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Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
Author: Howard
Date: 11-16-2015 - 09:52
Hard to believe it was three years ago today that the SC&MB ran their first passenger train out of Santa Cruz. Below is my original post from West Coast Rail Forums covering the event. By this time next year SC&MB passenger trains will be running out of Santa Cruz Again.
November 16, 2012 Sneak Peek Train For The Press
The company located in Santa Cruz County that was contracted to do the public relations for the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Railway contacted me. They had seen my photographs with narrative on Altamont Press and the West Coast Rail Forums and asked if I would attend a special train for the press on November 16th. They were hoping I would put something together for the railfan community and post it.
Here goes:
On last Friday, November 16th, my wife and I headed to the Boardwalk to see if the train had arrived for the press sneak peek. The train had come up very early and arrived at the Boardwalk around 7:00 AM. The train was parked so that the last passenger car was sitting on the San Lorenzo Bridge.
The path next to the track here is very constricted. With the passenger cars parked here it was difficult for pedestrians and bicyclist to pass each other to access the pedestrian bridge cantilevered on the bridge for the rail line.
To accommodate pedestrians and bicyclist using the footbridge over the San Lorenzo River, SC 1102 (WCRC 84) was moved further down the Boardwalk.
With both sides of the train fully accessible an inspection of the train followed. This is when it was discovered that there was damage to the high impact Plexiglas windows on some of the cars from a downed tree branch around MP 4.
The train for the press was not scheduled to depart until 2:00 PM so my wife and I headed over to the Sea Breeze Cafι for an excellent breakfast. When we left, SC 1102 ( WCRC 84) was pointed towards Beach Street.
Upon our return for the press train, we learned the train would be taken down to the wye to be turned and returned to the Boardwalk. I believe this was done so the last car could be spotted at a location best for the families to board and the press to photograph.
After the train was spotted on the Boardwalk, Ed Ellis (President, Iowa Pacific Holdings), Debra Goodman (Special Events Director, Iowa Pacific Holdings), Mark Westerfield (Director, Interline Operations, Iowa Pacific Holdings), the engineer, the conductor and a chief engineer from Caltrain gathered together to talk.
Next the train was moved to spot the Mohave car in front of Neptunes Kingdom for passenger loading. The Channel 5 (KPIX San Francisco) film crew recorded the conductor calling out All Aboard!
The families invited on this press sneak peek boarded as the press took video and photographs.
Peggy Ellis, the author of The Train to Christmas Town, along with the illustrator, signed copies of The Train to Christmas Town for the children on board.
The cast of characters from the book entertained the children and adults.
The Mohave car was very nice and the music provided by Trout Fishing in America was outstanding.
On my way back to the vestibule, I learned I had just missed three girls that mooned the train. One fell over because she was so drunk. This being Santa Cruz, I suspect this could become a local sport with the train referred to by some as the moon train.
There is something about watching the scenery slip by from the back of a train that clears the mind and is so calming.
The train arrived back at Casino.
The brake was set.
The job was done for the morning crew as they waited for the evening crew to arrive to return the train to Watsonville. It was time for me to be on my way too.
November 16, 2012 Sneak Peek Train For The Press
The company located in Santa Cruz County that was contracted to do the public relations for the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Railway contacted me. They had seen my photographs with narrative on Altamont Press and the West Coast Rail Forums and asked if I would attend a special train for the press on November 16th. They were hoping I would put something together for the railfan community and post it.
Here goes:
On last Friday, November 16th, my wife and I headed to the Boardwalk to see if the train had arrived for the press sneak peek. The train had come up very early and arrived at the Boardwalk around 7:00 AM. The train was parked so that the last passenger car was sitting on the San Lorenzo Bridge.
The path next to the track here is very constricted. With the passenger cars parked here it was difficult for pedestrians and bicyclist to pass each other to access the pedestrian bridge cantilevered on the bridge for the rail line.
To accommodate pedestrians and bicyclist using the footbridge over the San Lorenzo River, SC 1102 (WCRC 84) was moved further down the Boardwalk.
With both sides of the train fully accessible an inspection of the train followed. This is when it was discovered that there was damage to the high impact Plexiglas windows on some of the cars from a downed tree branch around MP 4.
The train for the press was not scheduled to depart until 2:00 PM so my wife and I headed over to the Sea Breeze Cafι for an excellent breakfast. When we left, SC 1102 ( WCRC 84) was pointed towards Beach Street.
Upon our return for the press train, we learned the train would be taken down to the wye to be turned and returned to the Boardwalk. I believe this was done so the last car could be spotted at a location best for the families to board and the press to photograph.
After the train was spotted on the Boardwalk, Ed Ellis (President, Iowa Pacific Holdings), Debra Goodman (Special Events Director, Iowa Pacific Holdings), Mark Westerfield (Director, Interline Operations, Iowa Pacific Holdings), the engineer, the conductor and a chief engineer from Caltrain gathered together to talk.
Next the train was moved to spot the Mohave car in front of Neptunes Kingdom for passenger loading. The Channel 5 (KPIX San Francisco) film crew recorded the conductor calling out All Aboard!
The families invited on this press sneak peek boarded as the press took video and photographs.
Peggy Ellis, the author of The Train to Christmas Town, along with the illustrator, signed copies of The Train to Christmas Town for the children on board.
The cast of characters from the book entertained the children and adults.
The Mohave car was very nice and the music provided by Trout Fishing in America was outstanding.
On my way back to the vestibule, I learned I had just missed three girls that mooned the train. One fell over because she was so drunk. This being Santa Cruz, I suspect this could become a local sport with the train referred to by some as the moon train.
There is something about watching the scenery slip by from the back of a train that clears the mind and is so calming.
The train arrived back at Casino.
The brake was set.
The job was done for the morning crew as they waited for the evening crew to arrive to return the train to Watsonville. It was time for me to be on my way too.
| Subject | Written By | Date/Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|
 Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line |
Howard | 11-16-2015 - 09:52 |
|
Re: Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
|
Negin | 11-16-2015 - 10:33 |
|
Re: Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
|
Howard | 11-16-2015 - 10:45 |
|
Re: Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
|
Negin | 11-16-2015 - 17:34 |
|
Re: Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
|
Howard | 11-16-2015 - 22:24 |
|
Re: Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
|
Tripper | 11-16-2015 - 17:49 |
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Re: Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
|
BOB R | 11-16-2015 - 19:45 |
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Re: Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
|
Howard | 11-16-2015 - 22:38 |
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Re: Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
|
Espee99 | 11-17-2015 - 09:22 |
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Re: Three Years Ago Today Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line
|
Howard | 11-17-2015 - 13:00 |