'Just a common sense plan' was how William Hood, civil engineer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, described the engineering landmark that we all know today as the Tehachapi Loop. It was under the direction of William Hood that the Southern Pacific railroad conquered the daunting Tehachapi range and finally linked northern with southern California in 1876. While Hood's line over the Tehachapi range has many highlights the crown jewel was the Loop. Leaving the Tehachapi creek at Woodford, Hood swung his railroad up and over top itself, fully gaining 77' in elevation in the process, and putting the railroad back in line with an easier gradient to Tehachapi Summit. One has to wonder what Hood, who later became Chief Engineer of the Southern Pacific, would think of his 'common sense plan' today, still hosting trains nearly 140 years later. Drifting down grade a 7000' westbound Union Pacific West Colton to Roseville, CA manifest is strung out on 'three levels' and 'tunnel to tunnel' as it carefully rounds the Tehachapi Loop.
