An eastbound Santa Fe train passes over itself on the loop in April 1987.

A panoramic view of the Tehachapi Loop.

Satellite picture of Tehachapi Loop from the USGS.

The Tehachapi Loop is a so-called 'spiral' (through technically it is a helix) on the railroad main line through the Tehachapi Mountains in south central California, connecting the San Joaquin Valley to Los Angeles via the Antelope Valley. Hailed as one of the greatest engineering feats of its day as well as being the world's busiest single-track main, the line was built by Southern Pacific Railroad, now owned by Union Pacific. BNSF uses the loop due to trackage rights. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1398x960, 234 KB)A Santa Fe Railroad train negotiates Tehachapi Loop eastbound. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1398x960, 234 KB)A Santa Fe Railroad train negotiates Tehachapi Loop eastbound. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1099x385, 144 KB) I shot this pano myself, using Foveon Studio Camera with Canon 14mm lens, on a cold day before Christmas, probably 2001. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1099x385, 144 KB) I shot this pano myself, using Foveon Studio Camera with Canon 14mm lens, on a cold day before Christmas, probably 2001. ... Image File history File links Close up picture of w:Tehachapi Loop from Terra Server-USA/ USGS File links The following pages link to this file: Tehachapi Loop ... Image File history File links Close up picture of w:Tehachapi Loop from Terra Server-USA/ USGS File links The following pages link to this file: Tehachapi Loop ... The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. ... A spiral is a hill climbing technique for railways when the topography rises faster than the train can climb. ... A helix (pl: helices), from the Greek word έλικας/έλιξ, is a twisted shape like a spring, screw or a spiral staircase. ... Tehachapi Mountains The Tehachapi Mountains are a short transverse range in southern California in the United States, running SW-NE to connect the Coast Ranges on the west with the southern end of the Sierra Nevada mountains on the east. ... This article is becoming very long. ... The California Central Valley Part of the Valley as seen from overhead A typical Central Valley scene at ground level The California Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of the U.S. state of California. ... Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Area    - City 1,290. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Southern Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark SP) was an American railroad. ... The Union Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark UP) (NYSE: UNP) is the largest railroad network in the United States. ... The BNSF Railway (AAR reporting mark BNSF), headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the largest railroad networks in North America (only one competitor, the Union Pacific Railroad, is comparable in size). ...

The line derives its name from the circuitous route it takes through mountains, considerably lessening the angle of the grade. If a train is long enough, it can actually loop back onto itself. The area is considered to be one of the prime railfan areas in the country with its combination of frequent train traffic and spectacular scenery. A railroad museum with many historical rail artifacts is located in the small city of Tehachapi. Railfans practicing their hobby at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. ... Tehachapi is a city incorporated in 1909 located in its namesake Tehachapi Mountains between Bakersfield and Mojave in Kern County, California. ...

A large, white cross has been placed in the center of the loop, at the peak of the hill. Known as "The Cross at the Loop", it is in memory of two Southern Pacific Railroad employees who were killed in a train derailment on May 12, 1989 in San Bernardino, California. The Southern Pacific Railroad (AAR reporting mark SP) was an American railroad. ... The San Bernardino train disaster happened on the morning of May 12, 1989 in San Bernardino, California A Southern Pacific freight train (SP 7551 East) ran away down the Cajon Pass before derailing and ploughing into a residential area on Duffy Street. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... San Bernardino is the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. ...

See also

• Horseshoe Curve
• Spiral (railway)
• Tehachapi Pass

Satellite view of Horseshoe Curve, west of Altoona, Pennsylvania. ... A spiral is a hill climbing technique for railways when the topography rises faster than the train can climb. ... Tehachapi Pass Tehachapi Pass (elevation 3793 ft/1156 m, location 35°06′08″ N 118°16′58″ W) is a mountain pass in southern California in the United States. ...

External links

• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 35.20085° -118.53681°
  • Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
  • Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth
• Trainorders.com Loop video and sound camera
• The Cross at the Loop
• Tehachapi Loop Photos