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We were advised on Monday June 2, 2008, that Amtrak and Union Pacific were in the final stages of planning a new detour via the Tehachapi Loop, on account of additional track and maintenance work on the Coast Route. This is not the same bridge replacement project that caused all of the stir in April and May. Amtrak, UP and BNSF are now gearing up to run No. 14 via Tehachapi on June 22. We strongly suggest anyone wanting to collect the rare mileage better do it now while you have the chance. As we all know, Amtrak and the the railroads seem to change their minds quite often. Remember, if this detour does not happen everyone can request a full refund!
The Tehachapi Route has an historic past and indeed regular passenger trains have not run over the famous Loop in many years. This is very rare mileage over this freight only line.
Looking back over the years this is the route of the former Southern Pacific San Joaquin Daylight and Santa Fe's crack San Francisco Chief. These two trains have been gone for over 37 years and only freight trains run over the Tehachapi Route. But the final plans are in the making for No. 14, the Northbound Coast Starlight to be detoured via Tehachapi, on June 22, 2008. It is expected that Amtrak will make the official public announcement anyday now. We will post this announcement on our website as soon as it is made.
Once the word of this detour was leaked out from very reilable sources within Amtrak and Union Pacific on Monday June 2 , an increase in the ticket sales from the railfan community caused this train to be sold out by the afternoon of Tuesday June 3. As computer bookings are adjusted and by Amtrak some space is now available on No. 14 but this is a very limited amount of space.
Because of the rapid pace that tickets are now selling, we decided to add our three private rail cars in order to allow 95 more railfans, tourist and mileage collectors to be able to take part in this historic and rare detour. With the way Amtrak and the operating railroad has changed their minds so many times in the past few weeks, we wonder if the Sepember 2008, detour will really happen. We are thinking that perhaps it is NOW or never if you want to ride over Tehachapi.
WE ARE FORCED TO RUN OUR PRIVATE RAIL CARS ALL THE WAY TO SEATTLE
AND THEN ALL THE WAY SOUTH BACK TO LOS ANGELES!
NO SWITCHING IS BEING ALLOWED IN SACRAMENTO-PORTLAND AND -OAKLAND
Union Pacific will not allow any private rail cars to be taken off of No. 14 in Sacramento, so we are forced to run our private rail cars north overnight all the way to Seattle, Washington. Once in Portland then we will turn the cars back on the next departure of No. 11 for Oakland and on to Los Angeles. To add to our operating expenses local Amtrak management will not allow the cars to be taken off of No. 14 in Portland, Oregon on June 23, so they must go all the way to Seattle. Then on the southbound journey upon arrival in Oakland on June 25 Amtrak will not allow any switching to take place because of the placement of our cars, so all three cars will continue to Los Angeles via the Coast Route.
All of the extra mileage and movement expenses to run our three private rail cars to Seattle, Washington and then all the way back to Los Angeles will cost us in excess of $38,000. So we will need to try and sell space all segments including the run between Sacramento and Seattle and the return southbund trip back to Los Angeles in order to try and recover these massive extra expenses .
THE ITINERARY
June 22 SUNDAY: LOS ANGELES-MOJAVE-TEHACHAPI-BAKERSFIELD-STOCKTON-SACRAMENTO and on north to Portland, Oregon .Seattle, Washington . Depart Los Angeles Union Station at 10:15am with our private rail cars coupled to the rear end of Amtrak No. 14, the northbound "Coast Starlight". Our private car consist on No. 14 will be the Silver Lariat and Silver Solarium. The regular arrival time in Sacramento is scheduled for 11:50PM on June 22. But because of the shorter route that No. 14 will take today we estimate the actual arrival time will be more like 10:00PM, in which case the train will be held in Sacramento, until the scheduled departure of 11:59PM. LOS ANGELES-MOJAVE-TEHACHAPI-BAKERSFIELD-STOCKTON-SACRAMENTO and on north to Portland, Oregon .Seattle, Washington . Depart Los Angeles Union Station at 10:15am with our three private rail cars coupled to the rear end of Amtrak No. 14, the northbound "Coast Starlight". The regular arrival time in Sacramento is scheduled for 11:50PM on June 22. But because of the shorter route that No. 14 will take today we estimate the actual arrival time will be more like 9:00PM, in which case the train will be held in Sacramento, until the scheduled departure of 11:59PM.
Here is a condensed run down of the route: At Burbank Junction we start our detour and head out on the Valley Subdivision soon entering tunnel 25 which take us under San Fernando Pass and out into Newhall and then up the Soledad Canyon through Ravenna and Vincent before dropping down into the Mojave Desert at Palmdale Junction, where we enter onto the Union Pacific's Mojave Subdivision and run north through Lancaster and on to Mojave.
At South Mojave ,the BNSF's line from Barstow joins the UP and we start the long climb into the mountains. Departing Mojave the freight traffic can be very intense at times as we turn northwest and start the steeper climb up into the Tehachapi Mountains. For the next 24 miles between Mojave and Cable is double track with traffic set up to handle trains in both directions. If conditions are just right we could be crossed over and run around a slow moving freight or two before arrival at Cable. From here is it single track down the steep mountain with passing sidings every few miles. Five miles north of Cable is the famous Tehachapi Loop and then another 10 miles further down the mountain we start down the Cliff-Caliente Loops. We will run through 12 tunnels on the north slope of the Tehachapi Mountains.
Once in Bakersfield, we run north over the BNSF route of Amtrak's San Joaquin Valley passenger trains to Stockton once in Stockton No. 14 will be switched off to the former WP mainline heading for Sacramento. Departing Stockton No. 14 could be sent via the former WP or former SP line to Sacramento and on north to Oregon.
Tickets for points north of Sacramento will be sold both in Sleeping and dome car class for all destinations in Northern California and Oregon. As of today, June 3, it is expected that our private rail cars will travel all the way to Portland, Oregon.
JUNE 23 MONDAY: Our private rail cars arrive in Portland, Oregon at 3:40PM. Seattle at 8:45PM
JUNE 24 TUESDAY: Our private rail cars will be attached to the rear end of No. 11, departing Portland, Oregon at 2:25PM . Seattle at 9:45AM and arriving in Oakland at 8:35AM June 25.
JUNE 25 WEDNESDAY: Upon arrival in Oakland at 8:35AM the Silver Lariat and Silver Solarium will stay on the southbound on the "Coast Starlight" running via Santa Barbara on the Coast Line. Departure from Oakland is scheudled for 8:50AM with an arrival in Los Angeles at 9:00PM.
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