| The Mojave Northern Railroad was constructed in 1914 to connect Victorville, California, with the large deposit of Portland cement clinker (calcium silicates) east of town. Eventually, the Mojave Northern name was replaced, as the railroads equipment was lettered for the Southwest Portland Cement Company, the operator of the line. SWPC replaced their aging Fairbanks-Morse locomotives with EMD power, such as SDP35 411 (ex-Seaboard Coast Line 1962, ex-SCL 612, nee-Seaboard Air Line 1111), seen here at the Black Mountain Quarry at the eastern end of the line. |