Back in "the good ole days", there were two trains almost every night into San Diego. The Night Coast came out of Hobart - power was usually 4-6 GP30/GP35 and it often had gons of copper concentrate (green dirt) off the SP for export. The SDX came out of Barstow with anything for power, usually 3-5 6-axle units. Both trains made nightly turns, with an extra export grain or potash on occasion during the day.

If the trains had to double Miramar hill or had power problems, they often ran short on time and ran their pickup in Oeanside (grain and beer empties) or had to meet a dogcatch crew. I don't know how often they would do it, but they were known to stop in Morena Valley (just north of downtown San Diego) where they wouldn't block any crossings and someone off the head end would walk across the road to Jack-in-the-Box and get an order to go. They would leave the rear end crews order next tot he track for them to grab. Not sure if this was ever an "official" meal stop, but no doubt the dispatcher and supervisors were aware of it.

Besides - if they were ever questioned as tot he delay they could always claim "air problems".