Tomorrow afternoon/evening number 11 will be routed from Oakland to Los Angeles via Tehachapi. For avoidance of doubt, it's the train leaving Seattle today, or 11(12) if you're so inclined.
On Saturday morning/afternoon number 14 will also be routed from LA to Oakland via Tehachapi. There will be some private cars on the back, which will return via the normal route a couple of days later.
I think it's due to trackwork, and only affects those two services. No stops between Oakland and Burbank, assuming the latter is unaffected (it's on the common stretch before LA Union Station). Very early arrivals at either end are easily achievable.
Smitty, they might be heading through your home town, if I understand previous routings correctly.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Ah yes! They certainly will be. They will both be coming over Altamont Pass, as this is the only way to get from the Central Valley over to the tracks that will eventually take you to Oakland. And this line goes right through Pleasanton----about one mile from my house! Very, very cool. Thanks for the heads-up.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
This would be worthy of an ad hoc road trip though my bankroll for something as grand (and as far away) as a Coast Starlight reroute is a bit low right now.
Might be three years before I make it that far west again having been in the Pacific Time Zone just this past June.
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
Thanks for the clarification, Smitty (hope you're doing ok now).
David, as close as this is to me, sadly the planets failed to align. Working today, long standing two-family outing to the LA County Fair tomorrow afternoon. However, I'm hoping to at least get trackside in the Antelope Valley somewhere as #14 heads north. Not the most exciting but I might get a Metrolink ride in as well!
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
It seems the date has changed for the closure. I just checked trainsmag.com and other sources and they definitely stated today's southbound departure out of Oakland would be affected. However, it appears it will be tomorrow's instead, and the Amtrak status page shows roughly on-time arrivals along the coast thus far for #11 (and predicted on-times for buses tomorrow). The northbound 14(14) is still (allegedly) doing the re-route.
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
A couple of pictures of 14(14) passing through Santa Clarita about 11:19.
Cascades NPCU in the consist:
Private cars on the back:
I'm no photographer, but it was an enjoyable day out for me courtesy of Metrolink's Antelope Valley line.
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
That 3rd unit is a very clean looking AmtrakCascades cab car.
Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :
Great pics, Geoff. I promise that in the event the Silvers ever get an emergency reroute down the "S" line through Ocala, I will make every effort to snap some shots. Don't anyone hold your breath on that ever happening, however!
Posted by cubzo (Member # 4700) on :
Those are some really clear photos. Thanks for posting.
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
Thanks for the kind comments. I used a Canon DSLR, very basic beginners' model. I scouted for places I could possibly take pictures from using Google Earth but it still didn't prepare me much for when I actually got there - fences and hills aren't obvious! And I picked Santa Clarita as there was a swapmeet there every Saturday, whose car parking area was where I was standing. Also, I had to time the train meets up and down. I actually estimated an 11am passing of the CS but it was a little later. Had to laugh because a maybe 30-something security guard in a golf cart very obviously drove around me while I was waiting (I was standing in the middle of the area you see in the first picture), we waved - and then he came back later and said, "ok, you've piqued my curiosity. What're you doing?". I explained and he was intrigued, and just a minute later he heard it coming before I did. He hung around to watch and then remarked on it being the most fascinating thing he'd seen for a long while. Maybe he doesn't get out much!
I keep meaning to go out and get a picture of the Sunset passing just half a mile from here - just photos for my personal enjoyment, nothing more. It's usually about 10:40pm though, i.e. dark. I'm also a bit wary of hanging around near the tracks in such darkness, whether for my safety or for unsettling a security guard.
