Tehachapi, Southern Pacific - Santa Fe

I've owned John Signor's "Tehachapi" for over 20 years, having picked up the volume after visiting the title region. Signor covers the geography and history of this impressive stretch of railroad in a way that is engaging and entertaining, and not only discusses the engineering challenges of traversing the Tehachapi mountains between Mojave and Bakersfield, California, but also natural diasters that have occurred on the line. The narrative is copiously illustrated with photographs and artwork, and includes ample anecdotal accounts from people who were there at the time. While history can often be dry reading, Signor keeps his subject alive with an evident passion for railroading. This book is perfect for anyone that is a fan of either the Southern Pacific or Santa Fe Railroads, or for those who want to know more about how they overcame the, "You can't get there from here".

This book by John Signor is among the best of the Signor tradition. Extra fine hand drawn maps, rich text about the present and history of each stop AND information about the overall area are Signor's hallmark. If you want to know about heavy-duty western mountain railroading, get it! Read it!.