The locomotives will shortly depart with the train from Searles to Trona.

A coal train to Trona begins its very slow creep out of Searles with nary a puff of smoke as they come out of the interchange with the UP on a downward grade.

Crossing Searles Station Road in Searles, CA, two of Trona Railway's fleet of approximately 50-year-old UP and SP castoffs smoke it up for the last bit of grade they will face.

The Trona Railway arrives at the lonely junction in Searles, where they will shove their train for the UP up the remaining stub of the SP Jawbone Branch and then grab the second half of a coal tra... (more)

Trona Railway's "Daily Run" crosses Searles Station Rd on it approach to Searles, where the crew will interchange with the Union Pacific before returning to Trona.

Fading light and aging EMD locomotives combine to create a sense of nostalgia as the Trona Railway delivers the day's interchange to the Union Pacific at Searles.

After turning their power around on the wye, TRC puts together their outbound train. Most of the train is comprised of empty mineral hoppers, with a few chemical tank cars, and one Department of D... (more)

Searles Searles was the Junction between Southern Pacific's Jawbone Line and and Trona Railway. From here the Trona drops a long steep grade onto the the rim of Death Valley. In the phot... (more)

LOP82 drops off a train for the Trona at Searles.

The Searles Turn runs around their inbounds at the UP interchange.

The empty return train to Trona with 3 former SP motors on point.

The loaded afternoon train out of Trona nears the UP interchange at Searles.

Six SD40-2 variants lead the westbound Trona interchange train into Searles Jct. In the foreground are empty hoppers on the stub-ended UP Lone Pine branch awaiting pickup.

I arrived at the Trona facilities early for my appointment with the Road Foreman who graciously showed me around their shop and allowed plenty of pictures. After that it was time to follow the roa... (more)