The 10th anniversary of the last run of the Monterey Branch is getting near. There was much optimism after seeing the Amtrak talgo run from San Francisco to Ord in June of 1999. However after Monterey County purchased the branch, it all went to pot from there. Union Pacific has removed the branch's switch at Castroville, and many of the crossings are paved over. There are some serious alignment issues at the Salinas River bridge just past Neponset. Then to add insult to injury, the line beyond Seaside can never be restored. Parts of the right of way have been fully developed blocking access to the Monterey depot. So all we are left with on the Monterey Peninsula are memories of this Amtrak special, and the SP Monterey Local. Here's a few of the last run:


Amtrak 459 creeps past a produce field near Nashua Road near Castroville during a foggy morning.


The 459 a few minutes later is crawling past Lapis.


The Amtrak 456 brings up the rear at Lapis.


Amtrak 459 leads the talgo on the roller coaster profile of the branch at Ord.


A few people have gathered to watch what was the last train on the branch.


Amtrak 456 brings up the rear as the train gets ready to shove into the Fort Ord spur.

Sam Reeves
Pacific Grove, CA
Sam Reeves Photography
_{Celebrating 10 Years on the Internet 1999-2009}