Nostalgia & History > Turning the San Diegan, 1982

Before Amtrak started push/pull service on the San Diegan runs between Los Angeles and San Diego, the train sets were turned in San Diego at a wye at Washington Street. The tail of the wye ran on into the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, and long trainsets ran the risk of bumping into the gate across the tracks if care wasn't used in the move.

Here in the winter of 1982, Amtrak 233 shoves a string of California cars back into the MCRD spur on the south leg of the wye. No tripod and a 1/60 second shutter speed made for a bit of an unsharp image in the gathering twilight.

- Kit -

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I watched the back-up moves to & from the Sante Fe Depot and Washington St. on many occasions... It was always an interesting run across the grade crossings alongside the PCH. Even more interesting were the grade crossings on the on/off ramps to PCH at Washington St. They were signalled but not gated and obscured by the overpass. Lots of surprised motorists led to many close calls.

Mike in Tracy