The Santa Fe freight train that we’ve been following is leaving Victorville and is heading south (railroad west) to San Bernardino, the last stop on our journey. The train is traversing what is known as the “Upper Narrows”, a winding route through the mountains. In the image below Jack Delano has photographed an unusual arched bridge from the rear platform of the caboose in which he’s riding. Known as the Rainbow Bridge, this carries Mineral Road over the Mojave River, a bit of which can be seen at right. A second plate girder span, out of view around the curve, continues the roadway across the tracks. This bridge still exists today, though it is out of service. This scene is no longer possible as a twin span of newer concrete bridges immediately adjacent to the Rainbow Bridge obstructs the view.

Below, our train is getting closer to San Bernardino, and is in the vicinity of Summit (Valley). These are the Lower Narrows. We’re easing downgrade here, and as we’ve seen in earlier postings, a brakeman is riding the top of the cars (look for him in the distance). And far ahead around the curve, the locomotive’s position is betrayed by a bit of steam exhaust as the train drifts down the hill.

Photographs by Jack Delano, March of 1943.