Rounding the famed Tehachapi Loop, albeit on the 4800’ long Walong Siding, this Southern Pacific eastbound freight train has another ten miles until it crests the summit of the crossing of the Tehachapi Mountains. A quartet of 3600 horsepower SD45s are helping this train climb out of California’s Central Valley: Three up front (SP 9146, 9307 and 8890, with one of them being of the "Tunnel Motor" variation) and one as the rear helper (SP 9127). Before long, this train will be descending into the barren Mojave Desert. The lead locomotive will eventually become Utah Railway 9146 … and then scrapped when the UTAH is done with it. (Walong, California – February 1978)
