Western Railroad Discussion > Seeing TWO freights in San Diego today

Not much freight activity in San Diego in daylight hours, so today was unusual.

Southbound on the bluffs at Del Mar at 3:36 this afternoon viewed at quite a distance from Torrey Pines State Park.  Later saw it downtown on the San Diego Rail Cam at 4:31.  Mostly auto racks with a few tanks in the middle.

Northbound also on the camera seen at 8:43. Mixture of tanks, hoppers and a few boxcars.

I haven't kept track of the routine recently, but for a lot of years the southbound was very late evening, close to 11:00 or near midnight.  Tonight's northbound matched what I think is still the routine.  If you went to an evening Padres game it could be seen leaving or ready to leave just before a 7:00 p.m. game. 

Got a quick look at the BNSF yard while driving the Coronado bridge a few days ago.  Full of freight cars, but not much time for anything but a very quick view.    
 

There is a big shipyard in San Diego, or just souht of it:  NASSCO.  They build lots of commercial and US NAVY ships.   Does anyone know if they get steel plate deliveries via the BNSF?  That places uses LOTS of steel.

I see thick steel plate on bulkhead flats headed down to San Diego for the ship yard.  You can see it go by on the San Juan Capistrano or San Diego railcams.

mapboy

Griggs Wrote:
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> Not much freight activity in San Diego in daylight
> hours, so today was unusual.

Thanks for letting us know. I visit San Diego often enough, and got the honor of catching a daytime freight years ago, which is indeed rare. Keep these types of reports coming.