William HoodDied 26 Aug 1926 at age 80 (born 4 Feb 1846). American civil engineer who invented California’s Tehachapi Loop, an elegant 0.73-mile railroad spiral. Called one of the seven wonders of the railroad world, it is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. It is part of 28 miles of railroad snaking through the Tehachapi Pass between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Hood designed a remarkable series of horseshoe and S-curves to traverse the lofty peaks and ridges along the way. The spiral ascends at a 2-percent grade for an elevation of 77 feet. A train longer than 4,000 feet (about 85 cars) passes over itself as it travels around the loop. He retired as chief engineer of the Southern Pacific Company. His career spanned 54 years (3 May 1867- 3 May 1921), in which time some 11,000 miles of track were laid.« |
