The loop in the golden hills
Picture of the day
The loop in the golden hills
A US train watching trip is not complete without a visit to the famous Tehachapi Loop. Placed in the hills between Bakersfield and its namesake town it is always amazing to see the trains circle around in order to gain altidude for conquering Tehachapi Pass. This BNSF intermodal train just completed a 360° turn and will show up on the track visible on the very bottom once it has negotiated another half circle. Beside of the twists and turns this is one of the most challenging pieces of mountain railroading in the US. While visiting today crews from UP as well as BNSF had to deal with engines shutting down, maintenance work and a bush fire. Never a dull moment on Tehachapi Pass…