Nostalgia & History > ATSF #74 "San Diegan" so. of Del Mar, CA in Feb. 1971

You don't have to be a "Del Martian" to enjoy this shot, shortly before the takeover by Amtrak...2 F's (A-B)(Lead by 43C) and 3 cars make up this train...taken at 0947 if running on time...From the famous hwy 101 bridge that was deemed one of the most unsafe (due to potential earthquakes) bridges in San Diego County...now undergoing a major refit...note the person on the left admiring the sleek lines of those F units, and enjoying the sound of them...Yeah, Right!!!- Steve in sunny 80 degree Grossmont, CA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/13 10:06 by the_expediter.

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That's my favorite "short" piece of railroad right-of-way (to this day.)
Add my favorite train and you've got a winner! Thanks Steve for posting--

(sent you a short note)

Note the great job that various groups have done on this raailroad - groups like "Citizens for Rail California" and the like. From three trains each way a day in the ATSF and early Amtrak days, of three cars!, to today's 30+ trains!!!! With a capacity in excess of 10 of these older cars. That being said - bring by F units is a GREAT paint scheme like the AT&SF.

Thanks Steve!
Growing up in SD and coming to the hobby late this is the one spot I regret most not photographing.

Art Reid
Brunswick, MD
Art's Photo Squirrel Flickr pages

Even tho' I miss the Santa Fe San Diegans, they only ran 3 between L.A. - S.D. south, then 3 north. Now, there's more Amtrak Surfliners, Metrolink (L.A.-Oceanside), & Coaster (Oceanside-S.D.)-Northbound & Southbounds. Without these daily PAX (passenger) service, how many more vehicles would be added to the already congested I-5 San Diego Fwy?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/01/13 15:41 by octrax.

Remember, though, that the reason ATSF only ran three trains a day each way on the LA-San Diego route in 1971 is because the population wasn't anywhere close to what it is today. And it wasn't all an asphalt jungle like it is today.

There were still some orange groves and strawberry fields in Orange County. Irvine and Rancho Santa Margarita were just getting started by the land developers. There were still flower fields in Carlsbad and Leucadia. Train crews would occasionally spot mountain lions in Carroll and Rose Canyons on Miramar Hill.

If given a choice, I'd rather have those features and three trains pulled by Warbonnet F's and PA's.

Gawd, how I wish someone could invent a time machine!

I'm surprised to learn that there were only three a day on the route. Back in that same time frame, (it may have been 1970) I took the San Diegan from San Diego to Anaheim and back while on vacation in San Diego. Yes, the trip was to Mr. Disney's place and the A.T.S.F. provided the best ride of the day.

I came back at night and clearly don't remember what time.

Dale

dbrcnw Wrote:
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> I'm surprised to learn that there were only three
> a day on the route.


There were as many as seven a day until Santa Fe service began to collapse in the late 1960s

By 1965 service had been reduced to three round trips daily. Apparently there had been a mail train prior to this but that was discontinued 7/31/64.

John Gezelius
Tustin, CA

Hopefully the_expediter doesn't mind me jumping in on his thread with a little video from the same spot. Not 1971, but some vintage tea kettle action to make up for it.

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SWEEET Video! And interesting comments too...Steve

Reason for only three car trains, was the union only required a conductor and one brakeman 3 or less. If 4th car went on, then a 2nd brakeman would be added.

That's something alot of non-railroaders (like myself) didn't know...THX...SHM

Great photo to start a great thread!

Steve Mitchell
http://www.yardgoatimages.com

One of the more satisfying threads I have read on the San Diegan line in along time. The steam video at the end topped it off nicely replete with a round end Obs on the markers and a train of mixed cars.Too bad that ugly P-42 was in there,but that subject has been beaten to death and so we all just live with it.Ya got to have the HEP and the protect power to keep the host RR happy.

Phil Blommendahl
Getzville, NY

CA_Sou_MA_Agent Wrote:
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>
> There were still some orange groves and strawberry
> fields in Orange County. Irvine and Rancho Santa
> Margarita were just getting started by the land
> developers. There were still flower fields in
> Carlsbad and Leucadia.

Our family used to take annual summer trips on the "Cap"
to Chicago during this era; we'd ride up on the San Diegan
afternoon departure to make the LAUPT connection to the "big" train.

I distinctly remember gazing out on miles and miles of orange groves
which seemed to go on forever. Now, if you look closely there are
still a couple of miles of what look to be untended orange trees--
just above San Juan Capistrano near the Laguna Niguel Metrolink stop.
Ha- the last vestiges of historic "Orange" County! Good thread, agreed.

Thanks Expediter and others for the pleasant memories--