Peter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 4
I’ll be at CSUN next week in Anaheim. If you’ll be there, send me a message here and we can say hi.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 4

I avoid flying as much as possible, so I had Amtrak Coast Starlight tickets booked for both trips to and from Los Angeles.

With just 11 days to go, Amtrak told me my southbound train is cancelled because the Union Pacific coast line is being shut down this weekend for maintenance. So, unfortunately going to get in a flying tube this Saturday.

Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 4

While down there, I’ll be checking out some trains and other public transit I haven’t explored yet.

Some things on my list:
• OC Streetcar - this is a brand new streetcar-ish route in Santa Ana, currently in testing

• K line - two discontinuous segments are now connected at the airport

• A line - recently extended further east to Pomona

• Arrow - the only hydrogen-powered passenger train. I’m skeptical of hydrogen trains, but I want to check it out.

• Various buses, as needed

Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 7
Somehow, I never used the airtrain at SFO, until today. I’ve always arrived at or departed from my terminal on a bus, or walked through all the terminals between the BART station and my terminal. I didn’t want to figure out how to get to/from the airtrain stations on the upper level. But today I had some extra time to figure it out, and it definitely saved me some time overall.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 7
I spent about 40 minutes wandering around looking for the LA Metro Connector bus. I found it though and got to LAX/Metro transit Center station. There are so many different bus stops and types of buses at LAX. It’ll be much easier to get to the LA Metro trains once the automated people mover is operating.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
Since last year, the C line was extended one stop north, so I need to ride it one stop south from the end to regain my completion of the line. Then, I’ll ride the K line north from Aviation/Century.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
I’m on the K at Aviation/Century. People including me are confused by C and K trains arriving from both directions on both tracks. A train arrived from the south, and people on it said it was a K, and I got on, but after sitting there for a minute, the train announced it was heading south to Redondo Beach. So I got off, and a northbound K train showed up on the other track.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-Harshfield
Overheard two people talking on the E line platform at Expo/Crenshaw:
“I love trains.”
“Me too.”
Mar 8 at 1:02amMona for iPhone
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
Now I’ve again ridden the entire current route of the C and K lines. The A line extension remains, for another day. Meanwhile, riding the E to downtown.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
Tomorrow my plan is to go to LA Union Station and get on a Metrolink San Bernardino line train, which I will ride for nearly two hours to the other end in San Bernardino. Then, I will attempt to see and ride the Arrow train.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
On the B or D (didn’t check which) to Union Station.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
On the Metrolink San Bernardino line train.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
An Amtrak long distance train pulled into the station while I was waiting.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
I guess in LA you can’t avoid being on a highway, even if you take a train. To be fair, BART and VTA light rail have the same problem.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8

Traveling along the location of this infamous video, where a steam locomotive is in the middle of the highway.

https://youtu.be/xp-b4Ce4Mf4

Santa Fe 3751 (Los Angeles-San Bernardino) Feat. High Speed Pace!

YouTube
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
I can see right down into people’s pools in their backyards. It would be cool to be hanging out in your pool and then a train goes by right there.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
At Pomona North station, where the A line now ends. I’ll need to come back here to ride that.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
One station was Claremont, and the next one was Montclair. 🤔
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
I made it to San Bernardino Downtown station, and the Arrow train arrived on an adjacent platform a few minutes later. Unlike the San Bernardino line train, which has no level boarding, this one has level boarding at 22 in, and the platform is a bit higher at the station.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
Unfortunately, this appears to be a diesel Stadler Flirt, not the hydrogen one. Very smooth ride through industrial areas though.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
I got to Redlands - University station. It looks like they’re just running the same physical train back and forth for the 20-min journey, so little hope of seeing the hydrogen train.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
Back at San Bernardino Downtown station. The main platform here is 8in above the rails, and the Arrow train platform was built 14 in higher at 22in above rail, so there are two ramps and one set of two steps to get up to the higher platform. .
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
I rode the Metrolink San Bernardino line train again, westbound this time, and got off at Pomona North station, where it connects to the end of the LA Metro A line. This is one end of the longest tram line in the world. There’s nothing really here. I’m getting on the A.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 8
After passing APU/Citrus College station, I’ve again ridden the whole LA Metro Rail system. Hopefully they’ll add more soon so that I again will not have ridden the whole system.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 9
Riding the LA Metro 45 bus now, just to get a bit across downtown.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 9
Ate some vegan empanadas, then got on the A again to Union Station.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 9
Now I’m on the Metrolink Orange County line train. Wheelchair riders do not get to look out a window.
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldMar 9
I got off at Anaheim and got on the Orange County Transit 553 bus to get to the area where CSUN is. Catching buses is usually too frantic to permit taking photos of the bus.