Southern Pacific Oil Cans BKDOU at the Tehachapi Loop

SP 7473 (SD45R) leads the loaded eastbound oil cans through the Tehachapi Loop on the morning of May 31, 1992. This very heavy and unique unit train brought crude oil from Bakersfield to the Shell Refinery in Wilmington daily and was a daily parade of massive Southern Pacific classic diesel power over the mountain. Often taking 10 locomotives or more to push the heavy load up the grade this train was a railfan favorite for many years. This time we are treated to an appearance of Southern Pacific merger painted SD45R, 7558, looking remarkably clean in spite of its passage through many tunnels in its mountain railroading assignment.