I am so very very sorry to report this news item to this group:
At about 3 AM this morning (Friday 6-13-08) the Kern County Fire Department was dispatched to a fire at the Tehachapi California SP Depot.
Very sadly the beautiful structure is now DESTROYED.
This is a Huge blow to all lovers of the Tehachapi, California mountain area.

I hope there can be some way to rebuild a replica depot in Tehachapi, California:
-- Daniel

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http://www.socalrailfan.com/forums/show ... php?t=3313

From the So Cal Rails yahoo group...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug Wagner

TEHACHAPI, CA – Friday, June 13th at approximately 3:08 A.M., a call was received by the Kern County Fire Department, for a structure fire in the 100 block of West Tehachapi Boulevard. 24 Kern County Firefighters responded to the incident. The fire was under control in approximately 76 minutes.

As the first responding engine left their engine house, several blocks away, they could see the fires glow in the night sky. Upon arrival, crews faced a large wooden structure that was fully involved in fire, a second alarm was called. The building was a historic structure, a train depot that was under renovation to be used by the City of Tehachapi for commercial and retail space. The depot was a design #23, one of only 6 left, it was rebuilt in 1904, due to a fire that destroyed the original depot built in the 1880s. Due to the involvement a defensive action was taken. Fire crews worked to protect other buildings in the area. The fire destroyed in excess of $1,000,000.00 of property and contents, and the loss to community cannot be measured.

Rail service on the adjacent tracks was stopped during suppression action but now has resumed. There were no reported injuries. The cause is under investigation.

Doug Wagner
Golden Empire Historical & Modeling Society
Bakersfield, California

Photo of the station