I just re-located to Chula Vista from northern California and would apriciate any information on freight operations in the area. My office is right next to the San Diego-San Yesidro trolly line. I didn’t think there was any freight activity on that line, but last night I heard a diesel horn. I drove around trying to find the train and found a Central Oregon and Pacific (GP40 I think) and several cars on the SD&IV tracks. That engine was not running so it couldn’t be the one I heard. So it’s obvious there is activity on this line. Now I’m wondering how far the line goes? Is it opened all the way to Plaster City? Does it have a connection to Mexico?
Anyway any information would be apriciated, Thanks.
In addition to the SDIY, BNSF, Coaster, and Amtrak go to San Diego. The last time I was there, I saw a SDIY GP9(?), that was a couple of years ago.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=21939
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=29147
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=26809
http://www.railamerica.com/railmaps/SDIY.htm
Hello Chad. I’m from Chula Vista and yes there is freight activity on that line, but not until very late at night until after the trolley stops running. The trolley line ends at the San Ysidro trolley station, but the freight line does continue into Mexico, and east toward Tecate. After Tecate the line passes back into the U.S. and rolls into Campo, home of the San Diego Railway Museum ( http://www.sdrm.org/ ). From Campo the line NOW continues to Plaster City after finally being re-opened. More and more freight should start running the line any time now. Anything else you need to know about Chula Vista go ahead and ask, I know it like the back of my hand!
Matt
ericsp
thanks for posting the thread links. I read them all and found them very interesting.
Matt
thanks for the info. Do you live in Chula Vista now? If not where?
Now that I know there is activity around here I will check it out and post what I find. Although it may take a while, I just started a new job as chief engineer for Chula Vista Cable and I have my hands full at the moment. In the meantime any info would be apriciated.
Thanks all
Chad,
I recently explored part of the “East Line” of the SDIV, that heads out to La Mesa and Santee. That line has some freight business also, but not all the way to the end of the line. The freight trains run sometime between 10 pm and 6 am {never have seen one, but there are freight cars on sidings}.
La Mesa has a small depot and rail equipment on display; it is part of the SDRM mentioned above.
Back in Chula Vista, west of the I-5, is an abandoned remnant of the San Diego & Arizona Eastern. This line used to loop around through Imperial Beach and terminate at Coronado. Much of the route is gone now, but the tracks still pass by the salt works and a power plant (former rail customers).
One other place you can check out is National City. It has an old Santa Fe depot that is now a museum (open on weekends). Nearby, there is a streetcar preserved in a separate building. The National City museum folks have run a restored historic streetcar down an old SD&AE street-running route near the museum, but I don’t know if they will be running that again.
I don’t remember exactly where it is, however, there is a train yard and vehicle terminal between downtown and the bay, near the bridge to Coronado.
Chad-
I live in Eastlake, its in the eastern part of Chula Vista, one of the fastest growing parts of town.
ericsp-
The BNSF’s yard is right under the Coronado Bridge on the San Diego side of the bay. It is located off of what is now Ceasar Chavez Pkwy. Adjacent to it is the San Diego Trolley yard and shops, which is also where what is now Carrizo Gorge Railway has one or two engines as well as their offices.
MP57313,ericsp,unclejoe009
Thanks for all the info. I plan on spending this weekend exploring. I will post what I find.
unclejoe009,
I am very aware of the growth in the eastlake area. I have several guys working for me that do nothing but construct new cable tv plant over there, and they are busy! I don’t know the area very well at all, I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, but I’m sure in a couple of years I will know it like the back of my hand. Perhaps our paths will cross. I drive a brown/gold colered chevy S-10 pickup with Chula Vista Cable logos on it, It is the only one that’s not white. If you see me around please introduce yourself.
Well I have to go now. Thanks again everyone.
This morning I explored the line east of I-5 down to the salt mine. looks dead. Then I followed the trolly line south to the border. I drove up to the fence and turned around. It was not posted NO TRESPASS on this road, but there was a border patroll officer sitting in his truck. I didn’t want to risk getting hasseled so I left that spot. There were about 20 cars in the yard. 5 were loaded with huge steel beams. One was loaded with lumber. 8 were hopper cars. The rest were boxcars. As I was leaving I spotted a locomotive rooftop. The road is lower then the tracks and the trolly line is in between. I pulled over an got on top of my truck to try an get a look at it. I could only see the top half of it. It looked like a GP35 or mabee a rebuilt GP9 with a spartan cab. It was numbered 2162. It was painted yellow (slightly darker than UPs) and had a logo on the cab that I couldn’t read.
I then followed the trolly line back north. Along the way there were two locations that had cars on spurs (hoppers). I got to national city and got called in to work. Thats what I’ve seen so far.
side note:
I had a situation happen to me that blew me away. It happened at the San Yesidro trolly station. I was at an intersection just like the one in the Oxnard Wreck the other day, only smaller. The station is to the right of me about 100 ft. I was facing a red light, stopped behind the tracks. So I would cross the double track, then immediatly turn right. When the light turned green I started to pull forward to where pedestrians were crossing at the street I was turning on to. There was pleanty of room to clear the tracks then stop. Then at the very moment I started moving the bells started ringing. It was too late to stop short of the tracks. Just then a pedestrian stepped off the curb to cross in front of me on the crosswalk on the street I was on, AGAINST the DON’T WALK light. This would not have been a problem if it was just him, I would have had time before the gates came down. But then a whole crow
According to “The Official 2005 Edition Locomotive Rosters and News” (James Kerr, DPA LTA, ISBN 0-919295-40-1), here is SDIV’s roster.
1754 GP9, this is ex-SJVR 1754 and I hear it is now on the San Pedro & Southwestern (which the same book shows as having a GP9 numer 1754)
SDIV 2162 GP7
CORP 3820 GP38
CORP 3861 GP38
RMPX 9464 GP40-2W
RMPX 9520 GP40-2W
Where did you dig up this thread Eric? Yes, this seems to be the current roster.
I saw 2162 in San Ysidro by the shop about 9 months ago. It’s yellow and has a chopped short hood. Cosmeticaly it looks good.
The two CORP engines are still in Corp colors and are sharp looking units.
The two RMPX units are still in CN colors and are faded and have peeling paint and generaly are raggedy looking.
You can see 2-3 of these units on the San Diego balpark district webcam in between the BNSF and Trolley yards dureing the day.