From this spot may
be seen a portion of the world-renowned "Loop." It was completed in 1876
under the direction of William Hood, Southern Pacific Railroad Engineer.
In gaining elevation around central hill of loop a 4000-foot train will
cross 77 feet above its rear cars in tunnel below.
Dedicated
October 25, 1953
Marker Placed by
Kern County Historical
Society
Bakersfield Parlor
No. 42 N.S.G.W.
El Tejon Parlor No.
239 N.D.G.W
Kern County Museum
Southern Pacific Railroad
State Registered Landmark
no. 508
The cross at the Loop in memory of conductor Everett S. Crown and brakeman Allan R. Riess who lost their lives in a tragic train wreck in San Bernardino, Calif. May 12, 1989
Erected by Employees
and S.P.T.C.O.
On September 30th
torrential rains flooded Tehachapi Creek, undermining the tracks under
Santa Fe engine No. 3834 which was waiting out the storm about ½
mile east of Woodford station. The engine disappeared into the raging water
below. It remained 'Lost' for two weeks. Hidden under 10 feet of mud. It
took one month to free the severely damaged engine. Its bell never was
found. Almost three years after the flood the newly refurbished engine
was returned to service with people lining the tracks in Tehachapi and
Keene, waving and cheering as No. 3834 rolled by - its new bell proudly
ringing.
Plaque dedicated April
25, 1993 Platrix Chapter No. 2 & Peter Lebeck Chapter No. 1866,
E Clampus Vitus
| Constructed 1874-1876 | Commemorated October 1998 |
In front of you is the world famous Tehachapi Loop which is about half way upgrade to the Tehachapi Pass. This steep line averages 2.2% in gradient in its 28 miles of length. This feat of civil engineering genius was the crowning achievement of civil engineer William Hood of the Southern Pacific Railway Company. It is one of the seven wonders of the railroad world.
The Tehachapi Pass Railroad Line was cut through solid and decomposed granite by up to 3000 Chinese laborers from Canton China. They used picks, shovels, horse drawn carts and blasting powder. This line, which climbs out of the San Joaquin Valley and through the Tehachapi Mountains had 18 tunnels, 10 bridges and numerous water towers for the old steam locomotives. It was completed in less than 2 years time under the leadership of civil engineer J. B. Harris\, chief of construction, a remarkable feat.
This line was part of the last and final line of the first railroad line connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles. It was the primary factor in the early growth of the City of Los Angeles and the State of California.
This single track line,
essentially unchanged, is still in constant use today, 122 years after
its completion. It passes an average of 36 freight trains each day. This
attests to the superior job of both engineering and construction done by
the two civil engineers and the Chinese laborers. This plaque is dedicated
to them