TrainWeb.org Facebook Page
Amtrak to the TRAC 2009 Conference in Ventura, CA

CALIFORNIA RAIL 2020 CONFERENCE

6-8 NOVEMBER 2009

Report and Photos by:  Carl Morrison, Carl@TranWeb.com

Amtrak to the Conference and Home; and Ventura.

640/IMG_4730.jpg


(Click any photo below for a double-sized copy; Click BACK in your browser to return to this page)



IMG_4601.jpg


We boarded Amtrak 769 in Fullerton (shown here in LAUS), at 11:36 a.m. on Friday, 11/5/09 for Ventura and the TRAC Conference.
IMG_4600.jpg

We would have checked our luggage in Fullerton, but there is no luggage unload in Ventura, so we had to handle our own luggage.  The conductor, seeing all our luggage with us in Fullerton, allowed us to board the retrofitted Superliner car. We stored our luggage in the vast luggage storage in the lower level area and took a seat on the lower level, a very good arrangement, but it takes an agreeable conductor to open the lower level door for you. The alternative is to drag your luggage to the Second Level luggage storage - whose bright design idea was that?!
IMG_4602.jpg

Leaving LAUS, I spotted the Silver Splendor.  You can see photos of this car, inside and out at one of my recent reports:  http://trainweb.org/carl/BarstowFlyer/


IMG_4603.jpg


There is room for about 10 private rail cars to be stored north of the LAUS Station.
IMG_4611.jpg

Between Chatsworth and Simi Valley, we went through an area where they used to film western movies.
IMG_4612.jpg

Can't you just image seeing Roy, Dale, Gene, and Hoppy out there fighting the bad guys?
IMG_4615.jpg

Surfliner passing the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ventura, CA.

Child playing in the fountains in the plaza between the hotel and parking structure. (right)
IMG_4618.jpg

IMG_4619.jpg

Plaza walkway to the beach with Crowne Plaza to the left and parking structure to the right with restaurants and shops on the first level under the garage.
IMG_4621.jpg

Crown Plaza Hotel, the conference hotel for the TRAC Conference.
IMG_4622.jpg

IMG_4624.jpg


View from our 9th floor room, eastward toward the Ventura Pier.

IMG_4628.jpg

Looking down at the plaza next to the hotel and the boardwalk.
640/IMG_4630.jpg  

View toward the hills behind Ventura, with the railroad bridge on the right side.
IMG_4631.jpg

Each room had a balcony, and banquet rooms occupied the top floor.


IMG_4632.jpg


As the light got lower in the west, and the tide receded, the photographic opportunities improved.

IMG_4639.jpg
IMG_4641.jpg

Inside the hotel was the most robotic vending machine I'd seen.  It even sold $100 cameras.  However, it did not work at all during our stay.
IMG_4651.jpg

All the surfers were wearing wet suits in the cool Pacific waters, but Sue pointed out that this female surfer didn't seem to need one.
IMG_4646.jpg

We walked east on the Promenade to the restaurant on the land end of the pier.

IMG_4654.jpg

We dined in the Tapas Room, upstairs, at Eric Ericsson's Fish Co. on the Pier
IMG_4665.jpg
The sunset view from our table.


IMG_4666.jpg

The pier and a distant Channel Island.
640/IMG_4690.jpg

The pier's lights came on soon after sunset, as we finished dinner and walked back to the hotel.

Because of the large number of panhandlers along the Promenade and on the pier, we chose to walk back Harbor Blvd. which is less well lighted, but without panhandlers.  The Hotel and the Restaurant would do well to hire security, or ask for Ventura Police, to move these panhandlers, giving the Crowne Plaza a much more appealing property to attract visitors.

640/IMG_4718.jpg



IMG_4692.jpg

The hotel took on a new look after dark as well.
640/IMG_4696.jpg
I walked over Hwy. 101 (above) and up California Street to take in part of the "First Fridays Ventura" where visual fine art spaces are open 6 - 9 pm.  I visited the San Buenaventura Artists' Union Gallery, C.S.U.C.I. Art Gallery, Museum of Ventura County, and Ventura Visitors Center, all within 3 blocks of the hotel.
IMG_4705.jpg


IMG_4706.jpg


Found this talented musician playing outside the C.S.U.C I. Art Gallery.  I was as impressed with his musical talent as I was with his homemade cigar box stringed instrument.  Would it be called a guitar or a cigar?

IMG_4708.jpg

One-half block west of California St. on Main St. is the Busy Bee Cafe.

IMG_4710.jpg

IMG_4709.jpg

IMG_4713.jpg


Another clock with the wrong time.  I guess any time is "Time to Eat."


IMG_4721.jpg

"Good Morning, Ventura!"
IMG_4719.jpg
Saturday morning the "Arts & Crafts by the Sea"  vendors were setting up on the California Street Plaza below our 9th floor room.  During lunch at the conference, we purchased some nice watercolors from an Ojai watercolorist (His link on Links page).
IMG_4827.jpg

IMG_4828.jpg





IMG_4723.jpg
With a good view of the Amtrak bridge over Hwy. 101, I spotted the Overland Trail private car on Amtrak Train 799.

640/IMG_4730.jpg
The Overland Train was on its monthly The Santa Barbara Daylight Wine Lover's Train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara for wine tasting at several wineries within walking distance of the Santa Barbara Train Station.  For my report on this special private railcar trip, go to:  http://trainweb.org/carl/OverlandTrailWineLoversTrain/

Our Sunday Fillmore & Western Railway Excursion returned us to the Crowne Plaza about 3 pm, giving me enough daylight to walk west of the hotel along the Promenade.

IMG_5219.jpg
I first thought the father was trying to feed his child to the birds, then I noticed the cracker.


IMG_5220.jpg



IMG_5221.jpg

IMG_5225.jpg


IMG_5229.jpg
A sign worth reading.
IMG_5233.jpg



IMG_5235.jpg


IMG_5237.jpg


IMG_5242.jpg


IMG_5240.jpg


IMG_5243.jpg
IMG_5244.jpg




IMG_5250.jpg


IMG_5251.jpg

IMG_5254.jpg

IMG_5255.jpg


IMG_5256.jpg
We had another tasty meal in the C-Street Restaurant in our hotel then, back in the room, watched the pier light reflections get better as the evening grew later.
640/IMG_5260.jpg
Ventura Pier after sunset.
IMG_5262.jpg

We were so happy with our northbound trip to Ventura in the renovated Superliner car, that we decided to board the same car, with our luggage since it is not possible to check luggage in Ventura.


IMG_5262.jpg

Train 111 North of Devonshire author, Oscar, Amanda y Pilar

(See link on my Links Page of this report)

Assistant Conductor, Oscar (above, right), opened the door to the Superliner car and we stored our luggage on the lower level.  HOWEVER, there were no lower-level seats in that car so we had to climb the stairs with 2 bad knees to find a seat.  To further compound the issue, we had to get the Assistant Conductor, after the crew change in LA, to let us out of this car in Fullerton with our luggage.

With eyes rolling, the blonde Assistant Conductor let us out in Fullerton with the comment, "No one is supposed to be down here."

Don't you just love the way Amtrak Conductors make up unauthorized rules on the spot to make their job easier?



Next:  Links for this Report


[ Top of this Report | Table of Contents | TRACFillmore and Western Railway  |  RailWine.com |

TrainWeb.comSilver Rails Country, La Plata, MO | Links for this Report ]

Amtrak Specialist: Travel Agent - Carole Walker at 877-459-5900