MichaelLovesTrains

In the high desert of Southern California, lies a unique industrial railroad. Known as the Mojave Northern Railroad, this CEMEX owned operation transports aggregate from the CEMEX Black Mountain Quarry Pit/Bell Mountain Mine, to their cement processing plant in Victorville, California.

Formerly known as the Southwestern Portland Cement Company, the railroad was built in 1915, and originally operated saddle-tank steam engines and later, Fairbanks-Morse piston locomotives. Today, the railroad operates with a mix of classic EMD SD60 and SD40 power, as well as newer Knoxville Locomotive Works locomotives. In addition, the BNSF Railway will run rock trains to and from the mine.

In this video, we'll follow the empty trains up to the mine, and then the loaded aggregate trains back down the hill to the plant. All video description in the chapters.

Thanks for watching! | Video and Content by MichaelLovesTrains 2026 #trains #trainspotting

Timeline: 0:00 - Welcome to the CEMEX Victorville Cement Plant 0:57 - Unit 421 switches around the plant, preparing the outbound empty train to the mine. 3:33 - Unit 415 leads the Morning empty train out of the Victorville plant. 7:40 - Passing through Quarry Road. 8:40 - BNSF 782 leads an inbound empty gravel train at Stoddard Wells Road. 9:53 - Mojave Northern 416, a former UP EMD SD60, heads towards the mine. 10:37 - We catch back up with MN 415 as it climbs towards the mine. 11:22 - Aerials of the Bell Mountain Mine 13:37 - Southwest Portland Cement EMD SD40-2 #415 13:50 - With a loaded consist, the train begins the journey down to the plant. 16:48 - The AM train arrives back at the Victorville plant. 20:38 - Switching the train at the plant. 23:00 - Unit 415 heads light power back up to the mine for another loaded train. 24:35 - Now with a loaded train, unit 415 heads back to the plant. 25:41 - Unit 415 arriving at the plant. 28:50 - Thanks for watching!