Visiting California in October !!

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to post this particular question, but here goes anyway.

We are curently planning a trip to California (centred around the LA area ) in October for 10 days and would like to do a couple of days 'Rail Fanning' whilst we're there. A couple of friends here in the UK have told us that Tehachapi and San Bernadino are great places for a first time introduction, but how easy is to get to these places with an RV vehicle ? which is what we've hired for the duration of our holiday. Another place I thought about was Bakersfield. We are also planning to follow the coast road up towards San Luis Obispo, would we see much going on there. The reason I ask these questions is with so little time to devote to Rail Fanning I'd prefer not to waste too much time seeking out good vantage points.

Any help and advise would be greatfully appreciated

Roy

[DPD1]

You wouldn't have any problem driving anything in those areas... The Coast line is pretty slow though. If you're going to Bakersfield anyway, you should just go up the 14 and through Tehachapi. The thing about the mountain areas is that the air is usually better than places in the lower areas like Bakersfield and SB. Those areas can sometimes be smoggy. Assuming you want to do all the typical mainline spots... If you want to do some inner city stuff, maybe try cruising through the Commerce area downtown and check out Hobart Yard and east L.A. yard. Just stick to the major streets. Or you can go down to the Harbor and drive around too, but you might get some negative attention in an RV there.

Dave
Los Angeles, CA
-Rail Radio Online-Home of the "TrainTenna" RR Monitoring Antenna-
http://eje.railfan.net/railradioonline

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by roy-sp

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to post this particular question, but here goes anyway.

We are curently planning a trip to California (centred around the LA area ) in October for 10 days and would like to do a couple of days 'Rail Fanning' whilst we're there. A couple of friends here in the UK have told us that Tehachapi and San Bernadino are great places for a first time introduction, but how easy is to get to these places with an RV vehicle ? which is what we've hired for the duration of our holiday. Another place I thought about was Bakersfield. We are also planning to follow the coast road up towards San Luis Obispo, would we see much going on there. The reason I ask these questions is with so little time to devote to Rail Fanning I'd prefer not to waste too much time seeking out good vantage points.

Any help and advise would be greatfully appreciated

Roy

OK, here goes the quick tour. This itinerary can also be driven in reverse. US 101 is the road to take to get to San Luis Obispo. If you're coming out of Los Angeles, take Interstate 5 north to where it intersects 101 (the Ventura Freeway) and head north toward Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is a nice spot to stop for lunch and make a quick visit to the Mission style Amtrak station. It'll be on the left side of the highway as you're going north. The station is pretty and there's an enormous (banyan, I think) tree on the north side of the station. It has a span of over 180 feet. Continuing north along 101, you'll parallel the Union Pacific (former Southern Pacific) for a while and turn inland, going through Buellton (also good for lunch at Pea Soup Andersen's). There's an interesting Danish community called Solvang that's a quick side trip from Buellton. Beyond Buellton, you'll pass Santa Maria and Pismo Beach. I don't remember where the turn off is to get to San Luis Obispo's Amtrak station, but it should be sign posted when you get to San Luis Obispo. I'd like to be able to tell you how to get to Horseshoe Curve, but I don't remember the road name. If you want to do something touristy, like visiting Hearst Castle, it's an easy drive up California route 1 from San Luis Obispo (roughly an hour's drive and just north of Cambria, California). The tour (starting at the visitor's center) includes a bus ride up the mountain on which the "castle" sits. Trust me, you wouldn't want to drive it even if they'd let you.

I would recommend that you NOT return to Los Angeles via 101, but continue north to Paso Robles (for reasons which will become apparent). For one thing, when you start heading uphill out of San Luis Obispo, it won't be long before you can see Cuesta grade off to your left. If you're really lucky, there'll be a train on it. OK, here's why I recommend you go to Paso Robles. At Paso Robles, take California 46 east. Stay on CA 46 until you get to route 99. You will cross over Interstate 5, but don't get on it. Go to 99 and head south until you get to the route 58 freeway (motorway) in Bakersfield and head east toward Mojave. Here's where I run into trouble. I'd like to give you directions so you can follow the old highway that parallels the track up close and personal and tell you how to get to Caliente (where there's another horseshoe curve). It's one of those things where I know how to get there myself, but couldn't give you directions. HOWEVER, you can get to Caliente by exiting CA 58 at Bealville Rd and going left. When you return, just head toward Mojave.

To get close to Tehachapi Loop, you'll exit at Keene and go under the freeway to your left and then right through Keene. Follow that road back under the freeway until you see the loop on your left. The visual cue will be a tunnel under a high fill.

To return to 58, just go back the way you came and head for Mojave. It's about 175 miles via this route from San Luis Obispo to the Loop. If you stay in Mojave, there's a Motel 6 right across from the tracks as you enter town. My personal choice is a room trackside on the upper floor (of 2). There will be train action aplenty. Incidentally, from San Luis Obispo to Mojave via this route, you will have traveled right at 200 miles. San Luis Obispo is about the same distance from downtown Los Angeles.

Oh, just a word of caution. They built a highway 58 bypass around Mojave. You'll want to get off before you get stuck on the bypass. It's a pain getting off it and back to Mojave.

From Mojave, get back on 58 and head toward Barstow (about 70 miles). Rail sites there include the big marshalling yard and the restored station (sort of Moorish architecture to my way of thinking). Again, I know how to get there myself, but can't give you directions (at least not right now).

CA 58 intersects Interstate 15. To get to Cajon, head toward San Bernardino on I-15. It's about 50 miles from Barstow. It is possible to get to Cajon Summit, but it's fenced off and, given that it's nothing like what it was 40 years ago, I wouldn't recommend it as a destination. However, if you get off I-15 at CA 138 and head toward Cajon Summit, you'll see some of the line you wouldn't otherwise see. There are also places along I-15 where you can get off onto the old highway (former US 66) and get a closer look. Once you pass under the line near the summit (on I-15), the line will be on your left heading toward San Bernardino. From Cajon Pass, Los Angeles is about a 65-70 mile drive.

To tot up the mileage, it's 200 LA to SLO, 200 SLO to Mojave, 70 Mojave to Barstow and about 120 Barstow to Los Angeles. About 600 miles overall give or take.

One thing I would VERY HIGHLY recommend is that you get a DeLorme Gazetteer for Southern California. They contain very highly detailed maps that can help you find the things I can't give you directions for (even if I can get there myself [swg] ). The DeLorme website is at http://www.delorme.com/atlasgaz/.

Have a great holiday.

Andre

[Anonymous]

Wow !!! Thanks guys for your help and assistance, its certainly going to make our trip a lot more satisfying.

Regards

Roy

[MP57313]

A couple of more comments:

1. Be sure you have a somewhat detailed freeway map of the downtown LA area. Depending on where you stay, you might be able to go straight to the US 101 and skip the I-5. The highway numbering is a little bit confused where the 5 and 101 intersect (though the US 101 goes right past Los Angeles Union Station). Downtown roads can be/are busy for many hours of the day and night, not just in rush hour.

2. There are current plans to do a highway version of a "maintenance blitz" on the I-15 between Devore and Ontario, between mid September and late November. That segment will be completely closed 24/7 for rebuilding. This segment is several miles/km south of Cajon Pass, and is anticipated to result in long delays in getting through the Pass. (There are alternate routes but they will be busy). Just be forewarned! Since that is also the 'preferred route' for those in So Cal to drive to Las Vegas, I'll let you know via this forum if I hear of any updates.

MP