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the canyon

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY RANDY KELLER

LEFT: SP's loaded "oil can" train-symbol BKDOU-rolls through Soledad
Canyon at milepost 425, site of the former Paris siding. Power for the May 14,
1991, train included four units up front and another five as helpers. ABOVE: SP
6850 East curves through Lang at the west end of Soledad Canyon between
tunnels 18 and 19 on May 22, 1990.
my trip, though, I "commute the canyon" as I follow ly run through Soledad Canyon and into Saugus. At Saugus the
the winding and scenic Saugus Line through Soledad Canyon. rails make a sharp turn to the southeast, running to Burbank
I've found that on this route I can turn a monotonous com- Junction, where the Saugus Line joins the Coast Line. In SP
mute into a rewarding railfan trip. terms, eastbound trains run from Palmdale to Los Angeles and
The Saugus Line opened in 1876, providing rail service be- westbound trains run from Los Angeles to Palmdale. This cre-
tween San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is now one of three ates a unique situation in Soledad Canyon as eastbound trains
paths that Southern Pacific utilizes to get into the Los Angeles head geographically west and westbound trains run eastward.
basin from Northern California. The Saugus Line splits off from My hour and 45 minute drive into work begins at 3:45
the Colton Line at Palmdale Junction and makes a southwester- a.m., so no photography takes place in the morning. When

PACIFIC RAILNews 29