EMD 645s and smoke belching tunnels. Exhaust erupts from Tunnel 5 as the mid-train helpers provide 12,000 horsepower to assist the daily "Oil Can" train as it struggles upgrade through ... (more)
Five days before the discontinuance of the famed "oil cans" daily run over the Tehachapi Pass, SP 8656 leads the train eastbound out of Caliente.
SP 8236 and SP 8249 are part of five units up front as they thunder past with the eastbound Southern Pacific Oil Can train. In the distance, a Santa Fe intermodal is approaching. By the time the ... (more)
SP's loaded unit oil train was stretched out to the horizon near Ansel siding, CA.
SP's famous "Cans" emerge from Tunnel 5 at the west end of Cliff siding in the Tehachapis.
The Oil Cans head east toward Ilmon with a rebuilt T-2 in the lead. Not long after this photo was taken, the train stopped, with tank cars directly below the photographer's location. On top of one... (more)
The Oil Cans grind upgrade out of Caliente toward tunnel 1 with a fickle sun over head.
After stopping at Tehachapi Summit, SP 8236, SP 8249 and the rest of the head-end power for the BKDOU, also known as the Oil Cans, has cut off from its train and is in the process of picking up th... (more)
Close-up of the connecting hose between tank cars on SP's unit oil train, run between Saco and Dolores, CA. The shipper would fill interconnected sets of cars at the same time, with the crude pass... (more)
After cutting in a seven-unit EMD helper, the Oil Cans accelerate out of Bena toward the pass. Note the connector pipe at left.
The Oil Cans roar through the east end of Rowan with an all-EMD helper adding its power to the train.
A seven-uint EMD helper assists in lifting 10,000 tons of crude oil up the stiff and increasing grade at Caliente.
As the head end of the Oil Cans rounds the curve leading to tunnel 1, the all-EMD helper is visible in the distance climbing the shelf out of Caliente.
SP track inspectors give a roll-by to the Oil Cans as they roar upgrade through Woodford.
An all-EMD helper assists in holding back 10,000 tons of crude oil as an SP BKDOU descends the eastern slope of Tehachapi Pass.
