Amtrak Pacific Surfliner along the Pacific Ocean in Del Mar, California
Jim’s chamber music group, in which he plays piano, had a practice in La Jolla yesterday. That meant that I was going to go to La Jolla and points north to explore while they were practicing. “Explore” in the Russel Ray Dictionary means “train watching.”
I went a few miles north, to Del Mar, and parked my car at 200 4th Street.
From there it was a quick walk to the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and, more importantly, the railroad tracks used by BNSF (at night only, to go to Los Angeles), the Coaster commuter train, and Amtrak. In 2½ hours I got 76 train pictures.
Following are five pictures of Amtrak’s “Pacific Surfliner” which travels between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. It is one of the most beautiful Amtrak routes I’ve been on, and I’ve been on them all! It also is Amtrak’s second busiest route, behind the Northeast Corridor from Boston to New York City to Washington D.C.
Once the southbound train gets through the oceanside cliffs in Del Mar, it heads inland, passing through Torrey Preserve and over a beautiful bridge:
Unfortunately for people like me, Torrey Preserve is a protected and fenced area, and trespassing has significant financial penalties associated with it if one is caught. Best just to buy a telephoto lens and take pictures from the boundary fence.
During weekdays there is a train — Amtrak and Coaster — passing by about every 45 minutes. They will be northbound and southbound, so keep your eyes open in both directions. There are lots of great trails for walking and jogging, and overlook points for great views of the trains as they pass by.
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Posted on December 20, 2012, in Out & About, Photos, Railroads & trains and tagged Amtrak Pacific Surfliner pictures, amtrak pictures, del mar california pictures, railroad bridge pictures, railroad pictures, train bridge pictures, train pictures. Bookmark the permalink. 29 Comments.
Breathtakingly beautiful…I LOVE trains! Thanks for a spectacular share!
Hi Russel,
That’s something that is still on my bucket list: travelling by train in the US, on one of the beautiful routes. Maybe some time from here to California. As far as I know that’s a great route. Will see.
Take care, and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Pit
I think my second-favorite route is Los Angeles to New Orleans on the Sunset Limited. The train takes you through parts of the desert that you can’t get to by car and can’t see by plane.
Hi Russel,
That’s exactly the train I was thinking of. As far as I know it runs through SA; so it would be really convenient for us to go to California on it. Maybe one day.
Take care, and have a good one,
Pit
I love these train pictures. We have family in California who like to go train watching too! And family here in Texas who ride on trains all the time. I’ve been on a steam engine once before. It was pretty cool.
Great photos! Must be a gorgeous trip to make! Love trains, love CA…now I’m homesick…*sigh*
Really? A train spotter? I’m more of a train rider but I can see the beauty in these.
One of the great things about living in San Diego is the abundance of trains to ride from here to there to everywhere. There’s the San Diego Trolley, Amtrak, the Coaster, the Sprinter, and Metrolink. Makes for a great trainwatching and riding experience.
You flew through my neighborhood, just south of Santa Barbara. I love that train ride, so pretty, the coastal scenes.
I’m a train chick myself. Love it for my main mode of transportation (I don’t believe in “HAVING the time, you MAKE the time”
).
I’ve ridden that route. Beautiful from inside the train and out. I’ll be on it again in February.
Thanks for sharing!
Oy! I’m homesick for Orange County and points south!! Used to live in OC and took the train from Irvine down to San Diego…that has got to be one of the most scenic and beautiful trips ever! Now we’re thinking about the snow train from Sacramento to Reno this winter, but a bit costly.
Beautiful photos here.
Reblogged this on cadesertvoice and commented:
Ah, the memories of La Jolla. I once lived there when I could afford it. Now that I am retired, I plan to take train rides like this one and explore, explore, explore. Many thanks to Russel Ray for these images. Feel free to join his wonderful blog.
Thank you for the reblog!
Who doesn’t love trains and beautiful scenery, thanks Russel.
Cheers
Laurie
Brilliant and gorgeous pictures!
Lucky you to have trains to watch and ride on. Our country seems to want to make them as extinct as the moa bird.
My son takes the Surfliner regularly to visit his girlfriend and her family — from Santa Barbara to Fullerton and back. I didn’t realize what a beautiful train ride he was enjoying until I saw these photos.
It has something fairy-like, RR
Lovely Russel
Now you have added another “must-do” on my bucket list. Thanks for the tour!
Hey, that looks awesome. I hadn’t even heard of that train route. I’ll love to take a train ride, I’ve never been. Next trip to San Diego, I’m definitely including it.
Awesome photos!
The 3rd & 4th images are great
1st time I’ve ever seen a train going past the ocean. Awesome photos!
There are lots of places where one can see trains going by lakes and rivers, but not too many where the train goes by beaches and ocean.
Hah! I’m heading up to Malibu on the Surfliner next week. Now I know what to look for…
You can take the Sprinter from Escondido to Oceanside and catch the Surfliner there!
Exactly what I’ve got planned. I’ll be looking out for the sites of your photos en route…
I love it when you take train shots! They look great