| Stretching out for a mile, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (red unit) train has been steadily climbing the grade out of Bakersfield for 12 miles on its approach to the crossing of the Tehachapi Mountains. Seen here at Sandcut, the 59-car train (34 coaches, 18 flats, 4 stock cars, 2 COFC and 1 bi-level auto rack) weighs 4290 tons and, without power, is 5235 feet in length. Power for the train (symboled as BNSF train U-FRSSDG1-12A) consists of BNSF ES44DCs 7315, 7646 and 7216, which will lift the train up to the 4000’ summit at the town of Tehachapi, then on to Barstow, across Cajon Pass and down the Pacific Coast to San Diego – a trip of about 460 miles from its origination point of Fresno (in California's Central Valley). |