Tehachapi, CA
Nestled atop the 4,000-foot-high Tehachapi Pass lies the small Kern County community of Tehachapi, CA -- claiming a population of about 13,500. It's a leisurely hour's drive on State Highway 58 about 40 miles southeast from Bakersfield and 90 miles on to Barstow to the west -- where it junctions with US 15 linking Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Larry says the Tehachapi Mountains are particularly beautiful when dusted with winter snow.
The Getaway Geezers visited this quaint town enroute home from Bakersfield on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013 after competing with the Las Vegas Silver Statesmen Barbershop Chorus at a contest sponsored by the Barbershop Harmony Society's Far Western District. Our chorus did very nicely, thank you!
Tehachapi's major (little-known) attraction is The Loop -- an historic railroad landmark considered one of the engineering feats of its day. It's been dubbed a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Built by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1874 over a two-year span, the loop's circular track gains 77 feet in elevation as the track climbs a steady 2% grade. A large white cross (shown in photos, below), known as "The Cross at the Loop" stands atop the pointed circular hill in the center of the loop in memory of two Southern Pacific employees killed in a 1989 train derailment in San Bernardino, CA.
The community also is home to a wind farm, ostrich and alpaca farms, Indian attractions and many historic murals hand painted on walls and fences. Tehachapi State Prison and Edwards Air force Base also are in the area. In 1952, the town was badly damaged by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on little-known White Wolf Fault.
Most of our time on the mountain was spent on a lengthy visit to "downtown's" outstanding Depot Railroad Museum. We were hosted by on-site friendly volunteers Doug and Sheryl Pickard, who know everything about the area's railroading past and present. While we were there, some half a dozen long trains -- blowing their ear piercing air whistles (originally called "steam trumpets") -- sped by the small depot enroute from the San Joaquin Valley to points easterly. Sheryl caught us on film reading the community's bi-weekly newspaper, called (you guessed it) The Loop. The Friends of the Tehachapi Depot's website link is www.tehachapidepot.com.
For railroad buffs -- here's how to get to the Loop (up close and personal!): California Highway 58 is the main route in. Heading east from Bakersfield: exit 58 at Keene, CA and turn North (1/4 mile) to Woodford Tehachapi Road. Turn right. Follow the road about a mile and it will join the tracks under the overpass. The road rejoins 58 at the top of the mountain.
Shortly after our visit, the image below appeared in Tehachapi's local newspaper, The Loop...a copy of which was sent to us by our friends at the museum.
The Getaway Geezers visited this quaint town enroute home from Bakersfield on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013 after competing with the Las Vegas Silver Statesmen Barbershop Chorus at a contest sponsored by the Barbershop Harmony Society's Far Western District. Our chorus did very nicely, thank you!
Tehachapi's major (little-known) attraction is The Loop -- an historic railroad landmark considered one of the engineering feats of its day. It's been dubbed a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Built by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1874 over a two-year span, the loop's circular track gains 77 feet in elevation as the track climbs a steady 2% grade. A large white cross (shown in photos, below), known as "The Cross at the Loop" stands atop the pointed circular hill in the center of the loop in memory of two Southern Pacific employees killed in a 1989 train derailment in San Bernardino, CA.
The community also is home to a wind farm, ostrich and alpaca farms, Indian attractions and many historic murals hand painted on walls and fences. Tehachapi State Prison and Edwards Air force Base also are in the area. In 1952, the town was badly damaged by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on little-known White Wolf Fault.
Most of our time on the mountain was spent on a lengthy visit to "downtown's" outstanding Depot Railroad Museum. We were hosted by on-site friendly volunteers Doug and Sheryl Pickard, who know everything about the area's railroading past and present. While we were there, some half a dozen long trains -- blowing their ear piercing air whistles (originally called "steam trumpets") -- sped by the small depot enroute from the San Joaquin Valley to points easterly. Sheryl caught us on film reading the community's bi-weekly newspaper, called (you guessed it) The Loop. The Friends of the Tehachapi Depot's website link is www.tehachapidepot.com.
For railroad buffs -- here's how to get to the Loop (up close and personal!): California Highway 58 is the main route in. Heading east from Bakersfield: exit 58 at Keene, CA and turn North (1/4 mile) to Woodford Tehachapi Road. Turn right. Follow the road about a mile and it will join the tracks under the overpass. The road rejoins 58 at the top of the mountain.
Shortly after our visit, the image below appeared in Tehachapi's local newspaper, The Loop...a copy of which was sent to us by our friends at the museum.
MORE INTERESTING BACKSTORY: Built by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1874 over a two-year span, the loop's circular track gains 77 feet in elevation as the track climbs a steady 2% grade. A large white cross, known as "The Cross at the Loop" stands atop the pointed circular hill in the center of the loop in memory of two Southern Pacific employees killed in a 1989 train derailment in San Bernardino, CA.
The community also is home to a wind farm, ostrich and alpaca farms, Indian attractions and many historic murals hand painted on walls and fences. Tehachapi State Prison and Edwards Air force Base also are in the area. In 1952, the town was badly damaged by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on little-known White Wolf Fault.
Most of our time on the mountain was spent on a lengthy visit to "downtown's" outstanding Depot Railroad Museum. We were hosted by on-site friendly volunteers Doug and Sheryl Pickard, who know everything about the area's railroading past and present. While we were there, some half a dozen long trains -- blowing their ear piercing air whistles (originally called "steam trumpets") -- sped by the small depot enroute from the San Joaquin Valley to points easterly. Sheryl caught us on film reading the community's bi-weekly newspaper, called (you guessed it) The Loop. The Friends of the Tehachapi Depot's website link is www.tehachapidepot.com.
The community also is home to a wind farm, ostrich and alpaca farms, Indian attractions and many historic murals hand painted on walls and fences. Tehachapi State Prison and Edwards Air force Base also are in the area. In 1952, the town was badly damaged by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on little-known White Wolf Fault.
Most of our time on the mountain was spent on a lengthy visit to "downtown's" outstanding Depot Railroad Museum. We were hosted by on-site friendly volunteers Doug and Sheryl Pickard, who know everything about the area's railroading past and present. While we were there, some half a dozen long trains -- blowing their ear piercing air whistles (originally called "steam trumpets") -- sped by the small depot enroute from the San Joaquin Valley to points easterly. Sheryl caught us on film reading the community's bi-weekly newspaper, called (you guessed it) The Loop. The Friends of the Tehachapi Depot's website link is www.tehachapidepot.com.
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