Ode to Tehachapi

[ednadolski]

Congrats Gary!

Ed

[James Costello]

Just to keep the momentum going on this thread:

Prelim planning puts us landing into NYC on Friday 1st April 2011 (no joke) and leaving LAX on Friday 29th April.

My current thoughts are a couple of days in NYC and then Chicago, before picking up a car and following the UP across the plains to Denver. I had wanted to head up and north west through Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone etc to Portland but everything I've read so far suggests the parks are still snowed under in April. So we'll probably head down to ABQ and follow the BNSF Transcon into SoCal. From there I'd like to head north and follow the coast up to Portland and fly back to LA to depart. Obviously still a lot of planning and research still to do and we might end up flying some of these routes to spend more time "off the road."

So, ballpark dates for a Tehachapi meet would be in that last 2 weeks of April.

Any interest in the group hitting Feather River / Donner on the way down or Cajon too?
I'll be trying to hit these places anyway.....

One option would be for us to fly from Chicago to Vancouver / Seattle and join the convey down. Depends on how rushed you guys are too....

[GaryHinshaw]

Whoa James, you guys don't mess around!  That sounds like a great trip.

I'm not sure how much time I'll have for a west coast road trip (though it would be fun!).  I'm most likely to be able to fly down to LA/Burbank for a few days to hit Tehachapi & Cajon.  But I would love to see Donner again... that's where I fell in love with mountain railroading 35 years ago.  BTW, Ed had floated dates in early April.  What's your flexibility Ed?

If you feel like stopping by Vancouver please let us know.  I'm anxious to check out the local railfan scene there myself!  I doubt we'd have room to put you up then since we'll probably be renting through the summer, but we'll know more next month.

-gfh

P.S. Still no takers on my Geo Quiz?

[ednadolski]

Ed had floated dates in early April.  What's your flexibility Ed?

I'm pretty open except for around the 11th which is a family birthday.  Any time in April should be good for photography, tho earlier is likely to be a bit 'greener'.

FWIW, travelocity is showing DEN-LAX Apr 12-16 for about $222.00 (I have to check on my miles).  Are there any days of the week that are better/worse wrt work windows or other reduced traffic?

I just started a new job 2 weeks ago, and spent last week in Poland.   It was nice but starting to get chilly. 

P.S. Still no takers on my Geo Quiz?

I already bought the book 

[James Costello]

Whoa James, you guys don't mess around!  That sounds like a great trip.

Ha! I'm already thinking it is going to be too short!

[SirTainly]

I'm still on for this, but can't commit until I know how my visa situation works out. Technically I can be in Canada until May, but if I don't manage to switch to a different type of visa I may not have work after March so who knows if I can spin out the finances to stay unwhilst not working, or indeed fly south.

Gary, looking forward to having someone else to go and railfan with around town. There are lots of places I've seen that look good for photo ops, but that I've not gone to yet as I'm not always comfortable wandering around on my own with an expensive camera. Not saying it's not safe but that one guy on his own is an easy target for the opportunist criminal.

[James Costello]

Has anyone's schedules firmed up yet?

Last two weeks of April still looks the best for us....

Another new vantage point to check out:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=351339&nseq=1074

[GaryHinshaw]

At this point, I can make any time in late April as long as I firm it up soon.

Are you thinking of swinging by the northwest in your travels?  I could probably put you folks up in Vancouver for a night or two.

Cheers,
Gary

[James Costello]

We are Gary, as I'd love to visit Portland and the old Espee along I-5, but not sure we'd make it that far north.

Depends whether the weather will allow us to head up through Yellowstone and onto the PNW before heading down to SoCal, or whether we go southwest first and head up to the PNW on the way home.

[GaryHinshaw]

Are you driving across from NY?  We had a *great* time on our trip across - and that was in the middle of winter through places like eastern Idaho in 0^o F weather:



Keep us posted...

-gfh

[Subwayaz]

Those are some really nice pictures, and great location.  Thanks for sharing

[James Costello]

Are you driving across from NY?  We had a *great* time on our trip across - and that was in the middle of winter through places like eastern Idaho in 0^o F weather:

Heading west from Chicago.

[ednadolski]

I might be able to score a visit to Tehachapi this first weekend of April.   Anyone else who might be able to make it?

I'm trying to think of the  best location to take videos.   So far I'm thinking Caliente, Bealeville, and Gary's picnic table (where exactly is that?).   Any other recommendations?

Ed

[Mark5]

Are you driving across from NY?  We had a *great* time on our trip across - and that was in the middle of winter through places like eastern Idaho in 0^o F weather:

Were the mountain passes *great* too?

Mark (plans to traverse the PNW in summer)

[GaryHinshaw]

I might be able to score a visit to Tehachapi this first weekend of April.   Anyone else who might be able to make it?

I'm trying to think of the  best location to take videos.   So far I'm thinking Caliente, Bealeville, and Gary's picnic table (where exactly is that?).   Any other recommendations?

Ed

Uh oh, we have a non-interescting set already.  Ed, I assume you mean Apr. 2-3? I'm gone from ~Apr 14-18 but could manage either before or after that (but not both, alas).  Can others pony up more specific dates?  I might have to give preference to James since he's traveling so far, but let's see how it works out.

The picnic table is in Meadowbrook Park, a few minutes from downtown Tehachapi.   You can park in the lot off of Westwood Blvd and walk down the hill from there. It's obvious once your there, and it's public property.

Another spot that would be neat is the hill near the Bealville road crossing, where this shot was taken from.  If you have a decent zoom, you could follow a train for a few tracks miles, almost under your feet.  Screw the Loop - the stretch from Caliente to Cliff is the Real Deal. 

Cheers,
Gary