K. P. and CRAZY Hemet, CA (w/ Photos)
Scottie and an RS2, Girls, Metrolink, and Retirement
As some at the forum know, Hemet, CA is now home to K.P. Crazy is the right word for what is there!
The old Sac Jac’s (a freight train run’s name) busy State Street grade crossing in downtown Hemet, just northeast of the old Santa Fe Depot:
Did you notice the flashers and bells are only the crossing protection, and not gates?
The very nearby even busier, super busy, Florida Street grade crossing just southwest of the depot, has just crossbucks!
Did I say, “Crazy”?
That depot is now a museum.
A view a couple of blocks west with the depot in the background -- The right-of-way is becoming weed infested.
(The ex-Santa Fe “Sac Jac” [short for San Jacinto] Line is now owned by Metrolink, and the rails in town are out of service. It is unknown if Metrolink’s Perris Valley commuter line will ever be extended to Hemet, but local and commuter vehicle traffic congestion is unreal often!)
Early Experience
It escapes K.P. how he even got to Hemet, but in the late 1960’s possibly Scottie beamed him and a vehicle over there and back, but he recalls going eastbound on the main road in town, Florida Street, and there just north of the crossbucks equipped grade crossing was the AT&SF Depot with what I think was an RS2 all by itself idling! It was a four axil blue and yellow Alco, numbered in the upper 2090’s, if not 2099.
LINK: RS2 example NOT in Hemet, photo upper right of page
Sorry, can't get the LINK to work (what's new), but causes the whole post to malfunction. Just search for "Santa Fe RS2 Alco 2099" on the web and a sample should come up to view.
About a girl in Hemet
In the latter 1970’s I was introduced to a girl in Hemet, and she was all rising red hearts about me. But something happened (I don’t know what), but she soon acted differently, and we soon split up. A year later I just happened to run into her dad at a gas station in the town I was living in at the time, and when he saw me he had the most horrified look on his face that I have ever seen. (In the typical courtship, usually it is the other way around with the dad having the shotgun …) I can only surmise he told his daughter devilish untruths about me. But, who cares now … It is only conveyed here because it happened in Hemet.
Meeting the Girl of my Dreams
I soon thereafter met the girl of my dreams, and we got married, and have been married for close to 40 years! That Hemet for years and years was in the very distant background. Then, in retirement, we moved to Hemet, of all places!
Metrolink Commuter Trains
There has been some talk in the past about extending the Metrolink Perris Valley Line (PVL) past the South Perris end of the line stop to some kind of stop in Hemet, but poor ridership on the PVL doesn’t make a good argument for such a new service.
The South Perris end-of-line servicing facility during a Saturday period of no service:
The above middle unit is a new F125, No. 926.
As close by as the above facility is, K.P. hasn’t visited the site in a month. It seems its lighting was darker this passing by.
If authorities get serious about promoting the PVL maybe a Hemet extension to reduce massive traffic jams in and near Hemet would work.
In the topmost photo and the one below it, notice the yellow posts by the roads and trackside! After a number of juicy fatal near to grade crossing wrecks, Metrolink has erected such easy to see yellow posts in an effort to keep vehicles off its tracks … even the out-of-service tracks!
K.P.
So, that is K.P.’s story, a little of it anyway. He is enjoying retirement, enjoying not posting much (and ENJOYING the eternal restricted posting Kalmbach has him on [and thanks Kalmbach for helping him see there is another life out there]), and has an ex-employer always willing to have me coming in for a shift or two if I need a few extra bucks. Of course, I am always willing to fill in if my ex-employer runs into a staffing problem.
In that light, I have to wonder if Kalmbach is a really cool employer for the TRAINS staff to work for also …
End of post.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
K. P. Harrier He is enjoying retirement,
K. P. Good to have you back. And yes, retirement has its pluses. And one never knows what the fates have in store for one until after you have lived most of your life.
Glad to see you back KP.
Retirement- best job I've ever had.
KP, I have been through Hemet several times. That traffic is darn crazy for the road system there.
I think one of the big hurdles with extending the Perris Line to Hemet (besides cash to do it) is that it seems a lot of people want to get to Orange County from there, but if you take the train it seems you have to first go north to go south. Just one thought for discussion purposes.
Welcome back, Swami Of The Sunset Route!
matthewsaggieRetirement- best job I've ever had.
I'm so busy I have to keep a calendar - at least it's mostly full of stuff I enjoy, though!
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
The best thing about retirement? Having time to do nothing!
Flintlock76 The best thing about retirement? Having time to do nothing!
I've never found out what this "nothing" is that people keep talking about. Make no mistake, my freight-car research is a hobby, but it definitely cuts into other things.One of my favorite things to do now that I have a little time is to travel. I know you did plenty of that, K.P., and sincerely hope you're not sick of it. Get to some of the pleasant places, come visit some of us (I can usually be out to Rochelle within a couple of hours, for example). By all means, don't restrict yourself to the western Hemet-sphere! Why, we even have track being built in our area for the next year or so, if you know where to look (bridges over rivers and all!)! And after they're done in this neck of the woods, there's supposed to be a second track going in on NICTD between Gary and Michigan City.I'm sure we could keep your wife busy as well, whatever her interests.But get used to not having to go to work first! Congratulations!(Going back to a series of MILW box cars that I've found nearly half of, and hoping to find more.)
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)
And when I have something to do, I seem to subconsciously drag it out as long as possible.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
Paul of Covington Flintlock76 The best thing about retirement? Having time to do nothing! And when I have something to do, I seem to subconsciously drag it out as long as possible.
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