There is a concrete monument on the roadside above the Tehachapi Loop, placed by the American Society of Civil Engineers that calls the Tehachapi Loop "one of the seven wonders of the Railroad world"... and of course, some friends visiting from Connecticut just had to ask "I wonder what the other six are?" Since I saw the logic of their question, I deemed it reasonable to be able to answer it. I have gone to the Tehachapi Train Museum, the Kern County Historical Society, the California Historical Society, the National Train Museum and yes, even to the American Society of Civil Engineers with that question; "What are the other 6 wonders of the railroad world since you have deemed the Loop to be one of the seven?" And guess what? NO ONE KNOWS THE ANSWER! Not even the people who placed the monument (the ASCE)... seems a bit odd, don't you think? I posted in this thread because BNSF is the road for the Loop but if anyone anywhere can enlighten me (and apparently the world) as to the other "six wonders of the railroad world", I would appreciate it. Inquiring minds want to know!
That is indeed strange! Good question. Not knowing when that monument was placed, I could guess those six would need to be such as bridges, tunnels or intricate track work. Perhaps the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France would be on that list? Or possibly the new Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland? Horseshoe Curve on the old Pennsylvania RR? Cascade Tunnel from the (now BNSF) old Great Northern Railway?
I have never found any "official" list but there are plenty of suggestions out there. I imagine that it would have to change over time. I would like to think that this bridge made it. I rode in a train over it twice in 2003.
Not to be picky, but the loop is owned by UP nee SP. BNSF just has opperating rights. This question was asked on another forum last year and there were many many suggestions, but no answer as to the original 7. The sign was put there before the chunnel opened, so logically it can't be one of them.
Cascade tunnel was already mentioned by Ken. What about the "spiral tunnels"? That has to be one I would think. And what about the Hi-pass section on the Durango & Silverton? That stretch of line was so intricate and dangerous to build that it was kept a secret from the D&RGW execs until after it was built.
Well, the Vance Creek rail arch bridge in Shelton WA is the second highest arch rail bridge in North America but is not in use any longer. The highest arch rail bridge in the US : High Steel bridge over the South Fork of the Skokomish river and the highest arch bridge ever built for a U.S. rail line at 365 feet (111 mtrs). Both bridges were built by the American Bridge Company. These got to be in there somewhere ... both about 5 miles apart on the Washington Olympic penunsula .. go here to see the briges of the world , not just the US http://www.highestbridges.com/wiki/index.php?title=List_of_100_Highest_Railway_Bridges. The High Steel bridge ranks 29th in the world for arch type . No 1 is Chenab River Railway Bridge at 1053 feet
I totally forgot about Vance Creek. Somewhere I have a 8X10 color photo of one of the last loggers going across that bridge.
Perhaps the word "Wonder" is exactly what they want you to do. "I wonder, wonder..." seems to me there was a rock and roll song that started out with those lyrics. No answer means just that.
From what I gathered during my first round of queries, I think the list includes: the bullet train in Japan, the highest railway in world in Peru and there is a large Y steel train trestle I thought was called the "KT y"... any other ideas?
But again I find it interesting that the ASCE, who placed the plaque and deemed the Loop one of the "seven wonders of the railroad world" doesn't even know the other six!
Okay, granted I did not know that and posted here... I see both locomotives on the line so I didn't know!
I believe the Huey P. Long bridge over the Mississippi at New Orleans could be in that mix - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huey_P._Long_Bridge_(Jefferson_Parish)
