Tehachapi Railfanning ?

[Anonymous]

Hello All, After reading the Jan. Issue of trains that came in the mail yesterday, I was absouloutely stunned by the shot taken at Cable on Tehachapi. After all my years of watching trains on Tehachapi, I have never found my way down there. Has anyone been there before and is there an easily accessable way to get down there ? with a few upcoming trips to the area, I would like to show my friends arround down there.

Thanks to all,
P.S. I am sorry if this is the wrong section to post in.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Smp1151

Hello All, After reading the Jan. Issue of trains that came in the mail yesterday, I was absouloutely stunned by the shot taken at Cable on Tehachapi. After all my years of watching trains on Tehachapi, I have never found my way down there. Has anyone been there before and is there an easily accessable way to get down there ? with a few upcoming trips to the area, I would like to show my friends arround down there.

Thanks to all,
P.S. I am sorry if this is the wrong section to post in.

Iam also wondering that? Does anyone on the forum?

[ericsp]

I have been to Tehachapi, but not Cable. Here is my guess on how to get to Cable, try getting off of Highway 58 at City of Tehachapi (Tucker Road/Highway 202 exit). Highway 202 leaves Tucker road, it goes west on Valley Boulevard. Take this to Woodford-Tehachapi Road, turn right (north). There are various roads that come off of this, including Marcel Drive. My timetable shows a station of Marcel 2.5 miles west of Cable, my map shows Marcel Drive going to the tracks at the east end of the siding at Marcel Station. You might be able to get to Cable from one of these roads I will look for my January 2004 issue of Trains. My guess is you will probably have to drive on dirt roads or hike to this location, which might not be legal.

If you want to get to the loop, continue taking Tehachapi-Woodford Road (TWR) west or get back on Highway 58 west. TWR has a historical marker on it (with room on the shoulder to park) that overlooks the loop. Further west (towards Keene) TWR comes close to the tracks, you can get a good picture of the trains passing over themselves at this location. There are a few places where the road where you can get good views of Walong siding (immediately west of the loop). To get to these locations from Highway 58, take the Keene exit. If you were going east on 58, turn left at the end of the exit, right for westbound. The road from the ramps (exits) dead ends at another road (I think it is still called TWR). If I remember correctly, there is a sign pointing the direction at this location. It dead-ends at a fire station if you go left/west. Go right/east. The road will go under Highway 58. The loop is a couple of miles up.

Here are some things to remember. Always set your parking break. Point your wheels so that if the car does roll while parked it rolls toward the side of the road where the mountain rises above the road. If you go there in summer be on the look out for snakes. Becare not to accidentally start a fire.

[Anonymous]

Is there any web cams for Tehcahapi

[Anonymous]

The only way to get to Cable and Cable Crossover is by a dirt road owned by the UP. As far as going to Marcel, it would be a miserable hike down into the canoyn or trying to walk along the tracks and through a tunnel which is dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Hi all,
not exactly a response to the queery, but

copy and paste this into your browser, cool site,

scroll down, and you 'll see Tehacahpi......

http://www.terraserver.microsoft.com/famous.aspx

enjoy,

driver8 on the BNSF mainline
IOWA, USA !!!!

[Anonymous]

The last time I was at the LOOP,
We could not go inside the loop.
Several No Trespassing signs.
This was a few years ago.
Ralph.

[agentatascadero]

I'll be there in mid-March. Are there any camping spots at or near the loop?

[TheS.P.caboose]

Cable and Cable Crossover is at the railroad west end or Bakersfield side of Tehachapi. It's just off of highway 58.

There is a web cam for Tehachapi. It's at http://www.trainorders.com.

[Anonymous]

There is a web cam for Tehachapi. Cable is on PRIVATE property. The people who own the property do not want rail fans to invade their lands. However, there are many good angle shots to view almost every location in the Tehachapi's....it's a wonderful place to visit. Of course there is the famous loop, but don't miss the Caliente Loop and Bealville. All three of these places are very much open to the rail fans, BUT please respect the properties nearby and stay off the tracks so future rail fans will have the same opportunty to visit these places in the future.

[spbed]

Yes I have been there.

If you want to actually see the train looping over itself you have to park the car & trek out on a foot path already treked on many rail fans before you. The path takes you to a overlook where you can pix of a train coming up the hill exiting the tunnel crossing over itself & as it passes you all in one shot. I would guess from the road to the overlook is about 1/4 to 1/2 mile. If you find my sun glasses that I lost their let me know.

I also suggest without fail you get to Caliente up the road from the loop. Besides the smashing scenery you can get very good pix of the trains taking a sweeping horseshoe curve as well climbing up the grade. You can get real close to the trains their. [:o)]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Smp1151

Hello All, After reading the Jan. Issue of trains that came in the mail yesterday, I was absouloutely stunned by the shot taken at Cable on Tehachapi. After all my years of watching trains on Tehachapi, I have never found my way down there. Has anyone been there before and is there an easily accessable way to get down there ? with a few upcoming trips to the area, I would like to show my friends arround down there.

Thanks to all,
P.S. I am sorry if this is the wrong section to post in.

[Anonymous]

Actually the trail talked about above is a great and safe trail but you can drive into the loop area if you don't enter Loop Ranch. Before crossing the tracks just turn right or left and stay on the dirt roads. The railroad tolerates rail fans so do not abuse this "gift". The hill side view is awesome but the lower view allows you to be within 15' of the trains as they pass.

[Anonymous]

Bealville has a parking location next to the tracks and the railroad tolerates rail fans here also, so never abuse this priveledge. Cliff is visible from Bealville. Caliente Curve is one of the best locations to "listen" to locomotives howl in dynamic brakes or throttle up to run 8....great parking and plenty of photo opportunities. Stay off the tracks and enjoy the action. Lots of passing of trains at ths location.

[spbed]

OK thanks for the additional info. Can you see from that location the EBer coming up the hill then going thru the tunnel then looping over itself then taking the curve then passing below you so you have 4 levels in one shot? [:)]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sponthetrona2

Actually the trail talked about above is a great and safe trail but you can drive into the loop area if you don't enter Loop Ranch. Before crossing the tracks just turn right or left and stay on the dirt roads. The railroad tolerates rail fans so do not abuse this "gift". The hill side view is awesome but the lower view allows you to be within 15' of the trains as they pass.

[TheS.P.caboose]

At Bealville it's hard to see a lot. Heading eastward you'll be able to see the trains passing by Cliff siding.

If you travel the same road away from Highway 58 and go past Bealville, this road will take you to Caliente. You'll be able to see more here. The horseshoe curve, westward towards Illmon and the downgrade leading to Caliente.

I like both spots, Bealville and Caliente, enjoy the time there!

[spbed]

Yes in my book the horseshoe curve @ Caliente gets a A+++++++++++++++ also extremely scenic besides a super site. I did not get to Bealville but the overhang where you can see forever was also terrific just make sure to bring binoculars & a telephoto lens to get a good shot of the train going thru the underpass before looping over itself [8D][:o)]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose

At Bealville it's hard to see a lot. Heading eastward you'll be able to see the trains passing by Cliff siding.

If you travel the same road away from Highway 58 and go past Bealville, this road will take you to Caliente. You'll be able to see more here. The horseshoe curve, westward towards Illmon and the downgrade leading to Caliente.

I like both spots, Bealville and Caliente, enjoy the time there!

[TheS.P.caboose]

After turning off Highway 58, as I'm sure you know, is Bealville. I enjoy railfanning the eastbound traffic as they exit the tunnel at Cliff. The rails are higher in elevation plus the smoke from the locomotives is brought out by the train cars. The road also crosses the mainline and east end of Bealville siding.

This is one of my favorite areas along the line. Bealville - Caliente, just a short drive on the same road, lots of different things to see and hear.

Another favorite of mine is at Sandcut. Looking west towards Bakersfield from a bluff be the side of the tracks, it's a straight shot into Bakersfield. It's about 12 miles and you can see the head light of an eastbound. Looking eastbound the tracks go downgrade to Bena (a helper set is sometimes parked in the hole) and towards Illmon can also be seen from this bluff.

At Kern Junction (Bakersfield) the BNSF enters/exits the UP mainline here. That can be another good spot. Same can be true at East Mojave.

[spbed]

I missed Bakersfield but I assume it is just like Daggett or Riverside.[:o)]

I did get to E Mojave but it was a bad day only 1 UPRR & nothing from the BNSF. They had the loop closed so I guess the BNSF was holding there trains at B/Field & Barstow until the line reopened. [:(]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose

After turning off Highway 58, as I'm sure you know, is Bealville. I enjoy railfanning the eastbound traffic as they exit the tunnel at Cliff. The rails are higher in elevation plus the smoke from the locomotives is brought out by the train cars. The road also crosses the mainline and east end of Bealville siding.

This is one of my favorite areas along the line. Bealville - Caliente, just a short drive on the same road, lots of different things to see and hear.

Another favorite of mine is at Sandcut. Looking west towards Bakersfield from a bluff be the side of the tracks, it's a straight shot into Bakersfield. It's about 12 miles and you can see the head light of an eastbound. Looking eastbound the tracks go downgrade to Bena (a helper set is sometimes parked in the hole) and towards Illmon can also be seen from this bluff.

At Kern Junction (Bakersfield) the BNSF enters/exits the UP mainline here. That can be another good spot. Same can be true at East Mojave.

[TheS.P.caboose]

The Bakersfield station is at Baker Street off of Highway 58. Kern Junction is on the south/east end of the yard. It's a pretty straight run to Sandcut.

In my experiences along the line between Bakersfield and East Mojave, it can be a crap shoot. Somedays I see a lot of action, other days I don't see anything.

[spbed]

Thanks U 4 the info. Besides Caliente & the loop the loop on my scale Daggett/Cajon pass/Colton & R/side are far better for what I enjoy. As I live on the E/coast I try to see as much as I can which is why spots that are easily more accessable via LAX or Vegas are better for me. [:D][:p]

Actually I was at the exact juncture point of the BNSF & UPRR @ E. Mojave & only saw that 1 UPRR train. As I said the MOW guys had taken the loop out of service so I believe all BNSF trains were being held at B/field or B/stow & UPRR trains were also held at B/field or Mojave. Some days you are lucky others days you are not the motto I use. [:(]

Soon I will be going to hot spots in NEB/UT/ID/WY. Hopefully my son will have my web site done by the time I return so the pix I take will be accessable for the forum members to see of these spots. [8D][8D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose

The Bakersfield station is at Baker Street off of Highway 58. Kern Junction is on the south/east end of the yard. It's a pretty straight run to Sandcut.

In my experiences along the line between Bakersfield and East Mojave, it can be a crap shoot. Somedays I see a lot of action, other days I don't see anything.

[TheS.P.caboose]

In the case of the Union Pacific there are four ways into and out of Southern California. The coastline, used by Amtrak's Coast Starlight plus about 9-10 freights a day, the old SP Saugas Line (Palmdale Junction - Burbank Junction), the Palmdale - Colton cutoff (Palmdale Junction - West Colton and Beamont Hill (West Colton - Yuma).

For BNSF Cajon Pass is their only way in and out of Southern California.

At the north end where the 15-215 solit is at Devore can be a good spot. Between this freeway and Glenn Helen Park, there are three mainlines that are about 50 feet apart. When all three mains have traffic at the same time, you'll go crazy trying to figure out which train to watch. I've seen some long trains here, 100+ cars, on each train.

If your coming in thru Las Vegas, Neveda, this is one of the ways UP has to enter SoCal from Salt Lake City. This will lead to trackage rights onto BNSF at Daggett. Trains on this line usually go to East Los Angeles Yard.

If you railfan at West Colton yard, there's a lot of railfans that watch from Pepper Avenue. Pepper is on the east side of the yard, with the yard being set up for traffic to travel west to east. The is a ballon track that is vissible from Pepper Avenue where the trains turn around and head back west.

[spbed]

I also had bad luck at that place you mention in devore. It was 2003 & the fires were burning there & the road was closed. I am hopefully to get to it this upcoming August.[:(]

While I am not much of a yard man more into speed & interlocking which is why the Colton diamond/Riverside/Daggett have such a attraction for me. This year I do intend though to go where you mentioned on Pepper St to check it out. [:D]

When I was in the Cajon pass I was near the summit on a knoll where you can see all 3 tracks quite clearly & I got super lucky on the top track came a UPRR WBer probably from Palmdale. On the middle track stuggling up hill was a BNSF EBer. On the lower track was a BNSF WBer of empty TOFC cars. So at one time I got all 3 train locos in the shot at the same time. I guess that is the 360 from not being able to access that site in Devore. [:p][:o)]

If you live near by maybe we can connect at Colton Or Riverside in Aug? [:D][:p]

Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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