This branch line, also known as the Jawbone Branch, approximately 90 miles long, extended N from Mojave through the Jawbone region and Owens Valley to Owenyo (a few miles N of Lone Pine). The line was built around 1912 and was used to help build the Los Angeles Aqueduct. It was built as standard gauge, and there was a transfer station to the SP Narrow Gauge at Owenyo. (The last segment of the Narrow Gauge lasted until 1960!)
Today at Searles, the SP (now UP) branch interchanges with the still-active shortline Trona Railway. Further N, at Inyokern, the SP Branch used to interchange with a long abandoned and deteriorated US Government Railroad that extended E to the China Lake Naval Weapons Station. In 1997 the former Lone Pine station was a private residence with "No Trespassing" signs across the driveway and large dogs on the old platforms. By 2003, it had been converted to a book store.
The SP line N of Searles has been out of service since some time between 1972 and 1984. The grade is still visible from many sections of US395, although the rails were removed at the four US395 grade crossings N of Inyokern. In 1997, when the pictures on this page were taken, the track had already been removed a long time from Owenyo S through Lone Pine to Bartlett, the site of an abandoned industrial building next to (dry) Owens Lake. Some of the old grade is used as a dirt bike trail, though it is hazardous because most of the small bridges have been removed. In 1997, the remaining track S of Bartlett was in poor shape, and in one section the northbound lanes of US395 were built over the ROW when the highway was expanded to four divided lanes in that area.
The remaining track S from Bartlett to Searles was removed around 1999. This area is mostly desert and there are virtually no trees along the ROW. The line S of Searles is still very active with mineral shipments from the Trona. Searles itself is only a junction point (no town), about a mile E of US 395.
Facing S, the end of the line near Bartlett, CA. Owens Dry Lake is at left and perhaps the last customer on the line is seen in the distance. These rails were removed in 1999. Photo by Mike Palmer in 1997.
The SP Lone Pine, CA, station, as seen from the gate across the driveway. This was a private residence in 1997; it was a book store in 2003.
Photo by Mike Palmer in 1997.
