Nostalgia & History > Tehachapi Thursday

   When I say Tehachapi, I include the entire SP line between Burbank Jct and Bakersfield.  Here's three from the Soledad Canyon end of the line.

1.  An eastbound goes under the highway overpass at the west end of Vincent in 1976.  This cut was known to the rails as the Owl Farm, due to the large population of Barn owls that lived in the cut banks.  Why, you ask yourself, are all these people standing around?

2.  Here's your answer.  4449 is right behind that eastbound in photo #1 with the American Freedom Train.  That evening, the train will be spotted for display at Pomona.

3.  An EMD SD9 heads up #3-801 back in the timetable and train order days, at the east switch at Paris.  Paris is the last siding before the line attains the summit at Vincent.  It must have been a fairly light train with only three SD('s for power.  1967.

   Thanks for looking, and as always, comments welcome.

Brian Black
Castle Rock, CO



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/23 14:42 by tehachcond.

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Thanks Brian.. Great posting. I can hear the roar and smells of the SD 9s and SD 45s chugging up the grade to Vincent.

Posted from Android

Excellent trio.
JB

Nice look at the SD9s, Brian.

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ

Wonderful photos.  AFAIK the descendents of those owls still live there.
The station of Paris was named during WW I, before that it was Berlin.
The SP right of way maps had the old name clearly lined out with Paris written above it.
Politically correct for 1917.

railstiesballast Wrote:
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> Wonderful photos.  AFAIK the descendents of those
> owls still live there.
> The station of Paris was named during WW I, before
> that it was Berlin.
> The SP right of way maps had the old name clearly
> lined out with Paris written above it.
> Politically correct for 1917.

   You are correct about Paris, but I'm not sure about the owls.  Years ago back in the early 70's or so, some SOB went up there with a gun and slaughtered most of the owls.  The surviovors quickly re-established the colony.

Brian
 

Never heard  Soledad Canyon referred to as "Tehachapi."  Pretty strange.

Very nice shots, Brian!

texchief1
RC Lundgren

johnsweetser Wrote:
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> Never heard  Soledad Canyon referred to as
> "Tehachapi."  Pretty strange.

Call it editorial license on my part.

Brian

The SP units and trains look great!