Southern Pacific Mt-3 class 4-8-2 No. 4344 helps the Overland Limited through Clipper Gap, Calif., in May 1949. For decades, the Overland was the flagship train on the original transcontinental route. David G. Edwards photo […]
Overland Limited
Zone & Region: California
Amtrak Superliner Cars
The recent shortage of Amtrak long-distance sleeper cars has hoisted the venerable, but rapidly aging, Superliner equipment into the spotlight again. You can read more about past and present Superliner woes in the article, “Superliner capacity not a new issue”, appearing in the July 2024 issue of Trains magazine. But first, catch a glimpse of […]
Union Pacific releases schedule for Big Boy ‘Westward Bound Tour’
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Union Pacific has released the schedule for Big Boy No. 4014’s “Westward Bound Tour” to Roseville, Calif., and back, which begins June 30, and concludes July 26, and will include one excursion — July 14 from Roseville to Sparks, Nev. The locomotive will be on display for two days in Roseville (July […]
Santa Barbara agency asks for agreement for launch of Metrolink service
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The board of directors of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments has directed its staff to prepare a formal agreement for commuter rail service between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, following a meeting of the organization on Wednesday, KEYT-TV reports. The proposal would add an early-morning Metrolink trip for commuters […]
Efforts advance to extend Metrolink service into Santa Barbara County
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Efforts to extend Metrolink commuter rail service into Santa Barbara County are gaining ground, the online news site Noozhawk reports. A committee of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments is set to discuss a one-year pilot program to extend service from Ventura County to Santa Barbara and Goleta, Calif., today […]
LA airport people mover gets another $200 million in funding
LOS ANGELES — The board overseeing Los Angeles International Airport has approved an additional $200 million in funding for the airport people mover under construction, addressing disputes with the builder that have slowed the project. The news site LAist reports the money approved by the board of airport commissioners pushes the overall budget for the […]
Sand takes increasing role to protect rail line in San Clemente, Calif.
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Use of some 500,000 cubic yards of sand as a buffer has been added to the Orange County Transportation Authority’s plans to protect the Surf Line through San Clemente, the Orange County Register reports. The route used by Metrolink commuter trains, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliners, and BNSF freight traffic has been plagued […]
Siemens to build high speed trainsets for Brightline West
LAS VEGAS — Siemens Mobility has been selected as the “preferred bidder” to build the initial trainsets for the Brightline West high speed rail project, Brightline announced today (Wednesday, May 1). Siemens will build 10 “American Pioneer 220” trainsets and receive a 30-year contract for maintenance at a facility in Sloan, Nev., under the agreement. […]
55 injured in collision of LA Metro light rail train, USC bus
LOS ANGELES — At least 55 people were injured when an LA Metro light rail train and a University of Southern California shuttle bus collided today (Tuesday, April 30) outside Exposition Park near the USC campus, the Los Angeles Times reports. L.A. City firefighters received a report of the accident at a grade crossing at […]
Motorcar rides on California’s historic Placerville Branch
If history had played out differently, our motorcar ride this summer day in the wooded foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada would instead take place aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr, instead of on Fairmont “track speeders.” The track would belong to Union Pacific, not a joint-powers authority. It’d be home to stack trains and AC engines. That’s […]
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner along the California Coast
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Join Trains.com staffers Kent Johnson and Ben Lake, for a narrated ride aboard Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner! From Downtown San Diego (SAN) to Burbank-Downtown Station (BBK), you’ll follow Ben on his early morning roll-out in Unreserved Coach Class. And then, tag along with Kent as he continues from the L.A. metro area, amidst […]
Citing safety issue, Metrolink temporarily ends carriage of surfboards
LOS ANGELES — In a truly California announcement, LA-area commuter rail operator Metrolink says it is removing nets designed to carry surfboards from its railcars. The agency says that a recent inspection determined that the placement of those nets would make it difficult to access emergency exit windows. “As a result, we are removing the […]
