Tehachapi Pass Traffic(s)

Most of the traffic over Tehachapi continues north over either the BNSF or UP (ex-SP) San Joaquin Valley routes. Only a few trains travel only north of Bakersfield. This traffic discussion is mainly for Tehachapi, except where noted.

1.      Passenger

Amtrak’s San Joaquin trains travel the route between Oakland and Bakersfield. Other Amtrak trains also run between Oakland (or San Jose) and Martinez. There is no regular passenger service over Tehachapi Pass.

2.      Intermodal

There are five grades of intermodal service on these lines: Z—Expedited (also trains once symbolled  with numerals); Q—Guaranteed; P—Priority; T—Standard; and S—Stack. In some lanes, priorities may be different, so that a P-CHIRIC may be balanced by a Q-RICCHI (say).

In 1991/2, the following Santa Fe trains traveled over this route:
169 (and the reverse?) between Chicago and Richmond
189 (and the reverse?) between Chicago and Richmond
199 and 991 between Chicago and Richmond
589 (and the reverse?) between Dallas, Fort Worth or Houston and Richmond
971 (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Chicago
 SRIDA (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Dallas

In 1994, the following Santa Fe trains were observed on this route:
9-189 (and the reverse?) between Chicago (Willow Springs) and Richmond (North Bay);
9-199 and 9-991 between Chicago (Willow Springs) and Richmond (North Bay);
9-789 (and the reverse?) between ?? and Richmond (North Bay)
P-FRCH (and the reverse?) between Fresno and Chicago
P-RICH (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Chicago
S-RICH (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Chicago
T-CVRI (and the reverse?) between Clovis and Richmond
T-RIBE (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Belen
T-RICH (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Chicago
T-RIHO (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Houston

In 1995, the following Santa Fe trains were observed on this route:
199 and 991 between Chicago (Willow Springs) and Richmond (North Bay)
899 (and the reverse?) between Los Angeles and Richmond
PRICH (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Chicago
PFRCH (and the reverse?) between Fresno and Chicago
QRIAL (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Alliance, TX (north of Fort Worth)
SCHRI and SRICH between Chicago and Richmond
SFRCH (and the reverse?) between Fresno and Chicago
The stack trains (‘S’) started running in late 1994, after track undercutting to increase clearances in tunnels and under overbridges.

In 1995, the following SP trains traveled over this route:
LABRF (and the reverse?) between Los Angeles and Brooklyn Yard, Portland
LACFX (and a reverse operation?), the Coast Forwarder eXpress.
LAPCX (originates LA) and PTPCX (originates Portland): the Pacific Coast eXpress.
PTLAF (and the reverse?) between Portland and Los Angeles

In 1999, the following BNSF trains were observed on this route:
BPTLLAC3 bare table between Portland and Los Angeles
BRICLAC5 bare table between Richmond and Los Angeles
BRICWAT5 bare table between Richmond and Watson Yard near LA/LB Harbor
PRICSPM (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Springfield, MO
PCHIRIC (and the reverse?) between Chicago and Richmond
QFRSCHI (and the reverse?) between Fresno and Chicago (with Perishable in     reefer trailers as well as other TOFC/COFC and double-stack traffic)
QRICALT and QALTRIC between Richmond and Alliance, TX
SRICCHI (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Chicago
ZCLONBY (and the reverse?) between Clovis, NM and North Bay (Clovis traffic carries cars connecting with points in Texas, New Orleans, and Birmingham, AL)
ZKCKRIC (and the reverse?) between Kansas City (Argentine) and Richmond
ZMEMRIC (and the reverse?) between Memphis and Richmond
ZNBYWSP9 and ZWSPNBY9 (ex 991 and 199) between North Bay and Willow Springs
ZNBYWSP8 (a second section of the above)
ZSTOWSP and ZWSPSTO between Stockton and Willow Springs
ZWSPRIC (and the reverse?) between Willow Springs and Richmond

In 1999, the following UP trains were observed on this route:
IBRCI (and the reverse?) the Swift Roadrailers between Brooklyn Yard (Portland) and City of Industry Yard (LA)
ILCOA (and the reverse?) between LATC and Oakland
IWSMN (and the reverse?) between Warm Springs (San Jose) & Marion, AR (Memphis)
ZBRLC and ZLCBR (ex-PCX trains) between Brooklyn Yard and LATC
ZLCSE and ZSELC between LATC and Seattle (new trains since the UP/SP merger)
ZLTMN (and the reverse?) between Lathrop and Marion, AR (Memphis)

In 2002, the following BNSF trains (among others) traveled over this route:
BPTLWAT bare table between Portland and Watson Yard (LA Harbor), 6356 ft., 2 locos

Z-ALTSTO

Stockton

Alliance, TX

Q-STOATG		Stockton	Atlanta
Q-STOCHI		Stockton	Chicago

Q-CHIOIG

Oakland

Chicago

In 2010, the following UP trains ran on this line:
Z-LCBR and Z-BRLC, between Los Angeles and Brooklyn, OR
Z-LCLT, between Los Angeles and Lathrop, CA
I-OALB, between Oakland and Long Beach

3.      Coal

In 1994/5, the following SP trains were observed on this route:
UTLBC (loads) and LBUTC (empties) between Utah Railway mines and Long Beach

In 1999, the following BNSF trains were observed on this route:
           occasional unit coal, between UP origin in Wyoming, turned over to BNSF at Barstow for delivery to a large facility at Wasco, CA, north of Bakersfield

In 1999, the following UP trains were observed on this route:
CFRBA (and the reverse?) between Fresno and Barstow (becomes CBASR east of Barstow), empties (and loads?) to/from a mine near Sharp, UT

In 2005, the following UP trains were observed on this line:
A regular train from Utah coal mines via Barstow and Mojave that has coal loads for both the cement plant at Monolith and the mineral plant at Trona. (C-RISV has been used a a symbol); the coal is delivered on a local out of Mojave, such as LOP83. Operations out of Mojave have also been symboled C-MJMJ, and the empties back to Utah C-MJPV.
Loaded coal trains (BNSF) heading north across the pass, with coal for the San Joaquin Valley, perhaps to the Savage Coal facilities at Wasco

4.      Steel

In 1994, the following Santa Fe trains were observed on this route:
UKCPB and UPBKC unit steel coil (w.)/empties between Kansas City and Pittsburg, CA

In 1999, the following BNSF trains were observed on this route:
           occasional unit trains of steel coil
UKAIPIT is a unit train of imported steel coil from Kaiser Yard to Pittsburg, CA

In 2005, the following BNSF trains were observed on this line:
U-ESLPIT and U-PITESL unit steel coil (w.)/empties between East St. Louis and Pittsburg, CA

In 2007, the following BNSF trains were observed on this route:
           occasional unit trains of steel coil
UKAIPIT is a unit train of imported steel coil from Kaiser Yard to Pittsburg, CA

5.      Automotive

In 1994/5, the following SP trains traveled over this route:
KCOAF (and the reverse), dedicated auto rack trains between Kansas City and Oakland

In 2005, the following BNSF trains were observed on this line:
V-RICBAR (and the reverse?) between Richmond, CA and Barstow
V-RICMDO (and the reverse?) between Richmond and ??

The following UP trains ran on this line in 2012:
ABESP (and the reverse?), Benecia, CA, to Spring, TX

6.      Grain

In 1994/5, the following SP trains traveled over the route north of Bakersfield:
BNBKG (and a reverse movement?), a dedicated grain train between points on the BN and Bakersfield

In 1999, the following BNSF trains were observed on this route:
           occasional unit grain trains

In 2004/5, the following BNSF trains ran over this line:
G-BAYGUC between Bayard, IA, and Guernsey, CA
G-DNEKIN between ?? and Kings Park, CA
G-HONKIN between Holdredge, NE, and Kings Park, CA
G-LUBSTO between Lubboock, TX and Stockton, CA (cottonseed)
X-FRSABE between Fresno and Aberdeen, SD
X-FRSJSD between Fresno, CA, and Jefferson, SD

In 2009, the following BNSF trains ran over this line:

X-GUCABE

Guernsey, CA

Aberdeen, SD

7.      Chemicals

 In 2005, the following UP trains were observed at one end of this line:
O-TNLB and O-LBTN, soda ash from Trona past Mojave to Long Beach and return empties
It is not unusual to see the entire train with every car having reporting mark AJPX (IMC Chemical), while other trains have a mixture of AJPX and DGHX (also IMC Chemical) covered hoppers.

8.      Oil and other tanks

In 1994/5, the following SP trains traveled over this route:
the “oil cans”, a unit train of oil tanks interconnected for ease of filling, running from Seco (west of Bakersfield) to Carson (site of a Shell oil refinery).
By 1996, the west end of this run had moved to a pipeline-connected loading facility just south of Mojave. Within a couple of years after that, the entire flow moved by pipeline and the “oil cans” stopped running.

9.      General Merchandise

In 1990/91, SP manifests on this route included:
EUESM (and the reverse?) between Eugene and East St. Louis (Alton & Southern Yard)
JRCIP between Portland, OR and City of Industry for James River Paper
PTLAF (and the reverse?) between Portland and Los Angeles
WCEUM (and the reverse?) between West Colton and Eugene

In 1991/2, the following Santa Fe trains (among others?) traveled over this route:
951 (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Chicago
952 (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Streator, IL, for ConRail

In 1994, the following Santa Fe trains (among others?) traveled over this route:
H-KCRI (and the reverse?) between Kansas City (Argentine) and Richmond
H-RISR (and the reverse?) between Richmond and Streator, IL. , for ConRail

In 1994/5, the following SP trains traveled over this route:
EUWCM and WCEUM between Eugene and West Colton
EUWCQ and WCEUQ between Eugene and West Colton
EUDOQ (and the reverse?) between Eugene and Dolores Yard, near LA/LB Harbor
RVHOM (and the reverse?) between Roseville and Houston
RVWCQ (and the reverse?) between Roseville and West Colton
SARVM (and the reverse?) between San Antonio and Roseville
WCBNM (and the reverse?) between West Colton and points on the Burlington Northern
WCPTM (and the reverse?) between West Colton and Portland
WCRVM (and the reverse?) between West Colton and Roseville

In 1999, the following BNSF trains were observed on this route:
HBARPAS and HPASBAR three days a week between Barstow and Pasco (via high-line)
HBARVAW and HVAWBAR other three days, Barstow and Vancouver, WA (high-line)
HMODSRX9 the “wine train” between Modesto and Streator, IL, for ConRail
MBARRIC (and the reverse?) between Barstow and Richmond
MBARRIC3 (and the reverse?) between Barstow and Richmond
MKLFBAR3 (and the reverse?) between Klamath Falls and Barstow (via highline)
Trains via the high-line started running after BNSF bought the line north from Keddie as part of the SP/UP merger conditions.

In 1999, the following UP trains were observed on this route:
MEUWC and MWCEU between Eugene and West Colton
MPDWC and MWCPD between Portland and West Colton
MSTWC and MWCST between Stockton and West Colton

In 2002, the following BNSF trains traveled over this route:
HVBCBAR (and the reverse?) between Vancouver, BC and Barstow, 3886 ft. 268 axles, 4 locos

In 2002, the following UP trains were observed on this line:
MWCEU (and the reverse?) between West Colton and Eugene, 110axles, 3 locos
MWCPD (and the reverse?) between West Colton and Portland (Albina), 4292 ft., 3 locos

In 2005, the following BNSF trains were observed on this line:
H EVEBAR and H BAREVE between Everett, WA, and Barstow
H PASBAR and H BARPAS between Pasco, WA, and Barstow
H VAWBAR and H BARVAW between Vancouver, WA, and Barstow
H MODSEL (the wine train) between Modesto, CA, and Selkirk, NY (via CSX)
M RICBAR and M BARRIC between Richmond and Barstow
M STOBAR and M BARSTO between Stockton and Barstow
M KLFBAR (and the return?) between Klamath Falls and Barstow

In 2005, the following UP trains were observed on this line:
M-WCCO and M-COWC between West Colton and the Central Oregon & Pacific
M-WCPT and M-PTWC between West Colton and Portland
M-WCRV and MRVWC between West Colton and Roseville
M-WCST and M-STWC between West Colton and Stockton
M-YRRV and M-RVYR between Yermo and Roseville
Q-PTPX (and the reverse?) between Portland and Phoenix

In 2009, the following BNSF trains ran over this line:

H-EVEBAR

Everett, WA

Barstow

H-BARVAW

Vancouver, WA

Barstow

M-RICBAR	M-BARRIC	Richmond	Barstow
M-STOBAR	M-BARSTO	Stockton	Barstow

In 2010, the following UP trains ran on this line:
Q-RVWC and Q-WCRV, between Roseville and West Colton
M-WCRV and M-RVWC, between West Colton and Roseville

10.  Local Peddlers

In 1994/5, the following SP trains traveled over the route north of Bakersfield:
BKFRL (and the reverse?) between Bakersfield and Fresno
FRRVL and RVFRL between Fresno and Roseville
RVSTL (and the reverse?) between Roseville and Stockton
Turlock Local (turn from Stockton)
Lodi Local (turn from Stockton)

In 1999, the following BNSF trains were observed on this route:
M BAKBAR and M BARBAK between Bakersfield and Barstow

In 1999, the following UP trains were observed on this route:
MBKYR and MYRBK between Bakersfield and Yermo (post BN/ATSF merger), performs local work between Bakersfield and Mojave only, and carries chemicals from Trona picked up at Mojave

In 2005, the following BNSF trains were observed on this line:
M BAKBAR and M BARBAK between Bakersfield and Barstow
Y BAK 514, a turn out of Bakersfield

In 2005, the following UP trains were observed on this line:
Locals between Bakersfield and Mojave, symbols unknown
Locals between Bakersfield and West Colton, symbols unknown
Locals out of Mojave:
LOP 81 known as the Blitz Local runs from Mojave-Creal-Mojave.
LOP 82 known as the Lone Pine Local runs from Mojave-Chaffee-Searles-Mojave.
LOP 83 on one day will run from Mojave - Monolith - Summit Switch - Tehachapi - Mojave,
                            and on the next day will run from Mojave - Lancaster - Palmdale - Mojave.
LOP 91 = West Colton - Mojave
LOP 92 = Mojave - West Colton