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gins its decent into the Mojave Desert. The track winds its Soledad Canyon; poles line the south side of the track and can
way along the rim of the surrounding hillsides, passing under limit creativity during other times of the year. Weather condi-
Pearblossom Highway and once again follows Sierra Highway tions can also limit photo opportunities in Soledad Canyon.
down a valley all the way to Palmdale Junction. During many summer mornings coastal fog rolls into the Santa
Several factors can dictate successful railfanning during a Clarita Valley and even all the way up to Vincent. The famous
commute. Railfanning during my commute only takes place Los Angeles smog can also create a dense haze and unsatisfac-
during the summer months, typically from early April to late tory conditions all the way up the canyon, although the closer
October, as any other time of the year does not provide enough you get to the desert, the clearer it gets. In the winter it also
sunlight. Summer is also the best time for photography in occasionally snows in the canyon. Although this condition is

LEFT: West of Ravenna, Soledad
Canyon Road closely hugs the SP
trackage, allowing easy access
to a lot of great photo locations.
On June 1, 1990, SSW 6884 East
rolls downgrade through the S-
curve at milepost 427.7 ABOVE:
The oil cans, a daily fixture on the
Saugus Line, cross over Crown
Valley Road on Sept. 5, 1990.
RIGHT: A colorful array of motive
Power leads an eastbound SP
train past the site of the former
Humphreys siding below the High-
way 14 overpass on Aug. 2, 1991.
The train is the BALAF, rerouted off
the Coast Line because of the de-
railment at Seacliff.

PACIFIC RAILNews 33