Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
On February 3rd, 2026, the Searles Valley Minerals company announced a major reduction in their operations in Trona, California. With competitive product prices from other international producers of soda ash, and rapidly rising operating costs and California state regulations, remaining open just wasn't a feasible business plan.
With news of the facility closing most operations, this in turn affects the Trona Railway. Running between the plant in Trona, and Searles Junction, the Trona Railway is the main link for the facility and the outside World. Interchanging with the Union Pacific at Searles, the Trona Railway hauls soda ash, coal, potash, and other minerals to and from the facility.
While the views and desert vistas are a sight to see on their own, unequivocally the most attractive part of the Trona Railway by railfans alike, are the vintage EMD SD40's used in daily operations. In what could be described as a time capsule, the railroad has done very little to the appearance of the patched Southern Pacific tunnel motors. While a few locomotives are in Union Pacific paint, classic EMD's are classic EMD's at the end of the day.
In this video, we’ll take a look back at the TRC’s operations, when business was as usual. We’ll start at the facility in Trona, and take an aerial tour, including a look at their only “SPSF” Kodachrome unit switching the facility. From there we will follow a typical unit train from Trona to Searles. On a separate day, we’ll follow an empty coal train from Trona to Searles, all with classic EMD’s at full power. All clips in video from 2024 and 2025. See chapters for detailed location description.
It's sad to see what's happened to the folks in Searles Valley, and I hope the future holds better news for them.
Thanks for watching! | Video and Content by MichaelLovesTrains 2026
#trains #trainspotting
Timeline:
0:00 - Aerials of the Trona, California facility (Searles Valley Minerals)
0:36 - Trona Railway 2003 (EMD SD40R) in the SPSF Kodachrome Paint Scheme
2:23 - Aerials of the Trona, California facility (Searles Valley Minerals)
4:20 - Trona Pinnacles (TRC 2006 EMD SD40T-2)
6:05 - Through the Desert in Spangler
9:45 - Arriving at Searles Junction, passing the former SP water tower
13:15 - Coal train departing South Trona (TRC 2008 EMD SD40-2)
14:35 - Trona Pinnacles
16:49 - Switching at Searles Junction
On February 3rd, 2026, the Searles Valley Minerals company announced a major reduction in their operations in Trona, California. With competitive product prices from other international producers of soda ash, and rapidly rising operating costs and California state regulations, remaining open just wasn't a feasible business plan.
With news of the facility closing most operations, this in turn affects the Trona Railway. Running between the plant in Trona, and Searles Junction, the Trona Railway is the main link for the facility and the outside World. Interchanging with the Union Pacific at Searles, the Trona Railway hauls soda ash, coal, potash, and other minerals to and from the facility.
While the views and desert vistas are a sight to see on their own, unequivocally the most attractive part of the Trona Railway by railfans alike, are the vintage EMD SD40's used in daily operations. In what could be described as a time capsule, the railroad has done very little to the appearance of the patched Southern Pacific tunnel motors. While a few locomotives are in Union Pacific paint, classic EMD's are classic EMD's at the end of the day.
In this video, we’ll take a look back at the TRC’s operations, when business was as usual. We’ll start at the facility in Trona, and take an aerial tour, including a look at their only “SPSF” Kodachrome unit switching the facility. From there we will follow a typical unit train from Trona to Searles. On a separate day, we’ll follow an empty coal train from Trona to Searles, all with classic EMD’s at full power. All clips in video from 2024 and 2025. See chapters for detailed location description.
It's sad to see what's happened to the folks in Searles Valley, and I hope the future holds better news for them.
Thanks for watching! | Video and Content by MichaelLovesTrains 2026
#trains #trainspotting
Timeline:
0:00 - Aerials of the Trona, California facility (Searles Valley Minerals)
0:36 - Trona Railway 2003 (EMD SD40R) in the SPSF Kodachrome Paint Scheme
2:23 - Aerials of the Trona, California facility (Searles Valley Minerals)
4:20 - Trona Pinnacles (TRC 2006 EMD SD40T-2)
6:05 - Through the Desert in Spangler
9:45 - Arriving at Searles Junction, passing the former SP water tower
13:15 - Coal train departing South Trona (TRC 2008 EMD SD40-2)
14:35 - Trona Pinnacles
16:49 - Switching at Searles Junction
