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My next trip would be to Portland, Oregon on the Coast Starlight, a night at the Mark Spencer Hotel, a trip on the Talgo to Olympia-Lacey then the Coast Starlight home. That was my plan but now let us look at how reality would change my plans but would make for a unique trip over a long weekend.
Surfliner 763 2/16/07My mother drove me down to the Santa Ana Train station where I waited for Surfliner 763 to arrive into Santa Ana just as Metrolink 682 arrived .
I walked over to the East Platform just before Metrolink 607 arrived in Santa Ana.
Surfliner 763 pulled into Santa Ana with Surfliner Cab Car 6906, Coaches 6452 and 6403, Coach/Cafe 6304, Pacific Business Class 6807 with engine 456 pushing our train to Los Angeles. Jonathan and Harry Ortiz boarded the train in Anaheim with them going to Sacramento. We paused at Fullerton before we made the final sprint to Los Angeles Union Passenger Station and arrived there at few minutes late. I detrained and led Jonathan and Harry over to the Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751 on display there.
Santa Fe 3751 which had been on display all week as part of the SBRHS Educational Outreach Program for school children.
What a beautiful machine she is! I walked back over to Track 10 to wait for the Coast Starlight to arrive into the station.
Coast Starlight 14 2/16/07
The Coast Starlight backed in with engines 121 and 118, Baggage 1709, Transition 39005, Sleepers 32079 Georgia and 32071 Arizona, Pacific Parlor Car 39972, Diner 38005, Lounge 33004, and Coaches 34072, 34101 and 34045. I boarded the Georgia and had Room 7 with the wonderful Ron Harris as my Sleeping Car Attendant. After storing my luggage in the room, I walked over to Track 11 to get pictures of our train.
Pacific Parlor Car 39972. Back on board I got some Danish from the Pacific Parlor Car before I went back outside to visit with Conductor Bob Riskie on the platform. The Southwest Chief was a no show into LAUPT this morning. I reboarded for some pictures on board.
Views inside the Pacific Parlor Car. At this point there are still no attendants yet reassigned to the Pacific Parlor Car. I put on the new Young Dubliners "With All Due Respect" prior to our on time departure from LAUPT as I enjoyed some music. I went to the Parlor Car next to meet some of my fellow passengers.
From Pasadena Jay and Robbin Nordsten along with Ralph and Ridge Nordsten. Ridge celebrated her 87th birthday on Valentine Day 2007.
First time train rider Spencer with parents Jody and Emily. At Chatsworth we met Surfliner 774 and a Metrolink as we sat while lead unit 121 had a computer failure and we sat with head end power off and on. At 11:36 AM we were called into the Dining Car for lunch with me seated with Jerry and Eva going to Salinas and Jan going to Seattle. I had the Beef Angus Burger and Chocolate Bundt Cake. It was then announced that we would be waiting for a replacement engine that should arrive at Chatsworth at 1:15 PM. A westbound Union Pacific freight passed by followed by the UP Leesdale Local. At 1:18 PM another UP westbound went by our train.
Jonathan visited me in the Parlor Car.
Me enjoying one of those big comfortable chairs in the Parlor Car that I like so much. Next the Metrolink train for Moorpark went by west. Finally at 2:08 PM Surfliner 769 pulled up along side of us with our replacement engine 457 on the point of that train. Surfliner 769 left Chatsworth at 2:20 PM.
Milt Belvins from San Dimas heading to San Francisco making his first long distance train ride. Surfliner engine 461 was then added to the point of our Coast Starlight. That Metrolink train from Moorpark then returned by us heading back to LAUPT. At 3:21 the train pulled down to the west signal at Chatsworth then waited for the UP 4273 East to roll by us. They started the Wine Tasting in the Parlor Car as we started rolling and when we got to Simi Valley they gave the smokers a much needed smoke break. We left Simi Valley at 3:42 PM {11:23 AM} and then passed Surfliner 784 at Moorpark. As we ran through Somis near Sand Canyon Road at track speed I felt us hit something as the train went into an emergency stop and a major cloud of dust formed as a semi truck cab spun around off into the trees. I grabbed the camera and quickly walked through the train with Jonathan and the rest of the train’s passengers behind me to the rear door for a picture.
The red cab is seen in the trees and his trailer had flipped over and rolled. The driver was uninjured and we were released to continue on north at 4:35 PM. Remember that "Every Trip is an Adventure!"
Strawberry fields west of Camarillo. We did our station work at Oxnard departing there at 5:01 PM{11:55 AM}.
We finally reached the shores of the Pacific Ocean after Ventura at 5:15 PM. We came into Santa Barbara on the siding passing Surfliner 792 at the east end of town. We left Santa Barbara at 5:50 PM {12:48 PM}. I dined with Jonathan and Harry with me having the Seared Salmon and a Chocolate Bundt Cake.
After dinner I returned to one of those big comfortable chairs in the Pacific Parlor Car. We paused for 17 minutes at Gaviota for Surfliner 798, Jonathan and I talked all the way north to San Luis Obispo. We kept in contact with Chris Parker, my train riding friend, keeping him up to date on what had became a very unusual and unique trip so far. We passed the southbound Coast Starlight just before we arrived in San Luis Obispo.
The damaged pilot of the 457 engine.
Station scenes at San Luis Obispo which we departed at 8:41 PM {3:43 PM}. We climbed up and over Cuesta Grade before I called it a night as we pulled into Santa Margarita to wait for 58 minutes for the UP 3253 East. While I slept, we were delayed 19 minutes at King City and stuck debris on the track twice for 6 more minutes of delay. At Oakland they had to cut the cow catcher on the 461 to clear the rail which took 23 minutes followed by waiting 51 minutes to be recrewed.
2/17/07> I awoke at Jack London Station which we departed at 5:40 AM {9:47 PM}. We did our station stop at Emeryville and left there at 5:59 AM{10:12 PM}
Pre sunrise views along the Carquinez Straits. I helped an elderly couple get into the Dining Car for breakfast. I had Julio an excellent waiter serve me every meal on the whole trip. I had French Toast and sausage patties sitting with Betsy along with Scott and Tracy going to Portland. We stopped at Martinez before we crossed the high bridge just north of there.
Sunrise and the US Navy Mothball Fleet.
The Suisan Marsh.
Later the Davis Tower which we left there at 7:35 AM {11:33 PM}.
The waters of the Yolo Bypass which allows the waters of the Sacramento River to be diverted to the California Delta.
The Sacramento River prior to our servicing stop in the California State Capital city.
The Coast Starlight at rest at Sacramento.
The damage after our cow catcher had been cut in daylight.
Sacramento Light Rail finally has reached the Amtrak Station. We finally left SAC after three people got off at 8:13 AM{11:59 PM}.
At Haggin we turned off the CP Line for the former Western Pacific line which we would take to Binney Jct. At Del Paso we met Amtrak Coast Starlight 11 running two hours late and then UP 5649 taking a 16 minute delay.
Marsh with birds as we headed towards Marysville.
Engines of the Modoc Railroad Academy. We passed the BNSF 4038 West at Moukes before we crossed the Yuba River into Marysville. We turned onto the former SP Shasta Route at Binney Jct crossed the Feather River then at Berg there was a UP freight in the siding there.
The Sutter Buttes.
The Coast Range off to the west of the Sacramento Valley south of Chico.
Flooded rice fields as we closed in on Chico where we did a very quick stop.
Mt Lassen as we neared Red Bluff.
Later we neared Cottonwood. We stopped at Redding where we sat for 23 minutes while the Redding Police removed two women with the threat of arrest for fare evasion.
Picture of one of the ladies.
Their luggage that was put out onto the Redding Station Platform. We departed Redding at 2:25 PM{3:14 AM}.
The Coast Starlight crossing the curved bridge over the Sacramento River.
Later we crossed the last bridge over a branch of Lake Shasta.
Castle Crags before a well deserved fresh air break at Dunsmuir.
The train at Dunsmuir.
My Sleeping Car Gang at Dunsmuir. We departed Dunsmuir at 2:25 PM {5:04 AM} and headed to the Cantara Loop in the afternoon shadows.
Mt Shasta in the late afternoon light.
At Black Butte we waited for 52 minutes for the UP 5435 West while the Wine Tasting took place in the Pacific Parlor Car.
Mt Shasta from the northeast side of the magnificent mountain. I took a brief nap and at Grass Lake we took a 15 minute delay meeting a Rail Grinder.
I returned to the Parlor Car for the ride the rest of the way into Klamath Falls where I took a well deserved fresh air break.
The front of our late train.
Down by the station early in the evening. We departed K Falls at 6:25 PM {8:25 AM}.
I went to the Dining Car for the Seared Salmon which was very good. I returned to my room to listen to "Queen II" and read the paper. I figured that I better get some sleep so I got a blanket, put the bed down then curled up and sleep the rest of the miles towards the greater Portland area. While I dreamed we didn't do all that bad until we got into the Willamette Valley. At Swain we first waited for 23 minutes for Amtrak Cascade 509 and another 26 minutes for UP 1996 West.
2/18/07 Ron got everyone up twenty minutes out of Portland. Passengers going further north would be bussed with the Coast Starlight terminating in Portland. Someone then placed their car on the tracks at MP 769.78 ten minutes away from Portland Union Station. We sat for 52 minutes while the police and a tow truck was called in to remove the vehicle. At 3:13 AM the Coast Starlight started moving to run the last few miles into Portland Union Station which we arrived at 3:28 AM {3:40 PM}.
PortlandOnce I detrained and walked through the station I did a "Taxi Grab" that took me to the Mark Spencer Hotel for the rest of this short night. I was in bed by 4:10 AM but only remained there until 7:30 AM before taking a continental breakfast downstairs. I then decided to ride the Portland Streetcar since it had been extended again since my last visit to the City of Roses.
A block south of the hotel I waited for the Portland Streetcar to pick me up. I rode it south getting the new section from SW River Parkway to SW Moody & Gibbs.
The Portland Streetcar at the SW Moody & Gibbs Station.
Me and the Portland Streetcar. I returned north through downtown to the northwest end of the line before returning to the stop by the hotel.
One last picture of my Portland Streetcar. I returned to my room and tried to call some people but alas only got their answering machines. I checked out but decided to walk back to Portland Union Station.
On the way there I caught the Portland Streetcar coming and going. A few blocks later, I had reached the station.
The very beautiful Portland Union Station. After stopping in at the station store, I checked my luggage into the Metropolitan Lounge to store it during my stay there. I then took the MAX from Chinatown to Lloyd Center and visited the Arby's there for lunch. Having a Roast Beef Sandwich there is always satisfying before I returned to Portland Union Station and the lounge. Since my Coast Starlight was originating here, I got to see the pre departure preparations of my train. The 457 was cut off and set out on Depot Track 1. Next the power was wyed putting the 118 on the point of my train. I bought an Empire Builder T-shirt before I rented a Railway Media digEplayer 5500 for my trip home. At 2:16 PM they finally boarded us out of the lounge and we walked out to the waiting train.
The view as I walked out to the Georgia having Room 6 with Ron Harris again as my Sleeping Car Attendant. This is exact same consist we had leaving LA on Friday.
I started watching Pirates of the Caribbean "Deadman's Chest". We departed Portland 7 minutes late due to the late boarding of passengers here. We had a red signal at Labish waiting for the Sakim switcher to clear. I got a 6:00 PM Dinner reservation so I could enjoy the fresh air later at Eugene. At Hallawell we met the northbound Coast Starlight running three hours later. After we backed out of the siding we passed the UP 5287 West that was in the siding at Hallawell ahead of us. We ran on down to Eugene for that fresh air stop.
We departed Eugene at 5:46 PM {5:20 PM} and a few minutes later, they called in the 6 PM Dinner Reservations in the Dining Car. I was seated with Claire going to Chico and Chris going to Martinez. I decided on the Roast Chicken and Chocolate Bundt Cake. At Natron we got stopped by the UP 4948 for 5 minutes. Back in my room my next movie was "Invincible" followed by "Superman Returns". At Dougren we got stopped by UP 5275 and then at McCredie Springs. Add that to more slow orders and we arrived into Klamath Falls at 10:26 PM or thirty six minutes late. The movie finished after we left K Falls at 10:36 PM keeping being 36 minutes late. I made up my room and called it a night. During the night we took several major delays. 24 minutes at Worden for the UP 4938. Next was 39 minutes of slow orders. Later we took a twelve minute hit at Grey Rocks for the UP 5435. At Rawson we took an 8 minute hit meeting Amtrak 14.
2/19/07 I awoke to the predawn light of a clear Northern California morning just to the north of Binney Jct. At 6:30 AM I went into the Dining Car for a breakfast of French Toast and sausage patties seated with Charlie, Tom and Carol all going to Sacramento. We pulled in to Sacramento after we waited for Capitol Train 529 at Haggin.
We arrived in Sacramento where I took a fresh air break before I put on the "Illusionist" on my digEplayer. We departed SAC at 8:23 AM after our engines were completely refueled. During this movie I we stopped at Davis and Martinez. Before Crockett we got stopped by track work and had to wait until the eastbound California Zephyr passed by before we could cross over to head on into Emeryville as I watched the "Gridiron Gang". We continued south to Oakland Jack London before heading to San Jose via Niles. I detrained for some fresh air at San Jose before we departed there at 12:08 PM"{10:37 AM} and I put on "Employee of the Month".
Later at Moss Landing a view looking east out of my Room 6. We arrived in Salinas for a fresh air break.
At Salinas the Southern Pacific steam locomotive on display.
The ticket counter inside the Salinas Station.
The Salinas stop was over extended over 70 minutes when a UP track gang was working and took that long to clear the tracks ahead. I had put on "All the Kings Men" and we departed Salinas at 3:15 PM. Thank you Union Pacific Railroad as this one delay was the one that will force me onto a bus south of Los Angeles. The usual slow orders and a stop to copy track warrants led us into Bradley siding where we would wait for the northbound Coast Starlight. That was after I had put on "Talladega Nights" as I traveled the rest of the south up the Salinas Valley. After 14 minutes and learning that it was running later than expected we moved south to McKay and waited there 71 minutes for Train 14 to finally arrive. I went to the Dining Car during that delay and seated with Ralph, Audrey and Pat with me ordering a Country Fried Steak and Mississippi Mud Cake. Train 14 arrived after being delayed by a track gang and a medical emergency at 6:33 PM. My last movie that I would watch on this trip was the "The Devil Wears Prada" That movie was finished right before we arrived into San Luis Obispo and a needed fresh air stop which we arrived into at 8:30 PM.
San Luis Obispo station scenes during our stop there. I returned the Media Player to the lounge car and we left SLO at 8:45 PM. Before we left town we waited on UP 4836 West and Surfliner 775 to clear adding 27 minutes more delays to this trip before we left SLO for good.
2/20/07 I slept until just after Van Nuys and prepared for the bus ride home to Santa Ana. We made an emergency stop at CP Allen as part of a test for our train crew. We pulled into Los Angeles Union Station at 2:16 AM {9:00 PM} ending a very interesting and unusual train trip aboard the Coast Starlight. Having the Parlor Car and the Media Player really made it a totally relaxing trip. I made my way to the bus and would now wait for the bus to depart LAUPT which it did at 2:46 AM. We stopped at Fullerton at 3:24 AM, Anaheim at 3:42 AM and dropped me off at Santa Ana at 3:50 AM. No taxis where anywhere so I decided just to walk home which I arrived there at 4:10 AM officially ending this unique train trip.
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