Berg Wrote:
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> I think you guys are confusing history.
>
> I have always seen a turntable at the SD&AE shop
> but I was not around for steam. SD&AE had a wye in
> the steam days that went towards were Santa Fe
> later built 24th st yard in the 1950's.

The SD&AE had a large enginehouse in the general vicinity of the downtown trolley yards/shops, and I believe there was a wye definitely not a turntable. In the late 50s/early 60s SP/SD&AE built a new metal single track diesel enginehouse closer to Harbor Dr, all heavy work saw the engines sent to Taylor Yard. I believe the turntable, salvaged from Colton as I recall, was installed at this time.

An expansion of the trolley and the Coaster layover yard eliminated the diesel enginehouse. The turntable was relocated against Harbor Dr. so they still could turn an engine if needed, but also to turn any "unload this side only" cars. In the Kyle era, MTDB built a new big shop in San Ysidro and that is what SD&IV uses.



> Santa Fe freight operated out of National City.


Original terminal was National City, but 22nd Street has been the primary yard at least in the diesel era, possibly much earlier. Nasty City is pretty much treated as a branch or industrial spur but that may have changed in the last couple decades.

> Why would Santa Fe not use Washington St Wye?

I'm reasonably sure they turned the passenger consist in the steam era and the entire passenger train in the diesel era until Amtrak went to cab cars. The tail was on the base so you had to wait for an MP to open thd gate for anything more than a engine or two.