Tehachapi Derailment: The Aftermath

[@ritaloy8338]

Thanks Mark for letting us know about this derailment and the aftermath.

[@AntFlynn]

Thanks for taking us up there Mark

[@carolinafrog4365]

you stay safe up there!!! long ago back in 2011, i lost a steer tire off my 2009 Freightliner Cascadia at the top of the drop there at Tehachapi and (thank you Schneider and Prime Inc for those simulator trainings!) managed to bring her to a solid stop without becoming one with the scenery!

[@michaelalix4943]

Great coverage, thanks. I hope you keep making videos following the progress of the clean up

[@donalddodson7365]

Mark, I was surprised there were not a bunch of railroad officers keeping you from videotaping. I thought they still had 18th century jurisdiction to prevent "trespassing." Thank you for your dedication to bringing us the pictures. Be safe.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I am a 40 year employee in this area, retired in good standing. I spent a couple of hours the first day hanging out with the UP special agents. They know I'm not going to get in the way.

[@donalddodson7365]

@@MarkClayMcGowan Does help to have a good reputation. Take care.

[@AnontheGOAT]

Trains didn’t exist in the 18th century.

[@ronaldweir712]

Mark even a retired rail employee could be considered a member of the public if you are walking among wreckage and the track beds in the U.K. I worked on the railway building the track to Galashiels but that wouldn't allow me to walk along the tracks now. Still if you were with other railway employees then that's fine. The penalty for trespass would be around a thousand pounds in the U.K.

[@HappyQuailsLC]

@@AnontheGOAT A lot of people don’t know that the 18th century occurred during the 1700’s.

[@glentanner4770]

That's pretty crazy! I'm glad you were on the scene to capture this, very interesting, what a mess, it's going to be one hell of a challenge to fix it.

[@Justsobyjan]

Thank you Mark! Glad you provide this channel for us

[@charlesglandon7840]

Great video, Mark. They sure repaired that section fast.

[@trainmaster0217]

That was a very nice video. Thanks for showing us the "aftermath".

[@kevinkeller2819]

Hey Mark!! Kevin J. Keller here, from Dayton, Ohio! We know each other from your a Selfless contributions to the Tehachapi Train Depot! Just LOVE your work here!! Thanks for keeping the memories of my time there so Precious.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

My pleasure!

[@KimberleyNicholle]

Great shots & info! You were right up in there - so cool.

[@scottmarshall4996]

Great coverage Mark. I enjoy what you put out. It's like being able to travel without leaving home, and reminds me of when I lived in SoCal.

[@charlie.dowd-lebow]

Mark thanks again for your continuing coverage of the cleaning up of recent tehachapi pass derailment. Also thank you for caring enough about the content that gets uploaded to your channel to double check the footage you record before putting it up and making it public. Other channels I subscribe to sometimes forget to it more often than they possibly should and I feel like I need to leave feedback on the useablety of the audio the video or both. Anyway keep doing what you can to get us more content for your channel.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you! I try to make sure it all looks and sounds good. Thanks for checking it out!

[@skywatcherca]

Mark, your videos are always exceptional, but this one is another step up! GREAT video, and excellent commentary (hey, I like your commentary and speculation, I like it) - I am amazed at how quickly the crews have replaced the broken line and (apparently) have reopened the track to traffic. This must be a major route - the track crews must have worked all night to repair this line. Clean-up is going to be a bit of a challenge I guess - as you say, not too much room to work. As always, take care of yourself, be safe, and keep the hot coffee and calorie-free donuts handy. TU.

[@GilmerJohn]

I suspect the clean up will wait until after all the traffic is caught up and they can "reserve" a track for, say, an 8 hour shift and repeat as necessary.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you for the compliment! This a major route for BNSF and UP with an average of 35 trains every 24 hours, so you can understand why they burn the midnight oil to get it up and running!

[@EXROBOWIDOW]

It's pretty much the ONLY route between Los Angeles, the country's 2nd most populous metropolis, and the Central Valley, one of the top food production areas in the country. Just a tiny bit important, I suppose. It's also the route that the supposed "high speed rail" from L.A. to San Francisco is going to go.Though for that, they'll have to put in something that doesn't use the Tehachapi Loop.

[@winstonpugh3817]

Thanks for your hard work to bring this to us.

[@bnrailfannz8262]

Hello from New Zealand. Great coverage of this latest whoopsee. The opening shot was certainly an eye opener. Most impressed with the track staff getting the mainline up & running. Will subscribe to keep an eye on future developments . Thankyou

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thanks for the subscription and for checking it out! I really enjoy hearing from folks in far away lands! Love my Kiwis!

[@HashDogg06]

@@MarkClayMcGowan Yeah we like our trains & for me wish we could experience such big ones here in NZ but our rail is very minuscule & use narrow gauge.

[@jacksmith7726]

All those containers would have been stripped bare in New Zealand.

[@jamescotter5376]

Thanks for keeping us updated on that Mark that was very kind keep them coming brother

[@kens.3729]

Now this is what yo7 would called Close-up Action. Very Impressive, Mark. Thanks for your efforts with this Derailment and ALL the other videos you post for us. 👍

[@chrisstromberg6527]

Nice coverage Mark! I’m always amazed how quick you guys get everything back together after a derailment.

[@glennfoster2423]

I worked more derailments than I care to remember. First question:. Was anyone hurt?

[@glennfoster2423]

Next question: How soon can a train run? There is no revenue if the wheels. Are not turning. Back then the loss of revenue was many thousands of dollars per hour.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

No injuries. It opened up about 24 hours after the derailment occurred

[@RobertMartinez354]

First time commenter, long time follower; how very informative! I was up for Father's day and drove past four times, only happened to notice it on the second pass.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thanks for checking out the channel! Yeah, it's kind of in a place where you really need to be watching the road! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@mattc.310]

The're pretty quick getting the lines opened. Lots of money and customers sitting around waiting isn't a good thing for them. Thanks for heading up and giving us an update.

[@ohwell2790]

I worked as a switchman/brakeman in the 1970's for Southern Pacific. Our moto was" up hill slow, down hill fast, tonnage first and safety last " But the pay was really good. That was in the days of having a caboose and a rear brakeman and a head brakeman, ran for a lot of switches in those days. Worked out of Taylor Yard.

[@railworksaustriamedia]

What 😀

[@user-sh9du2nv5y]

My dad worked as a brakeman working in van nuys at gemco.

[@HobbyMoose79]

Old stomping ground, love the area. Just heard about the train derailment. Thank you for sharing. Really cool.

[@paveltolz6601]

Thanks for the video Mark, much appreciated.

[@jovetj]

Thanks for the upclose and personal view! What a mess... but, no one injured (I expect).

[@jerryjohnson6929]

You guys do great work it's a lot of time to do it

[@metrolinkfan8007]

Very good video Mark Tehachapi has a place in my heart cannot wait to go back pretty soon. Awesome video and aftermath derailment at Tehachapi loop CA.

[@bengone3349]

Good follow up and hopefully, more to come. Thanks

[@EmuIix]

Drove by that when returning from Bakersfield, the amount of derailments that have happened on the pass is definitely concerning. Great coverage!

[@robertridgley3278]

Thanks for the update Mark.

[@woodstock911snoopy]

Thanks for the update! Nice to see from the top of the wreck! Hopefully clean up soon to get the prime packages to there correct location.

[@dutch2120]

Thank You Mark! I was watching your video yesterday and I knew you would make an updated video of the carnage!! Ha! Ha!

[@veronica5293]

My husband just passed by there and authorities have done nothing to clean it up. It looks exactly the same over 2 months later. Crazy!!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

The only authority involved is Union Pacific Railroad. The cars are not in the way, and pose no physical or environmental issues. As this is on single track, the line would have to be shut down while they did the clean up (unless they decide to pull them down the hill, which is unlikely), and that is not an option just as the supply chain is getting back to normal. Thanks for checking it out!

[@corsairsofnarshaddaa]

We drove by the last week of March and saw it not knowing anything about it - I'm surprised to learn it happened back in Jan.

[@my3boysonly]

Mark, thanks for the great videos. Those are protective housings on top of the tank cars. They keep the valves and fittings from getting sheared off in case of a roll-over.

[@williammunford476]

Right and survived rolling down hill cool

[@olcrai]

that was a great informative video thanks so much for your time. we live in Bakersfield and for a while we didn't hear any trains at night. now we know why

[@HeavyHaulKen]

That's going to be a challenge to clean up! Saw that on the hillside on Wednesday afternoon.

[@regular-joe]

The sound that the derailment made must have been something to hear.

[@kmcc01]

I just went to Fresno last week, traveled west through Tehachapi. I noticed a derailment of intermodals with a auto carrier on the end. I didn't notice the tank cars. It was just on the other side of Tehachapi. I wonder if that is the same derailment? The ground was brown down in the valley but still pretty much green up in the Tehachapis.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

It is. Thy haven't done anything with it. It's not in the way and poses no hazards, so they'll get to it when it's convenient.

[@oisiaa]

I had a derailment on my property a few years ago and it took them almost a year to remove the cars.

[@gandydancer823]

As a track maintenance foreman you absolutely NEVER depend on crossing warning devices as an indicator of an approaching train. This is why we have a required sight distance per speed of track for lookout protection. Never ever in a blind curve. BTW in my area railroads use Hulcher tracked equipment to pick up derailed rolling stock.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I don't, but with 4 tunnels and a crossing, plus a 10mph speed restriction, only fouling the tracks for a few seconds (as I stated), and keeping a close eye on things, I felt pretty safe. 40 years in the signal department never goes away, but thanks for your concern!

[@BUBBAV2]

Hey Mark!! Virg. Great stuff. I just asked the wife the other day about that derailment as we were driving to pick up the grands.

[@Ostin_Colwell]

Great video! I've been wondering what the deal is with this. I drive by it almost every day making deliveries to auto shops.

[@dmorgan28]

Hey thanks for that video Mark. We appreciate it. ❤️👍

[@Ronifromearth]

how good is the railway security in America?? can you give any detail..

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

It depends on where you are, and who you know! I am fortunate to be a retiree in good standing, so I have unfettered access to a lot of places most folks couldn't get to. I do know the railroads have all cut back on their police forces and municipality law enforcement have bigger problems than people watching trains.

[@Ronifromearth]

@@MarkClayMcGowan ok... in India the railways are owned by the government so the safety/security requirement is some what okish but I will not say that we are good or bad .. we are somewhat moderate when it comes to safety here also accidents happens but not that frequently... the last accident we had was in the year 2020...

[@mec253]

Yet another great video !! I see you have the "gray ghost" back.

[@kacythomas7436]

Thanks for the coverage, watching the trains go by is one of the things I miss about from where I lived many a year ago. And yes, it is a common happing for trains to derail, even with the constant maintenance of the tracks. There is no way to predict when a rail crack.

[@debbied7035]

Was just driving by on 58 last weekend and alot of those cars are still there. I thought it must have happened a few days ago.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

They haven't done anything with them. The thieves are now taking the cars out of the autorack

[@MRRAILFANVON]

Congratulations mark the derailment videos are your most popular videos!

[@justme8340]

You actually have a good voice for narrating these vids. Great work! (This is from a guy who dreads the sound of his own voice with a Boston accent)

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thank you, and thanks for checking it out!

[@D_Cali_Life]

Awesome footage. Just 2 weeks before, I witnessed a train in Tehachapi with sparks and flames under the rails. Apparently it was braking hard and was still gaining speed. This was around 8:00pm on a Sunday. Very loud and very bright scene. This was south on the 58 just west of the 14.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

That was probably the rail grinding train. Here is a video of it at work. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZbZkHZtaJaDZ5o

[@gusshadleythelunaticfromar7125]

Thanks for the look on the"loop". My Ole dad had a infatuation with the "loop", he even built a compressed HO layout of it, pretty clever it was the train would run it go through the tunnel and come back through the tunnel in opposite direction. He had everything athearn made in "espee". I need to go and rescue the motive power and rolling stock. His railroad, aside from the holes in the wall is all gone. Dispute between him and mommy dearest, he tore it all down in 77. I ran some on it, it was a fun run.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Wow that was sure something Mark! Great coverage and views, thanks our friend! (Dave).

[@johnslanicky]

Thank you for the video - you do great work! 👍🚂

[@billdennis2993]

Thx Mark for you informative and entertaining video. Keep 'em rolling

[@CatherineParkinson-xc3sz]

I’m just drove through there this afternoon and parts of that train are still there! The wreckage is still on the side of the hill!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Yeah, it's not in the way and it's all being written off, so they'll wait until it is convenient to remove it.

[@mindymartindale6425]

Wow, great video! Thanks!

[@divox9pqr]

Terrific video of the loop from points I’ve never seen before. I can recall being on the Coast Starlight when it diverted from its normal route and took the loop, and your video adds even more to the thrill we experienced. Thanks so much.

[@socalfun64]

Great Footage, ThankYou!!

[@eezyclsmooth9035]

Nice video. Typically a derailment in a populated area, the rail company wastes no time or worries about Expense. They got going Immediately. After the clean-up, no remnants of an accident is left. In mountainous regions of Mexico, their are many carcasses of freight cars left where they fell. This nice video gives you views of cars (tops, bottoms, bogeys) that you rarely ever get to see! well done.

[@MyrtleBeach123]

Awesome Mark. Thanks for the update.

[@addamochs]

I'm pretty sure I seen a derailment in that neck of the woods not quite 10 years ago now. Truck driving in the general area for a load. Don't remember what highways I took, but I know it wasn't the LA BS. I firmly believe it was 395 up then over to the Bakersfield area. It was so fresh, the whole train was still there.

[@johnleach7879]

Mark, you are a jewell. No fluff, or fooling around. How did the local newspapers do?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Thanks! I read none of the local papers, nor do I watch any of the local news, so I don't know. Thanks for checking it out!

[@HotForgeChaos]

We had a dozen log and boxcar wagons go over when the rails washed out on a line here in New Zealand a couple days ago. The two locos and first half dozen cars made it through and the rest of the train is safe, but there's pallets of pulp and logs scattered throughout the farmer's paddock in the floodwaters

[@magmathon2]

I've loaded railcars like those, snd those domes on top of the tankcars are called crash box. They are designed to protect the dipleg and N2 valve for unloading. Great video by the way.

[@bevandron]

We used to live 3 miles from there. How long to clean this mess up. Delays if supplies!

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

They had the line re-opened within 24 hrs of the train going on the ground. The mess is still there, but it's out of the way. Thanks for checking it out!

[@arnoldthompson481]

Just North of OKC is a dog food plant and at one time we switched it two times a day. Busy place. We had to go open doors etc for them for bad doors on box cars. Then after a long time I had to go there and the rails going in were covered with gravel. I saw a lot of docks had been built into the South side of the building and JB Hunt trailers were at all of them and I figured we had lost all that business to trucks but as I was almost back to our shop IN saw the piggy back tracks were being loaded with JB hunt trailers. So really we lost the switching but got the road hauls.

[@MrGbutter]

Thanks for the video and content, stay safe, and keep up the good work.

[@krisdrinkwine6045]

I find it amazing they had that line up and running in just over 24 hours. Also amazing is those tankers not leaking from that long tumble. Wow.

[@Hyrev1]

Excellent video and commentary!

[@marklindsey1995]

@2:19 it looks like the wheel is missing the flanges?

[@Max_Marz]

I live right next to a rail yard where tankers are going back and fourth constantly at low speed, nice to know one of those things wont pop with a fairly non-violent derailment. Especially with the sorts of chemicals I see go by 😱

[@Shalaco]

Just drove by. So many cars still there. Crazy. 😅

[@BeatsByThePound]

Use to work for a company in Northern California called Jim dobbas they use to specialize in derailments

[@ManuelGarcia-et1ex]

I just pass by their this weekend and its still their 😮 looks scary from the freeway

[@hoasis]

there is a white car next to the track, we saw it from hwy 58, was that from the derailment, or did someone try to drive it there?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

It was dragged out and stripped. Someone also cut a hole in the top of the autorack, removed a car, dragged it down the hill, and hauled it away whole.

[@stalkingalex1915]

@@MarkClayMcGowan That is unbelievable. We have driven by and wondered how that white car got there… then it somehow seemed to be moved around just beneath the rail car in the hill and flipped upside down. I guess there were a few cars inside that are slowly being “relocated”. Thanks for the info!

[@amelierenoncule]

A pleasant, train-spotting, demeanor you possess, mon ami !

[@kansascityshuffle8526]

I was driving through a place called chaplin sk in Canada about 10 days ago. The derailment they had there piled containers so high the pile was bigger than some apartment blocks.

[@GregKrynen]

Used to live right there. Walked those tracks many a time. We lived on the property above the yellow house that sits right next to the track.

[@louisletourneau3429]

Thanks for the video , is it a case again of light cars up front ?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Broken rail under the train kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqrKpGuQrburmck

[@louisletourneau3429]

@@MarkClayMcGowan thanks , keep up the good work !

[@bigdougscommentary5719]

Do thieves always open the forward facing ends?

[@icecoldcoolj]

How do you get there is there a trail?

[@psoon04286]

Very good reporting, and highly competent videography. As some of the other commenters have noted, the railroad police seem to be snoozing. Over in Canada I wouldnt be able to get this close and over any extended period of time. Usual reasons for chasing us off are ‘tresspassing on private property’ and ‘safety’😳

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

I was hanging out with the railroad police the day it happened. I am retired in good standing with no axes to grind with the railroad. They know I'm out there for folks who like trains and not to make them look bad.

[@psoon04286]

@@MarkClayMcGowan wish that they all can be likewise.

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video, curious situation, i assume the losses for derailments are on the railway! the delay and damage for the stock in that derailment must be huge

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

All of it is insured and the railroads are bonded. It all comes out in the wash! Thanks for checking it out!

[@foxnfrill]

Do people really steal from train cars like that? I never knew but you mentioned the opened containers. Crazy

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

Oh yes! Check this out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqK8hmSjf8lob9k

[@drewyager4020]

I like the two different perspectives. The RR bedding is just so wild. All that material of rocks. Incredible

[@swansong.cloudd]

Hey, it's June 10th. The remains still lay beside the tracks as I recently passed it. I am unsure if it was recent or this. It looked very identical.

[@SteamCrane]

Is this on the east side of the loop, or on one of the curves north or south of it? Thanks.

[@JamesSmith-ow5vr]

Did they already fix the portion of track that got messed up

[@brianhickey5949]

I always learn something when I am listening to your videos. This time it was dynamic braking. I know it's there on these engines and yet it didn't strike me how it was used until you mentioned that single lead engine probably wouldn't have enough dynamic for the descent. This is worth a forehead slap :) Very cool! Thank you for that :) What is with the rampant theft from the railroads? I guess the crooks can't settle for the more normal types of theft when a single container holds more promise. Sad state of affairs.

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

The rampant theft in California is about to get much worse with the closing of many yards and prisons. I'm already seeing more unauthorized passengers on trains.

[@brianhickey5949]

@@MarkClayMcGowan Wow! I know there are "Hobos" that ride, but they aren't into theft. Scary times!

[@littlelittledeer1435]

Thank you for this video.

[@briankemp5206]

Thanks for the video Mark.

[@grc_whale1304]

At the San Diego Model Train Museum the have a replica of the Tehachapi loop it’s beautiful.

[@mikepate6404]

thanks for the up close footage - very interesting.

[@Cdntrvler54]

Which direction is The Loop from where this derailment occurred. Only been that area the one time, this past October (for the Edwards AFB show) and visited The Loop as a side trip. Thanks from across the border (49th that is)

[@drjohnnyfever8989]

Any idea what’s in the tanker cars?

[@johnoconnor431]

awesome job Mark

[@James-px8ji]

How are you keeping the thieves out of those containers and all of those new automobiles sitting down there ?

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

They're not! Four of the Cadillacs have been stolen from the auto rack. The only containers that can be accessed have big bags of powdered milk, which I am told, they have gotten into as well. I was asked to say they were empty in an attempt to keep thieves at bay, but I guess not all criminals watch my channel!

[@sptraxide]

Thanks for the update.

[@NicoleNunezOWWN]

Just drove by today 2/6 and another train has gone off the tracks

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

No, they just haven't started the clean up yet. I hope to follow some of that as well.

[@JacksonSubNScaleModelRailroad]

So when you come across an issue like that with a container being open and loaded, is it worth trying to hail the crew via radio to let them know? I always do when it's a safety issue like a hotbox or dragging equipment, but this doesn't cause much of a safety problem, other than the doors maybe swinging and hitting infrastructure along the tracks, like tunnel entrances and signal masts etc...

[@MarkClayMcGowan]

UP and BNSF have RMCC numbers I can call and report the issue. They will notify the crew and stop at the first easily accessible and level spot to close the doors. The open doors don't hang out far enough to cause problems. Thanks for checking it out!