Tehachapi 1980s Part 1 and Part 2 The Santa Fe and The Southern Pacific

Tehachapi 1980s Part 1 and Part 2 The Santa Fe and The Southern Pacific
5 of 5 (2)

Click to enlargeNote: Cover image may differ from actual product

Tehachapi I: the Santa Fe

Photographed in 1984 and 1986, the classic Santa Fe caboose still trails most trains as they roar through the scenic canyons and over the engineering marvel of Tehachapi Loop. An exciting pacing sequence follows a long freight over the Loop and into the Mojave Desert. You'll also see examples of the flashy red & yellow paint scheme that was used during the failed merger attempt by the Santa Fe and the Southern Pacific. This program captures the power and scenery of this bustling mountain division.
Tehachapi II: the Southern Pacific

When this program was produced in 1986, The Southern Pacific still maintained its own identity even though you will see glimpses of the red & yellow merger paint scheme. It was a time when the Southern Pacific "Tank Train" still snaked over spectacular Tehachapi Loop. As an added attraction, see steamer #4449 with the 1984 passenger special...in "Daylight" colors. See it on the Loop, at a station stop and near Mojave. This is modern railroading at its best...through the green mountains of Tehachapi Pass and up onto the high Mojave Desert.

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DVD Item#:	WB020
Runtime:	1 Hour, 46 Mins ($0.24/min)
Producer:	WB Video Productions
Aspect Ratio:	Full Screen
Shrink Wrapped?:	NO!
Disc Type:	DVD
Region Code:	0 Worldwide NTSC

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This producer has been known to change the cover design, so the cover image you see here may differ from the actual product.

Tehachapi 1980s Part 1 and Part 2 The Santa Fe and The Southern Pacific

Alan Jacobson (Phoenix, Arizona) on 2012-04-07 23:44:10.

People who found this review helpful: 2

5 of 5

I have always liked this presentation and had it in VHS format long before acquiring it in DVD. Both segments take the viewer back to the time when most trains still had a caboose on the tail-end. As a former "hard-core Tehachapi fan", the biggest gripe with the programs is that whoever wrote the s did not know beans about the place-names on the mountain and various other facts. For example: The tunnels just below Cable are numbered in ASCENDING ORDER from lower elevation to higher elevation........i.e. what the narrator states as Tunnel 14 is actually Tunnel 17. Tunnels 12 and 13 were not "day-lighted" as stated in the program but are buried in-place in the mountain.
Except for discrepancies like these, it is a good presentation and helps to preserve the memories of both the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe.

Additional remarks by Alan Jacobson:
Narration: Just enough.
Would kids enjoy this? I doubt it.
Image quality: Good.
DVD Value: Good Value
Recommend to others? Yes.

Tehachapi 1980s Part 1 and Part 2 The Santa Fe and The Southern Pacific

Steamboy (Revere MA US) on 2019-11-20 20:27:46.

5 of 5

On disc 1, it starts with a 4 unit Santa fe freight twisting through the curves. This train has a trio of SD40-2s in the lead, as well as 2 more units in pusher service. After the title card, the little red caboose brings up the rear. The same train is seen again through the hills. Next, another AT&SF freight crosses the bridge, as it negotiates the horseshoe curve at caliente with an elevation of 1291 feet. This train has a failed southern Pacific Santa fe merger unit in the consist. Afterwards, a different freight goes in the opposite direction with 6 units at the same location. Way in the background is the sheep farm. Moments later, a 3 unit boxcar train exits tunnel 5 as it was taken from highway 58. The tunnel was damaged from the 1952 earthquake. Popping in and out of tunnels 5 4 & 3, an eastbound is waiting on top of tunnel 3 to let the boxcar train to by. At the same spot, the previous train is at caliente. In no time at all, the eastbound with the failed SPSF unit gets the green light. This eastbound has 6 units. 5 yellow and blue units, and one from the failed merger. Plus there are 3 more blue and yellow units in the middle. Next up is a Quartet of units at Woodford. 3 blue and yellow, and one from the failed merger. Plus there are 3 more blue and yellow units in the middle. Note the 2 cabooses on the rear. At tehachapi creek, the piggyback train with 3 more blue and yellow units with a failed southern Pacific Santa Fe merger unit crosses the bridge and passes by the siding. Next, a pair of helpers are crossing the bridge, followed by a Quartet of blue and yellow units on a mixed train. Afterwards, a 6 unit lash up crosses the bridge. At the popular loop, a 4 unit train crosses a bending bridge. Then it goes through a deep cut, as a 5 unit train demonstrates. Next a 3 unit helped set greets the cameraman. Next, another 5 unit lash up is between tunnel 9 and the big cut. After leaving tunnel 10, another 5 unit lash up is entering the big loop. Meanwhile, another 4 unit train passes by the long siding, as it heads for the big loop. Afterwards a different 4 unit train crosses the bridge and enters tunnel 9. Then once it leaves the tunnel, it passes by the long siding at the big loop. Next a dash 8 leads a 4 unit piggyback train as it heads for the top of the loop. During the loop sequence, note the 2 helpers in the middle. The caboose brings up the rear as it too heads for the loop. A close up look at the mid helpers are shown, followed by the caboose. Moments later, there is a meet on the loop in 1984. Note the multiple railfans waiting for something special. The train that leaves the tunnel has 5 units longhood forward, while the one up on the top has 6 units. The 6 unit train got the green signal as it enters the tunnel. With the cabooses meeting, the 5 unit train gets the clear signal. At the east entrance of tunnel 10, the 5 unit lash up heads for Marcel, as it negotiates the many bends along the way, with a siding to pass. This train has 2 helpers in the middle running backwards. On a different day, a 7 unit lash up leaves tunnel 10 on a mixed freight. This is from the same spot from the previous scene. Next up is a downhill run away from marcell siding. This train has 6 units. Moments later, a 2 unit helper set is shown at the same location. Next, a 4 unit trailer train heads for tunnel 20 with a failed southern Pacific Santa Fe unit. Afterwards a 5 unit train leaves the same tunnel. This train has 2 helpers in the middle. In the late sun, a 4 unit trailer train makes a bend. Next, a different 4 unit piggyback train is shown in May of 1984. It's near the Mojave desert. Afterwards a 6 unit lash up is on a mixed train. Moments later, a different train with a failed southern Pacific Santa Fe unit in the lead leaves Mojave about 2 years later. Note the the electric windmills in the background. Afterwards, the same train is passing alongside the highway. Another eastbound freight with 5 units heads for the Mojave desert. Which includes a decent pacing sequence. This final 5 minutes of part 1 includes, the same train smoking up its own generators, with a meet of a westbound southern Pacific freight, more pacing, and a close up shot of one of the electric windmills. Not to mention 8 units gathering one hopper for its train. In the final shot, note the McDonald's and Wendy's signs sign On the right. This concludes part 1.

On disc 2, it starts with a 5 unit train with a Santa Fe unit in the middle. Later, a going away shot of another freight is shown. After the title card, a 5 unit lash up with a failed merger unit leading longhood forward, and not only does the rear have 2 bay Windows cabooses, but also a helper. Next a 7 unit mixed train is entering the canyon. Down the pass at Marcel, a 4 unit lash up leads a mixed train as it negotiates the bends. This train also has 6 helpers in the middle, 4 from the SP, and 2 from the union Pacific. As always, the 80s were the final full decade for cabooses on mainline freight trains. Next up is a westbound approaching tunnel 10 in March of 1986. Afterwards, another westbound 4 unit mixed train is following behind. Above the loop, a 4 unit lash up with union Pacific power enters the siding at the big bend, then enters the tunnel while meeting it's own tail. From the same location, a 5 unit lash up with a union Pacific unit crosses over the creek, then it'll enter tunnel 9. After leaving the tunnel, the same train curves around the big loop which is still standing today. Afterwards, a 4 unit train squeezes through the deep cut. Next another 4 unit train with a santa fe unit crosses the bridge. At the same location, a coal train is shown. There's are 4 in the lead, 6 in the middle and 3 on the rear. Next up is a 4 unit mixed train with a failed merger unit and 9242 with its generation doors open. There's are also 2 helpers in the middle. Afterwards a 5 unit boxcar train with 6 helpers including 3 from the Santa Fe are in the middle. Back at the creek, the helpers are crossing the bridge. Next another 4 unit mixed train crosses the bridge on a different day. This train has 6 helpers in middle which 2 are from the Santa Fe. A coal train is at Woodford. This one has only 4 units. next a set of helpers with a union Pacific unit heads for tunnels 3 to 5, followed by the 4 unit mixed train getting the right of way at cliff. Moments later, the same helpers pass by the double track siding. Afterwards the real climb over tehachapi begins as the same 5 unit lash up with a union Pacific unit heads for caliente. At the same location, the same train heads for tunnel 2. Later a 6 unit lash up with another union Pacific unit handles the oil tanker train. This train also has 7 helpers in the middle. Back at Woodford, another tank train is shown. This time it has 5 in the lead, and 7 in the middle. On the caboose, note the word nerd spelt as N-U-R-D. Next a 7 unit tank train is on top of the grade, as there are 7 more helpers in the middle. Moments later, a 5 unit tank train is at the pass with 7 helpers in the middle. Note the electric windmills in the background. Throughout 1984, New Orleans Louisiana was the headquarters for the world's fair as southern Pacific daylight 4449 traveled all the way from Portland oregon, South to Bakersfield, turns left, and heads east through the loop. For a short while, the diesels are painted in daylight tribute colors. Thankfully these footages were recorded way before Amtrak's worst president Dick Anderson created the no steam excursions policy. On May 12, a helicopter is over the big loop, then makes a soft landing and quick departure as 4449 arrives with 2 diesels in the lead. As always, engineer Doyle McCormick takes the throttle of the red and orange northern. On the return trip, the diesels did the horn show most of the time. You can barely listen to 4449's whistle that was used between 1974-1989, due to the sounds of the choppers. 4449 is being serviced at tehachapi depot. For more coverage of the 1941 lima Ohio built northern in 1984, be sure to get daylight delight by Hopewell Productions, and the 20th anniversary daylight combo from pentrex. The special highballs away from its service stop. Again, the diesels did the horn show. With the diesels gone, 4449 whistles through the desert, as Doyle takes the confrols. This concludes a look at the tehachapi area in the mid 80s.

While all of these lines are still owned by both union Pacific and BNSF, it'll still be a good trip to discover the fallen flag colors of the last 3-4 decades.

Additional remarks by Steamboy:
Narration: Could have used more.
Would kids enjoy this? Maybe.
Image quality: Excellent!
DVD Value:: Fair.
Recommend to others? Definitely.

Tehachapi 1980s Part 1 and Part 2 The Santa Fe and The Southern Pacific 5 of 5 (2)

Tehachapi 1980s Part 1 and Part 2 The Santa Fe and The Southern Pacific
5 of 5 (2)