An hour at Tehachapi Loop - 3 freight trains.

Why is it a loop and not straight?
It's the grade, or how much the train gains elevation for a given distance. For example, say the train had to go up 100 meters of elevation. Now assume a 1km long rail that goes in a straight line to go up the 100m. The grade is 100m/1000m or 10% grade. Now if you take the same elevation gain (100m), and put a loop in the rail, that will lengthen the rail to say 2km. The grade is now 100m/2000m or 5%. You can see with the loop, the grade is less than if it were straight, 5% vs 10%, and the lower grade means it is not as steep for very long and heavy trains to not only go up but to go down. Saves on fuel, the need for more power and general wear and tear.
I visited the Tehachapi loop a year prior to this video and maintenance was being done on the tracks. I waited two hours and no trains passed by. This time, as soon as I pulled up, there was a train staged at the loop going down grade. I thought I would miss him as I just passed him coming down as I was driving down the highway. Luckily he stopped. As soon as I got to the overlook, a train was starting to come up grade. The result is in the video. It's like poetry in motion. It's worth mentioning the beautiful scenery just driving to the overlook and beyond, truly enjoyable. The audio was taken from another freight train that I recorded. That train was going much faster than the trains in this video, as you might be able to tell, but it works well enough for my liking. Hope you enjoy.

[@gregg19809]

It will never cease to amaze me how the dynamics of a train allow it to snake through all those curves and stay together … and I have been a Railroader for 35 years. Retired 10 years now!

[@davidetcheverry944]

GR they used to use greasers on the outside rail to keep the track wear down. One time the loop ranch horses got out and headed for the tunnel and we headed off the horeses before a train came!

[@Oo-IIII-oO]

I thought for sure there's at least a locomotive pushing from behind. Was surprised when there wasn't one.

[@GVQuadra]

@@Oo-IIII-oO the pulling force remains constant so it doesnt need a pushing for that would do the same thing or even fuck it up.That and there is about a 5 degree slope facing into the curse so the rotaion force doesnt throw the cars to the outside

[@GVQuadra]

@@Oo-IIII-oO what the train is moving also contributes alot, like the cars that were used to slow the train on the downhill

[@VincentHermes]

@@Oo-IIII-oO But there ARE two at the back of both trains here?

[@MausTheGerman]

Must be amazing for the train driver seeing his own train passing below the bridge.

[@davidwhiting1761]

Having multiple locomotives spread throughout the length of the train (Distributed Power Units) is pretty common nowadays. There is only so much power you can put on the front of a train without potentially snapping the couplers so if you have a heavy train and you need more power to get the train over the territory you put the additional locomotives somewhere else in the trains. For trains less than 8400ft in length you put the additional locomotives at the end of the train. If your train is longer than 8400ft you can put the extra locomotives mid-train using a formula to tell you how much tonnage to put in front of and behind the entrained locomotives, and if you need even more power after putting locomotives mid-train you can put more on the back of the train as well. This also helps longer trains go around curves without tipping over (known as stringling). But yes, the extra locomotives do have the added benefit of adding additional braking power and can help charge the brake line faster. Remember that this is hilly territory and trains not only need help up the grade but down the grade as well.

[@WhatISee1]

Been waiting on an explanation for the rear engines. Stringling, new word to me. Every time I see the train go around the loop, I feel it should be stringling and tying itself in a bow. Thank you for the info.

[@wallyman292]

DPU's are also good for controlling the slack that can otherwise occur in long trains, but you may have been implying this when you mention helping to prevent the snapping of the couplers. . .

[@tom7601]

@@wallyman292 slack, If not handled properly, can be a coupler killer, as you imply.

[@user-zm5qg9yu1z]

指啊啊哎

[@A.l85]

Well done for the extensive knowledge on the subject! ♥ ️👍

[@eligebrown8998]

I never knew such a set of tracks existed. This is definitely my top 3 train videos to watch. The train looping under its self then snakes through the valley is fantastic and the timing of trains to let them pass each other is crazy. Great video and thanks for sharing.

[@WhatISee1]

Glad you enjoyed it. I didn't know about it until a few years ago myself. It is cool to watch it all work.

[@plykkegaard1]

Tehachapi Loop is not the only one When the climb gets too steep engineers step in to help

[@AtomicAerials]

What are you other two favorite videos?

[@eligebrown8998]

@@AtomicAerials the Big Boy steam locomotive going through Wyoming in 2020 and then there's the one with an old steam Locomotive in China. Its dark and foggy as the train is coming up the valley and sparks are shooting out through the stack like a dragon. Very cool.

[@magran17]

@@eligebrown8998Would you please be kind and post links? I couldn’t find them.

[@roseaaron2892]

The Tehachapi Loop was built in the 1870s. Truly a magnificent example of architectural design in railroading! Back in the late 80s I had the good fortune to watch an SP train go over the Loop, from the car I was riding in on Highway 58. Very impressive!

[@WhatISee1]

Very cool!

[@mrBDeye]

What is the purpose of the loop when the train had no choice but to go back where it came from?

[@lalakerspro]

@@mrBDeye read the description. It says exactly why the loop is there

[@mrBDeye]

@@lalakerspro Yeah, but my point is the train had to go back the same way it came from, so it really doesn’t make sense.

[@lalakerspro]

@@mrBDeye there's no other option. A straight line would be a very steep grade

[@slimshady6359]

The drone footage turns it into a beautiful work of art..

[@johncarpenter1917]

This is a fantastic video, thanks for posting. Drones have opened up so many new boundaries in video making.

[@gregg19809]

I agree with the new vistas that drones have opened in the field of RR Videos. Awesom

[@voitekwojcik]

I love how this video is shot.

[@psoon04286]

In the past you’d need a financial backer to charter a helicopter with a nose mounted gimbal camera😳

[@holland9199]

This is Breathing, if i were younger I would have chosen this as a career 😃

[@K_3_R_R]

First thought this was a simulation until I looked up the actual place and realized it was real. I would not want to drive that train..wow. Awesome video.

[@natgass8102]

excellent video one of the best drone videos that I have seen of the Loop! thanks

[@WhatISee1]

Thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed.

[@ramennaidoo162]

Great piece of filming.❤ In Africa, this type of transportation has been done away with all together.

[@MADANAVANAM]

What a tremendous video with drone shooting and wonderful skill for shooting for a distance of about 7 to 10 KMS and amazing engineering elevated loop construction engineering👏👏👏👏👏

[@DocHellfish]

What beautiful country. I can't tell you how relaxing it was to watch this. Excellent drone work.

[@WhatISee1]

Thank you very much!

[@emcsquar3db]

Amazing and as a former drone pilot I appreciate the way you covered the event.

[@WhatISee1]

Much appreciated!

[@drivingmylifeaway7149]

Operator, pilots are inside the craft...

[@LethalLuggage]

@@drivingmylifeaway7149 if you wanna be particular, at least get it right. Operators own/rent the drones, pilots fly them. At least according to a cursory google search backed up across multiple sources.

[@worlds_okayest_pilot]

@@LethalLuggage I spent 6 years as a 15W UAV operator. We are not “pilots” as per the name, we are operators. Hence why we didn’t wear pilot wings, only aviation wings. No such thing as a drone “pilot”.

[@LethalLuggage]

@@worlds_okayest_pilot sounds like an opinion. OP had the opposite experience

[@garydunken7934]

Best ever footage of Tehachapi Loop. Awesome.

[@user-dj9en5cm9c]

Завораживающие кадры, показывающие мощь ЧЕЛОВЕКА!!!

[@user-wl4zk8zh6l]

да нет , это мощь природы, а человек, только все испаганил.

[@Reblwitoutacause]

You’re both mistaken. . . 😘 This is powerful AMERICAN 🫡

[@cameron503]

Something really mind-blowing about seeing a train snake back over itself. Thanks.

[@SphinctersForever]

This video is amazing, and very beautifully done! Absolutely stunning! My mouth was nearly hanging open through many scenes. Bravo!

[@WhatISee1]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed.

[@420WEED69]

4:23 I rode them same tracks Heading to COLTON ,L.A. , OR EAST TO TUCSON AND FARTHER EAST RODE FREIGHT TRAINS FROM 1995 TO 2004, NOW I HAVE A VAN

[@Suber140]

Thank you for this wonderful train snake shot. Mountainous greetings from Austria. 👏

[@WhatISee1]

Thank you, all my best from the U.S.

[@jacobsparry8525]

The first 30 - 45 seconds of air to ground footage looked like a well planned and put together play train set! 😊 👍

[@burizon7486]

Luxusní záběry z dronu. Moc dobrá práce. 👍👍👍👍

[@WhatISee1]

ďakujem za milé slová.

[@MrHics]

truly poetry in motion, what amazing timing!

[@transmitterguy478]

1st train 96 cars+ 3 engines? 2nd is 89 cars 4 puller engines and 2 pusher engines. That is what I got. Neat video, I have heard about this loop but have never seen it like this thanks!

[@volkertrummer1492]

This track line is just awesome! Best regards from Austria, Europe

[@WhatISee1]

Grüß Gott

[@davidcullingham9379]

This has to be the best video i have ever seen of the Tehachapi Loop. Most of what i have seen in the past has been taken from a fixed point. Excellent video well done

[@WhatISee1]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@wallyman292]

That is such a cool section of railway! I gotta wonder just how many model train enthusiasts have this duplicated in their basements!

[@robt2151]

Certainly, if you saw this geometry on a layout you would be tempted to question its realism.

[@profile.]

Slow, long and high drone-views are one the best ways to see the world! 🚂

[@i3looi2]

Good weather, good scenery; fantastic trains.

[@cagedtigersteve]

I can't believe you caught so many trains here. Very awesome.

[@Terraceview]

That loop is insane, thanks for the awesome footage.

[@harndenjames]

Why this gives me joy to watch I will never know. I love trains..

[@regular-joe]

Wasn't going to watch, other videos of the loop have been so disappointing. Glad I watched anyway, this was great!! Shared! Edit: loved that you explained the soundtrack in the description, too.

[@WhatISee1]

Awesome, thank you!

[@2666loco]

Beautiful. Thanks. Love the drone perspective.

[@WhatISee1]

Thanks 👍

[@diffened]

Nice video. I've never seen drone coverage of this stretch of tracks before. Really shows me why this loop is so famous. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@usmale4915]

Amazing video! Thank you for sharing!

[@thebluetarp]

How beautiful! Perfect drone shot!

[@HeartlandTuber]

Outstanding drone footage of the iconic loop from all angles. Well done.

[@WhatISee1]

Many thanks!

[@ph11p3540]

What a beautiful drone shot you captured. Almost want to build a house there until I realized chemical trains run on those tracks.

[@babydriver8134]

Enjoy?? YOU BET!! I try to get down there a couple times a year but seeing your drone footage was a real treat. The family was here with me.

[@robertmcdonnold3038]

Wow. I've watched more than my fair share of videos of the loop, this is one of the best. Your video came up on my suggestion list. Glad it did. Keep up the quality. Thanks and a new subscriber. Bob

[@WhatISee1]

Thank you Bob. Appreciate the comments.

[@davidetcheverry944]

the cross on the hill is dedicated to those who died on the runaway train in devore a few years ago.they also took out the tunnel above loop ranch. Amtrack is forbidden to use this rail route. ttoo busy.Amtrak riders take a bus to bakersfield.Ribbon rails put in when union Pacific bought the line from SP a few years ago Quality of track improved dramatically.I've had many a conversation with the ups guys.good bunch......I've seen the resistor grids glow red hot at night, dumping generator excess power in dynamic braking. NO DEFECTS........says the dispatcher.they use rail greasers, to keep the wear to a min.

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

awesome location and great drone footage!

[@TheEarthHistorysConfusing]

As a ozie theres no way id get to see this in real life!, Thanks for making this so i can see what its like!.

[@gabyherrmann9894]

I never in my life saw such a never ending worm. It was a brilliant, fantastic and absolut beautiful experience for me. Thanks for the video.

[@WhatISee1]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tedzehnder961]

If they ever outlawed private cars that highway would make one hell of roadway for trains.Nice vid.

[@bennyringstrom7765]

incredible,stunning,amazing,awesome,the best loop i ever seen. thank u.

[@WhatISee1]

Thanks Benny.

[@purple-edge]

This train,.. ... is INSANE!

[@vickielewis3848]

This video is great fun. I've lived in Northern California in the Bay area all my life and I've never been over this pass. We always use the 5. Thanks for sharing. 🇺🇲👏👍

[@WhatISee1]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rebeccajaskie8343]

I love watching this over and over it just so awesome

[@johntheoldmod]

Thank you very much for sharing this video, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute, I just can't believe the size of these things

[@minoosethna4615]

Tremendous feat of survey and grading. Hats off boss for the show. Adios

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

The physics of these loops is just insane. No wonder you got there on a maintenance day, the wear on these track must be nuts with all the forces pulling the wagons to the inside of the loops, I'm sure they have to send maintenance crews often.

[@mrkkitson]

Been here many times, always fun to see these monster trains snake up and down the mountains

[@dannyarcher6370]

It is absolutely mind-blowing how much weight can be towed by a couple of engines.

[@Jaybo79]

Excellent job framing

[@LionheartedDan]

Very well done drone footage with representative audio. Thank you for sharing this.

[@BikeAroundCWB]

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing the video and information about it.

[@101starting]

Very good 👍 thanks

[@WhatISee1]

Thank you too.

[@rogerioleite4408]

Uma obra fantástica. E as imagens mais fantásticas ainda. Feito um loop inteiro desse, para vencer uma diferença de altura, pois se fosse direto, iria ficar uma subida muito forte para os trens vencerem. Parabéns.

[@WhatISee1]

Rogeiro, obrigado pelos comentários. Você é muito gentil.

[@harryfatcat]

Outstanding! Someday I hope to see that in person. As the son and grandson of railroad engineers I guess train tracks are in my dna even though I didn't follow in their footsteps.

[@malcolmcollins3734]

Great aerial photography !!

[@ejandersen2878]

Fascinating stuff!! Great video.

[@WhatISee1]

Many thanks!

[@misryluvsco8169]

You did a WONDERFUL job with this video. I really enjoyed it.

[@WhatISee1]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kiwisunshine9631]

Oh wow, that was awesome! Great video and such beautiful scenery. Many thanks-stay well:-)

[@WhatISee1]

Thanks, you too!

[@oceandrew]

Probably the best footage I've seen from "The Loop". Well done.

[@WhatISee1]

Much appreciated.

[@marcdenlinger5282]

That was an amazing video! Very well done, and I love how you incorporated the sound with the drone video.

[@WhatISee1]

Awesome, thank you!

[@larrytaylor7753]

Great video. I’ve spent time at overlook/parking area at the top of the loop. An amazing place.

[@WhatISee1]

Very unique landscape up there. Thanks for the comment.

[@davidsmith-kl4gz]

Amazing footage ,gives a true picture of the hills,thanks

[@WhatISee1]

Truly beautiful hills. Love the drive there on the winding roads. Thank you.

[@davidsmith-kl4gz]

@@WhatISee1 I'm from England and we have nothing like it,thanks for sharing God's green earth

[@ponyrang]

Wow... !!! My best friend, It's always great. Your video is excellent quality. We liked and enjoyed to the end. Thanks

[@bernieregnier4500]

Well done, nicely recorded and enjoyed the whole film.

[@WhatISee1]

Many thanks!

[@Simfight]

The detail of these modelers is amazing. 😏

[@blendamorris4419]

Absolutely unbelievable! Thanks for sharing something I otherwise would never have seen!

[@nOmeanNoOhhhh]

I love to wonder about my first time anything. Thankyou..

[@robertkanyike7157]

Excellent video. It's so awesome that such sceneries are not easy to come by. Highly recommended.

[@WhatISee1]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@violetpathirana509]

I never seen a such thing . amazing this trains transportation. thank you. good thing you just patiently have done this video.

[@georgetarabini6552]

Best Tehachapi loop Video I’ve seen yet, good job, Thanks

[@WhatISee1]

Thanks George, much appreciated.

[@psoon04286]

Thoroughly enjoyed your video from start to where you hand catch the drone at the end👍🏼👍🏼. Thanks for sharing😄

[@WhatISee1]

Glad you enjoyed it. If you get a chance to visit, you should be able to see a train within an hours time. I got lucky and saw three of them.

[@psoon04286]

@@WhatISee1 reading through the comments, seems I’m not the only one that’s appreciative of your drone videography. I’d like to be able to capture the Tehachapi action with my drone some day. When that day comes I’ll remember this video as the inspiration👍👍😄. Side note: can’t help noticing that quite a number of your viewers don’t seem to appreciate the clever engineering that went into the construction of the ‘Loop’😏

[@kurniawantrimulato2165]

Wow...👍👍👍 Locomotives need a lot of power to do this

[@lw7238]

Best train video I have ever seen! WOW! Great job! WOW!

[@WhatISee1]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you! I still watch it every other day so it must be good because I get bored quick.

[@CVOSTREETGLIDE]

Great Video,thank you👍🏾

[@rhinomite5203]

From someone who only had a toy train when I was kid, these videos are awesome and so relaxing to watch🔥🔥

[@WhatISee1]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@nOmeanNoOhhhh]

Imagine the eerie cool sounds made if they ran through that in the middle of the night😮😊

[@jiminycrint]

Great shots 👏👏👏

[@mikeb2058]

The helpers on the rear are just the same units that helped that train get up to the top. They go all the way with the train usually. It's not because of "heavy cars". Rail cars are 286,000 pounds loaded. There are a few oddballs that can go heavier but the standard weight is 286. Used to be 263 IIRC back in the day. If you have a heavy dense product like steel, you just can't put as much on a car.

[@ATSFSuperChief]

A fantastic video of from Woodford through the Loop at Walong and then views on up through Marcel. The Tehachapi Pass Railroad was a great surveying and construction project. If there is a high resolution video without the sped up train please inform me how to purchase it.

[@WhatISee1]

Sorry Don. While the video is in 4K, I couldn't get the settings right with the sun at that angle so the result is a good looking landscape but the trains aren't super crisp. The original videos look about the same as the KZbin Video.

[@53shuzzie]

There must be some kind of award for this filming. So cool!

[@WhatISee1]

Very much appreciated!

[@garyyencich4511]

This is the best, most amazingly well done drone footage I’ve ever seen. American commerce on the move.

[@WhatISee1]

Much appreciated Gary.

[@gibbogle9486]

Phenomenal! Great video, thanks a lot.

[@jds6206]

Mesmerizing……hypnotic……fantastic video; well done.

[@WhatISee1]

Many thanks!

[@dreadog6425]

Very interesting. Thanks for your effort

[@pitrow66]

Very nicely done video.

[@autismknights8971]

That drone footage is EPIC! Outstanding work!

[@WhatISee1]

Glad you liked it!!

[@charleshaggard4341]

It looks like this would be a huge chokepoint for trains. I would think that with the modern big horsepower engines, this could be straightened. Fantastic video seeing it from above.

[@MegaIronleg]

GREAT VIDEO, AWSOME ENGINEERING. IN CANADA WE HAVE ONE IN FIELD, BRITISH COLUMBIA THATS A FIGURE EIGHT.

[@craigsnyder7747]

The Hawassee Loop spirals almost two complete circles before crossing back over it self. Currently it no longer carries anything but excursion trains but it was originally built for commercial use.

[@lawrenceogden3736]

Brilliant view I bet the driver never gets bored on that trip

[@user-el8zv9hx6r]

Pretty realistic model train! Nice job! ;)

[@progwaver]

Yes thats absolutely true, engines at the back helps push up, but downwards they are even more important and useful they give a lot of breaking power, the engines work then as generators , in electric lokomotives you give that back in the electric overheadline. now this is diesel electric machines the produced current will be going over resistors to transform it in heat.. Even in heavy trains it is possible to guide the train with this with less use of the pneumatical air pressure breaks from the whole train. These would overheat to hot if always use in downgrade tracks.. I dont know the grade there but I think 2 to 3 percent will it be. As train driver here in switzerland I worked also long time in freight trains business over the big mountain here GOTTHARD also LÖTSCHBERG and SIMPLON with several loop tunnels up and down and max grad of 2.7 percent.. we done this also even our trains are not so long but also heavy with 2000 tons. With two electrical engines at top and 1 at the back we guided such trains , if you bit know what you doing with absolute minimum use of airbreak down the hill.. only with control of the electrical breaks and use topographic of the line as well if possible, stations in between are mostly flat that helps before the track falls down again. And with a speed until 75 km/h, I dont know that in miles per hour sorry. Use the breaks in a sawtooth mode slow down and let come until limit speed to break again... to regenerate always airpressure system to fully possible usage. Much knowlegde is needed for that kind of traction.. upwards only limited backpressures are alloweed, cause we have not middle automatic couplers.. Our system is older . But one train they form also with American style middle couplers, this train was a block train for clay only. heavy wagons to 80 tons every and a total of 3250 tons we guided with 2 engines in front and 2 engines at the back only for down. Upwards we must split the train in first 2 engines pull 1500 tons without helper. The second part had 2 another front engines only needed until top of the line breakpoint and 2 helper for the remaining 1750 tons, thats why 3250 tons total. At the breakpoint the first part waited the second one, then as the second 2 front engines leaved the first and second part was combined and was going as one long train downwards until Italy over the border.

[@LyfovRyan51]

A great catch. 3 trains in one area in the time frame.

[@WhatISee1]

A lucky day. Last time there I saw a maintenance vehicle, no trains. Win some, loose some.

[@gokceralp]

These last 2 engines were used for more traction and braking force, as well as to maintain the safety and integrity of the trains, too. Engineers in the last engine have radio-connection with the ones in front engines to notify them if everything is okey at the end of train, as far as I know. Lovely video by the way.