Due to a variety of factors, primarily both problems with aging Pacific Surfliner cars and the Thanksgiving passenger crush, Amtrak sent some of their northern California equipment south to help out. Thus it was that Amtrak train 573, a San Diego to Los Angeles Pacific Surfliner, looked quite a bit different on Thanksgiving Day. The train was led by Non-Powered Control Unit (NPCU) CDTX 90225 (ex- Amtrak F40PH 225, built in April 1976 and converted to a "Cabbage," as the NPCUs were dubbed by railfans), leading seven Comet cars (former NJ Transit commuter cars), normally used on Amtrak's San Joaquins further north. The only normal thing on this train is SC-44 2119 shoving on the rear… (Anaheim, California – November 28, 2024)
Stretching from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, the Surf Line has become Amtrak's second busiest route. See the Pacific Surfliner and San Diegan in action along with trains from predecessors Santa Fe and Southern Pacific.
