Oklahoma part 3: Ada on 7/21

This is where the good stuff kicks in:

Okay, so we have been paralleling this 12-train-a-day line for over an hour, and no luck, so as we approach Ada, I see headlights in the distance. We pull over. The signals go off two minutes before the train crosses:

Then, a big treat emerged from the curve. The only things on this entire consist were two locomotives, but great ones:

Leading it was ATSF 3791, one of the few remaining ATSF C30-7s in the world:

Then, Burlington Northern 1524 (sadly, patched)GP20M IS AN Operation Lifesaver locomotive!!! :):):)

This was great, at first I thought it would be the best catch of the trip, but boy was I wrong. Stay tuned for some amazing stuff.

Up the Tehachapi Grade 2010 part EIGHT

Yup, I am back! Before these are posted, I will tell you the story behind the crossing: Back when Southern Pacific ran through here, Borax was taken by teams of 20 mules. That is where this street got it's name. One day, ATSF came here, kicked SP off of the portion of the line between Barstow and Mojave, and layed down track on this spur line. No, this is not the mainline, this is actually a spur line that leads to a borax plant.

20 Mule Team Rd., Boron, CA
This crossing gets one BNSF train daily

The mainline can be seen to the left of pics. 1,2,and 4. It can be seen clearly in #3.