Railfanning Pomona - Downtown - 1/9/19

Finally, after an overly longed anticipation, I was fortunately finally able to head over and railfan at the Pomona Amtrak Station (or Pomona - Downtown Metrolink Station). This station has eluded me for quite some time, amazingly for three years ever since I began railfanning Metrolink’s San Bernardino Line in 2015. Due in part to this station also receiving Amtrak service, I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to be able to catch the daily Amtrak Sunset Limited #1 running behind schedule during daylight (it is usually due into Pomona at 4:04am), although those chances have been delayed due to other railfanning trips, timing, and other priorities until now. The Pomona Station serves as a multimodal transit center, where it receives both Amtrak and Metrolink (Riverside Line) rail service, in addition to multiple bus connections and transfers for travel throughout the local region. Specifically, all scheduled Amtrak trains board from the northern platform whereas all scheduled Metrolink trains from the southern platform. The station actually still retains the original Southern Pacific Depot built back in 1940, with the waiting room still functioning and offices for security and transit services occupied within the depot. This station in particular sees a lot of rail traffic due to its location situated at the convergence and/or necking of Union Pacific’s Alhambra and Los Angeles Subdivisions; of which both see a significant amount of container and general freight traffic, although this area has long since become a quiet zone due to the amount of rail activity. To my surprise, although the freight traffic was initially slow, the amount of UP trains picked up greatly after the Amtrak Sunset Limited #1 departed, with literally nonstop freight action, continuing long after I finished railfanning. All in all, whether it is the multitude of freight and passenger trains, good vantage points, or just the station's comfortable setting, Pomona is definitely a hot spot for train activity !
Train 1 : Union Pacific ZLAMN-09 with C45ACCTE #7447, SD70ACe #8418, C45ACCTE #5440, SD70AH #8828, & C45ACCTE #7786. Not long after arriving, this eastbound intermodal appears and heads through Pomona.
Train 2 : Metrolink #405 with CabCar #641 & MP36PH-3C #890. While the ZLAMN-09 is passing through, Metrolink #405 appears, making a station stop across the tracks.
Train 3 : Metrolink #407 with CabCar #667 & F59PH #860. Nice to hear some complementary horn action from the engineer as he departs !
Train 4 : Union Pacific ZLACS-09 with SD70ACe #8370, C45ACCTE #7833, SD70M #4835, & SD70ACe #8558. A prime example of why horns are still necessary in a quiet zone !
Train 5 : Union Pacific CWELB-08 with C44AC #7263, C45ACCTE #8036, C44AC #6588, C45ACCTE #5453(DPU), & C45AH #8224(DPU).
Train 6 : Metrolink #409 with CabCar #649 & F59PHI #887.
Train 7 : Amtrak 1 (Sunset Limited) with P42DC #140 & #133. Running five and a half hours behind schedule, the daily Amtrak Sunset Limited arrives into Pomona with some good morning light shining on it as it proceeds to its final destination of Los Angeles Union Station.
Train 8 : Union Pacific ZLCAI-09 with C45ACCTE #8048, SD70ACe #8369, C45ACCTE #8074, & SD70M #4813. Nice engineer on #8048.
Train 9 : Union Pacific ILBG2-09 with C45ACCTE #7816, SD70M #4326, C45AH #8066, SD70ACe #8589, & SD70M #4307. Talk about a massive train ! This train initially held out until ZLCAI-09 passed before proceeding onwards onto the UP Los Angeles Sub.
Train 10 : Union Pacific KG3LB-07 with C45AH #2569, SD70M #5050, & C44AC #6716(DPU). Tried a different vantage point from overhead. The pedestrian bridge literally has tiny metal meshes protecting the entire walkway with a minimal ability to film through it, but nonetheless still an interesting vantage point.
Train 11 : Union Pacific ILBDU-09 with C44ACCTE #5615, SD70M #4383, & C44ACCTE #5602.
Train 12 : Union Pacific IAVLB-07 with C44ACCTE #6648 & SD70MAC #3911(KCS). Although the train activity just kept coming and coming, I called it a great morning after this train and headed out.
Thanks for Watching !

[@F59PHItrainfreak]

January 9th is my birthday! Love that catch of 887 which is my second favorite f59phi on metrolink! She will be missed! And 860. I wish instead of running around in the train shack in Burbank, I railfanned instead in riverside! I’m going to go this week to see if I can catch 882 or 884.

[@FullertonRailproductionsTM]

Went there, loved it I'm gonna go visit there again soon.

[@NorCaliRailroading2023]

Hey I got a few questions brent, do u feel safe at the station? And how long did u stay at the station? (So I can see the amount of traffic)

[@BrentNguyen46]

The station is fairly okay, though I wouldn’t recommend being around in the evening and night times. The north side platforms don’t have any places to sit, and there might be transit security inside the station depot. The south platform has seats and more places to rest while railfanning. Traffic wise it might be a hit or miss with the freights. I visited when there was Metrolink and Amtrak scheduled just in case freight traffic was slow. When I was here, I stayed for around 5 hours or so.

[@jbrkartteam6295]

Awesome video Brent. Nice job on catching the sunset limited and seeing all the other trains. Love the vids. Keep up the good work dude!👍

[@BrentNguyen46]

JBRKartTeam Thanks man ! I really appreciate the kind comments, and will do !

[@DiamondMaster20]

Great views, Brent! We really enjoyed watching your catches at this great location. Thumbs up!

[@BrentNguyen46]

DiamondMaster2.0 Thank you very much ! Glad you enjoyed the video !

[@palyamharikrishna1231]

​@@BrentNguyen469😊

[@coppercruz3605]

Amazing Video:) I visited Pomona in Thanksgiving 2016, but you saw more action then the action I saw.

[@BrentNguyen46]

Copper Cruz Thanks ! Yeah man, I actually watched your video prior to my visit. It helped a lot with scoping out the station prior to me railfanning there. :)

[@coppercruz3605]

Wow!!! I can't believe that the station that I visited are helping you out:)

[@rhettrossalbert]

Great video!

[@BrentNguyen46]

Rhett Ross Albert Thanks !

[@oliverjonahfusco5140]

Is train 9 going to Jurupa valley?

[@oliverjonahfusco5140]

And train 11?

[@BrentNguyen46]

Oliver Jonah Fusco Yep. They are both diverting onto the UP Los Angeles Subdivision and will pass through Jurupa Valley.

[@caltrain920andelevators4]

Nice!!!

[@BrentNguyen46]

Caltrain 920 and Elevators Thanks !

[@ATSF5704]

18:44 what name is that Amtrak?

[@BrentNguyen46]

MetrolinkGuy887 That is the Amtrak Sunset Limited.

[@ATSF5704]

BrentNguyen46 oh yeah.