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| Landmark #508 | Kern County | Visited: January 21, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | Two plaques overlooking the Tehachapi Loop, a huge, circular section of railroad track! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: From this spot may be seen a portion of the world-renowned Loop completed in 1876 under the direction of William Hood, Southern Pacific railroad engineer. In gaining elevation around the central hill of the Loop, a 4,000-foot train will cross 77 feet above its rear cars in the tunnel below.
OTHER TIDBITS: This 2.2% gradient loop solved two problems: heavy trains couldn’t get up the steep slopes of the Tehachapi Mountains and had trouble slowing down as they descended into the town of Tehachapi! It took thousands of workers, including 3,000 from China alone, to dig and blow up the sediment for 18 tunnels and the Loop! It only took two years to build this section of the railroad, the last link connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: On Old State Hwy 3.2 mi E of Keene exit 6.5 mi W of Tehachapi, CA 93561 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~131mi (211km) — 2.2hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |