taken out now?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

It's still there

[@tinarubidouxlarson5972]

Huell Howser of Kern :)

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

You're too kind!

[@spykekalaitsides1108]

Is this at?! the railroad

[@spacecalander]

DO we know why they are not using it? Revenue down? or etc...?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

No. The UP stopped using it other than locals when the finished the new yard at Roseville and moved most central and southern valley operations to Fresno.

[@dfirth224]

@@MarkClayMcGowan Even Fresno Yard is not what it was in the 1970s and 80s. PFE ice plant in Fresno was used until about 1971. Torn down in 1972 or 73. The Fresno PFE office is now used by UP Mechanical Dept. Crew changes in Fresno are done on the mainline, they stop between Olive Ave. and Roosevelt Ave. It's long enough stretch they don't block any street crossings. Yard tower in Fresno is still there, but I don't think they are using it.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

@@dfirth224 I remember the first time I worked in Fresno. All the engineering dept buildings were still along Weber below the engine shop. It was quite a place! They were still using the yard tower when I was working. It was also the remote tower for Stockton, overseen on real time monitors.

[@aaroneaton583]

We're is the road House located at I bent training to find out

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I think you're talking about the roundhouse? It's long gone but the turntable and roundhouse tracks are east of the Beale Street overpass along Kentucky Street. Coordinates 35° 22' 36" N, 118° 59' 10" W on google earth

[@aaroneaton583]

How can I get a tour of the old train station

[@spykekalaitsides1108]

Is this at?! the railroad