My wife and I are headed out to southern CA for summer vaction. She wants the beach so away we go ( I am more of a mountain kinda of guy) But she did pick a RV spot that is right next to rail line off the coast. From what I can see in the pictures, its a coastal route that runs along the cost between San Deigo and LA. We are staying in San Clemente. Anyone know who owns this line? Maybe who busy it is? Any info, I am greatful. Thanks
That line is the former ATSF LA-San Diego line, I’m not sure of the exact ownership now. Freight traffic is relatively light but the passenger service is another story. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliners run on that route (13 trips each way on weekdays) with local service provided from Los Angeles by Metrolink and from San Diego by Coaster with Oceanside being the common terminal point.
ATSF sold the line during 1993 to Metrolink (Southern California Regional Rail Authority) to the county line just south of San Clemente. In San Diego County, it is owned by the San Diego Northern, which is owned by 3 transit districts.
You will get fantastic late afternoon to dusk shots of Amtrak and Metrolink trains there. If you’re up for a drive, you’re less than an hour from the Orange Empire Railroad Museuem.
If you’re into freight, you most likely won’t see anything in the daytime, but you could be awoken two or even three times during the night.
The “LOSSAN” corridor is America’s heaviest passenger rail corridor after the NEC.
If you are willing to take a side trip into the desert you can go to the Salton Sea. There is a UP line that runs right along the highway and there are several spots with public beaches. I know from some of the beaches you can see and photograph the trains as they go by. It is a great train watching spot and it is really good for getting photographs because the vegatation is short and there are not any buildings in the area that is near the nature preserves. It also has great birding and good local food at some of the gas stations. If you can I would highly recommend going there. It is a great trip even with out the trains. (You can also check out Joshua Tree National Park, there aren’t any trains and definitly not any beaches, but it is a very nice place).
Good Luck and share some pictures when you get back.
The Surfliners from LA to SD stop twice southbound and twice northbound each day at the San Clemente Pier. Metrolink usually stops at a different location about 3 miles north of there. This latter is due to availability of parking. It is possible, on a weekday, to plot out some interesting rail rides via Metrolink and/or Surfliner in interesting patterns around the LA Basin. I have done this (from Fullerton) to Lancaster (in the Mojave Desert), Oxnard, San Bernardino, and, of course, LA Union Station. From Union Station it is a short walk to Olvera Street (tourist trap, Mexican style) and Chinatown (great food). Also, a round trip Metrolink ticket to LA becomes a Day Pass on LA Metro busses, light rail, and subway. Other transit organizations (Santa Monica, etc.) do not honor this, so beware and carry exact change.
Or, on a weekday, drive or ride to Fullerton in the afternoon. Relax with an iced drink in the warm sun on the patio of the Santa Fe cafe in the restored 1930s vintage Santa Fe (now AmTrak) station. Watch some of the 52 weekday passenger trains that stop there to exchange passengers, including AmTrak’s Southwest Chief. Watch the impressive freight action on the start of the BNSF Transcon. Eat dinner at the cafe or one of the excellent restaurants just across the parking lots. On Fridays walk down to the eastern end of the station platform and greet the groups of railfans that gather there. I might be one of them.
Jack
If you go to a beach north of LA, you might be able to catch the Oil Cans.
Oh man, you guys have me pretty excited. I admit, I am completly clueless to rail transportation. Phoenix has nothing. granted, we have our light rail, but that is still a year away from completetion.
So, it gets better! My wife has given me a free day to head out of town. Unfortunatly, I cant drive anywhere as the RV will be staying at camp. What I would like to do, is head down to San Deigio and make it to Balboa Park. ( I belive that’s it) the bog model train display) via all trains and buses etc. Urban aventure for sure. But I am also game for just taking a rain ride peroid!
You mentioned 2 stops a day in San Clemente? Great.
So, anyinfo you guys could pass on to me woud be great. Like websites with train schedules… Or even the names so I can google it. Man, I am so jazzed. Thanks guys.
You have to bus over to Balboa Park, but if I recall correctly, it’s a fairly frequent bus line from Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego.
Without a car, you can also railfan in San Diego at both the Santa Fe Depot and the Old Town Station. Again, you probably won’t see any freight, but the passenger traffic will be heavy, especially as the Trolley runs through both those locations.
The Cask ‘n’ Cleaver in Orange (near Anaheim) is located in a former ATSF station, now used for Metrolink stops. The Amtraks don’t stop, but there’s plenty of passenger train activity right outside the windows (try to get one of the right tables) especially if you go for an early dinner on a weekday.
Oh, and the food is very, very good! I live about ten miles away, but it’s a favorite spot of mine.
| FROM: SANTA FE DEPOT |
|---|
| TO: BALBOA PARK |
1. At 11:26 AM take the BLUE LINE TROLLEY signed BLUE SAN YSIDRO |
2. Get off the stop at CIVIC CENTER TROLLEY STATION at approximately 11:29 AM. |
3. walk 0.1 mile S from CIVIC CENTER TROLLEY STATION to BROADWAY at 3RD |
4. At 11:36 AM take the MTS BUS route 7B 69TH ST & UNIVERSITY |
5. Get off the stop on PARK BLVD at VILLAGE PLACE at approximately 11:49 AM. |
| Fare Information |
|---|
| Regular Fare: $ 1.75 |
| Senior & Disabled Fare: $ 1.00 |
This is a Saturday schedule. The Blue Line runs right by Santa Fe Station between the station and the Amtrak
The Metrolink website is www.metrolinktrains.com
San Clemente is on the Orange County Metrolink route, which as the earlier post mentioned, extends as far south as Oceanside. Between San Clemente and Oceanside, the track speed is 90 mph so you can get some fast running (as fast as it gets out west, anyway…). Friday evening and Sunday evening Surfliners can get VERY busy (standing room only), as do trains that head down to Solana Beach/Del Mar during horse racing season.
Yeah, forgot about the track. Del Mar meeting starts after the fair winds up around the 4th of July. I think it starts about a week or two later, actually July 18 this year, winds up right around Labor day usually, Sept 5 this year.
You guys have been great. Thank you all. I have been checking out the Metro Link and I am gonna do some riding just for the heck of it. Guess I need to check the surf liner schedule so I can get to San Deigo. Thats off the Amtrak site right? Off to search.
The Model train museum is closed on Mondays as are a number of the other museums
in Balboa Park. The Model train museum has several large layouts running. It is next
to the Rueben H Fleet science museum and the large fountain, and it’s in the basement.
Definitely worth checking out.
If you’re entering the Los Angeles basin via I-10, there’s a pretty good Mexican restaurant located in the downtown Rialto, Calif. Pacific Electric station. The place is located maybe a mile or two north of the interstate highway. The P.E. track was still in place (2006), and it connects with the Espee Palmdale cutoff at the east end and a lumber yard / building materials operation at the west end. Unfortunately the restaurant has done little-to-nothing to acknowledge the heritage of the building.
Are you driving from PHX to LA or flying? If driving, there is a lot to see in between in terms of RR action.
Don’t forget about Cajon Pass. It is an easy drive from either LA or San Diego.