Some of us who railfan Tehachapi (Ca) may have wondered what it would be like to live there. Well, someone I know has just recently moved his family up there and now resides in a beautiful house in the city of Tehachapi.
I stayed with him for a few days and this is how we spent the evenings. After dinner his son would join us and we would make a quick stop for coffee and hot chocolate, and then in just a few minutes we would be at the loop or Woodford. We’d catch the nightly parade, do some star gazing, listen for coyotes, or whatever. What a great way to spend the evening! And when we’re ready to leave, we’d be home in just a few minutes.
Yes, I’m looking for property up there myself… [:D]
Oh yes, indeed, living in Tehachapi is a real railfans dream come true, BUT REALLY, this IS Tehachapi, and not L.A., Chicago, New York, etc. so what do you do when you get tired of railfanning (ANYTHING can be overdone, and I do mean ANYTHING, even railfanning…forgive my sacralidge folks). What about schools, medical care, etc., or is Tehachapi a big enough town to have all of the “must haves”?
If you have some spare time have a drive to the Train Room, 20825 South Street, Unit C, tel (661)-822-6277, which is both a barbershop and model railroad store (sorry, they mainly sell Z scale…[;)]).
BTW Tehachapi is a mecca for me stinkin’ cheese eater from France! Last month I took a-few-days vacation in California, and as I made the pilgrimage to Tehachapi, I haven’t been deceived.
Techachapi in the winter can be a Loooooooooooong way from anywhere, its something to consider. The snowfall can snow residents in for a long time, but eventually it melts, too low for sustained levels, there are no ski resorts up there.
Not alot of light pollution, at least not the last time I was up there at night. Its actually closer drive time to Palmdale/Lancaster that it is to Bakersfield. The bakersfeild drive is longer and a larger change in elevation. I’d just find a steakhouse in Lancaster, A Houston’s maybe.
I would say its a good place for homebody types who dont have to go out to eat every night or socialize or party every weekend, If you go out a lot, you will go nuts. But if your comfortable cooking at home, spending time with your spouse and/or family, then it could be a great place to live.
Another thing is that if your still working, then how you commute to work could be a real nutbuster, especially in winter. I wouldnt do it.
But if your retired and dont mind some cold days in the winter…
Good questions; a couple new schools opened recently, a new hospital is on the way, and some “name” restraunts will be there very soon. Lots of things happening there right now.
I was in the Metropolis of Tehachapi a couple years ago. Great diner on the main street with a view of the tracks and a model of the loop (HO scale I think) in the lobby. Nice little town. Sort of similar to my hometown - except for the massive # of trains.
I guess its all relative, but all of the photos I’ve seen of a Tehachapi snowfall is what we’d call a light-dusting here in the midwest. Than again, we’re driving on flat land vs. their mountains.
If it snows enough to shut down the Grapevine (I-5 from San Joaquin Valley to San Fernando Valley) then it usually shuts down Tehachapi pass on 58. However, 58 always seems to open up faster. Even though it’s in the mountains, the winter snow is probably only impressive to native Californians.
As for bigger shopping and amenities, Bakersfield is about 40 miles downhill to the West, Palmdale is about 50 miles leaving in the other direction, and downtown LA is about 115 miles or so away.
As others have noted, I don’t think there’s a really wild night life there, but then again, that for most of us is a bonus, not a drawback.
I forgot to mention 90 miles to Barstow and 110 miles to Cajon Pass.
I oftenly drove between Tehachapi and LA…The last time, one month ago, as I was taking a few days vacations in California.
You may count 2 1/2 hours driving between Tehachapi and downtown LA. From Tehachapi it’s 2 hours or so to Barstow, also 2 1/2 to Cajon Pass, 3 1/2 hours or so to Cima Hill (UP from Daggett to Las Vegas).
I was a passenger on a business trip that involved driving from LA to Bakersfield, then from Bakersfield thru Tehachapi to Edwards AFB (Mojave is the town, I think) and return. Very interesting landscape for me (I’d never been further west than eastern Oklahoma before that). The town didn’t look like 5000 - 6000 to me, but we went by on the highway. Looked to me like living there would be pretty much the same as living in a small town anywhere, except for the number of trains and windmills to look at. I wouldn’t have a problem with it, except for lack of good jobs.
Tehachappi is not that far from LA. It’s about 80 miles from the San Fernando Valley. 40 between SF Valley-Palmdale 20 Palmdale-Mojave and 20 Mojave-Tehachappi. If there is no traffic I could get up there in little over an hour. And Tehachappi-Barstow is 90 miles and can be easily driven in 1 1/2 hours. Tehachappi to Cajon is also 90 miles and can be done in 1 1/2 hours easily. Keep in mind speed limits for autos is 65-70 mph on most of these roads and most people drive 10-15 over the limit so it’s easy to cover 80 or more miles in an hour on the interstates / major highways. I drive about 85 once out of town and I am not the fastest driver out there.
The snowfall is RARELY more than 6 inches of accum. and is not really any kind of problem for a seasoned snow driver. The problem is MOST people out here don’t have a clue how to drive in the snow, so they close the highways to keep the idiots from getting in trouble, which they certainly will.