California Trainspotting

[Anonymous]

I am going to Southern/Central California next week. Does anyone know of a website or book that gives directions to good places to watch/video trains (San Diego to San Francisco)

[Anonymous]

I don,t know any websites but if you are in the area you've got see Tehachapi loop. I was there last March for the first time. Absolutly incredible place. It's like watching a giant model railroad.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

I agree the Tehachapi area is the place to go. Because of its distance from Los Angeles you will have to count on spending the whole day there. The driving time from Los Angeles to the town of Tehachapi is approximately 3 hours' however you might consider staying in either Bakersfield, Tehachapi, Mojave, or Lancasterbecause they are closer to the action. The best part of the line is from Tehachapi east to Caliente. There is a road called the Keene-Woodford Road which runs near the tracks. It also goes to an overlook of the "loop." The overlook is to the east of the loop so it is better lighted for photographing trains on the loop in the morning. There are many other vantage points for photographing trains on Tehachapi.

Another MUST location is Cajon Pass which is approximately a 2-1/2 drive east of Los Angeles. Take I-10 out of LA and pick up I 15. Take I-15 to the CA 138 exit, and head east toward Summit. There is a road which was formerly US 66 which runs closer to the BNSF tracks, and that may be the better way to go because you will see several good vantage points from there. Both I 15 and the former US 66 run east of the tracks so any photography from the former US 66 is best in the morning. Photography at the Summit seems to be good all day. There are several Forest Roads that gety ou near the tracks, and these are public access as far as I recall; however, if you decide to use them you should have a high-clearence 4 wheel drive vehicle. The area surrounding Cajon is part of the "Los Angeles National Forest." The rangers patrol the off -road areas, and they take a dim view of anybody parking in any of the dry stream beds.

[Anonymous]

Well I wish I had seen this note before your trip!
Next to the 5frwy at Manchester/Broadway in Anaheim UP parks engines and switchers. You'd get a fresh breathful of diesel exhaust any time of the day or night!
Hang out at Fullerton station, get lunch sit at the tables and watch em go by. You got Metro,Amtrak & BNSF....
I hang out at Santa Ana sometimes cause it's near work, a busyard down the street. (if anyone goes there and sees some goofball gal with a dog drooling at the F59s that roll in, that's me)
San Diego Station is a good place to get good pics of parked Surfliners, they sit there for a long time. I took some great pics of my train an hr. before we left. It was engine 457; saw it today hooked up with 450.
Up in Anaheim Hills area, the BNSF runs trains thru there, you can see them from the 91. They park them at the end of LaPalma I think it is, and there's a good photo op there. I saw a green BN a few times there.

Buslady