Thanks for the memories! My recollections of SLO trains were the long lashups of assorted older power hauling freights on Cuesta, with dynamics audible from miles away until they were shut down around Foothill Blvd. And trying to get an Amtrak ticket home to the Bay Area, and being sold one in the lounge car because the train was otherwise sold out and available seats couldn't be sorted out until after Salinas. And riding back on an "off" day (Starlight was 3x/week then, as it is again) on the shortie Daylight with non-functional vending machines (mostly) for food service. And the southbound Starlight with cars from nearly every railroad, being assigned a seat in a blue GN coach with, apparently, wheel-powered a/c, so when we stopped at Paso the temp inside rose very quickly. Yes, early 1970s. Cal Poly.

BTW, the track layout at SLO has slimmed down a bit. I don't think Amtrak would fit on the track in that picture any more - just a short stop where local power is parked. Longer stub into a fenced area for (probably) overnight parking and servicing of a Surfliner. And Google satellite even caught a train in the station! [goo.gl]