Gallery 13

It's now April of 1982 and it's still raining! Sensing that I might actually begin to morph into some newt-like ectoplasm, I remember how warm and dry the climate was in Southern California on my last trip, so began packing my still-moldy gear for a trip to La La Land... This time, being in no particular rush to "be" anywhere, I chose to begin my departure from the soggy bowels of the West Oakland Desert yard [below].

 

As luck would have it, there was an empty boxcar on my train, a rarity on southbounds, which I boarded with relish on the fly and, for once, had a reasonably dry ride down the Valley.

I bailed off in Bakersfield to re-supply (meaning a football-sized bean & cheese burrito and a bottle of White Port) then went out to the yard to wait for a southbound, where I met, and hung out with, this tramp [above] and his two manner-less dogs. I really can't blame them, though, but every time I brought out my 5 lb. burrito for a bite the dogs took it as a sign that it was "chowtime", and reacted accordingly. As hungry as I was, the burrito that I'd dreamed about for the last 300 miles became a "doggy dinner", but it was satisfying, nonetheless...

Walking back to the yard with an empty stomach but a satisfied mind, I came upon a flatcar loaded with 3' diameter pipes, probably destined for some natural gas project in who-knows-where. These seemed to call out to me... "Hellooo, we're a fantastic sleeping place!" The Siren Song worked it's magic and up I climbed [above], only to have the shit scared out of me by another tramp who was sleeping in just the pipe I was examining [below].

Polite exchanges were made, and we began a very cool ride up the hill. I was now getting into the mindset of "Southern California" (i.e. that the temperature never varies more than 3 degrees, and "humidity" is a bad word).

This was my view of the Loop as we passed by some "anal-retentive" railfans who expresed their "displeasure" at having their videos "ruined" by some tramps on "their" train...

Another view of our train (looking downhill) showing us going through the tunnel.

A last view of my train curving through the tunnel and stretching out uphill...