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Southern Pacific's

Saugus Line

VINCENT

OTC
VINCENT

u
a: u
z
>
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:I
2000'
u >
100d

SCALE MILES
0 SP CHANNEL :

the workday ends at 4:30 p.m., the camera gear gets loaded Joaquin Valley line. The other monument has two plaques
into the truck and I head for the highway. First eye contact marking the centennial of the golden spike driving and honor-
with the Saugus Line is at Sylmar at the junction of the 5 and ing the over three thousand Chinese workers who helped
210 freeways. The siding at Sylmar is well used for meets and build the Southern Pacific and the San Fernando tunnel.
is where helper locomotive sets are removed from eastbound Proceeding into the canyon, the railroad traces the path of
trains. The line is followed westbound on San Fernando Road the Santa Clara River, with both carving their way through the
(which basically parallels the line all the way into Los Ange- San Gabriel Mountains, while Soledad Canyon Road climbs
les) for a little over a mile, before I turn to enter the 14 free- along the hillside. Shortly after entering the canyon, the railroad
way and the railroad bores into tunnel No. 25 and the Santa crosses the river and winds its way through two tunnels, Nos.
Susana Mountains. Exiting the tunnel, the line empties out 19 and 18. Access between the tunnels is available by turning
into the Santa Clarita Valley and the towns of Newhall and onto Capra Road just before the top of the hill and the highway
Saugus. Those two towns are accessible by exiting the 14 tunnel. After exiting the tunnels, the railroad works its way
freeway and taking San Fernando Road west to the tracks, through several photogenic curves before it passes under
where the road curves and parallels the railroad to Saugus. Soledad Canyon Road. From this point to Ravenna, about five
The next meet with the Saugus Line comes at miles away, access to the railroad is limited to maintenance
Humphreys, where the 14 freeway crosses over the tracks. roads and a couple of campgrounds that occupy the canyon, but
Humphreys siding was reduced to a shortened spur track a long lens also works nicely from the road at a few locations.
not long ago, so only bad order equipment and work trains In the heart of the canyon, Russ siding was at one time in
use the old siding now. From Humphreys to Lang the rail- service between Lang and Ravenna, but was pulled up long
road parallels the highway, but at a distance and it is not ago. Russ was located behind the Soledad Campground,
easily (quickly) accessible. Depending on my goals for the which was a favorite of motorcyclists, but has been closed for
day, I either exit at Soledad Canyon Road or continue on the a couple of years now. The Oasis Park campground, further to
14 freeway which meets the railroad again at Vincent. the east, provides the easiest access to the railroad in the
Upon exiting the freeway, Lang siding is just to the east, middle of the canyon, but extreme caution should be exer-
accessible by Lang Road. Lang is at the western mouth of cised when passing through.
Soledad Canyon. Two monuments stand beside the siding, Just before Ravenna, the rail line passes under the road
one declaring the site as California Historical Landmark No. again and from there the two pace each other almost all the
590, where SP President Charles Crooker drove a golden way to Vincent. There are several nice curves to take advan-
spike on Sept. 5, 1876, celebrating the completion of the San tage of just west of Ravenna, all easily accessed by a short

30 NOVEMBER 1991