I received an email announcing a run from Los Angeles to Portland. I would like to take photos of the cars involved. Does anyone know the time and date of departure from L.A.? Also does anyone have tips on the best place to take photos of this train? Thanks in advance for any and all help.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
There are so many places between Los Angeles and Portland. Do you have a preference as to what part of the coast you'll be in? One of the "classic" locations is Gaviota Trestle in Southern California---it's gorgeous. I might ride this trip--gotta look into it a bit more.
Posted by cubzo (Member # 4700) on :
Thanks for the reply Smitty. Preferably somewhere between L.A and Ventura. Maybe at some point where it would be moving at a slow speed.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
maybe somewhere in Chatsworth approaching the Santa Susana Tunnel
Posted by cubzo (Member # 4700) on :
Just looked at the area around the Santa Susana tunnel. Hard to tell what's private property or public property. I wonder if I would be allowed on the platform at Union Station without a ticket.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I've had friends who have set up their camera on the platform at Union Station (without a train ticket), and they were contacted almost immediately by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept deputies. Union Station is a "beat"--so there are always deputies present. I think you would be approached fairly quickly.
One of my favorite locations where I have seen pictures taken from is Gaviota Trestle, located at Gaviota State Park. Here is a link to various photos of the park:
I have seen some really neat photos taken from there, and one in particular was really fantastic. The photographer set up well in advance of the train coming by walking out to the end of the pier. By being far out "at sea" thanks to the pier, the trestle shot turned out amazing. But you might not be interested in traveling that far...it's about midway between SBA and Lompoc. Here is a link to the park's website:
Getting run off the LAUPT platforms is nothing new, as such happened to me during June 1962. I had a ticket to Chicago in hand for that evening's Super.
'You can wait inside the station; not out here."
Wonder why active railfanning is something that has been in my rear view mirror for now over twenty five years.
Posted by cubzo (Member # 4700) on :
Smitty you are correct about Gaviota being too far for me to travel. I am still looking into the Sata Susana area though.
When someone knows of a date and time of departure from Union Station please post it here. Thanks.
Posted by Henry Kisor (Member # 4776) on :
Last spring I sat on a platform at LAUPT for 40 minutes happily snapping photos of arriving and departing trains. I did have a ticket on the outbound Southwest Chief ready to show if challenged, but wasn't. Various railroad personnel (including Amtrak) walked by and said hi and nothing else. Maybe I was just lucky.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
Refugio State Beach was my Coast Daylight spotting site (the family camped there) of my youth.
Old PCH around Hobson Beach is good.
101 near Rincon is good.
Just outside Glendale might be good, at a grade crossing...
![[Frown]](frown.gif)