High Desert Rountup Railfan trip, 2005, to Needles Subdivision

High Desert Roundup is one of the highlights in the year of a a four-wheel drive enthusiast, just as the World Series is to a hard-core baseball fan. Since I am an avid fan of four-wheeling, it was natural that I shold attend CA4WDC's High Desert Roundup, 2005. Click on the link to read about our trip. However, as a railfan, it was appropriate that I take a little sidetrip and take a few photos along B.N.S.F.'s busy Needles subdivision, at my favorite photo location of Ash Hill.

After my brother Paul and I set up our camp, at High Desert Roundup, we left for B.N.'s Needles Subdivision. However, men can't railfan on an empty stomach, so we made a stop at the world famous Bagdad Cafe, the place that's featured in the movie of the same name, to enjoy a declicious meal.

Left: "Boss Lady" Andre, does the paperwork for an order at Bagdad Cafe. Right: Hubby Tanen, cooks my Ortega burger. Click on this hyper link, and it will take you to the article that I published about our dining experience at the fabulous Bagdad Cafe, in Newberry Springs.

Left: BNSF #4545 leads an eastbound auto parts train at East Ash Hill. Right: BNSF #4469 crests the 1.44% at Ash Hill, with the New York Mountains in the background. Ash Hill features stark, yet beautiful, Mojave Desert scenery.

After beer and burgers at Bagdad Cafe, it was time to take the half-hour drive along the Interstate to Ludlow, where we turned off the freeway. Now Ludow is an interesting town, as it's sort of a "twice-over" ghost town. The town first died when the mining boom ended, during the 1920's, but then the town came to life when Route 66 came to town in the 1930's, along with the migration of folks to California. Then, when Interstate 40 was constructed, during the late 1950's, Ludow died again, as the traffic was shifted from the remnants of old Route 66 to the new Interstate. Today Ludlow has come to life again, as it has a couple of modern gas stations, complete with mini-marts, and a motel, with a cafe, and is the "hub" of services in the Mojave Desert, between Newberry Springs and Needles.

Left: BNSF #5392 leads an eastboud manifest train at the sweeping curve at the east end of Ash Hill. Right: I liked this photo so much that it is now featured for the desktop background of my home computer.

Back in the 1930's, Ludlow used to have a downtown near the railroad tracks. Fast-forward to 2005, and only foundations, rubble and a pathetic shell of a department store remain, as B.N.S.F. has been very busy cleaning up their property, in order to minimize insurance risks. From a business standpoint, and after all, B.N.S.F. is a business, driven by the bottom line, I can't fault them, but from a nostalgic point of view, it's a shame to see 1930's history being reduced to rubble...

Left: This photo will give you an idea of how lonely, open and beautiful this country is. Right: My brother Paul observes a westbound BNSF freight climbing the 1.44% grade to the summit, at Ash Hill. The Needles Subdivision sees an average of 80 to 90 trains each day, so for most of the time, photographing the line is a turkey shoot.

As an aside, today's Ludlow is DRY, meaning if you run out of beer, you have to drive 30 miles west to Newberry Springs, or 60 miles east to Needles. If you like to relax in you railfan camp, or motel with a brewskie or two, keep that in mind...

Left: BN green paint, dating back from 1970, can still be seen on a 40-something year old SD-40 unit, pushing a westbound train towards Ash Hill, in May, 2005, operating as a d.p.u. Right: Eastbound BNSF #5363 leads a piggyback train up the grade at Ash Hill.

Nostalgia aside, Paul and I turned off the interstate at the Ludlow offramp, and proceeded to head east, through what's left of the town, onto old Route 66. After crossing the tracks, a couple of miles east of Ludlow, it was easy to take the first dirt road that you'll see to the left, that will lead you to the tracks. If you're driving faster than the 55 m.p.h. speed limit and miss the road, just take the second, or third or or... dirt road. Anyway after you cross the tracks, all dirt roads lead to Ash Hill, in my opinion, the best place to railfan on the Needles Subdivision. All you have to do is to turn of of Route 66 on any dirt road that heads to the east, and pretty soon, you'll find yourself at Ash Hill. However, I wouldn't take a passenger car to Ash Hill, as deep sand, rutted roads and rough, off-highway conditions can make the trip rather brutal. Keep in mind that thare are ABSOLUTELY NO SERVICES and cell phone service is sporatic, so you had better adopt a Boy Scout attitude when you railfan Ash Hill, and, above all, BE PREPARED! This country is hard-core desert, five miles or so from the interstate, and only populated by coyotes, scorpions and rattlesnakes. There is NO WATER ANYWHERE, period, so bring lots of water.

Left: BNSF #4667 leads an eastbound train, comprised mostly of cement cars, up the grade at Ash Hill. Right: Santa Fe #903, in "neo-warbonnet paint" heads a double-stack container trail up the grade, just west of the summit at Ash Hill. Mojave Desert mountain scenery is in the background.

For Paul and I, being prepared wasn't an issue, since were were attending High Desert Roundup, and you must be prepared to attend that event. We drove off old Route 66 to Ash Hill, and spent an enjoyable afternoon railfanning B.N.S.F.'s busy Needles Subdivision. By the way, this line averages 80 to 90 trains a day, so if you miss a train at your favorite photo location, just wait a few minutes and another one will come by. Chances are, if you're at a high point, you'll see three or four of them in the distance.

In the span of around five hours, Paul and I caught at least 30 trains. If you like stark, breath-taking desert scenery and lots of railroad action, B.N.S.F.'s busy Needles Subdivision is the place to be.

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