Amtrak train #14, the westbound (northbound) Coast Starlight, pops out of the tunnel at Cuesta, the summit of central California's Cuesta Grade on January 26th, 1978. The train, led by SDP... (more)
Southbound Coast Starlight #11 passes through the Santa Margarita crossover and is about to relase its track warrant that its had since Salinas.
Amtrak 166 leads the Coast Starlight south through the beautiful golden hills of California. This train will soon be tested with some serious grades of Cuesta but I'm sure that won't be as tough a... (more)
Along California's coast, the skies can remain overcast all day (despite what the state's tourism board says). The gloom is more than made up for by Southern Pacific 4449's heavy black smoke as i... (more)
The northbound Coast Cans race north through Santa Margarita with clear sailing ahead.
The "Peloton" flashes past the "yellow jersey" on a southbound Union Pacific freight that is waiting on the San Luis Obispo helper for a braking assist down the Cuesta Grade. Amtrak's #11, the Coa... (more)
The San Luis Obispo helper is seen passing one of the classic searchlight signals as they pass through Santa Margarita where they will be helping a Southbound detouring QRVWCB over Cuesta Grade.
#8640 has paused at Cuesta before heading down into San Luis Obispo with a load of sugar beets bound for Betteravia.
Two sets of helpers, one from the front and one from the rear have been taken off the MWCPT. The power is now hooked back up and ready to head up the coast. Many thanks to Ryan Martin for giving... (more)
Number 2 slows for a station stop. Behind the locomotive are 2 of the original cars that ran on the Disneyland Railroad.
Reconstructed locomotive from 1916. Narrow gauge railroad in Santa Margarita.
UP's QRVML train with a "green goat" in tow rolls through Santa Margarita.
A Green Goat on the Coast Line! I had never seen one of these till this one came through on a manifest. Here it blasts through Santa Margarita; it will soon head up Cuesta Grade. Nikon E995.
starting to climb Cuesta just past Santa Margarita