Front:
Santa Te
MKT
5705
5705
SANTA
Back:
RJ70
SANTA FE 5705
Five diesel locomotives cross under the caboose of its own train after they
traveled around the Tehachapi Loop at Walong, California, October 20, 1974.
The Southern Pacific built the line eastward from Caliente up into the
mountains on a 2.52 per cent ruling grade in 1875 and 1876. The 27 mile
line through Tehachapi Pass, constructed under engineer William Hood,
included a horseshoe curve at Caliente's Neck and a 3795-foot loop crossing
over itself to gain 78 feet in elevation. This loop at Walong siding, the
Tehachapi Loop, became world famous and is the outstanding feature of the
hill. In 1899, the Santa Fe acquired rights to use the line resulting in a parade
of trains moving up and down the hill since the start of the 20th century.
Motive power was always big and in the second generation diesel era, the
typical big power is General Motors EMD model SD45-2 locomotives such
as the 5705 leading the train pictured.
Photo by W. L. Hammond - Carl H. Sturner Collection
Ray R. Women 2 June 1982
Published by Audio-Visual Designs, P.O. Box 24, Earlton, N.Y. 12058
Santa Fe
166315