The Tehachapi features modern, mainline railroading of two major railroads with additional opportunities for way freight operations that complicate the mainline flow. Dispatching using the CTC CATS system on the Tehachapi is easy to learn and is like being in command of your own railroad. Block detection, centralized turnout control, and signalling provide real-time status and control of the whole railroad.

Operating on the Tehachapi is an opportunity to see some of the hobby’s newer technology in action and to focus on running trains (rather than paper work).

The Prototype

• Style:
• Prototype:
• Location:
• Era:
• Interchange:

Prototype
UP’s Tehachapi Pass
Bakersfield to Mojave CA
Modern (2010+)
BNSF trackage rights

The Layout

• Location:
• Scale:
• Size:
• Control:
• Accessibility:
• Mainline Length:
• Yards:

• Passing Sidings:
• Scenery Complete:
• Carspots:
• Motive Power:

• Rolling Stock:

• Track Construction:

Vancouver
N
10ft x 20 ft, 2.5 decks
DCC Digitrax duplex radio; WiThrottle/EngineDriver
7 stairs and 56” nod-under
3.3 scale miles
8-track balloon yard (Bakersfield); 3-track serial staging helix (Mojave); 9-track stub-end staging yard
Double track with 3 sections of single track
5%
10
Modern diesel (65% GE, 35% EMD)
90% Kato with keep-alives
400+ cars: manifest, intermodal, grain, autos, lumber
many featuring the new “N-Possible” scale couplers
Micro engineering code 55 concrete tie with hand-laid turnouts,
Yards: Peco code 55 flex & turnouts

Operations

• Clock Speed:
• Session Length:
• Crew Size:
• Dispatching:
• Car Forwarding:
• Communication:
• Jobs:
• Train Lengths:
• Session Style

5:1
2.5 – 3 hours
5 – 6
CTC using CATS, scale signals
JMRI Operations
Party-line radio
Dispatcher, road crews, local crews, pusher crews
30-40 60 ft cars (12-16 actual feet)
Casual, fun

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