Tehachapi - the SP and Santa Fe era

Visit Tehachapi from the mid-60s to the mid-90s --  plus related regional locations such as Taylor Yard,  Barstow Yard, Richmond Yard,  Colton Crossing, Cajon Pass and the building of the SP Palmdale cutoff.

Learn the intertwined history of all the featured locations that are all part of the greater Tehachapi story. See all the great power and vanished scenes,of pre-merger railroading at its best.

We trace the history of how, and why, two railroads used the same mountain pass and how the line was built. Don't miss the wonderful vintage views of how SP opened the "Palmdale Cutoff" to better access Tehachapi.

Our visit to neighboring Cajon Pass also brings lots of Santa Fe vintage freight action -- including a number of Passenger-Mail trains behind beautiful Warbonnet F7 and PA power.

Many diesels were tested by the SP over the years to work on the demanding Tehachapi line in both "point", and especially "helper" service. Many failed to meet SP's expectations and we review those years in the 60s and 70s. See the demise of ALCO and the problems with early GE U-series diesels and how GE improved their products to eventually eclipse EMD in locomotive sales.

This is a giant slice of railroading, with history, maps, narration -- and most of all, wonderful trains.

These are scenes and visions that have all been swept away by the super-mergers (and laws effecting railfans) in 1995 and 1996. See how railroading was conducted before the work rules and equipment were all re-defined.

This video consists of 1-hour and 32-minutes of vintage Kodak movie film shot from 1957 to 1988 -- plus an additional 1-hour and 06-minutes shot on video in the early 1990s. This is really two complete productions in one presentation.

All this is with great sound in stereo. Don't miss all the flying sand, vertical smoke, noise and powerful action that made these two railroads once standout as the most popular two out west.