I got a chance to get out of town and do some exploring yesterday. I headed over to Campo and checked out the meuseum. Then I followed the tracks east. At Jacumba I came around the corner to find a string of 10 bi-level commuter cars and a baggage car. The bi-levels were white with a orange & brown stripes (ex Metra?). Does anybody know what’s up with these cars and what they are doing there?
Hey Chad,
I asked a brakeman out at the muesum today when I was out there what they were for and he said they were owned by the CZRy. They were supposed to be for commuter service between Tijuana and Tecate. Apparently in order to use the line for freight, the railway agreed with the Mexican government to offer a commuter service. So far I guess that has not been started yet, and they didn’t know when it would.
Matt
Commuter service between Tijuana and Tecate ??? I never would have guessed that one. I wonder what they will use for motive power? That is if they ever start up the service. Anyway thanks for the info Matt. Are you involved with the museum or were you just visiting?
Just visiting, but will probably get involved in the near future. As for motive power, I have no idea, but I think the railroad owns a couple of F-7s that they used to use down in Mexico, so that might be a possibility. If you have never been out there, I suggest going, there are a lot of neat things on display in the yard, and the ride is very nice, they even offer cab-rides for an extra $20, which I took the other day, and have also started their Tecate excursions again, which I’m probably going to do in August.
Matt
I was in Campo last October, and there were only 5 bi-levels there at the time. The explanation from one of the volunteers was the same … commuter service between Tijuana and Tecate at some time in the future.
A later trip down that way in January turned up a couple of commuter cars in Seeley (between Plaster City and El Centro). Looks like they are really building up a collection out there.