Western Railroad Discussion > Another "camping on the beach" trip in the books

We recently returned home from our annual week long camping trip to Carpinteria, a nice little beach town located about 15 miles east of Santa Barbara on the former SP Coast Line. It was a relaxing time, especially considering the daytime temps were nearly 30 degrees cooler than at home. I always say it’s not a railfan trip yet I always seem to find a few trains, the tracks were literally about 50 yards from our campsite so was hard not to take a picture or two. Photo wise, not much has changed since last year, the Surfliner’s are about the same and the Guadalupe Hauler still runs the same schedule. I am posting this on the Western instead of Passenger Board since I shot the Hauler a couple of times.

On Monday afternoon August 12, I met up with friend Jeff (aka SPgoletablock) at Emma Wood State Beach to try and catch the local along the beach. Even thought I did get a shot, it didn’t pan out all that well. It was getting late and Jeff had to leave so I waited a little while longer but the sun angle was too steep, so I relocated a bit more inland.

1) At 5 PM, UP 8096 showed up with 19 cars in tow.

2) A going away shot of the local.

3) Since Surfliner # 777 was due soon, I thought I should wait for it. CDTX Charger 2120 and 6 cars pass me at 5:15 PM.
 

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4) Tuesday was not a railfanning day except for a two minute walk from the camp to take a going away shot of train # 790 at Palm Ave.

5) One more, #777 again. Today running about 30 minutes late with CDTX 2115, seen crossing over Carpinteria Creek.
 

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6) A “nature shot” from the next morning’s walk of a brown pelican. I promise no more “nature shots”.

7) Since it was posted here on TO that private car Tioga Pass would be on the rear of Wednesdays northbound Coast Starlight, I felt it my duty to grab a shot.

8) Thursday afternoon I waited at the Padaro Lane overpass for a going away pic of train # 790 with CDTX 2116 shoving on the rear.
 

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Real nice bunch.
JB

9) Thanks to another heads up from Jeff that the Guadalupe Hauler was coming, I set up at Santa Claus Beach ( still in Carpinteria). First was train # 777 at 5:40 PM.

10) Less than 10 minutes behind was the 20 car local, once again with UP 8096 leading.

11) It had 5 carloads of various John Deere tractors.

That was the end of the train photography for the rest of the trip. Other than the local, not much different from any other year but, as always, we still had a great time and highly recommend Carpinteria. Thanks go to SPgoletablock for his help and thanks to all of you for looking.

OYW
 

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Very enjoyable series! Saw some familiar places.

Larry

Great series of photos and descriptions.  Reminds me of my childhood camping trips to Carpinteria with my family in the mid 1970's.  Each day my brother (PasadenaSub on here) and I would accompany our Dad trackside while he photographed the westbound (Seattle bound) Coast Starlight.  We had a 16' single axle Cardinal trailer deployed in the campground.  We rotated between Carpenteria and Doheny State Beach campground on the Surf Line.  Dad was good at trying to mix trains into the family vacation.

Great shots!  Always great to see Coasat action.

Fantastic series!   I was there a week prior, and notice some same engine numbers in your pics.   I'm sure some stay in the rotation for a week or two.
I don't know what's better... spending time down on the sand with the family and cousins, or up along the bridge waiting for a horn in the distance.    You can't go wrong at Carp!

Jason Eminian
Smith Brothers Hobby Center
Northridge, CA

I am surprised to see the coke hoppers on the northbound train. The refinery at Callender was supposed to close last year. I would not think it would take this long to get rid of all of coke.

Nice series, Great shots!

Great group of photos, Bob.  Reminds me of many summertime trips to the Coast Line between Ventura and Santa Barbara (including those to Carpenteria mentioned by WP921 above) to beat the inland heat. 

As a kid, I often mispronounced it as 'Carpeteria' - due to the name of the California carpet store with the catchy TV commercials (and jingle) in the 1970s-80s.

Rich

Nice work.
—Mac

I assume those covered hoppers come from Calander north of Guadalupe. Does the hauler go up there to exchange them or Guadalupe based switcher?
Lot of nice phot potential for the lone freight on this portion of the SP Coast Route.
Regards, Jim Evans 

Guadalupe switch job switches Callendar and handles those covered hoppers.

I love that first going away shot--really, really nice view.

It's really hard to fathom how many trains have disappeared from this line.  It was once a busy line under SP, with fast freight and fast passenger trains every day.  There are still businesses along the line that can be served, in many kinds of industries.  I wonder if UP actively goes after such business, or if they "wait" for the business to come to them?

Excellent series! Especially that Santa Claus Beach location.
GK

Some really cool passenger train shots. The castle-like building is a super cool backdrop.
Brian Stevens

Posted from iPhone

Great shots and write up on your families awesome annual vacation to Carp. Meeting up with your wife and son for a tasty dinner with perfect weather was sweet. So glad we crossed paths years ago on Cajon as now good friends we can share life stories about trains, family , trains ,work, friends & more trains :) Always happy to help with the heads up as you have always done when I am on your home turf.

? Why are the units painted Amtrak but carry reporting marks of CDTX.
Ed