Mark we connected years ago at Kelso during the 4014 visit, my back is in your video of the depot interior ;-) I live in Carpinteria within earshot of a couple of crossings and I often listen to the UP dispatcher. I believe we average 13 trains / day in the Santa Barbara sub, most all of them Amtrak. I sometimes see/hear UP moving trains of empties southbound, mostly at night, ,and the "Guadalupe Hauler" runs two days / week. It's been years since I've seen the "Oil cans" which was a daily hauling a string of interconnected tank cars, it may still be running unbeknownst to me. Amtrak runs lots of Surfliners to/from Santa Barbara, some are scheduled to go to San Luis but Amtrak commonly diverts northbound passengers onto an "Amtrak bus" which seems like an oxymoron but it's true. I've even seen an Amtrak bus here in Carp a time or two. Carp has a little unattended station, just a platform. Amtrak added a "commuter" local to get working folks from Oxnard / Ventura to/from Santa Barbara/Carpinteria to offload the 101 which still locks up at rush hour, they're still running it but I don't know how popular it is. A developer is pushing to build a "rail fan hotel" on a city lot next to the track in Carp, across from the platform. City council / businesses are for it, many locals against it. I'd bet on it getting built, city council is dominated by Carp business interests. The Coast Startlight comes through daily, once in each direction. There's usually a Surfliner that overnights in Goleta I believe, then runs south (east?) in the morning. There are crew quarters at the Goleta station, also an Amtrak wash stand that the engineers often ask the dispatcher if they can skip the train wash ;-) The Santa Barbara station is quite busy this time of year, it's a beautiful building, there's a vintage passenger car parked there, not sure what the story on it is. The station is on the "double track" which extends for a few miles in either direction from the station. It was not uncommon to see a private rail car behind an Amtrak, though I must say I haven't seen one for some time. We see the occasional work train, they just finished a re-railing project in the area, also see UP MoW vehicles on the 101 fairly commonly, and of course there can be specials such as military trains. Videos of the Cuesta grade would be great if you can get access - there's a spectacular video of the route on UA-cam, but they used a drone for it. Also plenty of good video locations between Carp and Ventura with good access, though of course it's mostly going to be short Amtrak Surfliners whizzing by in seconds. I've wanted to see the San Luis rail museum, looking forward to your video. I've considered doing a Carp / San Luis turn around to see the museum but in order to avoid being put on a bus there's only one opportunity and that's for a 45 minute layover in San Luis. There's the South Coast Rail Museum in Goleta, it's quite small, but popular with kids as they have a 7 1/2 inch miniature train loop. They have a caboose and the preserved Goleta SP train station. - Bob
The Amtrak bus is a regular sight here in Bakersfield as this is the southern terminus of the valley line. From here you have to take the bus to get to L.A. When Jennifer and I were in SLO last year, I did a video at the Amtrak station there and the southbound train had two private cars on the rear. Here is a link to that video: ua-cam.com/video/cXp1adQPj1U/v-deo.html I'd like to do Cuesta but it's a lot of travel and work for very little payoff. Maybe I will do a narrated pictorial history of it. The SLO museum is only open on Saturdays, 10 to 4. I would do a tour of the Goleta museum if I ever get down there. I don't care how big or small, they all get video! Thanks for checking it out!
I've taken the Surfliner from Grover Beach with my family, beautiful town and beautiful ride there. I think those buses go either to Visalia or towards the Bay Area. Ps. The train we were on also came in almost 40 minutes late
I know for the fact that one of those thruway bus connections goes to and from Hanford with a few stops along the way, if say people were going or coming from cities along the Amtrak San Joaquin route. Basically a Central Valley to central Coast connection.
If you want to go to San Francisco, or any nearby town where the train doesn't run, you get on the bus. Buy a through ticket from there to here, get on the bus and go to San Fransisco.
As a brit seeing these massive trains is really something. And a beautiful platform too. In love with the aesthetic
It really is a pretty place! Thanks for checking it out!
The Cameras that UA-camrs use are Expensive and so many of them have their Glitches and Shortcomings. Thanks Mark! 🙏
Good job mark cool place and a nice night 👍🏻 be safe 🇨🇦🇺🇸👍🏻 Robin
I like that station
Nice catch and video of the Amtrak train in your area of California Mark, Have a great rest of your weekend.
Mark we connected years ago at Kelso during the 4014 visit, my back is in your video of the depot interior ;-)
I live in Carpinteria within earshot of a couple of crossings and I often listen to the UP dispatcher.
I believe we average 13 trains / day in the Santa Barbara sub, most all of them Amtrak. I sometimes see/hear UP moving trains of empties southbound, mostly at night, ,and the "Guadalupe Hauler" runs two days / week. It's been years since I've seen the "Oil cans" which was a daily hauling a string of interconnected tank cars, it may still be running unbeknownst to me.
Amtrak runs lots of Surfliners to/from Santa Barbara, some are scheduled to go to San Luis but Amtrak commonly diverts northbound passengers onto an "Amtrak bus" which seems like an oxymoron but it's true. I've even seen an Amtrak bus here in Carp a time or two. Carp has a little unattended station, just a platform. Amtrak added a "commuter" local to get working folks from Oxnard / Ventura to/from Santa Barbara/Carpinteria to offload the 101 which still locks up at rush hour, they're still running it but I don't know how popular it is.
A developer is pushing to build a "rail fan hotel" on a city lot next to the track in Carp, across from the platform. City council / businesses are for it, many locals against it. I'd bet on it getting built, city council is dominated by Carp business interests.
The Coast Startlight comes through daily, once in each direction.
There's usually a Surfliner that overnights in Goleta I believe, then runs south (east?) in the morning. There are crew quarters at the Goleta station, also an Amtrak wash stand that the engineers often ask the dispatcher if they can skip the train wash ;-) The Santa Barbara station is quite busy this time of year, it's a beautiful building, there's a vintage passenger car parked there, not sure what the story on it is. The station is on the "double track" which extends for a few miles in either direction from the station.
It was not uncommon to see a private rail car behind an Amtrak, though I must say I haven't seen one for some time.
We see the occasional work train, they just finished a re-railing project in the area, also see UP MoW vehicles on the 101 fairly commonly, and of course there can be specials such as military trains.
Videos of the Cuesta grade would be great if you can get access - there's a spectacular video of the route on UA-cam, but they used a drone for it. Also plenty of good video locations between Carp and Ventura with good access, though of course it's mostly going to be short Amtrak Surfliners whizzing by in seconds.
I've wanted to see the San Luis rail museum, looking forward to your video. I've considered doing a Carp / San Luis turn around to see the museum but in order to avoid being put on a bus there's only one opportunity and that's for a 45 minute layover in San Luis.
There's the South Coast Rail Museum in Goleta, it's quite small, but popular with kids as they have a 7 1/2 inch miniature train loop. They have a caboose and the preserved Goleta SP train station.
- Bob
The Amtrak bus is a regular sight here in Bakersfield as this is the southern terminus of the valley line. From here you have to take the bus to get to L.A. When Jennifer and I were in SLO last year, I did a video at the Amtrak station there and the southbound train had two private cars on the rear. Here is a link to that video: ua-cam.com/video/cXp1adQPj1U/v-deo.html
I'd like to do Cuesta but it's a lot of travel and work for very little payoff. Maybe I will do a narrated pictorial history of it.
The SLO museum is only open on Saturdays, 10 to 4.
I would do a tour of the Goleta museum if I ever get down there. I don't care how big or small, they all get video!
Thanks for checking it out!
Mark it’s me von your a lucky railfanner
I've taken the Surfliner from Grover Beach with my family, beautiful town and beautiful ride there. I think those buses go either to Visalia or towards the Bay Area. Ps. The train we were on also came in almost 40 minutes late
Long or short Mark all your videos are good.
nice video.
Must be train 777! Nice catch!
It was. I didn't know that until a subscriber and FB friend shot me a schedule though!
I know for the fact that one of those thruway bus connections goes to and from Hanford with a few stops along the way, if say people were going or coming from cities along the Amtrak San Joaquin route. Basically a Central Valley to central Coast connection.
Thanks for the heads up and for checking it out!
Short but sweet...? Did you know that FORD means Fixed-up Old Rebuilt Dodge?
If you want to go to San Francisco, or any nearby town where the train doesn't run, you get on the bus. Buy a through ticket from there to here, get on the bus and go to San Fransisco.
It's the same from Bakersfield to L.A. No train over the Tehachapi.
Mark, we have a mutual railfan friend in Shafter who has a summer house just a couple of blocks from here.
Cool! Get us in touch and I'll give him (or her) a mountain tour.