I awoke this morning and after calculating my rail mileage from yesterday, worked out what my mileage for today would be and could not believe that if I rode as planned, I would be passing 950,000.0 rail miles at MP 200.9 on Metrolink's San Diego Subdivision. Steve Grande of Trainweb.com was planning on joining me on the Pacific Surfliner round trip to San Diego as Amtrak's Great Dome would in the consist of trains 774 and 785. After a rocky start to my day, I drove to the Santa Ana station and since I had a few spare, documented the progress of the station bridge and platforms.
The blue tarpaulin had been removed and a Metrolink train is seen departing for Los Angeles.
The new steps to the west platform with the handicapped ramp to the right.
The east side tower and bridge.
The east side canopy rooves have been tiled but the final tile work was still to be completed. I waited for Pacific Surfliner 562.
Pacific Surfliner 562
This train arrived and we met Metrolink 683 after Tustin, then at Laguna Niguel, met Metrolink 607. At CP Serra, Pacific Surfliner 763 was passed then later, after paralleling a cloudy shoreline, met Metrolink 850 waiting at CP Songs. At CP Westbrook, was Pacific Surfliner 565 then the station stop at Oceanside, aftre which, at CP Craven, just short of Solana Beach, we met Coaster 633 before I detrained and walked over to Track 2.
Pacific Surfliner 567
Pacific Surfliner 567 arrived at Solana Beach and I boarded. We made our way to Oceanside, meeting a waiting Coaster 640 then ran all the way to CP Songs, where we met Pacific Surfliner 564. At CP Serra, Metrolink 600 was waiting for us then at CP Avery, Pacific Surfliner 566 was passed. The train stopped at Irvine, Santa Ana and Anaheim before meeting Pacific Surfliner 768, then stopped at Fullerton before running non-stop to Los Angeles Union Station. I walked from Track 8 to Track 9 to board my next train.
Pacific Surfliner 572
Departing LAUPT on time, a quick run was made to Fullerton where I detrained and walked over to the former Trainweb.com office and found Steve Grande, who was expecting me. After we tried to find a parking spot, we returned to the office then walked over to the station for Pacific Surfliner 774. Its counterpart, Pacific Surfliner 573, arrived first and departed just as our train was coming in.
Pacific Surfliner 774
This San Diego-bound train rolled into Fullerton.
Amtrak Great Dome 10031 "Ocean View", ex. Amtrak 10031 19999, exx. Auto Train 9300:2 "Ocean View" 1985, exxx. Amtrak 9361 "Ocean View", exxxx. Burlington Northern 1391 "Ocean View" 1970, nee Great Northern 1391 "Ocean View", built by Budd in 1955. As noted earlier, it is the last dome car on the Amtrak system. Steve and I boarded and chose a pair of seats on the upper level and we departed a few minutes late.
Steve Grande, founder of Trainweb.com, enjoying the Great Dome.
The author enjoying the Great Dome.
Passengers enjoying their experience in this unique car. We made our way to Anaheim then after CP La Veta, I showed Steve the construction for the double-tracking to CP Lincoln. At Santa Ana, Steve had his first look at the new features of the station and was impressed. As we travelled south, he realized that it had been at least a year since he had been to San Diego. We stopped in Irvine then met Pacific Surfliner 775 at speed just short of the crest of El Toro Hill then train descended to San Juan Capistrano, where, after departing, I showed Steve the new bicycle trail. At CP Capistrano, we met Metrolink 853 ready to start its run to Riverside after the crew switched ends then commenced our beach-running under cloudy skies.
The San Clemente Pier. Further on, I pointed out the grading between CP Flores and CP Puller for that future double-tracking. We met Coaster 639, deadheading to their shops at Stuart Mesa at CP Westbrook then just before Oceanside, we met Pacific Surfliner 579 then did our station work. As we departed, Steve saw the grading for the Sprinter line into Oceanside, then further south, the new bridge at Agua Herronda Lagoon. We stopped at Solana Beach then met Coaster 643 at Sorrento Valley and I called Steve's attention to the mainline between CP Moreno and CP Tecolate before arriving at San Diego seven minutes early.
Pacific Surfliner 774 at rest and we walk around the train.
The Great Dome in San Diego. We found some shade in the front courtyard to wait Pacific Surfliner 785 then once the announcement was made, joined the queue to board. At the front of the line was railfan Matt Allen who talked with us both ways on our Great Dome adventure.
Pacific Surfliner 785
This train was northbound to Goleta. We departed on time and near the top of Rose Canyon, met Coaster 562 then at Sorrento Valley, took the siding for Pacific Surfliner 578. We stopped at Solana Beach then went on to Oceanside, where Coaster 654 was waiting to leave from the siding. At CP Songs, we met Metrolink 602 before stopping at San Clemente and a few minutes later, passed the grade crossing at 201.0, counted to four and Steve photographed me.
The spot at MP 200.9 where I passed my 950,000.0 rail mile. A few minutes later, at CP Serra, we took the siding to run around Pacific Surfliner 582 then stopped at San Juan Capistrano and once on the move again, Assistant Conductor Mike Monroe stopped by to congratulate me. Just before Irvine, we met Metrolink 604 and after that, Metrolink 688. As we approached Santa Ana, I said goodbye to Steve before finding Mike at a door so I could detrain at Santa Ana.
A last picture of Pacific Surfliner 785 with the Great Dome. I drove home, ending yet another fantastic Amtrak adventure.
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