Does BNSF still go by San Diego

[Anonymous]

Does BNSF (formerly Santa Fe) still go through San Diego?

[daveklepper]

I believe the tracks used by Amtrak between LA and San Diego are owned by BNSF which continues to provide San Diego with freight service, and the tracks are also used by local San Diego commuter authority.

[nanaimo73]

The track south of San Clemente is owned by the San Diego Northern.
Chad- Does SDN haul freight, and do they have any freight locomotives ?

[dharmon]

Yep.....all the way to the port..plus the Escondido branch .

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nanaimo73

The track south of San Clemente is owned by the San Diego Northern.
Chad- Does SDN haul freight, and do they have any freight locomotives ?

I'm not exactly an expert on this area, I've only been here 9 months and I don't get north of downtown that often. I don't know the ownership status of the line but the only freight activity I've seen has been BNSF or SDIV. I don't think SDN owns any rolling stock. The trains are BNSF,Amtrak,Coaster and the trolly.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

San Diego Northern is the operating component of the North County Transit District (Coaster).

[chad thomas]

Yes, The BNSF does still go through downtown. From what I can tell there are a daily pair of manifest trains between San Diego & Barstow MSDGBAR, MBARSDG, both are pretty much nocturnal. Then there are the vehicle trains, The inbounds come from San Bernadino as VSBDSDG, The outbounds have several destinations and go out as VSDGCLO (Clovis NM) VSDGRIC (Richmond CA) and VSDGBIR (Birmingham AL).
I have heard there is a grain train that comes into town about once a week from Nebraska but I have not seen one. There are also locals but I don't know where they go or what they do. There is also a branch to Escondido (Fallbrook branch I think) that is active.

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

Yes, The BNSF does still go through downtown. From what I can tell there are a daily pair of manifest trains between San Diego & Barstow MSDGBAR, MBARSDG, both are pretty much nocturnal. Then there are the vehicle trains, The inbounds come from San Bernadino as VSBDSDG, The outbounds have several destinations and go out as VSDGCLO (Clovis NM) VSDGRIC (Richmond CA) and VSDGBIR (Birmingham AL).
I have heard there is a grain train that comes into town about once a week from Nebraska but I have not seen one. There are also locals but I don't know where they go or what they do. There is also a branch to Escondido (Fallbrook branch I think) that is active.

I don't believe there is any activity on the Fallbrook branch anymore. Much of it was damaged in an earthquake many years ago nad never rebuilt. The Escondido branch is still in use and usually sees one out and in a night, serving a grain silo and a lumber yard. It is the line being upgraded for the Sprinter in North County. Alot of fun to watch the progress.....they've been some track replacing fools.

Anyway...BNSF usually runs GP30s/GP35s but just about anything shows up.

[chad thomas]

OK so I take it the Escondido and Fallbrook are two different branches? I thought they were one and the same. I go through Escondido all the time on the I-15 and I can see a short streach of track as I pass through and I can see the cars are switched all the time (covered hoppers).

I really need to take some time and explore that area instead of bolting to Cajon when I have time to railfan.

[chad thomas]

Hey Dan,
Where are these 30/35s? All I see down here is dash9s (and the RCL yard engine). Am I missing something?