| Home > Trains > USA > BNSF in California - Needles Sub |
| The Needles Sub runs from Needles, MP 578 (almost at the border to Arizona) to the west end of Barstow, MP 746. The Needles Sub is desert terrain. From Needles its uphill about 30 miles to Goffs, then downhill for about 50 miles to Amboy, uphill again for another 25 miles (Ash Hill) and then more or less flat the rest of the way to Barstow (with a little "hill" at Pisgah). Needles sub is doubletracked all the way. Visit Railroad Crossings by Brett Wirick for a detailed and very useful railfanning guide. |
Click for elevation chart of the Needles Sub (56 kb) |
Needles |
Santa Fe No. 7417 (GE B40-8), April 26, 1999 (87 kb) |
Santa Fe 7417 close-up, April 26, 1999 (64 kb) |
BNSF No. 6765 (EMD SD40-2), April 26, 1999 (85 kb) |
BNSF 6722 & BN 6785 (EMD SD40-2), April 30, 2001 (69 kb) |
Ibis |
| Westbound intermodal headed by BNSF 4730 + BNSF 5179 BNSF 4979 (3 x GE C44-9W) on April 5, 2005, 13:26. |
BNSF 4730 + BNSF 5179 BNSF 4979 (172 kb) |
Goffs & West Goffs
Goffs and West Goffs is on the BNSF mainline west of Needles. Goffs is the highest point (ca. 790 m) between Needles and Barstow, with steep climbs from both east and west. |
| Heavy westbound manifest, headed by BNSF 5040 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 6301 (EMD SD40u, ex-ATSF) + Oakway 9074 (EMD SD60) + NS 9356 (GE C40-9W) and with helpers BNSF 631 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 4566 (GE C44-9W) at the end of the train. April 5, 2005, 16:47. |
BNSF 5040 + BNSF 6301 + Oakway 9074 + NS 9356 (194 kb) |
BNSF 5040 + BNSF 6301 + Oakway 9074 + NS 9356 (230 kb) |
BNSF 6301 (220 kb) |
| BNSF westbound container train, headed by BNSF 5338 (GE C44-9W) + 4146 (GE C44-9W), Goffs Crossing, June 24, 2003, 18:30. |
Video of BNSF 5338 + 4146, 2,1 MB, MPG-format, 11 sec |
BNSF 5338 + 4146 (48 kb) |
BNSF 5338 + 4146 (67 kb) |
BNSF 5338 + 4146 (67 kb) |
| Same train as above. The train was stopped to let 2 other westbounds pass; these pictures was taken when the started again. West Goffs, June 24, 2003, 18:55. |
Video of BNSF 5338 + 4146, 3,1 MB, MPG-format, 18 sec |
BNSF 5338 + 4146 (59 kb) |
BNSF 5338 + 4146 (73 kb) |
BNSF 5338 + 4146 (52 kb) |
| BNSF eastbound container train headed by BNSF 990 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 4418 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 4769 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 5240 (GE C44-9W), West Goffs, June 24, 2003, 18:45. |
Video of BNSF 990 + 4418 + 4769 + 5240, 3.2 MB, MPG-format, 18 sec. |
BNSF 990 + 4418 + 4769 + 5240 (43 kb) |
BNSF 990 + 4418 + 4769 + 5240 (47 kb) |
BNSF 990 + 4418 + 4769 + 5240 (31 kb) |
| BNSF westbound container train/TOFC (Trailer On Flat Car), headed by BNSF 1011 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF XXXX (GE) + BNSF 4963 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 5495 (GE C44-9W), West Goffs, June 24, 2003, 18:50. Notice the containertrain on the left (picture #1) - it's the train above holding on the siding to let this train pass. |
BNSF 1011 + XXXX + 4963 + 5495 (60 kb) |
BNSF 1011 + XXXX + 4963 + 5495 (70 kb) |
BNSF 1011 + XXXX + 4963 + 5495 (80 kb) |
BNSF 1011 + XXXX + 4963 + 5495 (40 kb) |
| BNSF eastbound TOFC (Trailer On Flat Car), headed by BNSF 4730 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 4XXX (GE) + Santa Fe 665 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF XX01 (GE), West Goffs, California, June 24, 2003, 19:05. |
BNSF 4730 + BNSF 4XXX + Santa Fe 665 + BNSF XX01 (54 kb) |
BNSF 4730 + BNSF 4XXX + Santa Fe 665 + BNSF XX01 (42 kb) |
BNSF 4730 + BNSF 4XXX + Santa Fe 665 + BNSF XX01 (36 kb) |
Essex & Amboy (& Ibis) |
| As we were going west, we more or less followed a heavy manifest headed by BNSF 4565 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 5359 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 4383 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 1075 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 6816 (EMD SD40-2, ex-BN) + BNSF 4561 (GE C44-9W). The first 2 pictures are taken in Ibis at 14:15, the next 2 pictures at Essex at 17:24 and the last 2 pictures at Amboy (MP 662.0) at 18:09. All pictures was taken on April 5, 2005. |
BNSF 4565 + BNSF 5359 + BNSF 4383 + BNSF 1075 + BNSF 6816 + BNSF 4561, Ibis (203 kb) |
BNSF 4565 + BNSF 5359 + BNSF 4383 + BNSF 1075 + BNSF 6816 + BNSF 4561, Ibis (226 kb) |
BNSF 4565 + 5359 + 4383 + 1075 + 6816 + 4561, Essex, MP 623,67 (258 kb) |
BNSF 4565 + 5359 + 4383 + 1075 + 6816 + 4561, Essex, MP 623,67 (264 kb) |
BNSF 4565 + 5359 + 4383 + 1075 + 6816 + 4561, Amboy (75 kb) |
BNSF 4565 + 5359 + 4383 + 1075 + 6816 + 4561, Amboy (83 kb) |
SiberiaAt Siberia, milepost 678, the doubletrack splits, allowing the westbound, uphill track a longer and easier climb to Ash Hill. |
| BNSF westbound doublestack container train, headed by BNSF 1114 (GE C44-9W) + 779 (GE C44-9W) + 939 (GE C41-8W), April 5, 2005, 18:29. |
BNSF westbound doublestack container train, headed by BNSF 7617 (GE ES44DC) + BNSF 4572 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 5209 (GE C44-9W) climbing towards Ash Hill at Siberia on March 20, 2007, 18:20. |
BNSF 1114 + BNSF 779 + BNSF 939 (239 kb) |
BNSF 1114 + BNSF 779 + BNSF 939 (207 kb) |
BNSF 7617 + BNSF 4572 + BNSF 5209 (235 kb) |
BNSF 7617 + BNSF 4572 + BNSF 5209 (245 kb) |
| BNSF westbound grain train headed BNSF 4531 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 7591 (GE ES44DC) + BNSF 809 (GE C40-8W) and with 2 helpers at the back of the train, April 22, 2008, 17:02. |
BNSF 4531 + BNSF 7591 + BNSF 809 (182 kb) |
BNSF 4531 + BNSF 7591 + BNSF 809 (219 kb) |
BNSF 4531 + BNSF 7591 + BNSF 809 (162 kb) |
Hopper BNSF 486955 (204 kb) |
| BNSF e/b UPS train headed by BNSF 7626 (GE ES44DC) + BNSF 1081 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 4756 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 880 (GE C40-8W) + BNSF 4052 (GE C44-9W) on April 4, 2007, 12:37. |
BNSF e/b double stack headed by BNSF 7627 (GE ES44DC) + BNSF 5143 (GE C44-9W) and with helpers BNSF 5211 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 4863 (GE C44-9W) on April 4, 2007, 12:45. |
BNSF e/b grain headed by BNSF 558 + BNSF 542 + BNSF 508 + BNSF 528 (all GE B40-8W's) on April 10, 2012, 16:48. |
BNSF 7626 + BNSF 1081 + BNSF 4756 + BNSF 880 + BNSF 4052 (234 kb) |
BNSF 7627 + BNSF 5143 (210 kb) |
BNSF 558 + BNSF 542 + BNSF 508 + BNSF 528 (262 kb) |
Ludlow / crossing with Route 66
Just east of Ludlow is a crossing with Route 66, at milepost 691. |
| BNSF westbound double stack, headed by BNSF 4514 (GE C44-9W) + unknown GE, April 5, 2005, 18:49. |
BNSF westbound container train, headed by BNSF 1114 (GE C44-9W) + 779 (GE C44-9W) + 939 (GE C41-8W), April 5, 2005, 19:05. |
BNSF 4514 + BNSF GE (69 kb) |
BNSF 4514 + BNSF GE (53 kb) |
BNSF 1114 + 779 + 939 (65 kb) |
BNSF 1114 + 779 + 939 heading west in the setting sun (54 kb) |
| Eastbound manifest headed by BNSF 4169 (GE C44-9W) + UP 9059 (GE C40-8) + BNSF 4952 (GE C44-9W) + CN 5705 (EMD SD75I) on April 22, 2008, 17:34. |
Westbound doublestack headed by BNSF 4377 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 7693 (GE ES44DC) and with helpers BNSF 1051 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 4101 (GE C44-9W) on April 22, 2008, 18:03. |
BNSF 4169 + UP 9059 + BNSF 4952 + CN 5705 (139 kb) |
BNSF 4169 + UP 9059 + BNSF 4952 + CN 5705 (142 kb) |
BNSF 4377 + BNSF 7693 + BNSF 1051 + BNSF 4101 (153 kb) |
BNSF 4377 + BNSF 7693 + BNSF 1051 + BNSF 4101 (132 kb) |
| Westbound manifest headed by BNSF 4547 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 871 (GE C40-8W) + BNSF 1039 (GE C44-9W) and with end helper BNSF 4672 (GE C44-9W) on April 22, 2008, 18:51. |
BNSF 4547 + BNSF 871 + BNSF 1039 (147 kb) |
BNSF 4547 + BNSF 871 + BNSF 1039 in H2, H3 and H1 paint (196 kb) |
Heading west for a meet with an eastbound (128 kb) |
Helper BNSF 4672 (105 kb) |
Ludlow west
Just west of Ludlow the tracks go around some hills, this makes this spot popular for railfanning. |
| BNSF westbound manifest, headed by BNSF 5415 (GE C44-9W) + NS 2772 + BNSF 837 + BNSF 4695 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 791 and with BNSF 4639 (GE C44-9W) as helper, March 20, 2007, 17:38. |
BNSF 5415 + NS 2772 + BNSF 837 + BNSF 4695 + BNSF 791 approaching Ludlow (214 kb) |
BNSF 5415 + NS 2772 + BNSF 837 + BNSF 4695 + BNSF 791 at Ludlow west (309 kb) |
| BNSF eastbound double stack, headed by BNSF 5463 + BNSF 4957 + BNSF 4438 + BNSF 4011 (all GE C44-9W's), March 21, 2007, 10:37. |
BNSF westbound double stack, headed by BNSF 4505 + BNSF 5481 + BNSF 638 (all GE C44-9W's) on April 22, 2008, 18:23. |
BNSF 5463 + BNSF 4957 + BNSF 4438 + BNSF 4011 (346 kb) |
BNSF 5463 + BNSF 4957 + BNSF 4438 + BNSF 4011 (300 kb) |
BNSF 4505 + BNSF 5481 + BNSF 638 (244 kb) |
BNSF 4505 + BNSF 5481 + BNSF 638 (207 kb) |
| BNSF eastbound doublestack + intermodal, headed by BNSF 4122 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 518 (GE B40-8W) + BNSF 600 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 1045 (GE C44-9W), on March 20, 2007, 17:06. |
BNSF 4122 + BNSF 518 + BNSF 600 + BNSF 1045 (213 kb) |
Newberry Springs
From Newberry Springs and most of the way to Barstow the railroad follows Route 66 with plenty of opportunities to railfan. |
| BNSF eastbound baretable, headed by BNSF 5285 + BNSF 4893 (both GE C44-9W), milepost 729, March 21, 2007, 12:47. |
BNSF 5285 + BNSF 4893 (154 kb) |
BNSF 5285 + BNSF 4893 (157 kb) |
Daggett
Daggett is a litte east of Barstow. Daggett is where Union Pacifics Cima Subdivision to and from Las Vegas joins the BNSF mainline. West of Daggett Union Pacific have "trackage rights" on BNSFs lines. |
| BNSF 5442 + BNSF unknown EMD + LMX unknown GE + BNSF unknown EMD + unknown BNSF in front of a container train at full speed through Daggett. April 29, 2001. |
True EMD power - 8 EMD locomotives: no. 1372 (EMD GP 35) + 1360 (EMD GP 35) + 25XX + 2472 + 25XX + 2622 + 2866 + 2564. April 29, 2001. |
BNSF 5442 (71 kb) |
|
8 BNSF locomotives (73 kb) |
Video of 8 BNSF locomotives - 14 sec./MPG-format (2,3 mb) |
| BNSF w/b doublestack + intermodal, headed by BNSF 4430 + BNSF 4334 + BNSF 781 + BNSF 5338 (4 x GE C44-9W), on March 20, 2007, 15:18. |
BNSF 4430 + BNSF 4334 + BNSF 781 + BNSF 5338 (154 kb) |
BNSF 4430 + BNSF 4334 + BNSF 781 + BNSF 5338 (202 kb) |
Barstow
Barstow is home to one of BNSFs yards and is also the westernmost point on the Needles Sub. The Cajon Sub continues southwest over the Cajon Pass to the Los Angeles area and the Mojave sub continues west to Mojave. A good place to watch trains in Barstow is on a hill at the eastern end of the yard. |
| BNSF 964 + BNSF 1088 + BNSF 5062 + BNSF 7515 (3 x GE C44-9W + GE ES44DC) enters Barstow with a w/b intermodal on April 23, 2008, 6:52. |
BNSF 7799 (GE ES44DC) + BNSF 4106 (GE C44-9W) with an e/b tank car train, probably with ethanol, on April 23, 2008, 7:08. |
BNSF 964 + BNSF 1088 + BNSF 5062 + BNSF 7515 (167 kb) |
BNSF 7799 + BNSF 4106 (207 kb) |
BNSF 7799 + BNSF 4106 (204 kb) |
Tank cars (209 kb) |
| BNSF 4011 + BNSF 4439 (2 x GE C44-9W) enters Barstow with a w/b stack / intermodal on April 23, 2008, 7:42. |
BNSF 5472 + BNSF 5494 + BNSF 771 + BNSF 4574 enters Barstow with a w/b manifest. On the back of the train is BNSF 4827 + BNSF 5087 + BNSF 4946 (7 x GE C44-9W) pushing. April 23, 2008, 7:04. The train waited for about 25 minutes, then continued into the Barstow Yard. |
BNSF 4011 + BNSF 4439 (231 kb) |
BNSF stack / intermodal (195 kb) |
BNSF 5472 + BNSF 5494 + BNSF 771 + BNSF 4574 (188 kb) |
Helpers BNSF 4827 + BNSF 5087 + BNSF 4946 (207 kb) |
| BNSF 728 (GE C44-9W) + BN 7286 (EMD SD40-2) + BNSF 147 (EMD GP60M) + BNSF 517 (GE B40-8W) + BNSF 4982 (GE C44-9W) enters Barstow with a w/b intermodal on April 29, 2001. |
BNSF 4566 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 715 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 567 (GE B40-8W) + BNSF 8639 (GE B40-8) + BNSF 4822 (GE C44-9W) is heading a e/b UPS intermodal on April 23, 2008, 7:28. |
BNSF 728 + BN 7286 + BNSF 147 + BNSF 517 + BNSF 4982 (113 kb) |
BNSF 4982 (84 kb) |
BNSF 4566 + BNSF 715 + BNSF 567 + BNSF 8639 + BNSF 4822 (230 kb) |
BNSF 4566 + BNSF 715 + BNSF 567 + BNSF 8639 + BNSF 4822 (209 kb) |
| BNSF 7409 (GE ES44DC) + BNSF 7630 (GE ES44DC) + BNSF 6604 (GE ES44C4) heads a westbound intermodal through Barstow on April 16, 2012, 10:50. |
BNSF 7409 + BNSF 7630 + BNSF 6604 (266 kb) |
| BNSF 6348 + BNSF 6986 (both EMD SD40-2) in Barstow Yard, photographed from Amtrak #3, on April 15, 2008. |
EMD 9023 (EMD SD60) in Barstow Yard, photographed from Amtrak #3, on April 15, 2008. |
BNSF 6348 + BNSF 6986 (170 kb) |
EMD 9023 (154 kb) |
| At Barstow station is Western America Railroad Museum, outside the station different rolling equipment is on display. |
Santa Fe 95 on March 21, 2007 (202 kb) |
Santa Fe 28736 "cline wheel truck" (146 kb) |
BNSF 39217 (226 kb) |
