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.
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.
Are they planning to up-grade the trolley or get new ones?
WHat is the cost of adverstising the decals on the red cars?
awwrailroad (12- 24):
Thanks for the detailed input about speeds and unit operating specifications.
You previously mentioned your experience with San Diego Trolley as about 11 years, but it obviously is much more extensive than mine (an observer). In the very early 1980's, on our honeymoon my new bridge was willing to ride the San Diego Trolley! (And, we are still married, too!) In those early days, the line to San Ysidro and the Mexican border was a combination of double- and single-track! And, with such a primitive line, the trolleys oftentimes had to wait at meets. I bet you are glad you don't have to do that now! You may or may not remember the days when directly across from the Santa Fe Depot was the end of the line!
What a difference a few decades have made!
Sam1 (12-25):
You make some thought-provoking financial points. I am not up on transit finances like I use to, but virtually all systems operate at a lose. I guess the logic goes that the taxpayer benefits outweigh the costs ...
Take care all.
K.P.
Sam1Having ridden the San Diego Trolley on more than ten occasions, whilst visiting San Diego, I can understand why it is hugely popular. But it is not popular enough for the riders to cover the total operating expenses through the fare box, although they pay for a higher percentage of them than any American transit system that I have reviewed. In FY08 fares covered 55 per cent of the Trolley's operating expenses. That is comparatively high but well short of the total operating expenses.
I wonder what the operating expenses would be for the lanes of freeway not needed because of the trolley? And why does a municipal public transit system have to pay for a separate police force, any more than any business has to have a separate police force? Sounds like the revenue covers all the operating expenses besides the security.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Having ridden the San Diego Trolley on more than ten occasions, whilst visiting San Diego, I can understand why it is hugely popular. But it is not popular enough for the riders to cover the total operating expenses through the fare box, although they pay for a higher percentage of them than any American transit system that I have reviewed. In FY08 fares covered 55 per cent of the Trolley's operating expenses. That is comparatively high but well short of the total operating expenses.
San Diego Trolley Incorporated, which operates the system, paid $5.6 million for security compared to $6.3 million for traction power in FY08. Or to state it differently, the cost of keeping the riders safe was equal to 88.9 per cent of the cost to power the trains. I guess this is the price of operating a transit system in America's not so safe cities.
Amazingly, the equipment lease was only $86,000 in FY08. It is projected to increase to $157,000 in FY09, but these low numbers must mean that the equipment has largely been depreciated.
Part II, Section C (of A-C)
More on 12th & Imperial
The north side of the station. People are often everywhere!
A train heads north outbound from the station stop. Note the curved pole on the top right. When a white "T" flashes, trolleys can proceed north out of the station. The inbound track is on the far left, with a tree between tracks.
Note the absence of crosswalks by the station. Many MTS transit buses frequent the the stop.
Part III is about both the "City College" and "American Plaza" Stations, and is scheduled to be posted Sunday, December 27, 2009.
Part II, Section B (of A-C)
A public walkway is right by the shop. Note the catenary on the top right.
The shop is very close to the office building / 12th & Imperial stop
An interesting electric sign
A manual trolley yard switch.
Continued in Section C
Part II (of I-V), Section A (of A-C)
Another trolley that is not the standard red.
An Orange Line trolley arrives in a beautiful, well manicured setting. Note the conspicuous headlight on top.
Just south of the station is the shop.
At the shop / yard area, there is catenary (wires) everywhere!
Continued in Part II, Section B
As for speed between stations . . . depends on the line segment and the car being operated. A recent change for the Blue Line South (Imperial to San Ysidro) has a track max of 50 mph regardless of LRV model. The best place to "stretch your legs" is between H street and Palomar street stations. It was easy to bump into the Overspeed (set variously at 51 to 53) several times in this area.
Orange line is a toss up between Lemon Grove Depot to Massachusetts or Interlocking E10 near 69 street curve to 62nd/Encanto or 62nd/Encanto to Euclid Ave. Westbound only. All are down grade and gravity works (it's the law!). SD-100 will overspeed at 53 to 56. Flying at the grade crossings with four cars (160 tons) full of standees, blaring the horn (two longs, a short, and a long) and holding the last note untill well through the crossing . . . yeah, it's fun.
More recent change on the Green Line has any consist with an S70 is limited to 50 mph. A lack of delay between overspeed and emergency brake application caused way too many flats on the tires and that takes a car out for several service days.
Current rules are U2 and S70 max 50 mph. SD-100 max 55.
I have pegged the speedo in a U2, an indicated 57.
The SD-100 and S70 should be good for 65 if not limited for use on our system.
May be more info than you needed.
The trolley cars that are not red have been covered in giant heavy plastic decals as a means of generating income. They are still the standard San Diego Trolley red underneath. If you were to get up close you could see the raised white logo and lettering underneath. On the U2 cars rust is bubbling up under the decal.
It's been more than ten years since I rode the San Diego Trolley. May I ask: Between which two stations do the cars reach their highest speed, and what is that speed?
----
When I rode to Santee, I was glad to see that the route had reached that neighborhood before development, somewhat as the Interborough Rapid Transit reached into The Bronx and helped build it (though too densely, due to loose zoning). It is more difficult to bring rail lines into a place after it has built up.
Part I, Section C (of A-C)
12th & Imperial
That brief single-track section (photo right bottom to the left top) crosses the two-track "Blue Line" (that goes to the Mexican Border).
... and junctions into (bottom far right) the "Orange Line" (that heads east). Just beyond the cross street (marked by the center orange marker) is a single crossover.
A single-track connecting curved track (in background) with much less usage.
A view of the connecting track (right) that junctions into the looping around track mention previously above. A crossover leads into the yard trackage.
Continued in Part II, also on the 12th and Imperial stop. It also looks from the street at the maintenance shop. Part II is scheduled to be posted Friday, December 25, 2009.
A system map is linked below for those wishing to better visualize the San Diego Trolley system.
http://www.sdmts.com/trolley/Trolley.asp
Part I, Section B (of A-C)
A key super, super active junction switch is clearly marked "DANGER."
A southward view of the above switch (shot from a pedestrian pathway that crosses the tracks). The counterpart second-track is on the top right.
A beautiful setting for admin and the station.
Some trains go north through the above highlighted 12th & Imperial station, then go just south of the downtown old Santa Fe Depot, and loop back around counterclockwise to the southwest side of the 12th and Imperial station as the end of the line, which briefly is single-track. Then, the trolleys reverse and head back clockwise. Some trolleys are not in standard system red.
Part I (of I-V), Section A (of A-C)
To watch the San Diego Trolley is an experience in itself. This series photo-documents a recent visit to a part of the system, and will be chronicled on a south to north basis.
12th and Imperial is a key station location, where management offices are located. View is from the south. Note the yellow "05" sign on the lower right.
The above switch is barely visible in the below view (by the "05" yellow sign on the right).
A descriptive sign in front of the building (north side).
Immediately south of the station stop the two lines junction out, one south (right, Blue Line) to the Mexican border, the other (left, Orange Line) heads east. The shop for maintenance is in the photo top background.
The old U2 cars are wearing out / worn out. Many parts are not available and have to be made to order here in the states. I operate the U-boats four days a week and regularly experience repeated door malfunctions, minor electrical faults, parts falling off of undercarriage, coupler shocks worn out making clunking noises under the cab when negotiating the not-so-smooth trackage, and other defects. Yet we operate 22hrs per day on the Blue Line with nine 3-car trains every 15 mins and place an additional eight 3-car trains during the a.m. and p.m. rush hours for 7 1/2 min service. The first three trains out of the International Border 5:00am, 5:15am and 5:30 am are special 4-car trains from the Border to Imperial Transfer. They depart with standing-room-only!
We have eleven low-floor (S70) 90 foot cars working exclusively on our Green Line. Green Line runs from Old Town (Blue Line Terminus) to Santee Town Center via Mission Valley shopping, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego State University, Alvarado Hospital, and overlaps with Orange Line to Santee. Only a few days ago, several hundred-million dollars was approved to purchase more low-floor shorty cars (about 80 feet long) and the grand plan is to raise the level of the platforms to where the low-floor cars can have self-loading wheelchair riders. Only the Green Line and overlapped Orange Line have the raised platforms at this time.
Great pictures! I believe Siemens (the GE of Germany) makes most of the streetcars in use there also. Smooth and reliable.
Thanks! Don't see many photos.
I would think new low-floor LRVs would be in use; but maybe this will come in another 20 years if the German cars wear out.
The current electric locomotives are actual working with more than 20 years of service. Are they replacing any of those Red Trolley to different model instead of the German maker?
Current US light-rail boom, yes I believe so. We took our lead from Calgary. I believe the Winter Olympics and subsequent "Stampeed" prompted them to go with Light Rail.
Any Canadian Light Rail types out there want to weigh in and educate us?
All are German made.
U-2 Siemens-Deuwag (1000 series, split windshields, door leafs fold inward, operator sits left)
SD-100 Siemens (2000 series, one piece windshield, angular body, door open outward)
S-70 Siemens (3000 series, giant curved aero windshield, doors slide open, wheelchair ramps, centered operator)
Feel free to correct me on the builders.
Time of day methinks it was me and not BarryS. I relieved him @ 10:01am at Imperial when these pics were taken. Seeing "Gus" on train ahead of me also puts it after Imperial relief. A lot of folks take photos - first time I've seen myself.
Nice pix of the SD trains,Who builds these trolleys?
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Thanks!
Hi Allan, I looked at the image you mentioned trying to figure out if it was BarryS.... You know Barry, right?
Mike Phillips
mphill66
mp
Picture one in part three . . . you caught me working! Trolley Operator now for nearly 11 years. Allan
The San Diego Trolley with Photos - Part III
A meet on the sharp wye curves
Colorful equipment is also a select part of the trolleys
A much used dual-control switch is right by the public sidewalk for all to see, moving points and all.
All day long many trains arrive and depart in a beautiful zigzag setting.
San Diego is a cool place, literally and in a figure of speech sense. The Pacific Ocean is just a block away, and contributes to the area's coolness.
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