RailPictures.Net Photo: None Union Pacific None at Mojave, California by Alex Gillman

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» Union Pacific (more..)
» None (more..)

» Union Pacific Mojave Subdivision
» Mojave, California, USA (more..)
» November 16, 2014

Locomotive No./Train ID

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» None (more..)
» None (more..)

» Alex Gillman (more..)
» Contact Photographer · Photographer Profile

Remarks & Notes

November 16, 2014- the date which will forever mark the end of an era on Tehachapi. It was on this cool, fall evening that many original, Southern Pacific searchlights saw their last sunset as Union Pacific maintenance of way (MOW) crews worked along the southern end of Tehachapi Pass readying new, LED "tri-light" signals to be cut in and take their place. While most of the focus on this evening from the local railfan community was focused around the iconic MP 377 signal bridge (which I admit, I took part in for a few trains), I couldn't be help admire the handsome searchlights further south near Mojave. As I departed south for home, one last searchlight caught my eye that was, like so many other searchlights that evening, surrounded by Union Pacific MOW trucks as crews prepared to dismantle these veteran signals that date back to the days of steam. Rolling to a stop on the edge of the road, I snapped on my telephoto lens and began to frame a silhouette of the iconic searchlight head against the sunset. Adding to the image in the background was a code line pole with taught wires, somewhat rare on Tehachapi as many have succumbed to the elements and dangled to the ground. Imagine my surprise, and a ting of frustration, however, as a member of the MOW crew here climbed the ladder up to the signal head and began working it over with bottle of lubricant...likely to loosen the tightly fastened bolts that hadn't been turned in years. With a new subject in mind, I widened my frame and captured the image you see here - a searchlight signal seen living out the final hours of its life as the sun set on the true end of an era on Tehachapi.

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