Pacific Surfliner

[saxman]

I am going travel north on the Surfliner next spring from LA. I would like to see the coast. I have the option of getting off in Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo. Are the best parts of the coast north or south of Santa Barbara? I can't remember. Thanks

Chris

 

[gswager]

You will continue seeing the coast after Santa Barbara. Highlight of that segment is Vandenberg AFB with launch pads. Most of the coastline are in open country and some farmlands.

If you stay overnight in SLO on Thursday, I strongly recommend to go to Farmer's Market in downtown SLO and grab a bite of famous Tri-trip BBQ sandwich! I think it's in front of Apple Creek resturant, but I'm not sure. I'm in desperately to eat that for over 10 years! I attended Cal Poly for several years.

 

[battalion51]

It's not the accomodations of a Surfliner train, but it is possible to do a day-trip to SLO. There is a train that heads north from LAX to SLO and returns same day. It uses single level Horizon equipment, and probably isn't as nice as Surfliner equipment, but the possibility is there for you.

 

[engine999]

It's not the accomodations of a Surfliner train, but it is possible to do a day-trip to SLO. There is a train that heads north from LAX to SLO and returns same day. It uses single level Horizon equipment, and probably isn't as nice as Surfliner equipment, but the possibility is there for you.

I believe its numbers 799 and 798. There is one advantage of that train. It operates with the full dome car. The last remaining one on the system in service AFAIK.

 

[Firebert]

Said dome car is rumored to be operating on the Reno Fun Trains this spring, so it may not be in service at the time of this particulat trip. Stay tuned to this and other Amtrak discussion boards. They follow the dome like savages.

-Firebert

 

[pismobum]

The dome is not part of 798/799 - it is used for special events or as a substitute food service car only. There is approx 20 miles of coast (very pretty) between Ventura and Santa Barbara, and you can easily make it a day trip with 6 trains each way between SBA and LAX. The 798/799 is a 15-20 minute turnaround at SLO. You can come north on the low-level surfliner, then take #11 south if you want to do same day turn. If you want an overnight, best bet is #14 north for a superliner lounge view of the coast north of SBA, then overnight (thursday is great with the farmer's market downtown [not near the apple farm] with tons of food and entertainment. Return can be the 6:45am surfliner or the 1pm low level set.

 

[steve_relei]

Question: I have just read that passengers are not allowed to take photos from the train during the passage through Vandenberg AF Base. I have been on the train a few times, and I don't remember anybody ever saying so. Is that the way it has always been, or is that a more recent response to terror threats following 9/11? Anybody know?

I would say that the entire 111-mile ride along the Pacific Ocean should be seen and enjoyed by passengers if they can. This is Amtrak's (I think anywhere in the system--at least it gets the most publicity and has since Amtrak's beginnings and before that with SP trains) prime attraction. It's gorgeous.

 

[Anthony]

I think the rule about no photos through Vandenberg is an archaic one that either isn't in effect or isn't enforced any longer. I know that we certainly took plenty of photos! The Parlour Car attendant mentioned that many years ago they had to shut all of the curtains on that side of the train when passing through, so that nobody could peek out at the base. Obviously this wasn't the case any longer.

(edit: I haven't taken this train since 9/11, so keep that in mind)

 

[jccollins]

I think the rule about no photos through Vandenberg is an archaic one that either isn't in effect or isn't enforced any longer. I know that we certainly took plenty of photos! The Parlour Car attendant mentioned that many years ago they had to shut all of the curtains on that side of the train when passing through, so that nobody could peek out at the base. Obviously this wasn't the case any longer.
(edit: I haven't taken this train since 9/11, so keep that in mind)

:blink: ok, now that really makes sense... just discriminate against the coach passengers since sleeper passengers can just shut their door/curtain and open their window curtains and flash flash flash all the pictures they want! So typical of Amtrak mentality...

 

[Anthony]

:blink: ok, now that really makes sense... just discriminate against the coach passengers since sleeper passengers can just shut their door/curtain and open their window curtains and flash flash flash all the pictures they want! So typical of Amtrak mentality...

Well, I think he was referring to the pre-Amtrak days, but maybe not? :unsure:

 

[steve_relei]

I'm not so concerned about being able to take photos of the base itself and its missles and other such secrets, but I would like (and have in the past) to take photos of the ocean surf--which is on the other side of the train from the USAF's "toys."

 

[gswager]

I'm not so concerned about being able to take photos of the base itself and its missles and other such secrets, but I would like (and have in the past) to take photos of the ocean surf--which is on the other side of the train from the USAF's "toys."

I already took both sides. Wishing that the train will stop in front of launch pad and watching the rocket launched off.

 

[MrFSS]

Two days after 9/11 my wife and I were on the Portsmouth, RI lunch train. It travels through the Portsmouth Naval Yards. They stop the train, shore patrol unlocks a gate, the train goes through, same at the other end. There was big concern as to if the train would be allowed becasue of the very recent events. It was and we were able to take pictures. They had a shore patrol jeep follow the train, though, to make sure no one got off. I got some nice pictures of aircraft carriers.

 

[steve_relei]

I must admit that it IS interesting to pass through a USAF base and possibly see missile launches and such and to see what toys are there supposedly to protect us. I believe the Space Shuttle (when it is not grounded) also occasional uses Vanderburg (is it berg or burg? I have seen both spellings on the same map!)

 

[Trogdor]

Vanderburg (is it berg or burg? I have seen both spellings on the same map!)

Neither.

It's Vandenberg.

 

[battalion51]

The Space Shuttle has only launched from the Cape AFAIK. Acutally AFAIK every manned U.S. Space Flight has launched from the Cape. On ocassion Space Shuttle flights have landed at Edwards. In the 80's it was a regular thing, but after the high transportation costs of flying the shuttle to the Cape all flights started landing at the Cape.

 

[tp49]

IIRC they either dod mock-ups of the shuttle with boosters and external tanks and possibly test launches from Vandenberg but I do not believe they ever launched a mission from there. They do launch unmanned rockets usually having satellites from there though. Still interesting to look at nonetheless.

 

[pismobum]

I was stationed there in 1961-62. Then (and now) trains (especially passenger) are held miles away if a launch is scheduled as it is sometimes necessary to abort and destruct missiles - nasty when parts rain down out of the sky. Vandenberg then was only north of Surf and Lompoc. South was Pt Arguello Naval Air Station (they launched from there too). Now one big base. Pretty sure the space complex itself (at the far southern end right at Pt Arguello) was built more for Apollo than the Shuttles - there is no easy way to get stuff to that pad as it is on a hill - pretty much need to assemble stuff right at the pad.