Just north of MP 43 (Hesperia), there is a signal laying on the ground on the west side of the track, lying right at the foot of the replacement signal. There's the potential for an interesting shot if anyone cares to go and get it.

I saw a covered hopper with one side almost completely covered with one big graffiti, which said, "ARTISTS MAKING FOAMERS MAD". They got that right (except for the "artists" part).

Saw BNSF 6534, 6539, 6544, and 6545 (not all on the same train) on what I suspect was their maiden trips west.

I saw a "no fitter" (train too long for any siding) heading south on the Palmdale Cutoff. It was a stack train with 188 (!) platforms, largely K-Line containers. It had to saw-by at Canyon siding. I know that UP runs such a train down the LA&SL - would such a train take the Silverwood connector and cross over to the Palmdale Cutoff?

The Cargill switcher is now an SD40T-2.

On eastbound I-15 about a mile below Summit, there's a dirt pulloff on the right. Bring a *long* lens (1000 mm, more wouldn't hurt) and a lawnchair. You can see from below Hill 582 nearly to Summit. There's some good shots here in evening light. I was not hassled whatsoever by cops in the half hour I stopped there, but I can't promise - your results may vary.

I saw over 50 BNSF trains, and exactly 4 EMDs on them (plus two more picking up some stored flats at Verdemont). Of those four, though, two (131 and 8735) still had the large "Santa Fe" on the side. UP had maybe one out of five units that were EMD.