We arose early before going to Auntie Emma's for breakfast then walked over to the Trolley station where I picked up some Coca-Cola for the trip and saw a San Diego Trolley. After we checked out of the Best Western Bay Inn, we filled the rental car with petrol before driving into San Diego via Harbor Drive, stopping by the trolley yard.
San Diego Imperial Valley 3GS21B 701 built by National Railway Equipment in 2008.
Railcar Limited (RMPX) SW1500 2687, ex. American Energy 10014, exx. R.J. Corman 1504, nee Southern Pacific 2687 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1973. From here we drove to the Ash Street north of the station.
Two views of Santa Fe 3751 as we drove across the tracks. We ended parking one street north and walked back to Ash Street.
Santa Fe 3751 waiting in San Diego.
The National Train Day Car again on Pacific Surfliner 565.
Another view of Santa Fe 3751.
The beautiful Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751 at rest.
The rear of the steam engine. At 10:00 everyone was allowed to board and I took the rear seat in the full-length dome car "Nenana" which had an electrical plug behind it.
Santa Fe 3751 San Diego to Los Angeles 5/2/2010This two-day excursion was a joint effort between the Central Coast Railway Club, the Pacific Locomotive Association and the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society. We started to depart San Diego at 10:51 AM with a consist of Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751, Amtrak P42DC 13, Amfleet coaches 82540 and 82500, Horizon coach 54500, Pony Express 800320, Horizon cafe 58017, Horizon coach 54552, Amfleet coaches 82358 and 82570, full dome "Nenana" 800124, short domes "Silver Lariat" PPCX 800190 and "Silver Splendor" PPCX 800604 and dome-observation "Silver Solarium" PPCX 800333.
Pacific Surfliner car 6853 as we departed via Old Town and crossed the San Diego River then proceeded to Rose Canyon via Elvira.
Climbing the grade in the bottom of Rose Canyon, after which Santa Fe 3751 reached CP Cumbres and descended down the Miramar Grade.
Santa Fe 3751 dropping down the Miramar Grade before reaching Sorrento Valley, where we went into the siding for a Coaster Baseball Train, which passed us at 11:45 AM. The steam train crossed the wetlands before passing under the Coast Highway bridge and running along the Del Mar Bluffs then through Del Mar and minutes later, the trench at Solana Beach. Next we headed into the siding at Cardiff where we met Pacific Surfliner 768. Once on the move again, we went through Encinitas and Leucadia before we made our photo stop at the Poinsetta Coaster station.
The photo line would be the sidewalk leading away from the station. Here is my car, "Nenana", at Poinsetta.
More beautiful flowers.
The domes at rest.
The train started the reverse move, being led by Chicago, Burlington and Quincy dome/buffet/observation "Silver Solarium", ex. Amtrak 9252, nee Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 377 built by Budd Company in 1948.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy dome "Silver Splendor", ex. Amtrak 9457, nee Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 4735 "Silver Buckle" built by Budd Company in 1956.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 46-seat coach "Silver Lariat", ex. Amtrak 9452 "Silver Lariat", exx. Burlington Northern 7418 "Silver Lariat", nee Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 4718 "Silver Lariat" built by Budd Company in 1948.
Santa Fe full dome "Nenana". PPCX 800124, ex. San Luis and Rio Grande 511, exx. Sierra Western 523, exxx. Great Western Tours - Eureka Southern, nee Santa Fe 511 built by Budd Company in 1954.
"Pony Express" baggage car PPCX 800320, nee Canadian Pacific baggage-express 4210 built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1941.
Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751 built by Baldwin in 1927.
Santa Fe 3751 reversing the trainw which stopped short of Ponto waiting for Pacific Surfliner 775 to pass on Track 1.
Pacific Surfliner 775 at Poinsetta. The steam train reversed two miles after getting a clear signal. Once he received a clear signal at Ponto, 3751 came charging towards us at 60 MPH.
Photo runby one at Poinsetta. The train then reversed and we all reboarded, departing at 1:24 PM then headed next through Carlsbad and on to Oceanside, where we made a short passenger stop after a Sprinter went by. It departed Oceanside at 1:40 PM and crossed the San Luis Rey River, passed through Eastbrook and Westbrook before crossing the Santa Margarita River and arrived at Stuart Mesa for a watering and servicing stop.
Santa Fe 3751 being serviced. Pacific Surfliner 774 came through as we watered then we were on our way again at 2:42 PM before we passed the rest area where I saw Chris Parker. We headed across Camp Pendleton and then by San Onofre State Beach.
Santa Fe 3751 steamed by the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant before crossing San Onofre Creek.
Santa Fe 3751 crossing the famous trestle over San Mateo Creek at County Line. Now let's run along San Clemente Beach.
The run along the Pacific Ocean.
Along the elevated San Clemente Trail.
Curving off the beach at CP Capistrano.
Getting ready to cross San Juan Creek at CP Serra, after which we rolled through San Juan Capistrano then headed through Laguna Niguel, where at a slow order, I had Chris Parker waiting again. Santa Fe 3751 climbed El Toro Hill then dropped to runn through Irvine down the tangent track that leads to Santa Ana.
Passing through Santa Ana, where my excellent Amtrak Agent Marti was out waving at me as we passed through the station.
Santa Fe 3751 crossing Santiago Creek into Orange.
The curve at Orange.
Chris Parker and others at Eckoff Street.
Curving into Fullerton Jct and onto the BNSF mainline.
Coming into Fullerton, our next passenger stop, where we departed at 4:10 PM.
The author sitting in "Nenana". The train rolled through Buena Park, La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, Los Neitos and Pico Rivera before passing the Commerce Metrolink station, where Chris Parker was taking pictures. Santa Fe 3751 steamed along the south side of Hobart Yard and crossed the Union Pacific at Hobart Tower then entered the Metrolink-owned tracks for the trip over the flyover across the Los Angeles River and Alameda Corridor.
The train crossed the flyover before going by the 8th Street Amtrak Yard then passing the Los Angeles Subway Yard and turning into LAUPT at Mission Tower, where we arrived at 4:50 PM.
Santa Fe 3751 at LAUPT. It had been a fantastic steam trip with Santa Fe 3751 and a very special thank you to the Central Coast Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, the Pacific Locomotive Society and the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society. We met Chris Parker by the steam engine and after pictures, drove towards home, going to the Steer In Restaurant in Orange then dropped Bob and Elizabeth off at the Red Roof Inn. Chris and I then filled the rental car before we returned to my house where we said our goodbyes then I finished the story. It had been a great trip chasing Santa Fe 3751 and then riding behind her once again on the Surfline. I could not wait for next week's trip behind Santa Fe 3751 to San Bernardino.
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