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The Santa Fe shares trackage from Mojave to Kern Junction in Bakersfield with the Southern Pacific. On February 9, 1974, Santa Fe extra 5610 west (train symbol 869, old SWG) has derailed one car and is stuck at Warren, CA waiting for the wheel truck to arrive from Bakersfield. One wheel came loose on the axle of a box car about 15 cars ahead of the caboose. As the car negotiated the long left hand curve above Mojave, the wheels spread apart to the point that the wheel on the outside of the curve jumped over the rail. Fortunately, the crew on the caboose was keeping a sharp eye out and spotted the problem. The engineer stopped the train and the only damage was a few ties with heavy flange marks. Most of the double track from Mojave to Tehachapi is signaled for westward trains on the north track and eastward trains on the south track. But between Mojave and Cameron, the south track has signals for trains in either direction. This was controlled of the operator at Mojave and was used to route faster trains up the south track to run around slower trains on the north track. Extra 9053 west (train symbol IVNCP) is running up the south track and will cross over to the north track at Cameron. |