Did you know? Southern Pacific's Tehachapi almost had separate second main, like Santa Fe's Cajon, circa 1912.

[NWP SWP]

In 1912 the Southern Pacific surveyed a second SEPARATE main running from Sivert to Tehachapi and then Cameron to Mojave.

The second line would have a 1.5 percent grade, and was meant to ease congestion on the current main.

Basically it would have had a similar arrangement to Cajon pass.

Just thought I'd share it.

[RR_Mel]

Could you post the link where you found the information.

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[NWP SWP]

I found the info in an old book on Tehachapi I have in my library.

Here's photos of the pages with the information, perhaps someone else has some more info to add?

And here's the Santa Fe's proposed Tehachapi line before the SP agreed to a joint venture agreement.

[NWP SWP]

Sorry theyre a little blurry, I don't have access to a scanner or laptop to scan the pages so I have to make do with my phones camera.

I've tried finding the information online but no such luck.

[RR_Mel]

Good information, thank you for your troubles.  What is the name of the book and the Dewey Decimal System Definition number if it has it.

 

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[cuyama]

Tehachapi by John R. Signor. Golden West Books 1983

The posted pages begin about page 56.

I'm surprised that you don't have this excellent volume already, Mel. The Dewey Decimal may not help you find it via inter-library loan, but the ASIN will. 

ASIN: B01K3H4HDU

A Bakersfield library probably has it.

[RR_Mel]

cuyama

Tehachapi by John R. Signor. Golden West Books 1983

The posted pages begin about page 56.

I'm surprised that you don't have this excellent volume already, Mel. The Dewey Decimal may not help you find it via inter-library loan, but the ASIN will. 

ASIN: B01K3H4HDU

A Bakersfield library probably has it.

 

Thanks Cuyama!  It must be an old age brain fart!  I have the book with several bookmarks in other locations, the Bakersfield SP Roundhouse.  Thanks guys for the information.  I thought I had read that book very thoroughly, I guess the reason missed it is all the fabulous pictures.

 

 

The Bako SP Roundhouse was long gone before I moved here in1987.  The turntable still works, or did the last time I ventured down there before I retired. 

 

The SF Roundhouse and turntable were demolished in the early 90s.  I did manage to see the turntable in operation before it was gone.

 

I scratch built a 120' SF turntable after seeing the one here in Bako. The October 1989 MR had a great article on the SF tuentable with full size HO scale fold out plans.

 

 

 

My office was only two blocks from the SF yard and less than 100' off the east bound tracks to Techachapi.  I even got a ride from Bako to Techachapi in a SF Dash 8 in the early 90s, that was a blast.  My wife drove to Techachapi to pick me up.

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[NWP SWP]

Cool stuff Mel, I'm glad you enjoyed the information, it's the volume Cuyama said, I have three other books by him, the two Shasta division books (the original and expanded version), and Donner Pass one, I also have a book on Cajon that is similar in style and the schematics are by him as well.

[NWP SWP]

I guess nobody else found this info interesting.

[RR_Mel]

I guess the only ones interested already read John’s book.  I thought I read his book but because of all the great pictures I missed that article.  His books are terrific!!!

 

I find everything SP/Bakersfield/Tehachapi very interesting.  I grew up in El Paso and that was the eastern end of the southern Cab Forward Route.  Starting in 1951 at 14 I hung out at the El Paso SP Yards during the summer school breaks for three years so I was very familiar with the Cab Forwards and AC-9s, I really liked the biggies.  The roundhouse was always full of steamers, Cab Forwards, AC-9s and GS Series locomotives.

 

I also spent a lot of time in the diesel shop but the only memories I have are about the Alco PAs and a switcher.  I would ride the Yard Goat between the Roundhouse and the diesel shop.  Diesels really weren’t my thing.

 

I remember asking one of the mechanics why they never shut down the diesels, they were always idling.  He said it was much easier and cheaper to let them idle than go through a restart.

 

Now residing in Bakersfield I have lived on both ends of the Southern Route, the Tehachapi Loop is almost in my back yard.

 

In El Paso we lived next door to the SP Yard Super and that was a great advantage for a teenager.  With his permission I climbed all over all kinds of locomotives, the only place I was denied was the roundhouse Pit.

 

During the summer months my Dad would drop me off at the yard on his way to work and my neighbor would bring me home in the afternoons.

 

My most memorable things was a ride in the cab of a Cab Forward and a AC-9 as a birthday present from the Super and Yard guys.  I do remember seeing a diesel switcher pushing a string of freight cars accidently up an embankment onto a downtown El Paso street.  

 

Can you guess why I model the SP and have 19 SP articulated locomotives?

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[NWP SWP]

Yeah Signor has got some great books, I'm hoping to add some more to my collection.

About the diesels idling, down here in Louisiana you can walk through any parking lot and see at least a dozen idling diesel pickups, they even leave them running when pumping fuel, I was told that it actually takes more fuel to go through the crank up process than to just leave it running. 

I wish that more than one Cab Forward had been saved that way we could have a operating example for excursions, but since there's only one it's not likely they'll take that risk.