LA to San Francisco Amtrak video

[Kb4iuj]

Shot yesterday...

Edited February 18, 2017 by cteno4
Fixed YouTube embed

[Kiha66]

Cool video!  This brings back memories from when I was a kid, I used to take that train up to San Louis Obispo or Santa Barbra and back to LA for my birthday every few years, and spent quite a few summers camping on the coast just below the tracks.  The delays can get pretty bad though, Even thought passenger trains are supposed to get priority, Union Pacific (the freight railroad that owns the tracks) tends to try to run freight trains just a car or two longer than the sidings to force their trains to get right of way, I've seen delays of over 14+ hours sometimes.

[Kb4iuj]

I would suspect Union Pacific is just waiting for the day when Amtrak gets their own tracks. A dedicated high speed railway.

 

After all, look at Hawaii and how long they waited and consulted with a ton of people.

[cteno4]

I too have many fond memories of the coast starlight and San juaquin. Such pleasant trips. Use to use the trsinneverytime I could to go to college from salinas to Davis.

 

Sadly these days I don't think there is much shared rail owned by the freight companies that give priority to Amtrak... but still great fun to just roll with it, have your tunes and a good book and relax! Even get to watch some freight. Just don't have tight plans on the backend of a trip and some extra snacks just in case the club car shuts down!

 

Jeff

[bikkuri bahn]

Just did the trip LA to San Jose last month with my father- a gift from my mother.  Had a roomette for day use, which was very nice and comfy.  Highlight was the Cuesta Grade at sunset time just outside SLO. Also interesting were the strawberry fields in Oxnard, the massive Moreton Bay Fig Tree in Santa Barbara, Vandenburg AFB launch pads, and the old oil fields around Santa Maria.  Northbound the delays are less common/extreme, given it's the start of the journey. We must have passed four or five UP freights.  I think we arrived in San Jose around 10 minutes late, which I believe is considered "on time" by Amtrak's definition. Thankfully we were able to make the connection to a northbound Caltrain service with some time to spare.

Edited February 18, 2017 by bikkuri bahn

[IST]

Thanks for the video! I made the other part of this trip in last September, so from Seattle to San Francisco, but was good to see this type of train again.