The Tehachapi Loop

THE TEHACHAPI LOOP IS A RAILROAD ENGINEERING MARVEL FROM THE 19TH CENTURY. IT ENABLED TRAINS TO PASS FROM THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY (CALIFORNIA) TO MOJAVE.
The construction was undertaken by American engineers and Chinese workmen. The Chinese were "Cantonese", mostly recruited from Canton (now Guongjhou) area. Construction tools were mostly dynamite, picks and shovels. Many of the workmen were killed during this dangerous work.

The Chinese workmen referred to the Tehachapi Loop as "Walong".There is no such word in Cantonese. Since the workmen spoke no English and the Americans spoke no Chinese, the English interpretation of Walong could come from either of two Chinese expressions.

James W.H. Wong suggests that "Wa" could have really been "Wan" = coil or coiled, and that "Loon" in Cantonese could sound similar to Long to the American ear. "Loon" = Dragon. In this case, Walong would be "Coiled Dragon", which also seems an appropriate name for the Tehachapi Loop.