Southern Transcon

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Is the Tehachapi Loop part of the BNSF Southern Transcon? The Cajon pass is, correct?

2

Tehachapi NO – Cajon YES, then on to Barstow and Needles and east.

3

No, it is not. The Southern Transcon runs from Chicago to Los Angeles and the Tehachapi Loop is a little north of Los Angeles between Los Angeles and Bakersfield.

Caldreamer

4

And, the Tehachapi Loop is UP property used by the BNSF.

5

Thanks guys. I am a new railfan and have a few more questions down the road. Thanks again.

6

Thanks diningcar.

7

Thanks!

8

Lots of BNSF Southern Transcon traffic diverts at Barstow to go due west to Mojave and UP rails, then over Tehachapi and back to company property in Bakersfield and a lot goes in an Eastward direction as well. Looking at the Tehachapi rail cams and also when I am actually in Tehachapi with time to watch, it seems that more of the traffic is BNSF trains, but I could be wrong. Apropos of the loop reference, the following YouTube video is interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZCYhP1D4O4

9

BNSF (ex-ATSF) has trackage rights over Tehachapi Pass on UP (ex-SP) to get to its own trackage to the Central Valley and the Bay Area. This used to be the route of the “San Francisco Chief”.

10

Again, thanks to all. More questions coming soon. This is a great forum. Cheers. Tom