DART is expanding its system with the Orange and Green lines. At the same time a new expressway is being built along the Trinity River, and plans are under way to rebuild the down town Mixmaster.
Public transit systems in large cities, especially rail systems, attract crime. Heaps of it! That is why every significant transit system in America has its own police force. Having a dedicated transit police force is supposedly more effective than relying on the community police force.
My former employer - I am retired - had a substantial police presence. We called them security personnel or rent-a-cops when feeling derisive. They were licensed to carry firearms. And on one occasion they used them. I worked for a large electric utility. We had a major security presence at all of our power plants, mine sites, system control centers and major office facilities. It was a major expense; it is an unfortunate sign of the times in America.
A Hugely Popular System
Part III (of I-V), Section A (of A-D)
City College Station
Years ago, from when the San Diego Trolley was first built, there was a sharp, 90 degree turn at C Street and Park Blvd.
In the above photo, the line went from the the lower left to the middle right.
Now, things have changed dramatically, and the San Diego Trolley cuts diagonally across the city block and avoids the above intersection completely.
From a block WEST of the above photo's intersection, looking southeast.
The diagonal aspect of the station is more clearly evident in this southeast view from the southeast side of the station stop, a block SOUTH of the first photo's intersection. In the below view, after a train leaves, the masses pour across the tracks. Note the mirror on the top left. Also, the catenary is clearly visible on the photo's top area. The trolley in this view is heading to the 12th & Imperial stop shown in Parts I and II
Note the square, sharp tooth-like effect of the upper left building architecture as the trolley line diagonally cuts through the city block. Note, too, the huge masses waiting on the center left.
Continued in Section B
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
Part III, Section B (of A-D)
Again, from the southeast side, looking northwest. Two trolleys meet. Note the pointed building architecture on the photo top right.
The north eighth of a circle, looking west
Looking west down C Street: A train (right) has just left of the City College Station and a train approaches (background center).
A view a few seconds later. Note there is now THREE trolley trains in the view. The one-way street on the right use to be a two-way street until the Trolley came along in the early 1980's and forced roadway planners to improvise.
Continued in Section C, and will cover the American Plaza Station.
Part III, Section C (of A-D)
America Plaza Station
A trolley approaches the America Plaza station from the east. Note the building bridging (top of photo) OVER the street.
A train wants to head east (away from the camera which is within the America Plaza stop), and awaits a green light on the traffic signals. The overhead bridge noted in the photo caption above is in the distance.
As the tracks approach the America Plaza stop (from the east) they alignment shift slightly and enter the station. When the San Diego Trolley line was first built circa 1980, there was NO alignment shift, but the tracks continued straight west a block and ended across the street from the Santa Fe Railway Depot.
The America Plaza station stop is unusual in that part of the interior curves.
Continued in Section D
Part III, Section D (of A-D)
There is an opening in the building interior (photo lower left), and the old Santa Fe Depot is visible across the street.
The main interior of the America Plaza station. It too diagonals through the city block.
A train inside the diagonal portion of the stop.
As the trolleys head eastward, the interior station's curve is readily evident. (Note the curved yellow limit line on the sidewalk.)
This post section was photographed from the northeast side. The southwest side of this station stop was briefly covered initially on Page 1 of this topic.
The briefer Part IV is scheduled to be posted Tuesday, December 29, 2009.
Part IV (of I-V), Section A (of A-B)
The Santa Fe Depot Stop
When San Diego Trolleys leave westward from the America Plaza stop, they immediate kind of semi-loop turn and head north, and pass the old Santa Fe Depot where ANOTHER station stop is made.
Looking west from that Santa Fe Depot stop is the Pacific Ocean. Visible is an ocean liner docked in the background. The tail end of a Coaster commuter train is on the far right.
There is much gating at the stop.
Much of the San Diego Depot stop was originally covered on page 1 of this topic.
Country Center / Little Italy Stop
A southbound (photo right to left) Coaster arrives in San Diego, and passes the Beech Street grade crossing. The San Diego trolley uses the two closet tracks. BNSF, Amtrak, and Coasters use the far west two-tracks.
Beech Street is only a couple of blocks north of the Santa Fe Depot. Note the "X" crossovers at CP ASH (lower left).
Part IV, Section B (of A-B)
This solidly lit signal means stop. When it flashes, trains can proceed.
While the Trolley is in the station stop boarding and alighting passengers, the Beech Street gates are down, irritating the VERY FEW motors that are wanting to get to the other side of the tracks.
Looking north from the east side: The tracks curve into the stop.
A wide-angle looking north also, from the west side.
Part V (the last in this series, and is in four sections) is scheduled to be posted Thursday, December 31, 2009, and will deal with where the Blue Line meets the Green Line ... And at nighttime too!
Part V, Section A (of A-D)
The Old Town Transit Center
For those unfamiliar with the area, "Old Town" is a northern section of San Diego.
Looking north: A Blue Line train (left) and a Green Line train (right) wait at the station stop. Both lines end at this stop, and trains reverse directions here and return to the other end of their respective lines. Sometimes there are loaded baseball and football specials that continue through the station.
A Blue Line train prepares to head south to the Border. Note the transit bus in the background left.
At this station, to the right of each track is a signal protecting an "X" crossovers arrangement.
In the above photo, note the two security officers on the lower right. Unlike the 'scared of their own shadow' first class freight railroad counterparts, the security officers were unfazed by someone walking around taking photos with a camera! A security shack is on the photo left.
A southbound (right) zooms (and I mean "zooms") off while a just arrived northbound waits to crossover (left).
Continued in Part V, Section B
Part V, Section B (of A-D)
A heavily used switch now goes into reverse.
The waiting trolley then quickly crosses over on the "X" crossovers arrangement.
Continued in Section C
Part V, Section C (of A-D)
The signal goes green, and shortly thereafter off goes another scheduled train ... Its a marvel of precision!
Across the way, a through northbound Coaster arrives
Signs are clearly present for locals and tourists alike.
Part V, Section D (of A-D)
A newer "old style" depot-like building landmarks the north end of the site.
Unlike number plated signals with "P" or "G" plates that the freight railroads have, which normally can be passed in red mode, these plated trolley signals have regularly changed power switches associated with them, and cannot be passed without authorization.
The Blue Line has the most trolley runs, which are quickly in and out of the Old Town Transit Center stop, and return to the Border. In this view, a Green Line trolley arrives, and disembarks its passengers. It then sits in the station for awhile before returning to Santee.
Passengers and other pedestrians can walk underneath the busy four tracks at this station stop.
This post will end the "A Hugely Popular System" series.
If you are traveling and happen to be in the San Diego area, a stop to ride the San Diego Trolley is highly recommended. It likely will be a long cherished experience.
Taylor Street and One Stop North
Part A (of A-G)
At the end of 2009, the "Old Town" station stop was featured in this thread, a place where the Blue and Green lines meet. The Taylor Street grade crossing within feet of the "Old Town" station will begin this photo extension.
The Taylor Street grade crossing is a four-track phenomenon.
As a Green Line train begins its north-eastward run, a bicyclist is caught between crossing gates.
An arriving Blue Line run from the south crosses over at the south side X-crossovers arrangement, only to return the other way after alighting and boarding passengers.
(Remember that crossover arrangement south of the station stop ...)
Continued in Part B
Part B (of A-G)
An interesting "motor vehicle" crosses the grade crossing as crowds board the trolley that will return to the Mexican Border (away from the camera).
The Old Town stop is always a crowded, popular place. Security guards are on hand. Please make a mental note of this southward view and how the track in the background curves slightly in the foreground. A sense of single-track history will be mentioned in Part C.
Yours truly was shadow caught photographing this arriving (rightward) Green Line train from Santee.
Continued in Part C
Part C (of A-G)
Just north of Taylor Street and the Old Town stop is ANOTHER X-crossover arrangement. So, on both sides of the station are X-crossovers!
Parallel to and just west of that second X-crossover is a another rail line, one used by Amtrak, local commuter trains, and the BNSF Railway. That two-track line junctions into single-track west of Taylor Street.
A closer look at the junction switch. The CP sign on the left is for CP FRIAR, named after a famous San Diego crossroad about a block beyond the CP. Friars Road goes under a railroad overpass.
The single-track alignment in the background of the photo above CURVES (away from the camera) and goes straight over a several-hundred foot long bridge (NOT seen). Years ago, in long gone Santa Fe Railway days, the line (after traversing that bridge and coming TOWARD the camera) did NOT curve but went straight and aligned with the left track (on the other side of Taylor Street) of the two far-RIGHT tracks.
THAT was the general background track alignment in the middle photo in Part B. In Santa Fe Railway days, double-track began on the EAST side of Taylor Street, and NOT on the west side as two-tracks do now. Back then, Amtrak and Santa Fe trains from Los Angeles generally took the turnout route and traveled left handed on double-track to downtown San Diego.
Parts D through G will be covered Monday afternoon, February 22, 2010.
Part D (A-G)
North, and then east, of the Old Town stop the Green Line goes over a two-track, curved bridge.
That bridge is shown in the following three photos of a trolley set (on the RIGHT track) going TO Old Town.
Continued in Part E
Part E (A-G)
After a little while, the train in Part D returns, now on the LEFT track, and heads to Santee.
Just right of the overpass in the background, the photos in Part D were shot from. In this view, a trolley has just left the Morena / Linda Vista station stop, and was about the same vicinity of the first photo in Part D.
Patronage was light here at photo time.
Continued in Part F
Part F (A-G)
The Trolley heads the other way now (east), and turns into a sharp 20 M.P.H. curve that grade crosses Friars Road.
The curve is within a T-intersection.
The above Trolley gets closer. The signal on the right is typically yellow ... Some trollies have operators sit in the middle, but on the 2000 series they sit on the left side just like bus drivers do. Does someone here at the forum know which series has operator seating where?
A few minutes before a trolley comes along the other way, and the signal above turns green.
Continued in Part G
Part G (A-G)
A view from a distance ... The gates here go down and up about eight times an hour! Between 120 and 140 times a day!
Kind of an interesting place to live for railfan types ...
This will conclude the "Taylor Street and One Stop North" A-G series.
Driver (Operator) position:
S70, 3000 series is in the center with the access door in the center.
SD-100, 2000 series is to the left with the access door in the center.
U-2, 1000 series is to the left with the access door to the right.
Can you take shoot a video next to the cab window?
Well, he could... But due to the cell phone issues these days, it would probably be better if Alan had me or someone else shoot the video from behind the operating cab. Maybe one day when I take the train home to Tijuana I could film something.
Viva Mexico!
Part I (of I-VI)
From Downtown San Diego, the San Diego Trolley's Blue Line heads southeastward to the U.S. border town of San Ysidro. (Pronounced San Ee-see'dro, with the Ee like y in the word yard.)
"Viva" is both an Italian and Spanish language interjection meaning an exclamation of acclaim or approval. The overwhelming majority of the population of the community of San Ysidro is of Spanish descent, and thus have a favorable outlook about the country of Mexico, hence, the title of this series, "Viva Mexico."
The final route-curves before the end of the trolley line in San Ysidro. Camera view is northwestward.
Just south of the above curves is a signaled "X" crossovers.
A trolley leaves San Ysidro northbound. On the photo top right is a highrise, actually within Tijuana, Mexico, showing how close-by that country is!
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-VI)
The tracks end on a curve in a beautiful setting that includes Palm trees.
Ticket dispensing machines. A map is displayed for those unfamiliar with the system.
Continued in Part III
Part III (of I-VI)
Bumper posts are at the end of the line ...
... and are in an attractive rod-iron fence setting.
Continued in Part IV
Part IV (of I-VI)
The station and trolleys are easily photographed.
The trolleys are handicapped accessible. An operator closes the ramp after boarding a wheelchair confined patron.
The unscrupulous have an incentive to act rightly ...
Continued in Part V
Part V (of I-VI)
Switch motors in San Ysidro are between the rails, unlike conventional switches where motors are outside the rails and off to one side.
This is the southern end of the "X" crossovers shown in Part I. The signals here angle toward the trolley operator. The signal went green, and within two or three seconds, the trolley shot off to Old Town, and with a shunted circuit the signal went back to red.
A trolley departs (away from the camera). Note how the signal on the right severely angles to the left. As with the above photo, trolleys stop so close to signals that the signal heads are severely turned to face the operator.
Part VI (of I-VI)
Public sidewalks in this section (left) and often very crowded, unlike the photo below; and right by the tracks, making for easy photography ... or simply trolley watching up close.
One can't help but notice the predominance of Spanish Americans at this end of the Blue Line, on the American side of the Border. I found it a refreshing cultural contrast. Also, if you happen to visit San Ysidro by car, you'll know that the Mexico border is immanent and close by, because the freeway signs have exit street names (in Mexico) that are obviously Spanish! You can't miss them!
This will end the "Viva Mexico!" series.
The San Diego Trolley
Playing Golf ... Fore!
Part A (of A-C)
Around golfing, often the long drawn out expression "f-o-r-e-!" is heard. That fore often means heads up, the ball is about to come one's way.
Near (just west of) the Fashion Valley Mall is the Riverwalk Golf Club. At the club railfans that are golfers have two things to anticipate. Hearing "fore!" and seeing the many San Diego Trollies cutting through the golfing location.
While bushes and trees block much of seeing the right-of-way, railbuffs can get a glimpse of the Trolleys.
Part B (of A-C)
The "driving range" is right by the tracks.
A trolley approaches the Fashion Valley Transit Center, and passes the driving range's high protective fence while starting a steep climb.
Part C (of A-C)
As shown in the last photo in Part B, the trolley line steeply gains elevation for the station stop, which station shares land with the local transit bus operation.
Overhead walkways to the trolley line:
The whole trolley line in this particular area bridges over tightly quartered, very valuable real estate.
For railfan-golfers visiting or vacationing in the San Diego area, TWO fun activities are side by side, and easily accessible. And, for spouses that are neither a railfan or a golfer, surely shopping at the Fashion Valley Mall right next door would make them happy!
It is hoped sometime in the indefinite future the trolley's cutting through the golf course can be looked at in more depth.
But first, between a few days and a couple of weeks, a series is expected to be put together and shared with the forum on where the San Diego Trolley is only single-track! And, some interior trolley views are planned too!
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