Passenger Trains > Status of Palm Springs station?

Looking for a way to incorporate an Amtrak trip on a summer vacation this year and was looking at Palm Springs. CA.   I have heard 'things' regarding this stop and wondered if it is currently a station stop?    What is the current status?

*I have heard that sometimes they skip it due to sand drifts???

Yes it is true they will by pass the station stop during blowing sand. This station is out in no mans land.
You would need a good friend to drive out to the station to pick you up.
Dennis

Posted from iPhone

I would not count on it being available, the issue being sand drifts as you stated.  Last year, I saw a passenger standing on the station platform with a suitcase as our Sunset Limited passed it on the main without stopping, perhaps Amtrak's notification alert never made it to that person.  Best to verify its availability on the day you plan to use it and have a backup plan.

Oliver Barrett

The station is located near I10 and about a mile and half beyond the last homes in northern part of Palm Springs off of Indian Canyon Rd.  Not really no man's land, but can feel like it at 2 am if the train bypasses the station due to blowing sand.  There are several gas stations right near by. B

Why build a railroad there?

doge_of_pocopson Wrote:
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> There are several gas stations right near by. B

Not really. By walking or by car, they are about a mile away.

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Ivar Wrote:
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> Why build a railroad there?

Railroad was built long before Palm Springs was. The railroad is on the route with the best grade as it climbs from being below sea level around the Salton Sea to the summit of Beaumont Pass in Beaumont.

longliveSP Wrote:
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> doge_of_pocopson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > There are several gas stations right near by. B
>
> Not really. By walking or by car, they are about a
> mile away.

I've walked it -- it is a 15 min walk, and the stations are easily seen while walking. The most important point is that the stop at the station can be in the dead of night, and then it does seem like it is in the middle of nowhere.  B

Why does blowing sand prevent a train from making a scheduled stop at a station?

sf1010 Wrote:
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> Why does blowing sand prevent a train from making
> a scheduled stop at a station?

The platform is on a siding in from he main by a bit. If you look at the current Google Earth, there are numerous sand drifts across it, the main, as well as most of the parking lot for the station. The switches may not work jammed by sand!

Rob



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/26 15:30 by GoldenState.

This discussion covered it pretty well.
​[url=https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,5463096,5463096#5463096]https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,5463096,5463096#5463096[/url]
—Mac

sf1010 Wrote:
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> Why does blowing sand prevent a train from making
> a scheduled stop at a station?

sf1010 Wrote:
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> Why does blowing sand prevent a train from making
> a scheduled stop at a station?

It gets in between the rails and the points and results in the turnout not locking in either position because of trapped sand between the rail and the points.
If the turnout won't lock then the signals will not clear.

doge_of_pocopson Wrote:
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> longliveSP Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > doge_of_pocopson Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> >
> > > There are several gas stations right near by.
> B
> >
> > Not really. By walking or by car, they are about
> a
> > mile away.
>
> I've walked it -- it is a 15 min walk, and the
> stations are easily seen while walking.

A 15-20 minute walk does not equal "right near by", which for most people would equal at most a couple minute walk. Remember, other people will read this and we should not be posting things which can mislead others about how close or far something is. While you and I may be willing to walk a mile with luggage, I suspect that most people will not be willing to do so.

> The most
> important point is that the stop at the station
> can be in the dead of night, and then it does seem
> like it is in the middle of nowhere.  B

While true, is a different point entirely from my quoted response and included quote of your post I was responding too.

PHall Wrote:
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> sf1010 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why does blowing sand prevent a train from
> making
> > a scheduled stop at a station?
>
> It gets in between the rails and the points and
> results in the turnout not locking in either
> position because of trapped sand between the rail
> and the points.
> If the turnout won't lock then the signals will
> not clear.

Don't crews still carry switch brooms any more?

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > sf1010 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Why does blowing sand prevent a train from
> > making
> > > a scheduled stop at a station?
> >
> > It gets in between the rails and the points and
> > results in the turnout not locking in either
> > position because of trapped sand between the
> rail
> > and the points.
> > If the turnout won't lock then the signals will
> > not clear.
>
> Don't crews still carry switch brooms any more?

The amount and type of sand in that area laugh at switch brooms.