Down at the Depot - Cima Sub Shots - Part 2 of 5

(Continued from: Better Late Than Never - Cima Sub Shots - Part 1)

After getting my fill of grade crossing shots and as the sun sank below the horizon I turned my attention to the Kelso Depot. It was past closing time so I had the exterior of the depot and it’s grounds all to myself which is nice because it came be a quite busy place during the day considering it’s remote location.

The depot, which now serves as the main visitor’s center for the Mojave National Preserve, was originally opened in 1924 and served the Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad with distinction until 1985. 

Kelso Depot-Monochromatic - The Kelso Depot backlit at dusk. [2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

Lunch Room at the Depot - The refurbished “lunch room” of yesteryear, part of the Kelso Depot Vistor’s Center, is closed for the day. [2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

Kelso Depot at Dusk 1 - The beautifully restored former Union Pacific depot at Kelso, CA is a true oasis in the desert. [2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

Kelso Depot at Dusk 2 - The beautifully restored former Union Pacific depot at Kelso, CA is a true oasis in the desert. [2/20/2011 - Cima Subdivision] Copyright © 2011 Joe Perry. All rights reserved.

As is often the case in the desert, once the sun sank the cool of the dark began nipping at me. I hustled into my truck and cranked on the heater. I glanced at the exterior temperature reading and it read 29 (F) degrees. “Brrrrr,” from this California boy.

I had often been to the far reaches of the Cima Subdivision, but I had never visited a siding and area than lent it’s namesake to the valley, Ivanpah, and I wanted to see what that location had to offer. I left the depot in my rear view mirror as I held my frozen fingers and hands up to the vents in hopes of regaining some semblance of feeling in them.

In part three of this excursion I will cover my run to Ivanpah and Coyote Crossing.