Stack trains on the SF Surf Line

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Hi from England [:)], can anyone tell me if there are regular (or irregular) double stack trains on the ex Santa Fe Surf Line to San Diego

2

I have never seen double stack trains on the San Diego line.I have only seen autoracks and manifest trains on that line.

3

Thanks, I assume the autoracks are from Mexico, are they regular and do they have Auto Maxes with them

4

The autoracks are going to San Diego, ie from the midwest to San Diego and back, not to and from Mexico.

Dave H.

5

Yes,the autoracks run regularly,and often have AutoMax cars mixed in with the regular autoracks[8D].

6

Thanks Guys, a great help but i would ask on question, did empty stack cars run down the surf line for storage if the Harbour was full. I ask these questions as i’m planning to model the Oceanside area and I have loads of intermodel equipment and I dont really want to get rid of it if I can

7

I don’t think there is much room to store cars down there. Here is some information about The Port of San Diego. It does appear as though there is some container traffic down there.

There are some guys that go to the Trains forum regularly that live in the San Diego area, so I would advise you to post this, or a link to this topic, there so that they will see it.

8

LA and Long Beach is the big container port/intermodal area. San Diego is pretty small potatoes intermodal wise.

Dave H.

9

I don’t think the container traffic at San Diego is as large as a small potato compared to LA/LB (before looking at the Port of San Diego’s website, I did not think it handled any containers). The photograph I saw showed refrigerated containers. If this is mainly what goes goes into and out of the Port of San Diego, they probably come from CA and AZ and therefore would not ride on a train. But I suppose the small amount of container traffic could justify running a container car or two on a model railroad.

10

Thanks again guys, but I suppose with modellers license who is to say that a trial flow might be tried out.
On another note, have GE P42’s and Superliner cars ever ventured down to San Diego on a rugular basis. I know that they have been down there on specials but with F40’s

11

P42s rarely run to San Diego.Sometimes a Superliner coach will run in a Surfliner train,usually for extra capacity.This is fairly common.

12

ericsp You are absolutely right about San Diego container traffic. Those refrigerated containers run by truck from the Imperial Valley and Arizona and some as far away as Texas by Interstates 10 and 8 to San Diego and much of the container traffic is in the off season destined for South America as well as Asia. San Diego also sees some inbound refrigerated containers that also travel by truck to Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas in the winter months. Most other containers are destined for San Diego and the immediate vicinity so trucks haul them in and out of the Port of San Diego.

13

Thanks again guys and I have now put some of my intermodel and Amtrak stuff on ebay. I would be greatful for anymore information like track plans and where to find drawings on depots on the line. Regards [8D[

14

A friend of mine models the ATSF surf line and from my discussion with him, it seems like the depots and the surf line were not standard ATSF depots, they were a pretty unique lot. I would start with the Santa Fe Modeler’s Organization (you might even want to join). They would have the info. You can also use Terraserver.microsoft.com to veiw satellite photos of the line.

Dave H.

15

Thanks dave, I will try that and if he wants to share info, i’m happy to post my email address. Do you or anyone else know what the standard freight power is down the line is. I know GP30’s and 35’s used to be the norm but I have seen Dash8-BW’s and C44-9’s on trains stopped at the yard where San Diego Coaster’s are based. How far north do the Coasters run?

16

Id be happy to help Jules! I live near LA and an hour away from SD!

Coaster goes from Oceanside to San Diego
Metrolink goes from San Bernardino-Los Angeles-down to Oceanside

Metrolink stops at Oceanside and the passengers that are heading more south change and get on Coaster.

You could model this interchange, plus the Oceanside yard has some service shops for the two.

As far as freight-looks like there is no container trains-boo hoo-(i love stack trains)

Correct me if im wrong-I dont think there is any Union Pacific down there, maybe a little at San Diego-Mostly BNSF with Surfliner and Coaster.

Here are some pics of BNSF stack trains at Cajon Pass, CA.

Sorry i dont have any pics of where you are modeling, these are a little bit too far north for you, but still same prototype and rolling stock.

Here is Metrolink and a leased Seattle Sounder engine and cars at San Bernardino Station.

Go to the Metrolink, Coaster, Amtrak sites to find out specific route info.

Here are some good links of Socal railfanning!

http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/
http://rlehmer.50megs.com/photos/BN/
http://www.northwestrailfan.com/Santa%20Fe.htm
http://www.somewherewest.com/SD75/1SD75MRoster.htm

http://www.socalrailfan.com/ —Thats a real good one!

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx —Another good site!

Hope this helps, conta

17

You are correct, UP does not go into San Diego. What is now the San Diego and Imperial Valley used to be a subsidiary of Southern Pacific.

I know there were plans to reopen the entire SDIY line, there have been a couple of threads on the Trains forum about it. They may have already done so, but I am not sure. Once it is opened, UP will have indirect access to San Diego via SDIY/Carrizo Gorge Railway.

18

I’ll share what I know about the Oceanside area/ Surfline.

BNSF runs one very long and heavy daily manifest train from San Diego to Los angeles. It is mostly autoracks, but general manifest cars can also be found. (tank cars, boxcars) This train is unofficialy known as the “DEG0” Due to the weight, six to seven -9’s can be found on the point. As for Oceanside, it is a Metrolink terminus along with a junction with a junction with the Escondido branch which runs into the hills above oceanside to the city of Escondido. A local BNSF freight , laden with covered hoppers runs up the branch several times a week. Several years ago, power would consist of patched Santa Fe GP7 rebuilds, but more recently the local power has turned to GP35’s and 38’s. Check out Microsoft terraserver or Google earth for a better perspective of the area! Good luck!

19

thanks bnsf97, I would like to keep in contact and my email address is: cuddlyjools@hotmail.com