Near Tehachapi in Kern County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Great Flood of 1932 and Engine No. 3834

Great Flood Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 19, 2022

1. Great Flood Marker

Inscription.
On September 30th torrential rains flooded Tehachapi Creek, undermining the tracks under Santa Fe Engine No. 3834 which was waiting out the storm about ½ mile east of Woodford Station. The engine disappeared into the raging water below. It remained “lost” for two weeks, hidden under 10 feet of mud. It took one month to free the severely damaged engine. Its bell was never found. Almost three years after the flood the newly refurbished engine was returned to service with people lining the tracks in Tehachapi and Keene, waving and cheering as No. 3834 rolled by – its new bell proudly ringing.

Erected 1993 by Platrix Chapter No.2 & Peter Lebeck Chapter E Clampus Vitus.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Notable Events • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant day of the year for for this entry is September 30.

Location. 35° 12.214′ N, 118° 32.542′ W. Marker is near Tehachapi, California, in Kern County. It is on Woodford-Tehachapi Road, on the left when traveling east. Marker is 2.3 miles east of the Keene exit off State Highway 58. 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 Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Cross at the Loop (approx. 0.4 miles away); Tehachapi Pass Railroad Line (approx. ¾ mile away); Tehachapi Loop (approx. ¾ mile away); Cesar E. Chavez National Monument (approx. 1.7 miles away); A Humble Home (approx. 1.8 miles away); Helen's Park (approx. 1.8 miles away); Bear Valley Historic Schoolhouse (approx. 4½ miles away); Nüwa - Kawaiisu People (approx. 4.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tehachapi.

Also see . . .
1. The Flood of 1932 Pt. I. The Loop website entry (Submitted on January 17, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. The Flood of 1932 Pt. 2. The Loop website entry (Submitted on January 17, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Syd Whittle, November 29, 2005

2. Great Flood Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 19, 2022

3. Great Flood Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 19, 2022

4. Great Flood Marker

The Great Flood of 1932 and Engine No. 3834 image. Click for full size.

5. The Great Flood of 1932 and Engine No. 3834

Courtesy of Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum

Engine No. 3834 Following the 1932 Flood image. Click for full size.

6. Engine No. 3834 Following the 1932 Flood

This photo is on display at Kelcy's Restaurant in Tehachapi

Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,640 times since then and 61 times this year. Last updated on July 11, 2022, by Ronald D. (Ron) Trigueiro of Fresno, California. Photos: 1. submitted on September 9, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on September 28, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 3, 4. submitted on September 9, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on September 10, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 6. submitted on February 19, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California.