Tehachapi Report

[ericsp]

I had a late morning to mid afternoon meeting today, so I took the day off and went to Tehachapi Loop after the meeting. I passed an eastbound BNSF pig train while I was on the Woodford-Tehachapi Road. I beat it to the loop by a couple of minutes. It was a long one and crossed over itself. Unfortunately, I was up by the monument so I could not photograph it crossing itself.

Just a couple of minutes after the first train, a very short UP westbound manifest freight showed up. It was probably only about 50 cars long. About 1.5 hours later, a eastbound UP manifest about the same size as the first showed up. About a half hour after that, another eastbound UP manifest came, perhaps a QPDPX. It was longer but long enough to cross itself.

At about 17:00 (at the midpoint of my time there), I decided to move down to by the tunnel in case a long train came. The first train after the move was a QPDWC. It was almost long enough to cross itself. Then another very short eastbound UP. Finally a long westbound BNSF stack train came, and I finally photographed one crossing itself.. This was about 18:30. Around 19:00 a M RICBAR came, lead by a CSXT SD50 (8588 if I remember correctly). I would guess most of the cars were loaded. In addition to the SD50, it had a BNSF SD40-2, FURX (ex-BN) SD40-2, BNSF GP35, and a BNSF 9-44CW. It sounded like all were pulling the train, yet the locomotives seemed to be struggling just to creep up the hill.

By this time it was too dark to take pictures. I did have my tripod and flash but decided to leave, even though I heard another train coming. On my way back to Keene, I passed what appered to be a MRVWC. This was the first train with DPUs. Just after I got on Highway 58, I saw that BNSF stack train again. They must have held it at Walong for the M RICBAR and MRVWC. It was moving west while an eastbound stack train was moving east.

Every time I go to the loop I notice what I would guess to be railfans sitting on a dirt road by the tracks. Is this a UP road? Has anyone ever had a problem with parking there? If it is a UP road, I am suprised that UP allows railfans in there. Perhaps next time I might try going there.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

Eric;

Your report contained some surprises for me. The last time I visted Tehachpi was in 1985, and it seemed all of the trains then were long enough to cross over themselves. By the way how many cars does it take for a train to cross over itself on Tehachapi considering the length of most of  the freight cars today? 

The trains I saw in the 80's seemed to have at least 100 cars with 4 units up front, 3-4 units mid-train, and 2 - 3 units pushing.

I wonder how much tonnage was on MRICBAR that it only had 5 units with approximately 15000 - 16000 hp?  I am also surprised that BNSF would concentrate that much horsepower up front.

If I remember correctly there is a ranch next to the tracks by the Loop, and there is a dirt road (with a gate) that crosses the tracks east of Tunnel 9 that leads to the Loop and the ranch. As I recall railfans were not welcome inside the Loop and by the ranch even back in the early 80's.

[Modelcar]

....What is the rulling grade up and around Tehachapi....?  It seems many comment of much power being used on trains ascending.  I realize the curvature will add to the resistance of getting the train up the grade.

[chad thomas]

2.25% eastbound

2.34% westbound

[Modelcar]

....Wow, that's steeper than I figured it was...No wonder it take power.  Even with a loop that's the best they {engineers}, could do ?...Must have been a real problem.  Thanks Chad.

[MP173]

Modelcar:
A bit different than our Indiana railroading, eh?

There are not many places I would go just to watch trains, but Tehachipi would be about the only one I can think of.

ed

[Modelcar]

....Oh yes Ed....Nothing much like that around our parts.  Over in my original state of Pennsylvania we have some though....Horseshoe Curve is an interesting place to watch the climb...but it still is not quite as steep.  About 1.8% avg. up the "hill" from Altoona to the summit.  About 12 miles.  Believe it gains about 90 some ft. across the ends of the "horseshoe".  It's interesting to watch.

[chad thomas]

Your report contained some surprises for me. The last time I visted Tehachpi was in 1985, and it seemed all of the trains then were long enough to cross over themselves. By the way how many cars does it take for a train to cross over itself on Tehachapi considering the length of most of  the freight cars today? 

I don't know about cars but length wise the loop is around 4000'. So anything larger will cross over itself (or under itself). That could be 75-80 50' boxcars or it could be 45 or so 89' TTX flats.

 

The trains I saw in the 80's seemed to have at least 100 cars with 4 units up front, 3-4 units mid-train, and 2 - 3 units pushing.

That would have been typical in SPs days, but with the DPU configureation becomeing the norm it's more like 3-4 in front and 2-4 rear end. You never really saw SF mid train helpers as they didn't really have the track to cut them in & out on on the east side. They were usually added & removed from the first sideing east of Mojave on SF track, Sanborn.

 

I wonder how much tonnage was on MRICBAR that it only had 5 units with approximately 15000 - 16000 hp?  I am also surprised that BNSF would concentrate that much horsepower up front.

Not to discredit Eric, But it's common to isolate a unit before climbing the hill. The extra horsepower is usefull in the valley where speed is more important then tractive effort. But up on the hill the extra TE could pull the train apart because it will excede the coupler strength.

Besides, it's easier to be a little underpowered and leave it in run-8 then it is to be overpowered and constantly have to jockey the throttle to stay under the speed limit.

 

If I remember correctly there is a ranch next to the tracks by the Loop, and there is a dirt road (with a gate) that crosses the tracks east of Tunnel 9 that leads to the Loop and the ranch. As I recall railfans were not welcome inside the Loop and by the ranch even back in the early 80's.

Yes, there is a ranch, and no railfans are not welcome in the loop. They probably got tired of all the empty kodachrome box liter. But you can park on the outside of the loop where the road to it crosses, and there is a elevated parking area east of that.