Climbing up and over the Tehachapi Mountains, and just about to circle over itself on the famed Tehachapi Loop, is BNSF Railway train H-RICBAR1-14A. BNSF ET44C4 3780, Dash 9-44CW 4697, ES44DC 7249, ES44C4 7967 and ES44DC 7493 (with ES44C4 7763 and ET44C4 3258 on the rear) are providing enough muscle, even with a few of these diesels not operating, to get this freight train (or "High Priority Merchandise" in BNSF parlance) from Richmond, in the San Francisco Bay Area, to Barstow, in Calfornia's Mojave Desert. (At Barstow, the train will be broken up and resorted onto other eastbound trains bound for a variety of destinations.). But until then, this train will pass through the oak-covered Tehachapi Mountains before dropping downgrade into the Mojave Desert after conquering the summit. (Walong, California – June 16, 2024)
