p&sr
OBS Chief
I was up before dawn on Friday to catch the Golden Gate Commuter Bus down Hwy 101 and over the GG Bridge to San Francisco. There was a clear sky with full Moon and Stars, until entering Fog at Sunrise just before arrival into the City. The Bus was heading for the Civic Center, so at the Bridge I made a 30-second Transfer to the next Bus, heading for the Financial District... past Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 to the Embarcadero, then down Battery Street to Market Street. On exiting, I had a breakfast of Kona Coffee and Donuts at a little shop in the historic Shell Building there. At Embarcadero Station, I caught the 7:14 AM "T-Third Street" Train to the King Street Station, then the 7:44 AM CalTrain to Mountain View. There I transferred to the next (Express) Train for an earlier arrival into San Jose (passing my original Train at the Lawrence Station). There were fine views along the way of all the familiar landmarks.
At San Jose, there was time for the QuikTrak Machine to issue my Tickets, then a walk around the adjacent Light Rail Station (with a view of the old Water Tower formerly used for Steam Trains at San Jose). The Southbound Coast Starlight arrived on schedule. Consist was 2 engines, baggage car, 4 sleepers, Pacific Parlour Car (named "Willamette Valley"), Diner, Lounge, and 4 Coaches. The friendly Coach Car attendant introduced himself, and we were on our way. I had a Train Lunch of Hot Dog, Pepsi, and Chips (also a Cranberry Juice mid-afternoon). We left the last traces of the Bay Area at Gilroy, 10:40 AM, then crossed farmland with crops of Red Peppers and Lettuce in various colours. Entering the hilly Canyon of the Pajaro River (Santa Cruz County), we saw a flock of wild Turkeys and lots of Poison Oak already turning bright red for Autumn. There were small farms along the way growing Kitchen Herbs, Irises, and other specialty crops, and a native grove of Redwoods mixed with Bay Laurels. As we came out from the Canyon onto level ground, we saw fields of Strawberries and of Cabbage, some alternating with strips of white-blossoming Sweet Alyssum. There were distant views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Near the left-turn in Watsonville there was a "Rio Grande" Engine.
It was high tide at Elkhorn Slough, where we saw Kayakers. Then the Artichoke Fields of Castroville and views of the Sand Dunes on the shores of Monterey Bay. Approaching Salinas, we saw a colorful Country School and a fine Victorian Farmhouse, then stopped to make way for a RailRoad "Speeder" on the Tracks. We could step out at Salinas to walk around for a few minutes. On the way out of town, we saw a Steam Engine on display, and an old dome car in storage. Heading South through the Salinas Valley, we saw fields of Asparagus, and of Onions drying in the Sun. We stopped inside the Tunnel (between Soledad and King City), then proceeded slowly several miles for Track Work. South of King City we followed the Salinas River, which was filled with water at this point. At 1:27 PM we crossed the County Line into Southern California.
We went right past the old Mission in San Miguel, and also saw an historic adobe home there. We saw the colorful old-west Town of Santa Margarita, with its little white Church, then had great views down the Canyon on our descent into San Luis Obispo. We saw the Stenner Creek Trestle from above, then crossed it after rounding the famous Horseshoe Curve. Looking straight down, we could see the creek below us through the framework of the Bridge, and the Shadow to our left helped to show how high we were above the ground. We pulled into San Luis Obispo 35 minutes early, giving plenty of time to walk around the Station area. I crossed the Pedestrian Bridge overlooking the Tracks, and could see the old water tank formerly used for Steam Trains there. Next to the Train, there was a group of musicians called "Crustacea Trad Jazz" playing in Dixieland Style... a tiny saxophone, a clarinet, a tuba, a banjo, and a walking percussion player with a washboard and various attachments. Quite good, actually.
Just after pulling out at 3:20, we stopped to wait for the Northbound Train #14 (same consist as ours, with 4 sleepers, 4 coaches, and a Parlour Car). We saw dark ripe Grapes on the vines, then passed through the Canyon to Pismo Beach, where we could catch brief views of the Ocean, then extensive views of the Sand Dunes in the afternoon Sunshine. We could see Point Sal on the Coast ahead of us. Entering Vandenberg Air Force Base, we got fine views of the Ocean, with both rocky Shores and sandy Beaches. There were several large missile-launch towers, including one built for the Space Shuttle but never used.
At 4:45 I had Dinner (Roast Chicken) in the Diner, seated with two volunteers with the "Trails and Rails" Program out of the Goleta Depot Museum. We rounded Point Conception, and saw the Channel Islands offshore. Approaching Goleta, they pointed out an Abalone Farm in a Canyon below us. We had a few minutes free to step out at Santa Barbara, then continuing South past the S.B. Zoo we could see the California Condors inside their new Free Flight Exhibit, and the tracks of the little Children's Train there.
Heading along the Coast to Ventura, we saw fine views of the Ocean by late afternoon Sunlight... many fine Beaches, enjoyed by both Surfers and Pelicans. We crossed Hwy 101 by the Ventura Pier, and got our final Ocean Views from there. Sunset was in Oxnard (where we were 15 Minutes behind Schedule), and a dramatic Orange Moonrise in Moorpark. It was dark before Simi Valley, but crossing the Pass into Chatsworth the San Fernando Valley was sparkling with Lights. We passed the Van Nuys Airport, and cut a straight course across the Valley. There were piles of junked Cars sparkling in the Moonlight. We passed the Burbank Airport and the Burbank Station, then stopped for a Red Light near Glendale. Most of the Passengers thought we must be in LAX already (since they had been making announcements about getting off the Train). I kept trying to tell people, "We aren't even there yet!". Eventually they found their way back to their seats. At 8:55 PM we arrived at Union Station, on Track 11, five minutes ahead of Schedule.
I walked over to the Metro Plaza Hotel, and checked in for the Night.
(to be continued in this thread...)
At San Jose, there was time for the QuikTrak Machine to issue my Tickets, then a walk around the adjacent Light Rail Station (with a view of the old Water Tower formerly used for Steam Trains at San Jose). The Southbound Coast Starlight arrived on schedule. Consist was 2 engines, baggage car, 4 sleepers, Pacific Parlour Car (named "Willamette Valley"), Diner, Lounge, and 4 Coaches. The friendly Coach Car attendant introduced himself, and we were on our way. I had a Train Lunch of Hot Dog, Pepsi, and Chips (also a Cranberry Juice mid-afternoon). We left the last traces of the Bay Area at Gilroy, 10:40 AM, then crossed farmland with crops of Red Peppers and Lettuce in various colours. Entering the hilly Canyon of the Pajaro River (Santa Cruz County), we saw a flock of wild Turkeys and lots of Poison Oak already turning bright red for Autumn. There were small farms along the way growing Kitchen Herbs, Irises, and other specialty crops, and a native grove of Redwoods mixed with Bay Laurels. As we came out from the Canyon onto level ground, we saw fields of Strawberries and of Cabbage, some alternating with strips of white-blossoming Sweet Alyssum. There were distant views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Near the left-turn in Watsonville there was a "Rio Grande" Engine.
It was high tide at Elkhorn Slough, where we saw Kayakers. Then the Artichoke Fields of Castroville and views of the Sand Dunes on the shores of Monterey Bay. Approaching Salinas, we saw a colorful Country School and a fine Victorian Farmhouse, then stopped to make way for a RailRoad "Speeder" on the Tracks. We could step out at Salinas to walk around for a few minutes. On the way out of town, we saw a Steam Engine on display, and an old dome car in storage. Heading South through the Salinas Valley, we saw fields of Asparagus, and of Onions drying in the Sun. We stopped inside the Tunnel (between Soledad and King City), then proceeded slowly several miles for Track Work. South of King City we followed the Salinas River, which was filled with water at this point. At 1:27 PM we crossed the County Line into Southern California.
We went right past the old Mission in San Miguel, and also saw an historic adobe home there. We saw the colorful old-west Town of Santa Margarita, with its little white Church, then had great views down the Canyon on our descent into San Luis Obispo. We saw the Stenner Creek Trestle from above, then crossed it after rounding the famous Horseshoe Curve. Looking straight down, we could see the creek below us through the framework of the Bridge, and the Shadow to our left helped to show how high we were above the ground. We pulled into San Luis Obispo 35 minutes early, giving plenty of time to walk around the Station area. I crossed the Pedestrian Bridge overlooking the Tracks, and could see the old water tank formerly used for Steam Trains there. Next to the Train, there was a group of musicians called "Crustacea Trad Jazz" playing in Dixieland Style... a tiny saxophone, a clarinet, a tuba, a banjo, and a walking percussion player with a washboard and various attachments. Quite good, actually.
Just after pulling out at 3:20, we stopped to wait for the Northbound Train #14 (same consist as ours, with 4 sleepers, 4 coaches, and a Parlour Car). We saw dark ripe Grapes on the vines, then passed through the Canyon to Pismo Beach, where we could catch brief views of the Ocean, then extensive views of the Sand Dunes in the afternoon Sunshine. We could see Point Sal on the Coast ahead of us. Entering Vandenberg Air Force Base, we got fine views of the Ocean, with both rocky Shores and sandy Beaches. There were several large missile-launch towers, including one built for the Space Shuttle but never used.
At 4:45 I had Dinner (Roast Chicken) in the Diner, seated with two volunteers with the "Trails and Rails" Program out of the Goleta Depot Museum. We rounded Point Conception, and saw the Channel Islands offshore. Approaching Goleta, they pointed out an Abalone Farm in a Canyon below us. We had a few minutes free to step out at Santa Barbara, then continuing South past the S.B. Zoo we could see the California Condors inside their new Free Flight Exhibit, and the tracks of the little Children's Train there.
Heading along the Coast to Ventura, we saw fine views of the Ocean by late afternoon Sunlight... many fine Beaches, enjoyed by both Surfers and Pelicans. We crossed Hwy 101 by the Ventura Pier, and got our final Ocean Views from there. Sunset was in Oxnard (where we were 15 Minutes behind Schedule), and a dramatic Orange Moonrise in Moorpark. It was dark before Simi Valley, but crossing the Pass into Chatsworth the San Fernando Valley was sparkling with Lights. We passed the Van Nuys Airport, and cut a straight course across the Valley. There were piles of junked Cars sparkling in the Moonlight. We passed the Burbank Airport and the Burbank Station, then stopped for a Red Light near Glendale. Most of the Passengers thought we must be in LAX already (since they had been making announcements about getting off the Train). I kept trying to tell people, "We aren't even there yet!". Eventually they found their way back to their seats. At 8:55 PM we arrived at Union Station, on Track 11, five minutes ahead of Schedule.
I walked over to the Metro Plaza Hotel, and checked in for the Night.
(to be continued in this thread...)
