Cuesta Conquered

Amtrak's Transcontinental Steam Excursion crests the summit of Cuesta Grade, just north of San Luis Obispo, California, on April 27, 1977. In the process of ... (more)

Slugging it Out on Cuesta Grade

There are several tunnels on Southern Pacific’s Cuesta Grade, just north of San Luis Obispo, California – and it has been decades since they’ve ... (more)

Smoking in SLO

Amtrak's Transcontinental Steam Excursion puts on a show as it departs San Luis Obispo, California, on the morning of April 27, 1977. This excursion, led by fo... (more)

Central Coast Steam

Amtrak's Transcontinental Steam Excursion arrives in San Luis Obispo, where it will spend the night before assaulting Cuesta Grade as it heads to Oakland t... (more)

Following the Starlight Up the Coast

American Freedom Train 4-8-4 4449 is back on familiar rails as it departs Los Angeles with Amtrak's Transcontinental Steam Excursionmore)

Forget Cleveland…Chatsworth Rocks!

”Chatsworth Rocks” was the location of many publicity photos of Southern Pacific’s Coast Daylight back in the steam days, so it was,... (more)

Smokebox Inspection

Back in 1977, Los Angeles’ Union Station was not nearly as busy as it is today (2 Southwest Limiteds, 2 Coast Starlights, 8 San Diegans and... (more)

Union Station as Roundhouse

Back in 1977, Los Angeles’ Union Station was not nearly as busy as it is today (2 Southwest Limiteds, 2 Coast Starlights, 8 San Diegans... (more)

187-Feet Below Sea Level

Amtrak's 16 car Transcontinental Steam Excursion approaches Ferrum, California as it makes its way from Yuma, Arizona, to Los Angeles, Californ... (more)

Daylight in Yuma

Amtrak's Transcontinental Steam Excursion departs Yuma, Arizona, and is just about to cross into California, on April 24, 1977. After the American Fre... (more)

A California Operation Lifesaver special, traveling through the entire state, speeds through Grand Terrace, California, on April 23, 1987. Power on this train represents all of California's major... (more)

Even After 45 Years, I Still Have a Lot of Great Memories of This Day

Almost immediately after it took over passenger train operations from the private railroads In 1971, Amtrak sent... (more)

Union Pacific's Bicentennial ... Kind Of ...

While Union Pacific never painted a locomotive for the American Bicentennial, they did loan E9A 951 to the Preamble Express, a spe... (more)

The Olympic Torch Relay Train arrives in Santa Barbara for ceremonies as the Olympic Torch, being carried on foot, catches up to the train so that it can continue its trip north on the way to its ... (more)

A special from San Bernardino, California, arrives at Los Angeles Union Station on April 28th, 2013. Power for this short train is Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751 (built by Baldwin in 1927) and Metrolink F59... (more)