Surfliner Cab Cars

Cab control cars are a critical part of commuter and intercity passenger rail operations. They allow trains to quickly change directions following the train’s arrival into a terminal. Basically, these are standard passenger cars that have an operating cab at one end. In Southern California, the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner uses 11 of these cab cars for service in between San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Luis Obispo. In this video, we will take a look at the cab cars on the head end of the train. We will see scenes of northbound trains out of San Diego as well as some southbounds out of San Luis Obispo.
CoasterFan2105 is the home of all sorts of train and railroad related video content. Stop by every Friday at 9 AM Pacific time for an all new railroading adventure and be sure to check out all of my social media pages @coasterfan2105 for even more great railroad content. Thanks, and I'll see you down the line!

[@CrazyDash9]

I love the cab cars on the Surfliner. They got amazing K5LA’s and they look very nice. Definitely my favorite cab car besides the bi-level cab cars.

[@The747Isnotdead]

Mine too boi!

[@deniseahern8981]

Same

[@AdaCountyRailfan]

8:19 that is so funny lol

[@foxtrot7747]

I'm not sure what it is about the horns on the Cab Cars, but they're so crisp sounding! Great video as always!

[@kiarasolorzano5321]

En el to of lo fr lol lol Pc

[@matthewadrianstamaria7966]

The cab car horns sound better than the locomotives

[@mxderate]

better than the Amtrak California ones

[@matthewadrianstamaria7966]

I like how the trains in America have cab cars in each end so that it connects to the locomotive, and the locomotives don't have to move to other and nor switch sides. I wish in all trains in the states have like these even in the sleeper trains. It just acts like a diesel multiple unit.

[@C.Q_Wilkenson]

Definitely something to do with the placement of the horns. The k5la horns on the f59phi (now used for metra in Chicago) had a distinct muffled sound (like a mute in a trombone) as their horns were placed in a particular manner on the roofs.

[@Jinnoth]

6:09 sounds like the coastal cities couldn't get enough of 3751.

[@MiddleboroLakevilleRailfan]

I love the K5LA’s on these things! I especially love the quilling that the engineers use sometimes!

[@ChrisTrinhnumber1]

I love the Amtrak California Pacific Surfliner cab cars. 🌊 🚂 🏄 🏄‍♀️ 🏝 🌴

[@MercOne]

This explains all the Chicago Metra trains I grew up riding and being around. Great info!!

[@felixthetrainfan4819]

I really like the Cab cars and I've seen them everytime!!

[@freight.train.Railfanner]

This is some great content, And its Sad that the P42DCs Won't Ever Lead the Amtrak Pacific surfliner Anymore

[@valeriebassett3107]

I really appreciate you explaining what the video is going to show. I can watch the video and not miss anything, as I would if I read the information to my husband. Thank you so much. You do a fantastic job!!!

[@RXMattCARailfan]

I love all of their horns! seen them since I was little!

[@monicakurysz1649]

I love the horn in the backround 0:00

[@citxsd70m-2]

5:55 shave and a haircut!

[@kennybussell7346]

I LOVE the horns on the Surfliner cab cars! Nice vid, as always.

[@MFPTransitVideos]

Nice video! I’ve seen Surfliner trains operate with the Cab Car leading.

[@GR10Productions]

Awesome to see a video dedicated to one of my favorite passenger train equipment

[@Devastator-by7tm]

being in Cali, I see these all the time. Beauties. I was in Carpentaria and was unlucky as I was not able to see any surfliners. might be good place for trainspotting one day though if you stay for a little while. Love your videos! (btw Carpentaria is very close to Santa Barbra so that's to good places to see trains

[@MrNJT]

I really need to make it out to the Surfline someday. These seem pretty epic!

[@weezerorcheezer]

I sure do love surfliner cab cars!

[@dominicc1981]

The cab cars to me actually looked weird to me as like a 7 year old now they look better

[@amtrakboy4155]

I remember going southbound to Ventura, it was really fun seeing a cab car for the first time when riding on it

[@NotJeremy_]

I like their horns!

[@PrincessAmtrakMinamoto]

Great shot and videos. I know Surfliners cabcars are best forever. (:

[@patrickcarrillo714]

It's interesting to see the occasional different cars. From my experience growing up with the Pacific surfliner it's usually normal Pacific surfliner cars and 1 superliner per train. But looking at this video you sometimes see that there's a dining car Sometimes there's a viewing car I wonder what the thought processes is behind the folks that make the decision to put different types of cars on the Pacific surfliner sometimes.

[@halo-sd5qe]

6:14 anyone else hear the whistle of a steamer in the distance?

[@CPLWTrainz]

ATSF 3751?

[@alcopower5710]

This is something that a midwesterner like me has never seen. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@gavingayle1945]

Im late but metra trains in chicago also have cabcars, although I think the surfliner cabcars are harder to beat horn wise, i cant get enough of the surfliner horns.

[@diddyxm54]

When you put it on 2x speed it makes it so fun to watch:)

[@stevengonzalez4721]

Cool video Mike 📹 😎 id love the k5la horns top video keep me posted Mike every Friday morning 9am . Your the man and awesome

[@vpisarski]

I do love me so good Surfliner action. You do such a nice job with these videos and the tone of your voice is perfect for narration. Reminds me of the old Pentrax videos I watched as a kid. 10 stars!

[@rxttwxler]

I love *the horns, so intense*

[@ROTE]

Great video! These cab cars are the best!

[@superbaddy4]

Despite me having no affiliation with Southern California (only having been there once, which was way back in 2007), I know this entire fleet perfectly. Just by the sound of its horn, I can instantly tell which unit it is without having to read the number. I also perfectly know all their Name Crestings. My Favorite Surfliner Cab is most definitely 6905. Who thought a Raised Letter K5LA could ever sound so great? I noticed every Surfliner Cab appears in this video except for 6953, which is my Least Favorite Cab. It sounds awful. And of course, the ill-fated 6902 is nowhere to be seen.

[@oscarzazueta9617]

I love the Horn,Great Video!

[@jeremyoneill5883]

I grew up taking the Capital Corridor from Oakland to Sacramento, and I always remember when I was a child I thought the trains looks funny going north! Great video.

[@NotJeremy_]

Do a cab car video where all cab cars you see are in the video.

[@kevp9601]

Happy Friday, Mike Armstrong!

[@ethanmitchell6687]

I love the surf liner cab cars because they have such beautiful K5LA horns

[@svtrains4773]

Great shot! The video turned out great!

[@basictransportenthusiast4386]

Ok the recording of the steam whistle at 6:15 was quite funny

[@amtrak7422]

Spotted some F59Phi's in there lol

[@patrickcarrillo714]

I used to ride from San Juan to Santa Barbara as a kid with my parents and I remember seeing these things or just being confused My kid brain was like. How is this even possible

[@ZaneTheRailfan]

Love how the first shot is in Oceano Ca thats where i first lived

[@matthewadrianstamaria7966]

The cab car horns sound better and clearer than the locomotives

[@GoForLaunch13]

I absolutely love the bell

[@jcrailfan9251]

Nice shot, love the spot

[@coolleo149]

The only Amtrak Pacific Surfliner cab car that was missing, is 6902, which is no longer available for this year :(

[@superbaddy4]

6953 didn't appear in this video at all, either.

[@coolleo149]

@@natesmainlinevids ikr? I mean the wheels will sound different from 2011

[@northernvirginianrailfan2116]

This video makes me want to travel to see these great trains!

[@average_joe8905]

Great video Mike! CDTX 6951 is easily my favorite, it's K5LA is so good.

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

Yep. By far the best of the CDTX Surfliner fleet, and my close favorite of the whole fleet.

[@ca_railphotography2019]

Best Cab Car in my opinion

[@J-rock-moto8230]

Nice video coasterfan2105 👍. I’ve never seen those before. I’ll might be able to get to see them soon.

[@graysonma1143]

Love how the first clip had the f59phi

[@thealmightydoge5653]

Well done, mike! As always, your videos are always amazing! Cant wait to do cross country railfanning! I'll see you down the line! Have a great Thanksgiving! -TheAlmightyDoge YT

[@paulinataborga9430]

Excellent video mike 👌🏻

[@pengethebluearrow]

Oh yeah. Surfliner cabcars are the best. Thanks CoasterFan2105! Can you do Amtrak California cabcars in North California? 6961-6965 has surfliner cabcars as well.

[@superbaddy4]

They're actually planning to transfer those cars down to SoCal once the Ventures remove them from the San Joaquin service, while the 8300s stay up there to run the Capital Corridor.

[@RobloxgaminRoblox-lz5cm]

Got to love that k5la do

[@ricardobaltazar7248]

In 2024 there will be a high speed rail line from Las Vegas to Victorville possibly LA at speeds up to 200 mph.

[@scubajoe3321]

6:10 Anyone else hear a steam train in the background?

[@alexanderbanos8125]

Yes, those are automated train horns, a.k.a. "wayside horns". They're installed on railroad crossings, to restrict trains from blowing their horns at a railroad crossing located within a quiet zone. The wayside horn consist of a speaker playing the train horn sound and a flashing red "X" light to restrict trains from blowing their horns. Typically, the recording of a Leslie S3L horn is used for the wayside horn speakers. In San Clemente CA, there are wayside horns installed at pedestrian railroad crossings playing the steam train whistle sound similar to ATSF steam locomotive 3751.

[@joshbrony2204]

I’ve never seen them before, but I want to. Love the video BTW. Keep it up!

[@alexanderbanos8125]

Nowhere in this video shows an Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train led by cab car 6953 (Point Conception), sounding it's unique K5LA horn (#4 bell in place of #4A bell). Also, not only does Amtrak Pacific Surfliner use these type of cab cars on its fleet. Amtrak California trains up north (serving San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor trains) also contain five "Surfliner" cab cars on its fleet, also in the 6900 unit series, but in the 6X6X unit range.

[@TJSTrains]

You should rail fan on the Long Island railroad agin they also have C3 cab cars

[@manueldeltoro8398]

I’ve seen one and look in one and it’s nice

[@TripleMofficial15]

great vid mike!

[@nolantherailfan5048]

The surfliner cars built by alstom are my favorite trains on the Pacific surfliner railway

[@californiaporg]

Hi mike I just had a great flight to Sacramento

[@dorit1339]

Can you make a Train Talk episode of the EMD SD70 Series? These are having my interest since months

[@thedaily7473]

What App Do You Use For Editing?

[@amtrakfan4265]

at 5:50 that is the best Amtrak horn I have ever heard

[@luisthevyonderthomasandfri4547]

Nice👍

[@Izaiah_wizz]

Cab cars are cool I love them. I l0VE 6905 the best

[@SpotterCrazyperson]

Great trains!!

[@teddyguerrero1235]

Nice video!

[@mariamurphy-fontes80]

good video liked the horns.

[@OrangeCountyRails]

Wow those cab cars sound so old yet they are so new and very fast

[@OrangeCountyRails]

And the P42DCs are so old. They release so much gas into the air

[@kevp9601]

Awesome

[@yourlocalskoda4860]

0:53 new metrolink spotted edit: 2:33 that is a CLAGGY P42

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

F125s aren't new. They were mostly delivered year's ago.

[@yourlocalskoda4860]

oh really? are they in service now?

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

@@yourlocalskoda4860 Since 2017. They comprise almost all of Metrolink's fleet.

[@CN_Planefanner]

Mans just turned a GE into an Alco

[@ROTE]

@@yourlocalskoda4860 they have been in service for years now. So long that they already replaced the F59s

[@trainkid2007]

Hello CoasterFan2105 I am one of your subscribers

[@TranscontinentalRailfan]

Great video, Mike! Will there be a video of Northern Pacific steam locomotive #924 soon?

[@thetrainsport]

Nice!

[@alexanderbanos8125]

0:50 Amtrak Pacific Surfliner would have had 12 cab cars total on its railcar fleet, if it wasn't for the ill-fated and short lived cab car 6902 crashing with a tractor back in 2001.

[@YukariAkiyama]

OHH YEEAAHHHH

[@AlinSascaTrainspotter]

Very nice video! All best from Romania! ALIN

[@ca_railphotography2019]

My favorites are 6951, 6906, 6908, and 6900

[@thomslimited]

1:21 Smooth

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Very Nice!

[@axinarmy4868]

How I look at cab cars is they look like giant subway trains No joke I'm serious

[@TrainTrackTrav]

Another great bit of footage, Mike. The Surfliner cabbies have the best K5LAs in SoCal, possibly the whole nation. That's a lot coming from me seeing as how I am not really impressed by K5LAs at all.

[@rodrigocontreras9032]

good video bro, with amtrak's locomotives

[@jessecruzu]

Some of them sounds they have flat spots

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

Hi

[@ROTE]

Hi

[@derrickwong5337]

Very nice 👍!!!

[@QuartiyoPasdevHerjiKreuz]

Can you please do train talk about the gg1

[@rickseverson1060]

Cab cars are good for trains because more can be running at the same time

[@thomaskasel1635]

Sup coaster fan i watched ur train talk

[@NotGavin]

Hey Mike, you should visit the NEC Again, You haven't railfanned the NEC In a While. Plus if you went there you would be able to get some shots of the new avelia liberty testing

[@petermiller9712]

we have nothing like these trains in Australia I have always been intreagued how these trains operate do you have any footage of the driver cab area on the passenger cars? all your videos are well put together thanks

[@JointedRail2024]

ALL TRAIN TIME STAMPS AND SPEED ESTIMATES (lower speeds are more difficult to pinpoint so bare with me) ENJOY!!! 0:13 >>> 85 - 90mph 0:25 >>> 20 - 40mph 0:40 >>> 85 - 90mph 0:51 >>> 45 - 55mph 1:05 >>> 90MPH 1:20 >>> 70 - 75mph 1:35 >>> 30 - 45mph 1:51 >>> 79 - 85mph 2:02 >>> 90MPH 2:20 >>> 25 - 35mph?? 2:40 >>> 79MPH 2:53 >>> 90MPH (Sounds like Andross51 In the background) 3:08 >>> 79MPH 3:20 >>> 50 - 60mph 3:41 >>> 50 - 60mph?? 3:50 >>> 90MPH 4:04 >>> 90 - 92MPH 4:22 >>> 30 - 40mph 4:35 >>> 79 - 85mph 4:49 >>> 55 - 60mph 5:04 >>> 45 - 55mph 5:20 >>> 20 - 30mph 5:37 >>> 75 - 79mph 5:52 >>> 30 - 40mph (Amazing Horn Show) 6:09 >>> 30 - 40mph (3751 in the background??) 6:45 >>> slow.. probably like 20mph 7:03 >>> 79MPH 7:22 >>> 30 - 45mph 7:39 >>> 25 - 35mph (AMAZING SHOT) 7:56 >>> 79 - 85mph 8:10 >>> 45 - 55mph (Andross51 in the background) >> 10 - 20mph (Was kinda sad how slow this one was going, esspecially in a 90mph zone and @ Cannon Rd.) 9:16 >>> 15 - 25mph (Another Beautiful Shot) 9:40 >>> 65 - 75mph 10:05 >>> 5 - 10mph Amazing Video Mike, keep it up, your video's are on another level of quality.

[@deDiciembredeGonzalez]

Hi Mike, will you discuss about why TriRail does not have full 6* cars?

[@NotJeremy_]

Hey mike! Do you like these surfliner cab cars or the Northern California cab cars? I like the Amtrak California ones because some have different horns! You should check jack london square sometime.

[@Creativestugboi4208]

This looks like a very good video

[@thomasmatteson9284]

Love your videos of the Surfliner. I thought I saw one lately that told what the location was of each of the shots. You were filming the new SC-44 locomotives. Could you please tell me which video that was?

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks! It was probably the Coaster Charger video from February.

[@ROTE]

Question: Do you wave at the train engineers? I do!