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Here's a link to a nice little story about Surf, CA and the area around it. There is a link to some nice pictures including the Amtrak ticket machine and the train.
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Great pictures, but was there a story as well? It's easy to see why you live where you do.
Posts: 406 | From: La Grange, CA | Registered: Sep 2007
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Sorry, I only posted the link to the pictures. I'll try to find the link to the story. It was interesting on several levels. Part of it was about the Honda accident where a fleet of U.S. Navy destroyers went aground.
Frank in cloudy SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Thanks, GBN; I've only ridden 11/14 north from Emerville, and the pictures Frank has provided show that I've missed something spectacular.
Oh, and Gilbert, could I ask a favor? Could you address me as Tom; nobody calls me Mr. Black. Besides, I'm younger than you, and certainly not as knowledgeable. It would make me feel more comfortable, thanks.
Posts: 518 | From: Maynard, MA, USA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Do you remember our meeting at King Street Station? Do you have any idea what year that was? I know we were all taking the Empire Builder...
Yep, the same tracks as the Starlight. The scenery from Ventura through SBA and on up the coast is really spectacular. Much of it can't be seen any way EXCEPT by train. You got right through Vandenburg AFB. I've been told that when Nikita Kruschev's train (which I saw from UCSB as it passed through Goleta) went this way the window shades were lowered as they went through the base.
Frank in cloudy and damp SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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So I am just curious here, by looking at the location of this station on google maps can non military personal use this station?
Posts: 229 | From: Long Beach CA | Registered: Jan 2007
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Pre 9-11, I'd be able to say certainly, since my Dad liked to fish there. In fact, the first train order I ever got came from the SP agent at Surf (that building is obviously long gone, an SP Common Standard wood frame station). In fact, that was pre A-Day.
Post 9-11, I just do not know. Of course, if you have a DOD ID card and an installation sticker, it's easy Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Sbalax Frank, no, I didn't see that malware message when I got onto the Point Honda memorial website. It seems quite normal. Perhaps the malware message was an artifact from another site? I hope I haven't been infected -- but my computer is a Mac.
Henry (the artist formerly known as Mr. Kisor)
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Mac user here as well, if your browser is Safari and you keep up with the security updates your chances of being infected by malware is slim. Unless you regularly visit porn sites. As macs become more popular that is likely to change.
Posts: 229 | From: Long Beach CA | Registered: Jan 2007
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Boy, you've made me do my homework. I was in Seattle for lunch with my cousin, having arrived on the EB in the morning and leaving, with you, that afternoon. We had set up the rendez-vous ahead of time, and I had told you I'd be at the station wearing a bow tie to make recognition easier. My wife is better at remembering chronology than I am, and the best we can come up with is 2005. Does that sound plausible? That was the last serious train trip I've taken, as the professional side of my life has taken over.
Best to you, dear friend. Stay healthy!
Tom
Posts: 518 | From: Maynard, MA, USA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Surf was never on the military base. Back in the 60's Vandenberg was north of Surf and NAS Pt Arguello was south. Both launched missiles and later became one big base with Surf remaining on a strip between the base segments. People argued even in the 60's on pronunciation of "Arguello" - purists insisting it was "Ar-gway-0" and everyone else (including military) saying "Ar-Gwell-o". Or as the argument went - 'Jello' isn't pronounced "Hayo"!!
Posts: 114 | From: pismo beach CA | Registered: Jul 2003
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LOL. You are close enough to understand the problems we have here in Santa Barbara with some of the street names. You know -- Arrellaga, Micheltorena, and the street where we live -- Alameda Padre Serra. And my personal favorite, Salsipuedes. ("Get out if you can.")
Interesting that Surf was never on the base. I guess that explains the access road.
Frank in sunny and very windy SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Little off topic, but when I grew up in LA area in the 40's, there was a "Compton-Jaboneria" road. Seemed like it was jab-on-ear-eeyah but was actually hu-bahn-a-reeah. Of course we all had fun with La J-all-ah and the Moe-jayv desert
Posts: 114 | From: pismo beach CA | Registered: Jul 2003
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We have our problems with town and street names in the Chicago area.
Des Plaines, originally French, ought to be pronounced "Duh PLEIN" with the nasal N. But we of course say "Dess Playnes."
And Goethe Street, roughly "goot-uh" in German, comes out "Goathy" in Yank.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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I think the French would pronounce Des Plaines as "Day Plenne" - apologies if I am being a bit pedantic.
Posts: 211 | From: Norfolk England | Registered: Sep 2007
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In Milwaukee, we just give up and call Kinnickinnic Ave "KK"
My personal favorites: Cairo, IL (KAY-row) Chili, NY (CHAI-lie)
-------------------- My new "default" station (EKH) has no baggage service or QuikTrak machine, but the parking is free! And the NY Central RR Museum is just across the tracks (but not open at Amtrak train times. . ..) Posts: 337 | From: Goshen, IN | Registered: Jun 2006
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From another list, I was looking for a retired HW car off-track by San Juan Capistrano station.
Looking at googlemaps, it appears the town planners have abaandoned "Street" and gone entirely with Avenida de or Calle de..
Of course, like Mr Ainsworth, I grew up in Neustra Ciuidad de la Reina de Los Angeles...
-------------------- The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Make that El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula! LA is a lot easier.
We have lots of Calles, Avenidas and even a couple of Alamedas around here. Oddly, many of those names were in English before the 1925 (or is it 6?) earthquake. In the rebuilding there was an attempt to make Santa Barbara more "Spanish" so Fifth Street became Quinto, etc. And what had been Calle Estado became State Street. Go figure!
Frank in SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Of course, I spent 4 years on the 7th floors of San Miguel Hall. One of my best friends in the world lived in Santa Rosa. I had friends in San Nicolas, San Rafael and Anacapa...
Thank the good Lord the University did not buy Francisco Torres until after I'd graduated.
No Riviera Campus for me! Goleta Point is where I spent my university years Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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The Riviera Campus is about 100 yards from me as I write this. It still looks good and the "Campus Aud" is now the Riviera Theatre showing mostly "art" flics.
I lived in Anacapa the first year it was open and had an ocean view room the second before moving to IV. I used to love watching the planes take off from SBA including the Pacific F-27's.
A bit of a reality check. My cousin and his wife were up last year to celibrate their 50th anniversary. She had lived in Santa Rosa and they went there and asked one of the students to take their picture. When they told her that Jean had lived in Santa Rosa 50 years ago the student was, "like, totally blown away".
Have you been on campus recently? I enjoy it but cringe a bit when I see buildings named after people I knew. Buchanan, Gervetz, Cheadle, etc.
Thanks for the memories,
Frank in dark and cold SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Stephen, I believe "Duh Plein" is the seventeenth century French pronunciation, to be super-pedantic. At least that's what we were taught in Bourbonnais, which those who live in Chicaguh pronounce "Burbunuss."
Further information on American butchery of place names in non-English languages is available here:
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No, I've not been on campus in a coon's age... but I will never forget someone describing the carillon tower by UCEN as "Thomas Storke's last great erection."
Having a sunrise view looking back to downtown my senior year (7209 San Miguel) was a fantastic experience, especially as it was a double as a single.
Of course, going to the DLG Annex for onion rings at 11 at night was a way to be young
I used to take the Coast Starlight for Thanksgiving and Christmas break trips. At least once the diner was an SP car from the Golden State (single unit P-S product, so maybe from the SF Overland too), and I remember several times where the dome was one of SPs own 3/4 domes. The sleepers... IIRC ATSF Pine and UP Pacific 10-6 cars.
I'd ride it into LAUPT, and my folks would take me to Olvera Street for dinner. In spite of its tourist trap status, there really was good food there.
Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Thank you, Henry - I bow to your local and superior knowledge! I appreciated the link too.
Posts: 211 | From: Norfolk England | Registered: Sep 2007
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What about that city in Massachusetts that the LSL stops at before Boston? Is it pronounced "Wooster," "Wurst-sir," or "Wur-ces-ter" (ike it is spelled?) And what about Worcestershire Sauce?
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Having gone to school in Hartford, I've always known Worcester as "Wooster," but closer to "Wurster."
As for the sauce, druther use ketchup and avoid the issue entirely.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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What is our British members' take on "Worcester?" How about it, Mr. Williams?
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Worcester is pronounced as wooster (two syllables, not three). The sauce is simple woostersheer sauce (not shire but sheer!).
Some other odd names we have around here: Cirencester - pronounced siren sester Lacock - lay cock (the abbey there has featured in some big period dramas and in the Harry Potter movies) Frome - Froom Gloucester - glosster Loughborough - luffborough (or luffbra, as the first O in borough tends to be dropped in place names suffixed with such - but not in cases like "the London borough of Chelsea"!), though I have heard Americans calling it Looger-ba-rooga!
Geoff M.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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As native and almost life-long resident of Worcester, MA, I can tell you that most locals pronounce it "Wooster", with the double o sounded as in the word "look".
I have a whole list of MA place names that I like to show people from out-of-state to get their pronunciations, which are usually wrong. Those include Billerica, Cotuit, Haverhill, Leominster, Oakham, Petersham, Tewksbury, Waban, and Woburn.
Posts: 127 | From: Worcester, Massachusetts | Registered: Jan 2007
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Geoff - on a visit to Great Britain a few years ago we stayed at a place near Keighley. Much to my surprise this was not "kegley" but indeed "keithly". I'm glad you answered the question about the British pronunciations as I have noted that they are often quite unique. The Brits especially like to destroy places with a French derivation, much as the American do. Prairie du "sheen"! A sad end for a lovely word even if it does mean d*g.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Completely away from trains, unless you count the fact that many of the nuts are shipped by train, here in the Central Valley they have their own pronunciation for almonds. I have a good friend who first told me they are pronounced "amands", because when harvested, the L is knocked out of them!
He did not have a good answer when I asked why walnuts were not then pronounced wanuts.
Posts: 406 | From: La Grange, CA | Registered: Sep 2007
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