7 (so far), photos included after text.  (I am planning another trip to the Bakersfield area to get more photos soon.  Be looking for those additions in the near future.) 

Bakersfield area is the last chapter in this discussion of Tehachapi Pass and is the location of the largest city in the area.  The Bakersfield area will cover the areas around Bakersfield, CA. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Bakersfield, CA has several locations for good railroad photography but not as much as I thought it wold have.  With the fact that the Union Pacific and the BNSF both have tracks though town and Bakersfield is at the foot of Tehachapi Pass, I thought that there would be more railroad action here.  Not really.

The Union Pacific and the BNSF both have railroad yards in Bakersfield and Amtrak serves the city off of the BNSF tracks.  The Union Pacifc and the BNSF both yards are somewhat small concidering, and both of them aren't used much for classification but rather mainly for storage.  There is a small engine facility next to the Union Pacifc yard but that is used mainly to refuel some of the stand-by engines that are there.  No major engine repair or service is done at this location.

The BNSF yard does not have any diesel facilities at all that I have seen.   The maintenance facility for their fleet of refigerated mechanical reefers seems to be the biggest purpose for the BNSF yard.  Frequenty the BNSF will have to "stage" a train at their yard as it waits for permission to enter Kern Junction and continue on the Union Pacific tracks toward Tehachapi Pass. 

Remember, the Union Pacific owns the tracks through Bakersfield, CA and Tehachapi Pass.  BNSF has it's own tracks into Bakersfield, CA but they end at Kern Junction.  From there on, the BNSF only has trackage rights between Kern Junction and Mojave through its privious arrangement in the days of the Santa Fe.

Like I said, Amtrak San Joaquin passenger trains from the Bay Area have to go into Bakersfield but from the west, and terminate at the depot.  Amtrak has no trains that go through town and doesn't have any trains that go through Tehachapi Pass.

Major roadways into Bakersfield are Route 58 that will arrive from the east and continue on the somewhat south side of Bakersfield to an intersection with the north-south Route 99.  Route 99 approaches Bakersfield from the south and after it's junction with Route 58, will continue north.  After the junction with Route 58, Route 99 will have an intersection with California Ave and then curve in a northwestern direction and continue toward Fresno, CA.

The two main east-west streets you need to know are California Ave and Truxtun Ave.  They both connect with the Edison Hwy on the east side of town but only California Ave has an intersection with Route 99 to the west.  Remember that the BNSF tracks are in between California Ave and Truxtun Ave.

North-south streets you also need to know all intersect with California and Truxtun Ave and include (from Route 99 to the east), Route 99, Oak Street, "Q" Street which is just west of the Amtrak depot, Union Ave and Beale Ave located just west of the Union Pacific yard.  There are several more side streets that I'll announce when I explain that portion of the Bakersfield Area.

Amenities abound for the traveler around Bakersfield, CA, and the first of the main locations that I think you would like to know about is the intersection of Route 58 and Weedpatch Hwy.  This is the closest area to Tehachapi Pass, and has several choices for fast food, resonably priced hotels and gas, and a Denny's.

Just north of Route 58 on Route 99 is the intersection with California Ave and there you can find the same "regular" choices for hotels, gas and fast food, but also an amusment area for the family and more of the higher priced "full service" restaurants and higher quality hotels.

The first intersection south of Route 58 on Route 99, is Ming Ave and there you will find more of the same regular amenities, but also a mall in the south-east corner off of Ming Ave.  This area also has a little more shopping than the other areas with several regular stores on Ming Ave and the surrounding streets.

THE EDISON HIGHWAY

Begining from the Sandcut area at Edison Road, the Edison Hwy will continue northwest toward Bakersfield until it curves at the location for Union Pacific's Button Willow Branch, and becomes Truxtun Ave.  Along the way it will pass several locations for possible railroad photography. 

None of these locations are really spectacular compared to Tehachapi Pass just 10 miles away, but I will mention them anyway.  Also remember that all along the Edison Hwy, you can get good "pacing" photos of the trains in either direction.

Just 2.1 miles from Edison Road, the Edison Hwy will have an intersection with Weedpatch Hwy.  Remember this connects with Route 58 about .2 miles to the south, and is your closest choice to Tehachapi Pass for several reasonably priced choices for hotels, gas and fast food.

Another 1 mile from Weedpatch Hwy is the overpass for Fairfax Road that has an overpass over the tracks.  Before you get there though is the branch for the San Joaquin Valley Railroad that will cross Edison Hwy and begin it's journey south.  There are a couple of industries nearby and if you are lucky, you can get a couple of action photos of that railroad.

The next road called Oswell Street is another mile away from Fairfax Ave and also has an overpass.  From both of these bridges photos are possible.  There are several obstructions such as trees, fences and buildings that will limit your viewing angles but photos are possible.

Both bridges have fences, but there are sidewalks that you can walk on to get to your position for your photo.  I suggest you bring a medium sized ladder to get you over the fences as you shoot.  Park on either side of the bridge and walk up to your photo location.

One-half mile from Oswell Street is the intersection for California Ave with another overpass over Edison Hwy and the tracks for Mount Vernon Ave.  There is only one sidewalk on the east side of this bridge but there is a stairway just off of Edison Hwy that makes getting up to the bridge easy.

Continuing another .5 miles brings you to the curve for Truxtun Ave and the wye for UP's Button Willow Branch and of course, Kern Junction. 

UP's BUTTON WILLOW BRANCH

Nothing really incredible here except a large wye.  This branch goes south from the Union Pacific mainline and the wye has a grade crossing with the Edison Hwy right where it curves and becomes Truxtun Ave.

Washington Street is the street that can take you north from California Ave to this junction however Washington Streeet does not intersect with Route 58.  The track curves and travels in a southwesterly direction through the southwest section of Bakersfield.  There might be some other photo locations on this branch, but trains are not very frequent so I really haven't explored it much.

KERN JUNCTION

Kern Junction is where the BNSF tracks connect with the Union Pacific tracks.  This junction is located near the east side of town between California Ave and Truxtun Ave right next to the Edison Hwy and just west of the Button Willow Branch.

In years past, there was a standard white yard tower with semephores that guarded the junction and was staffed by an operator for the Union Pacific.  The tower is long gone and has been replaced with electrical boxes and search light signals.

Getting to Kern Junction is fairly easy.  From Truxtun Ave turn north on Sumner Street located just two blocks west from the wye for the Button Willow Branch.  Immediately you will see a large open dirt area next to the Union Pacific tracks before the grade crossing for Sumner Street with the BNSF tracks.  This is Kern Junction.

Although somewhat dull, there are a couple different types of photos that you could get here as trains pass the junction.  Always stay on the south side of the tracks.  NEVER cross the main to get on the north side.  Sun angles favor the afternoons here and photos are possible of trains of both railroads in either direction.  Be aware though that while you are on the dirt area, you are on Union Pacific property so always stay far away from the tracks and always be safe.

THE UNION PACIFIC YARD AREA

Union Pacific has it's small yard located just across the main from the Button Willow Branch to just past the Beale Ave overpass.  No real classification happens here except maybe some for the few local industries or for exchange with the San Joaquin Valley Railroad.

In the steam era, there must have been quite a large engine facility because the footprint of one of two turntables is still slightly visible on the north side of the tracks near the intersection of Miller and Kentucky Streets.  The other turntable is still there two blocks away at the corner of Gage and Kentucky Streets.  I don't know if it is still used much, but it is there.

Adjacent to the turntable is the current engine facility with the fueling area.  Union Pacific will have a couple of engine sets there from time to time and they are best photographed from the east side of the Beale Ave overpass.  Since the facility is only about 100 yards east of the bridge, a telephoto or regular lens would be fine for your photos.

The depot is on the other side of the overpass and sometimes there is one or two smaller diesels parked there along with an old Southern Pacific Police caboose.

THE AMTRAK DEPOT

The Amtrak depot is located on The BNSF tracks 1.5 miles from Kern Junction.  It is also next to the underpass for "Q" Street that you can use between California Ave and Truxtun Ave.  Off of Truxtun the road is "Q" Street and off of California Ave it is known as "P" Street. 

Note : From Route 58, you can travel north from the Union Ave intersection for 1 mile to California Ave.  Turn left and continue about .3 miles to "P" Street where you should turn north (right) and follow this road as it curves and goes under thee tracks to Truxtun Ave.  Turn right again and 1 block later turn right into the Amtrak parking lot.

The front of the depot faces north, and has several large trees that make photos impossible.  This depot has only three tracks for the San Joaquin trains from the Bay Area near San Francisco and the tracks are on the south side of the depot anyway.  They are mostly stub tracks and since no Amtrak trains travel through Bakersfield, CA, they all terminate.  Then after servicing, simply return back the way they came.

These trains operate in a "push-pull" mode and usually have the engines on the side of the train facing west, so photos taken of trains in the depot from the platform on the west side look great because the engines are in the front of the train.  These photos are best in the late afternoon in winter.     

THE BNSF YARD

Another mile west from the Amtrak Depot is the beginning of the BNSF yard.  The east end is best accessed from "F" Street, and the west end, best viewed from the overpass for Oak Street.  The yard is also not really used for any classification but rather for "staging" of the east bound BNSF trains before they get perrmission from the Union Pacific dispatcher to join the Union Pacific mainline at Kern Junction and begin their journey over Tehachapi Pass.

On the east end of the yard, and on the south side of the tracks, is the servicing area for the Refrigerated Mechanical Reefeer fleet.  There are no real engine servicing facilities that I have ever noticed anywhere in the yard.  The only photos of engines would be of the trains on the east side of the yard if they are staging before continuing east.

Getting to the eastern side of the yard is easy from "F" Street and California Ave.  "F" Street is just 2 major blocks from Chester Ave.  Turn north and only 1 block later will be 14th Street where you should turn left.  As you continue, the yard is just past the fence to your right, and Bakersfield High School is to your left.

After 1 block will be "C" Street (the other street you can use from California Ave), will connect with 14th Street right where the street will curve and reconnect with California Ave.  All along the way, 14th Street will parallel a fence that borders the yard.  For any photos over the fence, pick your spot.

Just 4 more blocks west of "C" Street is Oak Street that has an overpass going over the yard.  Sidewalks are on both sides of the bridge with a fence.  You can get over it to shoot photos of the yard, if you use a small ladder.  Remember though that the mainline is on the north side of the yard tracks.

Simply park your vehicle at either the Taco Bell or the Jack-in-the-Box and walk to your photo locatiion.  There is really not much action here, and any photos that you will get are just the being at the right place at the right time photos.    

THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RAILROAD

This railroad serves the Bakersfield area and several small towns south of Bakersfield, CA.  It begins at the BNSF yard and continues through Kern Junction, to its own branch off of the Union Pacific mainline between Fairfax Road and Weedpatch Hwy. 

There is a small engine servicing area on the south side of the western part of the BNSF yard.  It is next to an industrial area and photos of any units parked there are possible, but the angle is tight, with a lot of obstructions.

To get to the engine servicing area, begin at the intersection of Route 99 and California Ave and go 1 block west on California Ave to Easton Drive.  Turn north and just one block later, Easton Drive will have a sharp curve to the east.  Follow around this curve, and before you go around another more broad curve, turn right onto one of the industrial driveways next to the buildings that are there.

It is hard to say which one is the best, just explore.  You will be able to figure it out since you are within one block.  Like I said, photos here are possible, but tight, with plenty of obstructions.

If you are aware that a San Joaquin Valley train is leaving, it is better to get photos of it as it travels past Kern Junction, or along the Union Pacific mainline, or its own industries near the Edison Hwy, just off of the UP main.