The Route 66 Ghost Towns of Siberia and Bagdad

Thank you for bringing up Jason Rother. I knew him from I went to boot camp with him in 1987. We have the same first name. I knew he was gonna be a great Marine! It was such a terrible failure that cost his life. His command tried to say he was a deserter at first, I knew that couldn't be. I'm grateful everything was brought to light in his case after the Commandant got involved. I think about him often through the years. Semper Fi Jason Rother!

About 30 years ago I talked to an old farmer in our area that used to have a watermelon stand during the summer on US 59(old Hwy 8). He said when air conditioners in cars became popular in the late 50s, people didn't need to stop and cool off. He and his brothers ran that stand until the early 60s and closed it after 20 years. I remember going out to it when I was a kid.

I’m a locomotive engineer for the BNSF railway that runs right through there and now I have a lot more to consider when I’m staring out the window and wondering what kind of hardy soul would brave such a place. Thank you for your dedication and research into history!

2:50 according to my coworker who grew up in those railroad towns between Barstow and Needles, those holes were for cold storage where they kept the ice that was delivered on a regular basis. He told me that as a kid they would sneak in to escape the summer heat and steal ice for a treat.

Since we all grew up in the era of diesel-electric locomotives, it's not always evident how dependent on readily available water steam locos really were. The movie images of the high balling trains weren't always the case. Nowadays the Amtrak Southwest runs that same route, although in much more comfort. 😊 Thanks to you, Steve, for braving once again the unforgiving nature of the Mojave Desert to bring us these episodes!

The character portrayed in the graffiti at Siberia is “Chico,” mascot of the Santa Fe Railway post World War II.

I knew the family who owned the "original" town of Bagdad (not the New Berry springs movie location). It was the Hartzler family that purchased it from Luther Friend (who owned Ludlow at the time) around 1953. I have a video recording of Mr Hartzler describing what it was like back when he owned the town. His son Don Hartzler Jr is still alive and lives in Lenwood Calif., with wife Carol. Don Jr has pictures and used to be a mechanic in Bagdad during the route 66 era.

The thing about Route 66 is that even if there is nothing to "see", it's the road itself and the landscape it travels through that is historic. The desert southwest is beautiful but brutal, and was especially so to our early travelers. Another fascinating video, Steve. Thanks!

Crazy to hear that "old" story about Corporal Rother. He was 3 months older than me and I was going out the I40 back in the summer of 1988 to Laughlin for Memorial day, 4th of July and Labor day. To think he was fighting for his life while I was vacationing with my friends acting like and idiot. Prayers to his family.

Love the addition of the road and drone footage of the trains going through the desert. Really connects to the tale of old towns that once were and the lifeline between them. As always... really impressed by your storytelling and research.

You found more stuff than I did when I was cruising 66 out of curiosity and boredom. You're the 'Huell Howser' of YouTube!

I really appreciate all the work and research you put into your videos Steve. Always enjoyable. 👍

This is a 'top shelf' production. In 1968 as a British student I caught a Greyhound bus on a Friday night from Flagstaff and got off on early Sunday in Washington DC. I think the route covered much of Route 66. In 2010 I took a motorcycle tour from Phoenix through Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. In some places on I40 we stopped at the remains of Route 66 where long closed diners and gas stations were still advertising one dollar burgers and 50- cent gas.

I was in Baghdad in April, 1977. That was a mere 5 years after old US 66 was bypassed by I-40. Back then there were still some remnants of the town but no residents. There was a large concrete lined rectangular hole in the ground probably around 5 by 10 feet wide and about 6 feet deep. In it was old cans and smashed bottles and a skeleton and hide remaining of a cow that had fallen into the hole, or was pushed and died without a way to escape. Years later I returned to find nothing there. The only thing remaining was the sign along the railroad tracks that you showed saying Baghdad.

I simply am addicted to your shows Steve ... So very much has been forgotten 😞

Mazzy Star filmed her Fade Into You music video at Bagdad - you can see the Bagdad tree in the background in several shots. In fact she filmed it at several stops along the route you took today. She filmed it in 1994.

Used to manage the rail line out of Parker AZ to Cadiz CA and the desolate California desert is truly unlike anywhere else in the country.

This was a really good episode. Thank you for all the work and research it took for you to create it. That poor military man who was abandoned out there ! What a horrible place to die, and a horrible way to die, knowing there is no one coming and no hope. It makes me sad that the Chinese people weren't buried in the cemetery and are somewhere in the desert in unmarked graves. Thanks so much for this one. Maybe the best one yet.

Brilliant history review. Just love these stories 👍👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

Steve, another great video. Very familiar with are as a retired Marine who seemed to spend too much time training at Twenty-Nine Palms my whole 20 years in. Sadly I was there in Aug 1988 when LCpl Rother disappeared. It was Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) 9/10-88 The rumor mill was going full tilt that he had left the base and was in Mexico drinking brews as it was almost 120* there at high noon. Everyone that was at Camp Wilson on Twenty Nine Palms was in one shape or form looking for him. Back in that time there was zero training on how to survive in a desert. Sadly he was forgotten as a “road guide” for a convoy and it was around 24 hrs before they realized he was missing. Yes it was his rifle that was never turned into the armory that was the first indication something was wrong. I recall us looking for 4 days from sun up to sundown. They flew every aircraft we had and covered supposedly over 100,000 square miles. It wasn’t until the fall that the local SAR unit in conjunction with some Archeological team found his remains. Sad story no doubt. I have ridden on Route 66 through Amboy heading east on my Harley… a true desolate place…