Ghosts of the Super Chief (Pasadena, CA Today w/ Photos)
The famed Santa Fe Railway passenger train called the “Super Chief” ran daily between Chicago and Los Angeles, and passed through Pasadena, California. In that town once a year, normally on New Year’s Day, the Super Chief encountered and cut across the path of the nationally televised Rose Parade. In 1973, the 210 Freeway was constructed through Pasadena, and much of the Super Chief’s route therein was altered. In 1995, the rerouted line was sold to transit interests, who built the Gold Line trolley trackage over part of the route.
The following is Part I of IV-parts that document what that route through Pasadena looks like today, both the cheery and the sad … They are related on a railroad west to east basis …
Part I of IV: Northward Up to Colorado Blvd.
At California St.: Looking south (west). The Santa Fe line was a single-track, automatic block system equipped line. But, Metro’s commuter Gold Line that replaced it is two-tracks
Looking north: Somewhere in this vicinity, behind or in front of the camera, a short siding eastward began. The TURNOUT ROUTE was the main. Both tracks alignment shifted as they proceeded northward (eastbound), and both ends used a LEFT hand turnout. From a distance, one could look up the Main and see how both ENDS were in a straight line (the right track on the south end, and the left track on the north end)
At Del Mar Blvd.: Looking south
Looking northward (AT&SF east): The Gold Line Del Mar station stop. Note the tracks lower into a tunnel-way in the distance
The Del Mar stop itself, looking southward: Note the cross walkway in the foreground. It goes to something historic on the right
The historical old AT&SF Pasadena Depot, a once favorite boarding location for glamorous Hollywood starlets and handsome actors
The depot is now home to a restaurant
Some old railroad symbols never die
Northward trolleys then go down into a dark tunnel and avoid a super famous road
Colorado Blvd., route of the famous Rose Parade, looking westward. The opening on the right, between the tall building and the brick one, is where the right-of-way crossed Colorado Blvd. On New Years day, late Amtrak Southwest Limited’s would detour via Riverside and Fullerton to avoid interrupting the parade. This forumist once rode an on-time Amtrak #3, and crossing the Rose Parade route was absolutely spectacular! On TV, a cleared, wide street is shown at the beginning of the parade route. But here, away from national television cameras, the pathway for the parade floats and marching bands was very narrow, and maximized for bleacher seat profitability! The Metro Gold Line trolleys are now right beneath the ex-Santa Fe right-of-way, and don’t interfere with parade movement
Looking south (AT&SF west). Every Rose Parade the Santa Fe use to park a business car train here and high ranking Santa Fe officials entertained guests with a trackside view of the passing Rose Parade
Wednesday, June 24: Part II, Colorado Blvd to Where the Tracks were Pulled Up
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
KP
I trust you must be getting bored with the slow progress on the Sunset route so chose to do something a little different. The Pasadena routing of the Super Chief is an excellent choice. I was fortunate enough to ride the Super Chief on several occasions and your photos sure brought back a flood of memories. Thanks!
Al - in - Stockton
Are the patrons at the Pasadena Depot tied with rope or shackled?
(From someone who never makes a speling eror.)
Nice photos and story.
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
KP.....Interesting photos and discriptive history of what they show.
Route thru the area sure looks like it's a "tight one".....Even for the trolleys now.
Quentin
KP, why don't you work for Trains? Seriously....I'd subscribe!
Dan
"Some old Railroad Symbols Never Die". That photo really got me.
AgentKid
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
Each New Years Day morning,The Super Chief/El Capitan would be rerouted via the Third District via Fullerton to avoid disturbingt the Rose Parade.;
Nice photos, thanks for sharing. I never had the op to ride the Chiefs, one I missed. I have been on Amtrak SW Chief but that's not the same. But I'm glad I did get to ride original Zephyr and UP City of LA-all Pullman train.
May sound weird, but that was kind of almost... errie... when you said "Some old railroad logo's never die." Sad how it's covered up with that really ugly light. awesome description Thanks for sharing!
The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.
That view of the northward trolley line tunnel under Colorado Blvd. looks more like part of a roller-coaster ride, than a transit system [just foolin' with ya].
Nice photos, an informative narrative -'who knew' - and an interesting concept. Looking forward to the rest of it. Thanks for sharing.
- Paul North.
Nice story and pictures. Abandoned lines can be just as interesting as still active ones, you've captured things really well.
Part II of IV: Colorado Blvd to Where the Tracks were Pulled Up
Looking north (AT&SF eastbound) from Colorado Blvd: One block ahead, where the auto is, the right-of way turned slightly to the right
The trolleys are underground still. The slight right-of-way curve mentioned above is in the background. Just think of all the silver and red warbonnet F, PA, and FP45 units that rounded that curve in past years! This view is from Holly Street, looking southward (AT&SF westbound).
A north Holly Ave. view: The Metro Gold Line trolleys become visible now, though still below surface level. Lowering walkways allow patrons to get to the boarding areas of the Memorial Park station. Some railfans would love such a view as these residences have
Two trolleys pass
From the Walnut Ave. overpass west of Marengo Ave., the low tracks now come out in the open, but still below ground level. In the distance, a sharp turn to the right (east) is made, and …
The below ground trackage comes out in the middle of the 210 Freeway and heads east. The Lake station stop is in the photo bottom left
A few blocks east, looking back at the Lake stop from the Wilson Ave. overpass. The tracks now follow the freeway eastward (behind the camera). But, Wilson Ave. and Corson St. (just south of the freeway) is an important spot in our photo adventure …
Before the line relocation in 1973, the old Santa Fe tracks followed a somewhat level path just south of the present freeway (left background), and turned toward the camera. Metal posts now block vehicles from the old line’s path
This photo shows just how hilly the somewhat lowering right-of-way had to traverse
Friday, June 26: The Abandoned Right-of-Way
Excellent photo report along with description of the abandoned and current "Trolley" route....
It looks like it would have been very costly to convert former Sante Fe route to the current route being in a metropolitan location.
How did the powers to be ever get this accomplished....?
K.P., another nice photo series!
Modelcar, in the period after the ATSF tracks were pulled up (1994?) to when the light rail arrived (2003, though work started in 2001??), the right-of-way was still there. Because the ROW was not really changed, they were able to get to the construction.
I live a bit northwest of Pasadena, so I am in Old Town fairly often. Personally, as a railfan, I absolutely hate the light rail.
Supposedly, Metrolink had a chance to purchase the entire right-of-way from Los Angeles to Pomona, but they didn't. Even though Metrolink has commuter service from LA to Pomona to San Bernardino, having another commuter line that would go via Pasadena would have been better, IMO, than the light rail.
Part III of IV: The Abandoned Right-of-Way
A block southeast of the ending Part II photo’s intersection, a set of house structures has been built onto the old right-of-way. One can see how the house on the right was built 90 degrees to the street, whereas the house on the left diagonals with the path of the old right-of-way
A block further southeast: This housing structure is still diagonally following the old right-of-way. Does the resident occupant know that famous movie stars once rode on the Super Chief right through what are now their front room and/or bedroom?
Looking west at the diagonal Foothill Blvd, near Walnut St. On a personal ride on a westbound Amtrak #3 in 1973, this contributor distinctly remembers rumbling westbound across this grade crossing (in the same direction the camera is facing) at probably 10 M.P.H., likely then the usual practice through here. The track turned leftward slightly on the other side of the street. An auto dealership now occupies the land. On the other side of the dealership, building windows look down onto the old right-of-way
Looking east
The tracks headed east following Walnut St. Looking westward from Craig Ave
View looking south on Craig: This contributor has seen a photo taken on the other side of Walnut St. of a steam engine traversing the old grade crossing eastward (from right to left) in this view
Look eastbound: The track was on a downward grade
.Another dealership occupies the right of way: Looking west
Sunday, June 28: Where the Two Routes Met Again … and Eastward
KP.....A very interesting recall and photo recording of this Sante Fe route.
Edit: This series reminds me of what I use to see over in Lock Haven, Pa.....One could still see {the space}, where the actual Locks and canal crossed the community from the susquehanna River to another water way across town.
KP This series on the AT&SF ROW through Pasadena is really excellent as has been your Cajon and Sunset route coverage. Just wish we had someone doing as extensive a coverage of Abo Canyon which is going on 24 hours a day being rushed to completion.
I understand work on the Sunset route has been slowed in these tough economic times but BNSF is rushing ahead with there last single track area of the transcon to be ready when times return to more normal. Actually I guess if you have the capital now is probably a good time to improve trackage just like the line restored to service by KCS recently.
Part IV of IV: Where the Two Routes Met Again … and Eastward
Then the old right-of-way turns due east. The 210 Freeway is in the distance, with westbound to the left, eastbound to the right. If you look good, the track goes though an underpass to the center of the freeway
The rail line was relocated slightly to the center of the freeway during construction, and followed its center eastward. The trolley trackage from Los Angeles then ends, and the center of the freeway is trackless. Then, in Arcadia, the ex-Santa Fe line went over the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway, on a somewhat spectacular concrete bridge that dated from the line relocation in 1973. Because earthquake reinforcement of the bridge would cost as much as a new one, it was torn down. The west abutment in this view is in the distant upper center, the east dirt is in the foreground center. The east abutment is lower than the ties (bottom center) and thus unseen
The bridge’s east support
With the recently announced intention to build the Gold Line five miles farther east, a new bridge here should be forthcoming in the future
Before the bridge was taken down, apparently its rails (and probably some rails in the center of the freeway) were dragged eastward to just east of the bridge
The old line is presently in bad shape, and is being overgrown. Looking west
Looking west from Santa Anita Blvd.: A sad sight indeed! If, in fact, the Gold Line is extended five miles east of its present terminus, what you see here will be converted to a two-track right-of-way with shiny railheads.
A ghostly sight: The crossing gates with rotting wood are still standing, but the flashers have been taken down
Looking east: A bumper post marks where the active BNSF operations from the east end
So, now you know the reality of the once proud AT&SF Super Chief line through Pasadena, CA and a few miles east … The cheery and the sad.
K.P..
My most sincere compliments on a wonderful series. Even though I live on the other side of the country I can fully appreciate what you have captured. I have explored many abandoned lines myself and your series here was a pleasure to look at. If you have more in the future please do not hesitate to post. As I said, abandoned lines hold a lot of interest too, not just active ones.
For those that are interested, the following are link updates, one as August 25, 2009, regarding the bridge replacement over the 210 Freeway ... The location was featured in this thread on June 28, 2009, photos 2-4.
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_13204665
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_12757663
The development on parts of the right-of-way reminds me of what has happened on parts of the old Panhandle line on the South Side and on a former MILW branch near Wrigley Field. It's also good to see that the Gold Line was able to recycle so much of the right of way.
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