I drove to the Anaheim Amtrak station, took Metrolink 604 south to San Juan Capistrano and Pacific Surfliner 785 back then walked over to the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim where I saw Lenny Kravitz, who did an excellent set, then Aerosmith rocked the house! Of course, they performed "Train Kept a Rollin'", which I always enjoy. After a great show I returned to the car and drove home, noticing that the Santa Ana station was all lit up as construction continued on the pedestrian bridge. I went home and slept a short night.
On Saturday February 25th, 2006, I drove down to the station and went up to the top level of the parking structure to photograph this new bridge.
The ticket counter with two great Amtrak agents, Gary and Larry. I learned my southbound Pacific Surfliner 564 was running over thirty minutes late so went outside to wait for Pacific Surfliner 763.
The first train under the new pedestrian bridge was Pacific Surfliner 763.
A station-side view.
The view from the north balcony. I went inside to talk with the agents and a few minutes before our train time, a southbound BNSF freight with two rear DPU's made its way through the slow order south of the station.
Pacific Surfliner 564About ten minutes later, this train arrived and I was surprised by the power since it was P42DC 117, which was being tested to see if these locomotives would work in this service. Running time, braking and acceleration from the station were all factors being taken into account. We ran to Irvine where I spotted Cathy Stanfill and her mother boarding and I found them downstairs and greeted them. Our train passed that BNSF freight at CP Avery before we stopped at San Juan Capistrano. Running along the surf, the most dolphins I had ever seen were out this morning. We continued to Oceanside, Solana Beach and then Old Town before arriving in San Diego.
Pacific Surfliner 564 with Amtrka P42DC 117. I went inside the station for a few pictures.
The main waiting area.
The excellent tile work with the Santa Fe emblem.
The ticket counter area.
The south view into the station lobby.
Pacific Surfliner 571I saw passengers boarding this train and hurried outside; we departed over half-an-hour late. I asked the engineer if I could take pictures of the meets with the southbound trains and he agreed. Coming down Miramar Hill, we had a double yellow signal to take the siding at Sorrento Valley.
After twelve minutes, that same BNSF freight we had passed at CP Avery on the way south went by. After he had cleared, we ran to Solana Beach.
At CP Farr, we stopped and first met Pacific Surfliner 768.
We sat there and waited for Coaster 646 before running to Oceanside, then crossed Camp Pendleton and rolled along the surf through San Clemente.
At Serra siding, we met Pacific Surfliner 572 before we making the stops at San Juan Capistrano and later Irvine.
Pacific Surfliner 571 arrived at Santa Ana where I detrained.
One last picture as the train made its way north towards Los Angeles and I went home, finding Trains Magazine in my mailbox.
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