Enter this Saticoy intersection into your GPS for the station location.  This was rare mileage, so the train does not usually pick up passengers here, however.

The street crossing had been recently redone, so this became our platform for loading sinee there was no cross-traffic on the street.

I had not seen the clips used on wooden ties before, only concrete ties.  

The local store, less than 1/2 block away, had a nice mural on the side titled,  "Old Town Saticoy."

Next to the store, were quonset huts with other businesses.

Soon, there were shouts from the rest of the tour, "Her she comes!"  We walked back to the east side of the track.

She pulled up next to the station, then on past so that we could board from the street into the car with tables.

This was our car, next to the diner where the buffet lunch would be served.  I had climbed onto a 6' tall stack of cross ties for an eye-level position for photographs.

The final car in the consist with the trailing locomotive (#101?) which would become the head end power on our trip northeast.

After boarding, I looked back at the interesting reflection in our bus' large front windows, right.

We settled into our tables and soon proceeded northeast toward Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Piru.

Chris Guenzler (above, left) had boarded in Fillmore.

Chris Parker, a good rail-friend, had boarded in Fillmore as well, and was enjoying the open vestibule available only on tourist trains (not on Amtrak).

The mirrors on the end of our car made it look like it ran forever.

The scenery outside the window was great with all the strawberry, watercress, and rhubarb fields, as well as lemon, orange, tangerine, and grapefruit groves.

Right, all that Chris Guenzler needs to take a train trip - Coca-Cola and his camera.

These out buildings, owned by an Ag. School, were much better maintained.

Can't imagine why this strawberry row former left the tractor in mid-field.  It must have broken down, or it was quitting time at this poing.

This livestock feed plant was being restored and will possibly be used as a farm impliment museum.

I liked the way they left the original sign on the siding and did not paint over it.

All the flat land in the valley was being used for growing food.  If a citrus grove was being taken out, it was being replaced with avacado trees.

We saw some upside down orange trees in a local nursery.

An age-old activity, smile and wave when you see a train go by.

Chef Sassy announced that we could come to the adjoining car and take photos of the buffet she had prepared - we called this a "Buffet Runby."

The most memorable part was the hot dishes of meatballs w/barbeque sauce, tri tip, and prime rib. Guests filled their plates and returned to their table in the adjoining car.  The buffet and soft drinks were included in the price of the excursion.

After lunch, I went through the rest of the train.  This car would later be filled with guests in Fillmore.

I couldn't resist the open vestibules as I walked the train on this beautiful November day.  I liked the way the railroad curve matched the highway curve.

This would be where some of that Pillsbury Feed would have been consumed.

The last car I toured was the dressing room and lounge car for the actors on the many different trains that the Fillmore & Western run.

I recognized this bridge from a photo on their brochure.

Chris Guenzler looks for a new angle for a photo.

Many of the large packing houses along the route were for lease.

Why don't cities who invest in expensive clocks for their town make sure they actually run?  Guess it is like Amtrak who has money for new rolling stock, but not operating budgets to put them in service.  A 'timely' question in any event.

We passed through Fillmore, and continued on to Piru.  I believe this is where we took on more revenue passengers since our TRAC group did not take up the whole train.

They film a lot of movies on this line, and have built this tunnel.  We noticed from inside the tunnel that the sides are made of ocean-going containers, two high.

Another farmer's home, with citrus groves between it and the railroad.

Piru, our furthest destination.  We then looped back to Fillmore for Museum and Winery visits.

Bob Reynolds, TRAC Secretary, detrained here where wife, Kathy, picked him up to return to Sacramento.

Heading back to Fillmore, kids at a local market wave at our train.

During the day we had views of the mountains and Los Padres National Forest.

Our only in-route excursion stop was at Bennett's Honey Farm, Buckhorn, on Telegraph Rd. off Hwy. 126.

Their website says, Our Green Friendly 100% Solar Powered Facility has a Unique Retail Store. Unique in fact, that we allow our customer's to taste the different Varieties of Honey we have available. This is what we refer to as our "Tasting Room".  We also have a Live Working BEE Hive in our store.

While stopped at Bennett's Honey Farm, we took advantage of the excellent positioning and lighting to photograph the "F" Unit No. 100 of our F&W excursion train.  This photo from the field of mint growing along the right-of-way.

I pulled myself away from photographing Locomotive No. 100 and headed back to the Honey Store.

Chewbacca, Judy Decker's service dog, from Klamath Falls, OR, enjoyed a romp in the mint field near the honey store after the first part of the excursion.

Their unique 'Tasting Room' allows you to taste each type of honey they produce.  "T" on the lid indicates a jar for tasting.

"All Aboard!" was called, and we made it back on the train with our sweet purchases from the honey store.

 Back on the train I thought it was unusual, yet convenient, to have a luggage rack above dining tables.  Upon examination, I realized that this had been a coach car in another life, with seat numbers on the rack. (Right and below)

At each Highway/RR crossing, there is a sign describing the F&W Railway's current events.

Farms along the way are making use of former Southern Pacific equipment.

Our excursion ended back at Fillmore.  I said, "Goodbye" to rail-buddies Big and Little Chris.

I turned and low and behold, the Giessinger Winery Tasting Room was the first building I saw in Fillmore.

Tina Quiroz pours red wine for Judy Decker at Giessinger's Tasting Room at the Fillmore & Western Depot.

Judy's escort, Chewbacca,  enjoyed the Tasting Room also.  I understand he drinks like a dog.

I spotted a small farm 'cat' with a horse-drawn scoop nearly.