Riding Private Car from LA to Oakland - Railfan Trip

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On January 31st I rode on LA Rail's public repositioning move of Overland Train and Pacific Trail from LA to Oakland behind the Coast Starlight #14. There were some extra Amtrak cars on the train as well. All of the extra cars were moving to Oakland for the Reno Fun train.

Below are some videos. All are iPhone videos that were hand held out the door of the Pacific Trail.

The first video is us meeting a Pacific Surfliner Santa Susana.

 

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After leaving SLO we ran into some problems climbing Cuesta Grade. This video is of the Coast Starlight backing down the grade.

 

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After we failed to make it up the grade the train backed to SLO and tried to make a second attempt to climb the hill with the HEP shut off and try and give it another go.

Here is a video of the train crossing the bridge north of SLO

 

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Here is a video of the second attempt to climb the grade. We got a bit further, but not much.

 

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This time I tried a time lapse of the train backing down the horseshoe curve.

 

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After backing to SLO again the UP Helpers were called and added to the front of the Coast Starlight and they pulled the train over the hill and cut off at Santa Margarita. It was dark by the time the UP helpers were hooked up and pulled the train over the hill.

Final video is the train at Jack London Square heading to Oakland Yard to cut off the extra equipment.

It was an awesome trip and I had a blast. My wife even had a really good time. It was neat that there were only a few people on the trip and that it was just a fun railfan trip.

 

[728 Cable Donkey]

Thanks for the videos! I saw those cars parked at the Amtrak yard in LA last week from the 10 freeway. I wondered where they were headed.