The unpaved parking area from which you can get a good look at the entire loop has been chained off i.e. -- the dirt road just above the monuments. I urge rail fans to contact the Tehapaci Chamber of Commerce and urge them to work with the landowner to open access to the area. 661-822-4180 The view from the monuments is very poor. I traveled to CA for 2 weeks of vacation of which I expected a highlight to be the loop. Let's act so others are not disappointed.
This is up on the hillside where the bronze plaque is...yes? On those times I went there, I went to the little rise that is less than 100 yards from the west switch of Walong siding that you got to via a dirt road starting below the loop. Is that still accessible? Or is that closed for UP/BNSF trespassing policy?
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
Maybe the land owner grew tired of picking up trash that few inconsiderate people left behind? I've seen that happen at several railfan locations over the years. Could be a insurance issue too.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Ah... I should know better, I installed concrete ties on the Tehachapi grade in 1998. I meant the east switch at Walong siding.
LOL.
I had heard from other sites that there have been problems like this there recently from private land owners and the RR. I also heard that there is someone from the railroad that has appointed himself as "God's law enforcer against railfans".
It's worth pointing out that, although someone might want one particular view of the loop, there are certainly dozens, and probably hundreds, of excellent photo locations all along the Tehachapi route from Edison to Mojave, all visible from public property. If a landowner has chained off access, it's because, well, it's private property. One essence of being a railfan, rather than a foamer, is to respect private property.
BRAKIE Maybe the land owner grew tired of picking up trash that few inconsiderate people left behind? I've seen that happen at several railfan locations over the years. Could be a insurance issue too.
The landowner at BNSF's Crawford Hill in NW Nebraska asks that railfans stop at the farm house to sign a release and get a property map with routes, gates etc, noted. I can't recall if I had to pay, or if I just made a donation. Either way, it was well worth the effort. A good balance between full open access and closure.
I visited Tehachapi Loop two years ago and the entrance to the dirt road was chained off then. I just parked at the monument and walked in. A number of locals were doing the same. It appears that there are no restrictions on entering the property on foot and all the photo locations are still available.
M636C