The Surf Line - America's Rail Success Story!

The Surf Line has provided transportation between two of southern California's preeminent metropolises, Los Angeles and San Diego since 1888. Although not as legendary as the rest of the Santa Fe Railway's transcontinental network, the life that has been led by this pike is becoming the envy of the rest of the country.
Special thanks to Mike Armstrong for the modern day live action footage of this route! Subscribe to his channel ‪@CoasterFan2105‬ for more great train videos!
To continue to see updates, photos, and new videos from High Iron, including San Juan Branch Line, follow us at these links:
Patreon: / highironvideos
Facebook: / highironvideos

[@CoasterFan2105]

Awesome stuff, Brian! A very nice summary of the passenger train history on the Surf Line! Glad I was able to help!

[@Mnrr6131]

Oh hello

[@Feliex430]

Hi CoasterFan2105

[@evanstraintubeyt6950]

Hello

[@reginaldfoster3242]

@Gold Gamer b uuuuyyytttr you I have a

[@jose.sanz.5569]

Did you upload toy trains galore yet??

[@w.cooksy421]

Having taken this service a lot, I never knew the Surfliner, excuse me, the Surf Line, was so widely used and its demand came anywhere near the Northeast Corridor. Great job putting this video together. :)

[@ChrisJones-gx7fc]

Yeah! This is my hometown railroad! I've ridden the Surfliner many times to San Diego and LA. The Surf Line, being the 2nd busiest passenger corridor in the country, should be the next state route to receive electrification. Caltrain is currently working to electrify their tracks from San Jose to San Francisco for their trains and future California high speed rail. Being that HSR is set to also share tracks between Burbank and Anaheim via LA, it seems to make a lot of sense to continue electrification past Anaheim to San Diego for not just local trains but also to provide a temporary route for CAHSR trains to directly serve San Diego until their Phase 2 line via the Inland Empire is opened. Metrolink has at least one point in the past explored electrification of their most heavily used lines (called Electrolink), including the Surf Line as far south as Laguna Niguel which is just north of San Juan Capistrano. Even as it currently stands the Surf Line should be faster than driving even during non-rush hour times, but a train ride from SD to LA can take three hours whereas driving can be done in under two. The biggest issue with track improvements is the erosion in Del Mar where the ocean is slowly eating away at the cliffs the tracks sit on. Whether the cliffs can be shored up or a reroute under Del Mar is required remains to be seen. Miramar Hill between Del Mar and San Diego, a bottleneck for the Surf Line, has also been explored for a reroute that'll eliminate the slow, curving line for a tunnel that'll straighten it for faster service. The Surf Line continues to have enormous potential as a higher-speed rail corridor so long as progress to that point continues.

[@TohaBgood2]

Yeah, that's about 100% correct, as usual!

[@anteeklund4159]

The future of rail travel in California is looking bright!

[@sd70aceproductions7]

I heard that the USA is planning to get the trains to scrap so not that good but if they cancel it it will be good future

[@sd70aceproductions7]

Oh wait that was back in the mid 60's or early 70's

[@MarioYoshi4723]

Meanwhile the Cali HSR is just... kinda flickering.

[@zyancuerdo1615]

@marioyoshi4723 ill admit with how well supplied passenger trains are judging from the info on this video i don't know if hsr high speed rail that necessary especially given how cali as a whole ain't exactly long migth become a trump airline issue but who knows i guess it migth work

[@thestarlightalchemist7333]

That last scene tho *CoasterFan2105 Intensifies*

[@CoasterScouts]

I used Metrolink during my 2019 trip around California’s Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm. It’s nice to know how that venture started and how it has become the transportation method that it is.

[@Buynot]

I've spent my whole life living near this route. My grandparents have a fantastic ovehead view of the line from their back yard and I love watching trains from there when I visit them. I've always been wanting to learn more about San Diego's rail history. Fantastic video! Don't know if you take suggestions, but I'd love to see a video like this on the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad.

[@evanstraintubeyt6950]

Yesss the sd&ae needs a video soooo bad

[@whitemaniagaming6942]

Nah, I know we refer to the Impossible Railroad as the SD&A, Spreckels's company, not Southern Pacific's SD&AE

[@rypatmackrock]

@@whitemaniagaming6942 even if the southern pacific owned the SD&AE as a subsidiary before selling it to San Diego MTS? After reading news, looking into history, and being a fan of the route after living in San Diego for a few years, (especially visiting the Balboa Park and Campo museums), I think there is potential for binational passenger and Intermodel traffic if the route could be renovated; in addition to ending the drug war to weaken the cartels. Separate yet poignantly related history.

[@jamesparson]

Just yesterday, I got stuck at a grade cross in Tijuana. They train was moving at about 10MPH. The Mexican portion has had a difficult time.

[@whitemaniagaming6942]

@@rypatmackrock Yea I just dont care too much for SP's treatment of the line starting after Harrimans death. They could have easily put money into the line to upgrade the tracks and surrounding areas to increase the reliability of the railroad but they obvioualy did not. I live in the area and have quite the fascination with the history and such so I am always up for talking about it

[@lucasvalencia626]

Thanks for making this, never realized I grew up on the second busiest corridor in the nation!

[@mikestudioz3390]

Santa Fe’s Surf Line: *Surfin’ USA ALL THE WAY!*

[@mikestudioz3390]

Gold Gamer EXACTLY

[@jacobmoss6830]

It’s nice to see a busy rail line in US, for a change. It feel weird to talk about 70-90 trains a day as really busy. But then I live in the uk and we really cram the timetables full.

[@cadenthecadburyengine8198]

Amtrak should reboot the San Diegan

[@Kmaster2007]

Caden the Cadbury Engine ...the Pacific Surfliner from LA to SD runs San Deagen route sooooooooo

[@cadenthecadburyengine8198]

Kmaster2007 oh

[@evanstraintubeyt6950]

I’m pretty sure it is still alive

[@evanstraintubeyt6950]

And plus there is the surfliner and my personal favorite the coaster

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

@@cadenthecadburyengine8198 It's now the Surfliner, as it was rebranded because of the new Surfliners and extensions all the way to SLO

[@RailFoxMedia]

Great work as always Brian! 👍🏾

[@eriktrainzfan9429]

This video is just as great as your Burlington Northern video. Keep up the good work in these unfortunate times!

[@richardtibbitts3841]

I used to ride this route between San Diego and Fullerton, where I went to college, in the early seventies. I never got tired of the beachfront scenery. 😊

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Santa Fe And Amtrak My Favorite Railroads

[@jarrietfair6497]

I wish i could have ride the Santa fe back then before Amtrak services

[@TrainMaster04]

Very nice and informative video! Have you ever thought about making a video on successful failures? Such as the triplex, SF 2-10-10-2, or the Alco PA.

[@pulloutxnxprey]

You forgot the PRR T1, S1 and S2

[@HighIron]

Successful failures sounds like an oxy moron. 😶

[@TrainMaster04]

@@pulloutxnxprey I forgot about those! Sorry about that. Also, what about the Q1 and Q2? Those were some interesting beasts!

[@TrainMaster04]

@@HighIron Yes it does but fits for what happened. Just a thought.

[@drake_the_ohioan_j50]

@@pulloutxnxprey damn I was dumb

[@kazanu23]

As always spot on you guys. The info was superb and the message about how efficient things on the Surfline are now (and elsewhere) was great.

[@jackjules7552]

I might add, that as early as the mid 1950's there were seven San Diegan's in each direction. In addition there was a Del Mar Express on race track day. In the 1950's there was included in the seven round trips one non stop San Diegan between LA and San Diego with a running time of 2 hours and 15 minutes. Even today there is no non-stop between LA and San Diego and the running time could not be beat even by today''s Amtrak. However by 1966, Santa Fe had gradually reduced the frequency to three round trip San Diegan's which remained until 1971 with the Amtrak takeover further reducing the frequency to two trains a day. The rest is pretty well documented by your video.

[@aphotographerfromcaliforni2661]

Great video! I've been visiting San Diego ever since I was born in 02, and the fact that so many great changes have been done to expand the rail travel between SD and LA means that the Surf Line won't see a depletion of rail traffic anytime soon. I'm glad I grew up seeing these trains race across SD County and even thru Orange County, and the history is a fine example of rail travel persevering over road and air travel trying to leave it in the dust.

[@Pensyfan19]

Very good content! This is a great example of covering a history of one of the most important regions in American railroading! Bravo 100 times over! Also, I noticed familiar footgae at 12:06. ;)

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

Too bad the pronunciation is horrible

[@migjing23OCMCHS]

Tha I you for explaining the wonderful history of my local rail line. I had no idea it was that busy compared to America

[@NickOzorak]

Nice overview of the history of the Surf Line, and great work incorporating train simulator footage. I also appreciate that it's clear you used others' film with permission.

[@jhoshuathomas6899]

I have a video ideas: The legacy of the European Orient Express. Railroads in New Mexico between Belen and Santa Fe. Railroads between Denver and Salt Lake City. Railroads in Chicago. Passenger and freight crossing into Canada. The rail route from New Orleans to Jacksonville, FL. Legacy of the American Orient Express. Wonderful history for the Surf Line, I want to ride on this route soon. This model and history could work between Fort Collins and Albuquerque north and south and Denver and Salt Lake City east and west.

[@NMW_Productions]

Amazing work!

[@christherailfan5851]

Santa Fe 3751 Productions not again

[@TweetsieRailroader]

Once again, another amazing video! I never knew the story of the "Surf Line", so it was cool to learn more about it!

[@jamesparson]

As someone who lives near the Surf Line, I get a kick out of this video.

[@Ethansdiecastracing12]

Nice video Brian!!

[@ClearTrackSpeed]

California represent, thank you for sharing 🖤

[@canadianbacon2205]

Great vid as always!!

[@philipbeaudette3854]

Good job for making this video it's I'll sponsor you in every single video that you're make I won't forget about you ever again you're the best

[@jackboerner1901]

Great Documentary!

[@Bohica-tq3ps]

I'm glad you suggested I watch this video. Great footage and pictures, well put together. Really enjoyed the picture a 1:55, I'm assuming it was an advertising piece. Santa Fe All the Way.

[@AmtrakFlareon]

Ah those good days. Nice video! I also love your other creations!

[@pctshooter]

My dad and I would hang out at the Santa Fe Depot on the weekends. We were there so often they would let us ride with them when they turned the train at the Washington Street Wye. They let me blow the whistle when backing back into the station. Once, we got to ride in one of the Private observation cars as they set it out on the siding next to the depot. Back in those days, it was quite common to see older E-8s pulling the San Diegan. The SDP40-F became the usual power and during that time, they would come in with High-Level cars too. When they brought in the Amfleet cars, we thought they were Metroliners but they weren't. They just had a similar design for the body. The trucks were different as they had no frame on the outside. They looked like airplanes inside. I was no longer allowed to ride through the wye. It might have been due to the diaphragm design that didn't have the baby gate thing. My dad had a 1971 Plymouth Roadrunner and we would watch trains leave San Diego then, hop in the car and race to the Del Mar station. The engineers would laugh when they saw us waving at them because we waved at them when they left San Diego.

[@iJoshDG]

This was fantastic. Thank you! Subscribed :)

[@Mr.RailYard-LJLRailYard]

Really cool video thanks for sharing

[@clydefalken9413]

I love San Diego I have lived here my whole life, San Diego has a rich history with trains. There were trains everywhere up until the 70’s or 60’s and now we just have the trolley along with this.

[@PeterPeadar]

Really good vdieo! Well done!

[@naimaas]

Wow thanks for the vid of the Santa fe also I love the Santa fe-Keyaan

[@mr.oliver_11]

This is fantastic like usually great video

[@WashingtonDCAreaRailfan]

Wow@High Iron this was Great!. b

[@sd70aceproductions7]

Very descriptive and detailed video, so descriptive a non railfan could learn a lot from this video. Very interesting to learn about the history before I was born! Nice job! (I put the 950th like) also, have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

[@moartrainz4242]

More please 😌

[@jdc327]

Very well done, comprehensive and complete video!! #topnotch

[@dixieboy5689]

Excellent

[@CFloPhotography]

That last shot was super sick. See these rolling by everyday. Can't wait till the del mar fair station gets up and running

[@davidvanschaick5565]

Super, super Story

[@kdtrproductions4983]

Awesome vid

[@georgeecheveste6545]

The views of the ocean and beaches are spectacular. I wish you would have shown more. Especially if you had views from the inside looking out

[@btomimatsucunard]

Awesome video dude! The San Diegan is ne of my favorite routes based purely on its scenery and level of service! My only gripe is the service onboard, but its minor when compared to the overall train with its 13 daily trains between LA and San Diego

[@DynamicDurge]

Currently nerding out at finding out why the Surfliner ends at SB. Very cool seeing history around you still

[@trekkeruss]

I have only ridden on the Coaster, which is a great value from San Diego to Oceanside for a mere $6.50. I would only use the Surfliner if I needed to go further north, which I have not yet needed.

[@reelfishing8439]

I live in San Clemente and hearing all this is so crazy!

[@kaipu3197]

Great job dude I just subscribed

[@joshklein7842]

I've ridden the Surfliner, quite a beautiful ride. It's more expensive than Greyhound but worth every penny more.

[@vbanks1956]

thanks for this report i really hope one day someone will do a report like this on the north texas transportation issues and the texas central partners high speed rail

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Nice Video

[@OwenConcorde]

Good video! I think you forgot to mention the California High Speed Rail since that’s probably the future of passenger rail travel within California.

[@DynamicDurge]

Ahh the Surf Line. Subbed 🙋‍♂️

[@Tater1911]

I love the looks and aesthetics of both the Surfliner and Metrolink trains, however the absolute mishandling of switching rolling stock and ending up with frankenstein trains with a mix of the Hyundai toasters and the Bombardier Bi-Levels irks me to no end.

[@Handlesarestoopid]

The surfline is local to me and I've been a great fan of it for almost 10 yrs

[@844SteamFan]

Nice!

[@evanstraintubeyt6950]

The coaster is amazing

[@ceehazz]

I love the Transport Fever music

[@avshutsach]

Fun fact: Santa Fe 347C was at times operated by the father of camous radio host "Shotgun Tom" Kelly

[@__hjg__2123]

Love my Surfliner....... not exactly quick (even vs traffic on the 405), but still a great view....

[@nicoletorcolini5316]

Other places need lines like this.

[@SFKelvin]

California is so beautiful.

[@evanstraintubeyt6950]

As a person who lives in San Diego I get to say everything train related in San Diego is amazing like the coaster surfliner San Diegan they are the best in west

[@Jaidyn228]

The last scene was nostalgia biting me

[@844SteamFan]

This video inspires me to make a scene of the Surf Line in Trainz. (Not exact being on mobile.)

[@wisconsinrailfanner8963]

Imagine disliking such a great video... to whoever disliked this vid already

[@thomaskasel1635]

Coaster fan??????!!!!!!! Wow high. Iron ur lucky

[@rodrigorosatoalves]

Great video! P.S.: aren’t trolleys buses fed by overhead cables?

[@joeythecat7482]

I see you used the G-Trax lightweight coaches from Railworks America

[@theisononthecake63]

I think march 27th is a day everyone needs to pay attention to because alot of things in history happened on that date

[@nelslyman8167]

Hey I’ve been on the metro link before!

[@nicopavvi8494]

Has ever been proposed an electrification of the line?

[@Megachaingun]

Not in their plans yet, but they probably should/will do since both California HSR will be using some of its track and Metrolink wants to electrify. hsr.ca.gov/high_speed_rail/project_sections/los_angeles_anaheim.aspx urbanize.city/la/post/metrolink-plans-increased-service-and-partial-electrification

[@trainknut]

Imagine a world where Santa Fe held out on passenger service just a few more years, like Rio Grande, and actually saw the success that came to the line just a few years later.

[@timgriffin441]

I would like to see the Northbound line for TS2020 to San Luis Obispo.

[@Hawkdk39]

2105 I am a big fan

[@WET_203]

wow THATS COOL

[@MatNichols-iz9dy]

Fun fact, in the PDX (portland or.'s airport), you WILL get weird looks if you buy a ticket to Seattle. Legit, they'll be like, why don't you take the train!?

[@matthewgraham6980]

One can only hope that the conditions of the 21st century will see a renaissance in passenger rail travel.

[@theblocksmith645]

I only wish they kept the f units and its paint scheme

[@erict5234]

Great video, i love SD and the surf line! However, i disagree on some of the information you provided... there are 2 rail lines in the Chicago area that run more trains (busier) than the surf line... Bnsf Chicago-Aurora line and UP's geneva sub between Chicago-Elburn Both host as many as 60+ metra trains daily, as well as 40+ freights on a slow day!

[@stevenbanaan]

A commuter railway without electrification seems beyond daft.

[@mariebcfhs9491]

an elegant form of transportation from a more civilized age

[@tobiasandersen7508]

gode video

[@bbaconb3]

Any plans to electrify the route like they're doing with Caltrain?

[@prairierailproductions6737]

Imagine if the Missouri River runner between KS and Saint Louis was like this.

[@maeganweathers5938]

what is the music in the background at the beginning?

[@CSX_Doolittle]

What was that music in th beginning

[@theorangeisspeaking6286]

what sim do you use

[@eliteproductions7636]

What game was this filmed in?

[@CSX_Doolittle]

Traniz sim 2020

[@rhbvkleef]

Anahiem at 1:17... hihi :D

[@andyjay729]

There's no plans to bypass the Miramar Curve (or whatever it's called) with a tunnel? That way, trains could be able to go at full speed most of the way between Sorrento Valley and Old Town.

[@ChrisJones-gx7fc]

www.keepsandiegomoving.com/Documents/I5-Corridor/I-5.LOSSAN_Factsheet.pdf

[@sonic23233]

Are there any chiefs in museums?

[@lukethegeneralelectrice60p80]

Santa Fe - 1936 Southern Pacific - 1940s Amtrak - 1979 Pacific Surfliner - 2000s Pacific Surfline history