Near Tehachapi in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Tehachapi Loop
Photographed by Mandy Kirby
1. Tehachapi Loop Marker
Erected 1953 by The Kern County Historical Society Bakersfield Parlor No.42 N.S.G.W., El Tejon Parlor N.D.G.W., Kern County Museum, Southern Pacific Railroad. (Marker Number 508.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, the Chinese Heritage Sites of the American West, the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West, and the Southern Pacific Railroad series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.
Location. 35° 11.707′ N, 118° 32.081′ W. Marker is near Tehachapi, California, in Kern County. It is on Woodford-Tehachapi Road, 3.2 mi E of Keene exit, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Keene CA 93531, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley, specifically in the Central Valley, and in the Sierra Nevada. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tehachapi Pass Railroad Line (a few steps from this marker); The Cross at the Loop (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Great Flood of 1932 and Engine No. 3834
this page online
More about this marker. This site is California Historical Landmark No. 508 and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Photographed by Denise Boose, August 9, 2021
2. Tehachapi Loop Marker
The markers were moved to each end of the new viewing stand for the Tehachapi Loop.
Photographed by Denise Boose, August 9, 2021
3. Tehachapi Loop Marker
Tehachapi Loop has a new viewing stand and the markers were moved to each end of the viewing stand.
Photographed by Craig Baker, September 21, 2019
4. Old view of markers - 2019
Photographed by Bvnc
5. Vintage Postcard - The Loop
As the Southern Pacific winds through the most difficult part of the range, it swings around and across its own track in an effort to relieve the grade. The famous loop is a very ingenious feat of engineering.
Photographed by Denise Boose, August 12, 2007
6. Freight Train on theTehachapi Loop
Photographed by Mandy Kirby
7. Tehachapi Loop
Photographed by Syd Whittle, November 29, 2005
8. State Landmark Road Sign
by Anne Marie Novinger
9. Tehachapi Loop
This display is in the Tehachapi Depot Museum.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,037 times since then and 63 times this year. Last updated on May 26, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1. submitted on January 5, 2019, by Mandy Kirby of Clovis, California. 2, 3. submitted on August 9, 2021, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 4. submitted on September 21, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on September 28, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 6. submitted on January 16, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 7. submitted on January 5, 2019, by Mandy Kirby of Clovis, California. 8. submitted on December 4, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 9. submitted on September 21, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
