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We all got up, had the Continental Breakfast before we departed with the first stop being the former Southern Pacific Modesto Station.
The Modesto Southern Pacific Station now part of the Modesto Transportation Center. Next we drove and finally found the shops of the Modesto & Empire Traction Railroad.
At the Modesto & Empire Traction where we first saw GE 70 Toner 600 along with SW-1500 1500 and 1501.
On the other side of the shop building M&ET 601.
Another unit numbered 601 as well.
M&ET 603.
M&ET 605.
The M&ET line up of engines at Modesto.
The final view of M&ET 607. From here we drove Ken over to the Modesto Amtrak Station where he would catch San Joaquin 712.
Before leaving there we caught San Joaquin 702 on its Sacramento to Bakersfield run this morning. We started south on J7 along the BNSF.
San Joaquin 711 was caught just above Denair-Turlock. We drove into Turlock to find the former Southern Pacific Station there.
The Turlock Southern Pacific Station is now the Wellington Station Pub and Restaurant. From here we drove south to Chowchilla and drove into town for the first time finding the Chowchilla Southern Pacific moved into town.
The former Southern Pacific Chowchilla Station is now a VFW Post. From here we stopped for snacks before we headed to Madera.
The Southern Pacific Madera Station is now the Madera Chamber of Commerce. From here we headed to the former Southern Pacific yard in Fresno.
A Union Pacific freight leaving Fresno Yard. Next we drove along the east side of the Fresno Yard.
Former Amtrak switcher from Los Angeles was still in Fresno.
The San Joaquin Valley Railroad part of Rail America had a family member Florida East Coast 440 in the Fresno Yard.
Southern Pacific 0-6-0 1238 sits on display in Roeding Park in Fresno.
The park also has this miniature train I plan to ride in the future. From here we drove south to the BNSF mainline south of Hanford hoping to find some trains moving today.
A bright headlight north of Allensworth turned out to be just two light BNSF units. We pulled into Allensworth State Park and by the entrance is the former Allensworth Station.
The ground's keeper then opened it so we could see the inside.
It was very interesting to see all these things saved in the 21st Century. After talking and thanking our host we headed south but almost immediately saw another headlight coming our way.
A BNSF stack train would be the last moving train of the day for us but at the time we didn't know that.
A Dust Devil danced for us just north of Wasco. From here we headed over to Famosa on Ca Highway 99.
The old Southern Pacific Water Tower still stands in Famosa.
Union Pacific GP-15 603 at Famosa. From here we drove to Bakersfield.
The street side view of the Southern Pacific Bakersfield Station. Our next stop would be Edison.
The former Edison Southern Pacific Station appears to be just a shack until one looks closer.
The inside of the Edison Station.
The wildflowers were in bloom on the lower reaches of the Tehachapi Mountains on this trip.
The former Caliente Southern Pacific Station freight portion was moved .9 of a mile east of the railroad crossing on Caliente-Bodfish Road and is now a barn.
A railfan has a nice yard of railroading at his place in Caliente. We drove to the Tehachapi Loop with no trains and then followed that road into the town of Tehachapi.
This yard in the town of Tehachapi provided more views of railroads in the past. From here we headed back to Los Angeles Union Station after stopping to get gas for the rental car. At the Garden Tracks Chris figured out what everyone owed for the trip before we left Dave Abbott and Chris drove to the south end where I then walked over to Surfliner 590 which I took home to Santa Ana. It had been another fantastic Winterail Trip and makes me look forward to next year's adventure.
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