The monthly Train Travel Meetup Group decided to ride all of the San Diego Trolley lines on Saturday, February 28th. Eleven of us made the trip together.
It was a beautiful Saturday morning when I drove to the Santa Ana station's parking structure and parked on level 2 then walked through the station and out onto the platform. Tom Anderson called and told me what car our group was in on Pacific Surfliner 564. I watched Pacific Surfliner 769 arrive and depart before Pacific Surfliner 564 came in.
I boarded the train and walked back to the second Surfliner coach where I found our group. We departed on time and I sat next to Tom. At Irvine, Cathy Stanfill and her mother boarded and our group was now nine. It was a quick trip down the Surfline to Old Town San Diego, where we all detrained. I worked the San Diego Trolley ticketing machine and helped most of our group purchase their day passes then we boarded a Green Line Trolley but had to wait until 9:30 AM for its departure. Tony and Floyd joined our group at Old Town, bringing us to eleven.
Jonathan Ortiz and his father with Tony Escarcega and Floyd Hawkins.
Tom Anderson and Bob.
Cathy Stanfill and her mother.
Chris Parker and Dan.
Our Green Line Trolley departing Old Town.
After passing under Interstate 8, we crossed the San Diego River then made our way east on the Green Line and some of our group had not ridden beyond Fashion Valley or the Qualcomm Stadium station before. At Grantville station, I pointed out how high the station was off the ground. We then started up the grade towards San Diego State University Transit Center.
Climbing up the grade.
We soon entered the tunnel which would take us to the Transit Center.
After stopping at the San Diego State University Transit Center, we exited the tunnel and continued our trip towards Santee and our group was amazed by the freight bypass east of El Cajon. We soon arrived at Santee and exited for a group photo.
Our group photo at Santee. We reboarded the Trolley and went back to El Cajon for a bathroom break then boarded the next Orange Line back for the ride downtown and along the Bayfront Line. Everyone enjoyed seeing the steam engine at La Mesa, the giant lemon at Lemon Grove and the trip through the cemetery and horseshoe curve. After the ride through Downtown and along the Bayfront Line, we all detrained at 12th and Imperial then walked over to the Blue Line and soon were on a train bound for San Yisdro.
It was on this segment that our tickets were checked. I always enjoy the higher speed on the original trolley line. At San Yisdro, we transferred to a waiting northbound trolley.
Mexico from the Trolley as we headed north to E Street where we detrained for lunch at Black Angus. Tony and Floyd left our group at this point and we divided into two groups for lunch. Chris Parker and I dined with Cathy and her mother and I had a Filet Mignon and a brownie for desser. The four of us then walked back to the Bayfront/E Street Trolley station and waited for the next trolley back to the Santa Fe station. That trolley returned with plenty of time to board Pacific Surfliner 785.
This train ran early today since there Metrolink 808 does not operate on weekends. Adding to our success was that we never saw Pacific Surfliner 582. At Irvine, Cathy and her mother detrained.
A pretty California sunset before I said goodbye to Chris Parker and detrained early for once at Santa Ana. It was another great trip riding the San Diego Trolley.
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