Nostalgia & History > Santa Fe San Diegan May 1970

Here are 2 photos I took of a Northbound "San Diegan" just south of San Juan Capistrano in May of 1970.

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Long train. Was that normal?

RRTom Wrote:
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> Long train. Was that normal?


When is the racing season in Del Mar?

NB: There is a beautiful horse track in Del Mar

John Gezelius
Tustin, CA

Yes, long trains were normal in 69-70 on weekends.

Surfboarders discovered the train and ocean.

Military weekend liberty.

Del Mar in July-AUG. ran one special weekdays, two on Saturday.

People discovered the very cheap fares charged for riding the San Diegans, especially the family fare plan. In addition to the beach crowds, there were a lot of people that did day trips to San Diego. Unfortunately, the first Amtrak schedule on the Surfline eliminated the possibility of traveling to San Diego and spending the day at the zoo or other attractions with a return on the same day.

Labor Day was the last big day of the Del Mar Race season, the horses moved to the Pomona Fair (LA County Fair) after Del Mar closed. I recall that the final Del Mar meet with special trains operated for the general public was 1969.

Cliff

Great look back at a San Diegan just prior to Amtrak. Only three trains each direction back then as apposed to ten or eleven today plus Metrolink and Coaster. Weekend trains were often twenty five cars as stated above. Great days on the coast. These trains had to be doubled over at LAUPT. There were still nightly freights from both LA and San Bernardino in each direction. Two locals out of Oceanside and two roadswitchers at Santa Ana. Nice shots.
JB