San Diego, Day 2, part 1, Shelter Island

My sister walks, every morning, for about 30 minutes. Her favorite place is Shelter Island. I isn't really an island but a man made peninsula. I was made from fill coming from dredging the harbor. I cheat here and post a picture of a park sign to tell you about it.

I am not a morning walker, just habit. I live in rural east coast southern America and find it hard to get into walking, because I have to drive to a place to walk. So, I took time to take some pictures. Theses are two days worth of Shelter Island pictures. There are hotels along the water but this the use of this area is not limited to tourist. Regular walkers among locals walk here.

San Diego's Skyline

What better place to begin, than to look at the skyline of San Diego, from different locations taken during my visit. As I mentioned in a earlier post, one of the measure of a city is how it rises from the pavement.

From Cabrillo National Park
From Point Loma
From Harbor Island

Final Considerations in Planning

I have done very little detailed work with my travels. Other than airlines, little other has been scheduled. I am visiting family and will let them show me around San Diego and surrounds. I am in the third revision of this information. first was the trip the Oceanside for a day trip to watch Sprinter, light rail. I would watch Coaster, the San Diego commuter rail, while there. Than, I learned that Metrolink, the L.A, commuter rail, came into Oceanside. It would be a nice day trip. However, would it be worth the trip, or should I wait to a future trip.

I had been to San Diego, several years ago, for a funeral, and had no chance to tour. I did get a few, very few pictures, beyond family. I put this for your pleasure.

Downtown Dan Diego from a high place. to the left is Old Town and the airport, not well seen

Even now there are questions and revision and new things to consider in railfanning. One note, I have not planned beyond this train watching, because it is a family visit. I will let them show me around, being natives, they can show me the more interesting points, and faster.

Trains in California, Part 2

Besides Oceanside, I might stay in San Diego to watch trains. The variety is limited, but still adequate. Two points would be great. Sante Fe Station, downtown. Being a terminal station, It is more limited in accessibility. This is enhanced by the fact that it is downtown. These are the train times through both stations.
 

San Diego, Sante Fe Station
9:30anA	9:48anC	10:10asA	10:23asC	10:50anA
11:20asA	12:00anA	12:03asC	12:25psA	12:45anC
1:25pnA	1:55psA	2:15pnC	3:00pnA	3:01psA
3:40pnC	3:44psC	4:00pnA	4:22pnC	4:44psC
4:50psA	4:52pnC	5:20pnA	5:27pnC	5:45psA
San Diego, Old Town
9:40anA(9:30)	9:54anC	9:57asA	10:16asC	11:00anA(10:50)
11:07asA	11:56asC	12:10an(A12:00)	12:17psA	12:50anC
1:35pnA(1:25)	1:45psA(1:55)	2:20pnC	2:51psA(3:01)	3:10pnA(3:00)
3:46pnC	3:51psC	4:06pnA	4:29pnC	4:32psC
4:40psA(4:50)	4:57pnC	5:27pnA	5:33pnC	5:45psA
All Trains		Trains before 1:00
Amtrak: 14	Coaster: 11	Amtrak: 6	Coaster: 4
note: times in parenthesis are departure from Sante Fe Station and time at Old Town are approximate.

The only thing to add is the San Diego Trolley. which is easy as it is 15 minutes between trolley, in each direction. The reader must be aware that plans change once we get into position.

Trains in California, Part 1

In preparation for my vacation, I laid out a schedule of trains at coming in and out of Oceanside, CA. This site was found while looking at light rail in California. Commuter rail from San Diego ends its route here, The Coaster. The Amtrak Surfliner passes trough as well. Oceanside is the southern terminus of Metrolink, commuter rail coming from Los Angeles. So here is the schedule, so I can understand the traffic patterns. Some will be seen and other sacrificed to get other views:

Oceanside, California - SPRINTER, Timetable, Official Page
San Diego, California - San Diego Trolley , Official Page
Coaster - San Diego to Oceanside California, Timetable, General
Metrolink, Orange County Line, Timetable - Oceanside to Los Angeles, General

Oceanside trains times

10:50aCn	10:56aSn	11:02aCs	11:03aSs	11:26aSn		11 33aAs
11:33aSs	11 39aAn	11:56aSn	12:03pSs	12:26pSn		12:33pSs
12 49pAn	12:50pMLs	12:50pMIn	12:56pSn	12 59pAs		1:03pSs
1:26pSn	1:33pSs	1:46pCn	1:56pSn	2:03pSs		2 12pAs
2 14pAn	2:26pSn	2:33pSs	2:50pCs	2:56pSn		3:03pSs
3:15pCn	3:23pMLn	3:23pMIs	3:26pSn	3:29pCs	3:33pSs
3 48pAs	4:41pCn	5:01pCs
service between trains north and south, inclusive
Amtrak: 7	Coaster: 6/8	Metrolink: 4	Sprinter: 20

Grafitti

I got interested in grafittil on railroad cars. Some is quite creative and artistic. Some is just defacement. On the is last day trip I added to my collection of railroad graffitti. Here is the best of my current collection.

A Day Trip Travel Log part three

After my trip to Spenser, I returned home and had a nice dinner. I still had some daylight so I ran by the train station in Hamlet, until sun down. I arrived as two trains were in the Y. One from the east and moving into the Y heading for the yard. The other was northbound waiting for orders to move into the yard. I happened upon another railfan and we spent some time waiting and talking about experiences. He left and soon I saw and took video of a northbound freight. I had never seen a northbound through Hamlet.