Tehachapi Loop "Walong" SP South bound train: 1997

This time I'm catching a Southern Pacific South bound ahead of Walong, on Woodford Rd, then I catch it again at the loop (not really a chase, I had plenty of time driving the distance). One AC4400CW and one C44-9W on the point plus two SD40M-2 as helpers.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• trains
• Southern
• Pacific
• Tehachapi
• Loop
• railroad
• railfan

[RRYankfan]

could you upload more please

fave+5star+subscribed

[tvnshack]

These are all my video tapes already. That's it. No more. But what I can is to re-edit them to release a Hi Quality clip.

[andross51]

Back when SP and ATSF ruled the rails in tehachapi. Awesome video tvnshack!

[tvnshack]

Thanks. But I realize I could have put together a better vid from the original footage, and format it so that it should now be played in YouTube newer High Quality format. I'll go back soon to the video editing table and post a "redux" version.

[zartok35]

The first locomotive is an AC44, it's in the 300 series. I like that Uke on the flatcar!

[tvnshack]

You're right! I don't understand how I I got into such mistake. I'll update my description to mention an AC4400CW (#356). The second unit is a C44-9W indeed (#8130). Thanks.

[RRYankfan]

oh ok thanks

do you have any more shots of southern pacific trains climbing grades and through tunnels

i like to turn the volume up alot when nobody is home especially because of that bass speaker that i have it rumbles the hole house

[DouglasP201]

I like the chugging noises on the GE's :) 5*****'s

[ShowTyme1994]

@wexfordman20 but were later used throughout the system as needed.

[ShowTyme1994]

@wexfordman20 Well they were only around for roughly a year and the last half of the AC44s weren't even around for a year when SP went under. They didn't get the AC44s until 1995 and the C44-9Ws in 1994 plus the Dash 9s were used in Illinois, Wisconsin and Great Lake Region as well as Colorado on occasion until the AC locos arrived the following year and most were reassigned to the Sunset Route and former Cotton Belt lines. The AC44s were used mostly on coal and ore trains in Utah and Colorado

[tmotorman]

Yep! This is what draws someone like me to California.

(I live on the top of NY state)

[wexfordman20]

nice video, sp never much ran the ac4400cw's with the the dash9s that much

[MrW6MX]

Typical SP shot train in the Loop. Great video. Thanks.

[ROADTRAIN23]

I see many patched SP AC4400CWs here in California (West Oakland Yard),but there are still a few out there NOT patched!

[xx193941]

the 1st helper unit in not running

[alladinmoua]

@rtzook

Southern Pacific was absorbed by the Union Pacific in 1996. This footage was taken in 1997, roughly only a year after the merger, so unpatched Espee units were still the norm. Nowadays, Espee locomotives are rare because some were either patched or have been completely repainted into Union Pacific's yellow paint scheme. As of 2011, UP has retired nearly all of its older Southern Pacific locomotives, making chances of seeing them even rarer.

[rtzook]

how come an un-patched sp is rare when you have two right here? what did they do with them today?

[Illifornia2000]

does anyone know the maximum number of cars on a mostly loaded train can pull eastbound over the Tehachapis? and what's the maximum on about the mostly empty westbound trains over the Tehachapis? or at least in general?