The real reason for the Owl and San Joaquin Daylight to run via Martinez was the connection there with the Cascada and Shasta Daylight for passengers, mail and express. Mornings saw the Cascade first in for the connection south with the San Joaquin Daylight. Then there was the Owl making a connection with the Shasta Daylight. Afternoons saw the San Joaquin Daylight in first for the connection with the Cascade. Then the Shasta Daylight was in for a connection with the Owl. This way you had LA to Portland trips available with the Martinez connection. If you ever watched this as I did as a kid in the 50's as one train pulled out the connection was there to pull right in. It was almost perfect clock work. The SP really had their act together for this despite good'ol DJ Russel. I spent many enjoyable Saturday afternoons at the station with my dad watching this all transpire. It was great train watching.