After an excellent BBQ meal at the Canyon City Barbeque in Azusa, the bus took us to the Metro Rail R21 Gold Line Shop entrance in Los Angeles along the Los Angeles River. This was the first Gold Line shop and is being phased out due to its extremely small and limited space, something the R22 Metro Rail Foothill Shop has plenty of room and very well designed by comparsion. But at least we are getting to see where it started. We exited the bus and would walk in to see it all.
The shop entrance.
The sign out in front.
The trucks of Metro Rail.
This truck is used to get rail cars over deactivated wire.
This cab pulls a trailer used in movie filming.
Thank You for 25 Years of Metro Rail sign.
The Paint and Body Shop building
A Metro Gold Line train passed by during the tour.
The Gold Line stop for workers.
The view towards the Car Wash building.
Another Gold Line train went by during our visit here.
The famous Southern Pacific advertising sign on the wall that was designed so the riders of the old Santa Fe trains could see it and make a choice of trains to take in their future.
More views of that famous Southern Pacific advertising sign.
A look in the Metro Rail R21 Car Wash building.
Metrolink 266 was heading to LAUPT from Lancaster.
Another Gold Line train went by during our visit here.
R21 Shop view.
The Metro Rail Running Inspection Shop.
The inside of the Metro Rail Running Inspection Shop.
R21 Shop view.
Another Gold Line train went by during our visit here.
R21 Shop view.
Another Gold Line train went by during our visit here.
Metro Rail Car 725.
Metro Rail Car 121.
The Metro Rail Main Shop R21 building.
Metro Rail Car 710 and 743.
Metro Rail Car 725.
A look into the Metro Rail Main Shop R21 building.
The Gold Line Can Do sign.
R21 Shop view.
The view of the shop inspection pit.
Metro Rail Car 736.
A Metro Rail Main Shop R21 building scene.
Metro Rail Car 711.
Metro Rail Car 736.
Metro Rail Car 711.
Metro Rail Main Shop R21 building scene.
Metro Rail Car 704.
The north end of the Metro Rail Main Shop R21 building.
View of the trackage at the north end.
View of the end of trackage at the north end.
A trolley pantograph.
Views of the trolley wheel truing machine at R21 Shop.
We were given a demonstration of the turning of the Armstrong Turntable here at the Metro Rail R21 Shop.
This fork lift moves trolleys around this shop building.
A Metro Rail R21 shop scene.
Another Gold Line trolley went by the Metro Rail R21 shops.
A Metro Rail R21 shop scene.
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner 777 heading to San Luis Obispo from San Diego went by the shop during our tour.
More Gold Line trains went by the Metro Rail R21 Shop on the walk back to the bus. Once everyone was aboard, the bus returned us all to the Patsaouras Transit Plaza bringing this fantastic Metro Rail tour to an end. We debussed and walked back to Robin's car.
Trying to get home was harder than going this morning. We got on the 101 and a freeway sign said "Interstate 5 closed at Long Beach Freeway" from that same event from last night. We turned onto the detour route of CA 60 to 605 Freeway. Once we were on the 60, the bumper-to-bumper traffic started all over again. Chris Parker called and was too tired now to go to the show with us tonight. The bumper-to-bumper stuff lasted until two miles from the 605. We turned south on the 605 and it was more of the same which lasted until the crossing of the BNSF mainline before it broke for good. We finally made it home, where Robin showered before I did. I put the pictures in the computer which sent them into computer neverland, after which I drove Robin to the Coach House and we sat with Mike Haines, the excellent 4th grade teacher I work with at Heninger, and his wife. Caroline Boullon joined us and we all had a great time seeing the excellent Young Dubliners. I returned home just after midnight and immediately went to bed after a fantastic day in my life.
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