Two Trains Passing on the Tehachapi Loop

[@dieterkoch6563]

And that people is why everyone loves Wonderhussy! She retains the pure excitement of a four year old. Great!

[@johnbogle6475]

You asked if the train drivers waved at each other? When two trains pass each other, out of courtesy, they try to give a visual inspection of each other (I've seen where, by request, the conductor or brakeman gets out of the "sided" train, crosses over and watches from the other side). If the train looks OK they usually send a short radio message "High Ball" or "Good Roll by". There are different kinds of trains. Longer trains are cross country and shorter trains are often "Locals" which move heave materials amongst local industries. Most local drivers know each other and since they try to keep engineers on the same pieces of track (familiarity enhances safety), in any given area a lot of drivers know each other. I don't think they wave however :). Great video. Thanks

[@lisalee6496]

I live less than 75 miles from Tehachapi, and have for over 34 years. NEVER heard of this place. I'm eager to check it out in person, now. Thanks!!

[@lowbaritonewwj]

I did wind farm work in Mojave, and lived in Tehachapi 7 of the last 9 years.. and I only checked the Loop out once.

[@AbuPaul]

A few notes: - Just stopped by last week (late June 2021) and construction has started to expend the overlook point you're standing at. - The other train stopped because the tunnel is a single track. - You can follow the road to your left (where you're standing looking in) to catch up with the train that came from the right as it emerges from the tunnel. - I'm told there is a beautiful trestle as part of these tracks near the 58 highway that is very tricky to see or to get to. I've never been able to see it. - Modern trains no longer use a caboose, and those you saw were engine\locomotives helping pull\push the heavy train. - I love your channel :)

[@jimhilliker2450]

I don't know what you do for your day job, but you are amazing on this video!!! Congratulations. I worked in radio for 26 years, but you have a gift of gab, plus you are very beautiful and smart. I loved this video. Wish I could make videos like this. Also, I have lived in California for 64 years, but I have never been to the Tehachapi Loop. .I hope to get there soon. Thanks. I'm not a railroad expert either, but I love watching trains sometimes. Good job, lady!

[@kms6466]

The best looking historian on the tube...say hi to mom...safe travels

[@Tricky929]

From a Railfan, well done Wonder Hussey, well done.

[@inquisitivesoul8978]

It happens fairly regularly that they pass on the Loop. One has to stop. good job. Been here a zillion times.

[@jumpinjack1156]

Too outstanding to comment, RR buff's will go nuts over this!!!

[@rickbown6871]

You are the greatest storyteller ever!

[@douglasalan5783]

I love this piece, Sarah. You really did your research. Speaking as a railfan, I am impressed.with your presentation. A stuff buff. I like it. You can call them engines, no need for cars. Or, if you want to impress the railfans, call ‘em units, 6-axle GE locomotives putting out 4,400 hp each. Great catches. Pushers on the rear of both the closest train and the middle one. They need all that extra power on the rear to make those grades. Very enjoyable video. Your fresh perspective and enthusiasm for the subject matter really make a difference. 🙏❤️

[@pointyguitarz]

Glad you stopped here and saw some rail action. I lived in Bakersfield for years back in the 1970's. My dad and I would follow the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe back in the day out of Edison to the loop. We even chased the famous Southern Pacific Daylight #4449 steam engine back when it was in its Freedom Train colors for the Bicentennial. What I really miss (for you railroad geeks) are the old SD45T-2 and SD40T-2 tunnel motors that Southern Pacific was famous for. Man could they rumble and what an unique sound they made. I left Bakersfield in 1977 but made many visits here from Phoenix. Thanks for the memories. Rock on and God bless!

[@brentcovert1531]

I have been searching for a beautiful lady who likes trains.. I was beginning to think they didn't exist! You're awesome sweetheart!

[@jeromekay2106]

I love your train videos, Sarah Jane.

[@shawnheneghan4110]

I rode my bicycle from Mohave to Bakersfield 40 years ago. It is quite a site. Thanks for the memory

[@a73drdodge]

How cool is that .. double loopers 😂❤️👍

[@jmac9057]

GREAT! I found your channel searching for railroad videos. Great videos exploring.

[@renayvance-moser9434]

Love trains. Thank you.

[@rockypergin2216]

I like it when you get excited!

[@Idahoguy10157]

Thanks Wonder Hussy!

[@raulgomezpineda1775]

...gosh...i really love your videos wonderhussy!!!

[@sd8023]

I love your blogs.. you always investigate everything.. i have been down that pass a-lot and never knew all that..

[@joelonderee2872]

Another excellent and educational video, Sara. Thanks Much!

[@David-vg8it]

watched several of your vids. This is one of your best

[@FishplateFilms]

Hi Sarah, As if you couldn't get any better...now you're talking my language! I travelled from Australia to see this and shoot video for my channel. The Loop is a railroad icon and people from all over the world, like me, come to see it. The line stopped in Caliente, but the guys who built the line over Donner Pass said they could get up the Pass to Tehachapi...and they did! I'm coming back next year to do it again. Thanks Sarah. Cheers Gregg.

[@JasonLupo]

Engineer here. Tehachapi loop is a siding. Sidings are similar to frontage roads if you can picture one of those. It's single track on both ends of the loop so only one train fits. They use the two track loop to meet. One has to wait because they can't run two trains on single track right? There are thousands of sidings across the US but 99.9% of them are straight. There's another loop you can check up heading up towards Portola near a place called Keddie. Williams loop is that one's name. It's prettier to see as an engineer but not as great for railfanning. The pine trees block a lot of the view. Also just a random fact, almost every single train you'll ever see is at least 4000 feet long. That's a really short train. Most trains are avg about 6500 feet and up to around 10,000 feet. So chances are you'll always see a train passing over itself here at the loop. The first train was going slow because they were creeping up on a red signal that isn't in sight because curves, red signals on the railroad are just like street lights. You run one of those you're done. So that's why train 1 is creeping. Train 2 is hauling ass because it can stop a lot easier going up hill. So even if they're coming up to a red all they gotta do is start slowing down a little before they reach it and they'll be able to get it stopped. The stand still train cannot go because again, they're sitting at a red signal and also the other trains rear end is on the single track they're gonna merge onto next. There's tens of thousands of engineers, it isn't a small club. But BNSF and UP are different companies so we usually don't know each other. I know tons of UP engineers and conductors but very few BNSF. The engines on the front and rear are called locomotives. The ones on the rear are controlled by remote, the engineer in the leading locomotive has those rear locomotives synced up to his locomotive throttle. Hope that clears some things up.

[@TheRocketbob22]

Roseville Engineer, great explanation of the pass. I am retired Norfolk Southern Engineer, in Birmingham Alabama area. I have watched hundreds of youtube railroad videos, but Williams loop is news to me, I am going to search for that. There is similar trackage in Canada, an Australian rail fan filmed that one using a drone camera, some of the most beautiful train footage you can imagine. Wonderhussy visits abandoned places, good on her to include us and Telichapi. I am enjoying retirement, retirement check is more than adequate. I like BNSF war bonnet engines as a desktop on my pc. Cheers to Roseville. Alabama= Roll Tide.

[@paulremmey8268]

Awesome I mean really BOTH THE ENGINEERS FILLING US IN AND THANKS WH FOR TAKING US THERE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@mrron46]

Thanks for the info, I love trains. Hoping to make a train trip before the end of the trail. Wish someone would do a drone on this too.

[@leonidaslantz5249]

Thanks so much for this information!!!!👍👍🚂🚃🚅🚆

[@RVBadlands2015]

Roseville Engineer I used to live near Portola saw the keddie loop more then once. That’s what we always called it .

[@NMjack2000]

This location is a famous "Rail Fan Site" so was surprised you did not see some of them getting their videos of the trains. (BNSF) Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and (UP) Union Pacific Railway operate thru this area. Was originally Southern Pacific Property anyway SP And UP merged years ago and now one railroad. The locomotives on the rear are operated via radio control from the lead units on the head end of the trains. The rear units are working units and are not manned by a crew. I am just an ole retired train dispatcher. Nice Video bet you get lots of views of your video. Avg weight run around 6,000 tons to over 10,000 tons for unit coal trains. BNSF are the old Santa Fe Railway and Burlington Northern Railways that merged together in 1990's. The locomotives on the rear end are called pushers or helpers.

[@NMjack2000]

members.trainorders.com/howard%20maculsay/trains2see/bnsf_timetables.htm ----- copy and paste this into your browser and it will show more details about this location. I never actually worked this territory but did dispatch many subdivisions from the Needles Subdiv (Barstow and East. Actually dispatched over 23 or so ATSF/BNSF subdivisions during my train dispatching years.

[@vangazmicvoyage5077]

Nice! A drone would have made it more interesting.

[@Electronix4Dogs]

@@vangazmicvoyage5077, Tom Spurlock's KZbin channel has many great HD drone videos of "The Tehachapi Loop": kzbin.info/www/bejne/iF60inWvl9-Ems0

[@rickgrosvenor7109]

on very rare occasions you see Amtrak here too

[@Z4Zander]

A more modern terminology for mid or rear locos is DPU(Distributed Power Unit/s)Cabooses were phased out on mainline rail during the 80"s.

[@100inthewind]

I work for the Union Pacific but it was still great to watch you investigate this! Most of our freight trains are 2 miles long.

[@paulreed1142]

Great video! I am a railfan, so I have been here many times. Since the main line on this portion of the railroad is single track, there is a passing siding so east and west bound trains can meet and get around each other. The siding is called "Walong" and the Loop Ranch is located in the area the loop surrounds. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (formerly the Santa Fe Railway) has trackage rights here, since it is now part of the Union Pacific railroad (Southern Pacific built it, but they merged with the UP). Tehachapi is a railroad town, so if you get the chance, check out the museum there. There is a lot of history in this area, including artifacts from long abandoned Chinese railroad laborer camps and Native American villages.

[@darlar.9043]

I grew up in Tehachapi and now live in Bakersfield. I've always been fascinated by the loop. Glad you got such a treat when you stopped.

[@gregprince2523]

Awesome sight WH!! Great patience on your part also. Thanks bunches

[@1xsol]

You sure are a "Stuff Buff" Sarah. I love the level of Enthusiasm you bring to everything you do. Atta Girl. Flip Flops? Hahaha!

[@lekkki1]

The port of Los Angeles is the busiest port in the United States by container. These trains haul millions of tons of goods all over the country weekly. Either to distribution hubs or to target destinations. The Tehachapi pass is a feat of engineering that serves incredible purpose. It has been rebuilt and upgraded many times. I have heard that they do not want both trains moving in a "pass" through the loop. Not sure if that's true, but there you have it. Thanks for an awesome vid, wonder girl.

[@jonathansteiner3251]

Well Sarah you’re what makes all your videos so fun for those of us that enjoy watching them and you. Hope you will be doing them for s long time to come!

[@elwoodblues9613]

I always wondered how the trains got from Bakersfield (elevation 200) to Tehachapi (elevation 5,000), and now I know. The mountains in the southern Sierras rise steeply, which makes it impossible for trains to cross unless something weird is done. Well, in 1876, they successfully did something weird. Getting political here, how in the world does Gov. Moonbeam, who is finally leaving office, expect a high-speed rail to get over these mountains??? That's not even considering taking money away from fixing dams and managing forests so that he could build that rail line that few people in California want and even fewer will ride. (I am writing this less than a year after the Oroville Dam nearly failed and in the same year that forest fires burned part of Redding and all of Paradise.) Nice video!

[@maljcross4634]

Thanks heaps for posting.....what an awesome sight. Just love your enthusiasm in your videos.

[@joanna5881]

Great video, very nicely presented! Glad to see I'm not the only female who enjoys documenting and exploring rail cars/railways.

[@wishcloudstudios]

I love Tehachapi! So beautiful there in the spring. 😁

[@clayz1]

Wow. Two of my favorite things. Wonderhussy and trains. Oh, the significance.

[@dank3998]

Sarah you are what make these videos so interesting, keep it up love your enthusiasm.

[@garyhuempfner1472]

Hi Sarah. Thank you so much for sharing this video! I found it fascinating and can only imagine seeing the trains in real life. I'm adding this to the bucket list.

[@mrjj1f]

You are the best! I have learned so much watching your fantastic adventures.

[@jimleskun3191]

Another Canadian here. You do a wonderful job. Thanks for all your videos.

[@larryhall7998]

You make history fun Wonder Hussy

[@timothynewkirk2654]

Larry Hall wheezels ripped my flesh!

[@friskyopossum7983]

My father was a big train lover and would have really liked this. Thanks for giving me those memories for the Holidays.

[@rogerlawson4516]

Wonderhussy , this is one of your best videos. That is so freaken cool. Thanks for a great video. By the way, Johnny Cash would be proud of you. LOL

[@bobbybaldeagle702]

Thank you, you have just made my night... I've heard of that railroad but never seen it in my 60 some years.... LOL 😋 😂😁 👍 👍🤗 🤗... Thanks so much for making it possible for me to see a double loop... Much love and hugs... BBE 👍 👍🤗 🤗♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏😀

[@Caligorl420]

I am so glad you got to see the loop!! It’s so awesome 🚂 and I like the way you said, “That’s Bakersfield way over there, see all that gloom.” 😂Yes that’s us! Worst air quality in the country! Good ole Bako! Stay safe ✌🏼💜

[@stevelaue1298]

It's nice to experience someone who knows as little about trains as you do having that much fun watching! Hope you keep enjoying some of the famous train watching spots! Check out the Barstow Amtrack Station & Museum sometime. It's on the opposite side of the tracks from the Interstate, but you'll see lots of trains.

[@martingindulis5310]

love your enthusiasm and your voice and looks . just add to the show.

[@bobhale8325]

Funny you posted this today. My wife and I went by on the freeway down in the background twice today...Tehachapi to Bakersfield and then back. We saw two side by side trains, but further on, not on the loop. We need to take the road over to the loop and see it for ourselves. Today, only freight trains go on those tracks, but my wife road a passenger train around the loop back in 1961 or 1962 on her way from Oregon to So Calif.

[@marlinmr7]

Normally this would be somewhat of a boring video but with your narration/excitment coming thru Sara - it was pretty cool! I can understand why you have an art degree as you are always so creative with everything! Going to assume that you got to your Mom's OK and had an excellent ThanksgivingI hope. Thank You! Take Care & Safe Travels as always kid! :-) :-) :-)

[@marktaniguchi7901]

Another great video Sara. Never knew that this existed yet, been thru that area many times. Guess that proves you need to get out and smell the coffee sometimes....

[@bob18fan29]

Just think how many more Semis would be on the road if it was not for just those 2 trains you saw. Thank you dear for that video, sweet a rail fans dream to see that in person .

[@thevacuumtubejunky9774]

This is where I trained as an Engineer. This is one run where you better have your ducks in a row that's for sure. Thanks for sharing!

[@kevinstonerock3158]

While I’ve seen videos of the loop, no one has ever put a map showing where it was located. It’s always left me with the impression that it’s much farther north. Thanks for pinning it down. I grew up in a railroad town so it was a daily occurrence to encounter trains. My dad worked for the railroad prior to WWII until he retired in 1980. I remember having opportunities to visit him occasionally while he worked as a block operator in a railroad tower. I’m a little surprised no one mentioned it but there are some trains that are express trains which have priority for travel. Stack trains which have containers from ships as well as refrigerated trailers and cars make up the majority of the freight. A lot of the screeching you heard is from the side force of the wheels on the rails. The force is alleviated by the pusher engines which reduces the force along with braking from behind to reduce it when heading downhill. I haven’t had many opportunities to visit many major engineering projects but I got the same type of feeling from Horseshoe curve since the trains approach over one shoulder and exit over the other. The whole time you hear the squealing while it’s in front of you. I’m hoping I’ll get the chance to see tehachapi sooner rather than later. In the meantime have fun out there!

[@sherrydee7880]

Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF). The 1st train stops so the other train can pass. I've jumped a train or 2 in my life & that line is cold in the winter months! Best views that I can remember. I wonder if those people coming up the hill were getting off the train?

[@snakeboren4814]

DUH!!!! EVERY ONE KNOWS THAT!!!!

[@sherrydee7880]

@@snakeboren4814 No, they do not. I used to think it meant Bakersfield North to San Francisco!

[@snakeboren4814]

@@sherrydee7880 I KNO IT MEANS BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE CUZ THEY MERGED 2 2GETHER!!!!

[@Amy_Stanmore]

Thanks for the info. I’m Australian so no people don’t know these things 😆😂

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

Thanks, I didn't know that...

[@JimmyCandFriends]

Love it. My Dad worked on the B&M for over 40 years. I got to ride many different types of Trains and have been known to sit and watch them roll bye.

[@georgebricker1010]

Great vid WH. Thanks for taking the time to slow down and catch a slow train in the mountains. Couldn't help but think of the image of the snake that coils around to swallow its tail. But stuff like that bumps around in my head when I watch your vids. Keep on singing girl, even if you cant remember all the words.😉😉

[@markshietze4783]

Oh too cool ! 😎 😮😊 You sure can tell a story and present a history lesson , too 😉 ❤ We love your qork , WonderHussy ❤😊

[@Mordrayso]

Great video WH! I gotta hand it to ya, you really do your homework on these back stories. Well done. Be safe and thank you for sharing.

[@erneststidham749]

Wonder Hussy you look great in the Buff.. love your Videos....

[@tedebear108]

Hi wonderhussy, this is your friend Ted from Texas. Another interesting video. I do like old trains and new trains in the technology that was involved and making it all work. You have yourself a good day. I hope dinner at your mother's was good. Take care.

[@jeff9104]

Great video WH, I finally stopped there myself for the first time about a year ago, amazing feat for the time, glad you are a 'stuff buff', funny stuff !

[@rayge3180]

This girl is great.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

I'm in Duluth, MN. I grew up seeing Burlington Northern trains all the time. Burlington Northern merged with Sante Fe like 13 years ago and became BNSF. Also, I know Tehachapi well... and it has nothing to do with railroads or songs... my cousin lives in Tehachapi. Anyway, this was fun to watch. Happy Holidays!!

[@edvisme]

As always another wonderful adventure. Thank you for sharing your trips, finds and expeditions with us. Always a fan!

[@mikenelson4896]

Hi wonderhussy nice video, beautiful scenery , good job !!

[@BIGBADWOOD]

Wow looked it up on Google Earth what a great view you had ....... Always great 5 star videos !

[@rolpfeiffermuller935]

Thanks airing the outstanding vid.Bliss

[@jerrykaminer8474]

I was waiting for you to flash a train or at least moon one, LOL

[@microrails]

Thanks for sharing, as a train buff I have been where your are to watch trains. Historically you are right about the loop. Again kid well done.

[@1tulip]

That was very interesting. I would never known if not for you. A lot like most other subjects that you cover. Thank you!

[@PoliceChaplainMisty]

I know right where you are at, My family lives there. my Dad worked for SP and would love to go down and watch the trains come through thanks for the memories.Stay safe in all you do

[@johnhaug1747]

I've watched the two trains pass back in 2007-2008 when my boss lived in Tehachapi, CA. Many trips up and down the hill from Bako.

[@randysmith2740]

I have never heard of this before, thanx Sarah very interesting!

[@jonsymmonds1120]

Awesome video Sarah. Another place I will never see in person, but have now experienced it through you!

[@jay33begin]

Hi wonderhussy thank you for sharing your lovely adventure 🤣😃

[@maclainegomes7839]

very interesting this place .railroad. interesting engineering to beat the mountains. viewing from Brazil. congratulations on the video

[@Coachisms]

You are awesome!! I’m glad I found your channel.. 😉

[@tomrich3398]

P.S. There's only one set of tracks underground so the first train had to wait for the second to clear the tunnel. Gets really messy putting two trains on one set of tracks. Especially underground.

[@EITURKEY1]

I'm not an expert on US trains but I'd say the descending train was stopped so the climbing train does not have to stop as restarting on the grade would be difficult, where as the descending train won't have as many problems restarting, very educational, thanks.

[@scottieray]

Wow! That first train had 4 pullers and 2 pushers. That's a lotta locomotion. Very interesting. I'm from Northwest Arkansas but have been through Tehachapi several times on drives out to CA and PCH. HWY 58 from Bakersfield to San Louis Obispo is a fun drive....just make sure you have gas in the tank.

[@j.-c.h3049]

Great video... I am a fan all the way from the East Coast New Brunswick Canada.

[@Stan_L]

Great video! Thanks for sharing your adventure.

[@richardyoung4616]

Holy wowzers, another great job!

[@bigbruck3894]

Always fun to watch

[@jerryforeman4543]

Buffing Stuff thanks for the train tour! Very interesting!

[@nickn2334]

A cool little hummingbird at 5:03. You have to switch to 1080 to make it out. You are actually at an overlook on Woodford-Tehachapi Rd which is quite a ways off the 58 freeway.

[@caltude1ify]

That east bound train should have made it to Yuma by 3:10 haha Great Video, Thanks

[@rockytopwrangler2069]

Great video,WH, your patience paid off...so actually your timing was about perfect....not necessarily a train buff, but that was pretty cool....as a past trucker, have seen some interesting things from the roads,but never really thought about the design or history of them...always impressed by your curiosity of "things" so many take for granted....also see some really good info from previous comments,thanks to them that know and can fill in the blanks......Thanks for sharing........as always.......Stay Safe and God Bless.......

[@jacklisiecki2389]

Way cool commentary WH! Thanks for the look at Tehachapi.

[@russhoppe3971]

That was great it took them almost an hour to pass each other and both desappear from sight love the history of great railroads to listen to you talk is good by itself but you make everything a little more interesting youve got great talent and great inthusiattom

[@LSFIREVIDEOS]

Fantastic video, especially your humor. Just subscribed and have a lot to catch up on. You seem to be quite a character, take care!!!

[@leoncarrasco5218]

😅😅 You just about made it nail biting 👍🤙

[@lawrencehaguewood5857]

There is only one track though the tunnel so one must stop while the other come thru. And long, heavy trains will have engines on both ends for extra power.. so the ‘caboose cars’ you saw where additional engines. Also none of that physical track is original from the time the loop was built. It’s all been replaced over the years for maintenance.

[@spikesp9223]

BNSF Burlington Northern and Santa Fe. The locomotives on the rear of the train are DPU's distributive power units.

[@johnlawrence9957]

I worked in the BNSF yard in Bakersfield many years ago. I transported train crews around the yard mostly but did occasionally have to transport a crew up there to the loop or to Tehachapi. My nephew in law works for BNSF as a conductor. He started out in Bakersfield and transferred to Nebraska several years ago. Anyway, great video! BTW, rail fans are called "foamers" by railroad employees.

[@michaelmorgan7893]

The train club at Balboa Park in San Diego has an exact scale model of this line, and the Tehachapi Loop in 1/87 (H. O. Scale) the layout covers everything from Kern junction at Magunden to Mojave

[@lesleykurdi873]

Loved it, awsome. I'm not into trains but this was fun. Thank u WH xx