Southern Pacific Cab Ride on the Coastline!

Look for this DVD on our website for the entire production topics www.cspmovies.com
To quote Railfan & Railroad magazine, “This video includes some really cool SDP45 pace shots, cab ride footage, a lot of interesting camera angles and neat graphics….. all done in a fast pace editing style… This is a darn good video’.
The material was shot by Gino Pagliaro (video), Jim Escalante (film) and Charles Smiley (video).
The DVD description...
Pre-merger SP in Arizona and California. Main and branchline action with grades, helpers, manifest, oilcan, beet, “boxcar” and stack trains.
See Gila and Lordsburg districts from the 80s and 90s with cabooses, lower quadrant semaphores and on-train footage.
See Donner Pass, Cuesta and the Coastline, Beaumont Hill, Tehachapi, Stockton, Elvas Junction, Tucson, Santa Cruz branch, Ione branch, Lompoc (Whitehills) branch, and much more.
Don’t miss Stockton Junction with SP, Santa Fe and UP trains pounding all the crossing diamonds with in the days when it featured three railroads and an interlocking tower as well.
This video has a parade of power. Grades, helpers, manifest freights, locals and much more. Remember the real Southern Pacific in this railfan’s favorite SP video!
To quote Railfan & Railroad magazine, “This video includes some really cool SDP45 pace shots, cab ride footage, a lot of interesting camera angles and neat graphics….. all done in a fast pace editing style… This is a darn good video’.
To quote a review in Model Railroad News, “Charles Smiley does his magic, rescuing rare footage from obscurity, cleaning, sharpening, and editing it until the final product just sparkles. His story seems to flow right on through and the narration gives watchers the answers to the questions which naturally occur to them."

[@anthonygermano9363]

Man O Man, The Good Out Days. Espee was still with us and No God Damn Graffiti!!!!!

[@marvwatkins7029]

Actually, if you look closely, several cars do have graffiti.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Those were the days when the Espee was still with us we agree!

[@J3scribe]

That's quite a stretch of railroad over the Santa Lucia Range on Cuesta grade. I rode the Starlight northbound over it, the view is stunningly beautiful.

[@zsoren42]

So if they shoved out of the siding so the Conductor didn't have to walk, whos protecting it? Or does the dispatcher give permission for a back up move one train length

[@barbarakilpatrick3859]

Charles is macys hillsdale san mateo ca 94403 smiley is hatred by willy torres safeway 2004…😷👽

[@satchuck]

Chorro is very timely for today's weather!

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Agreed, what a Winter we have been having! Looks like more rain on the way tomorrow April 13th!

[@dafrog55]

How many freight trains a day used this line in 1995/6? Also any idea what symbols they were?

[@O-PAC]

28:06 the gyralight is moving but the light isn’t working. Never seen that before. Also glad to see those 38s still had their L windows

[@ethanjackson8894]

That is the conductor... not a second engineer 😂

[@gmck91204]

Nice video Charles, per usual. The Cuesta Grade is always one my favorite scenic areas whenever I ride the Coast “Starlight” (shouldn’t it actually be called the “Coast Daylight”, since all of its coastal exposure occurs during the daytime?).

[@gmck91204]

(Like it was pre-Amtrak)

[@mikehawk2003]

Amtrak ran a daytime Coast Daylight until 1972. Its referred to as the Coast Starlight as the current train is the sleeper version that runs through most of the Cascades in darkness.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Great old vid but some place name mispronounciations.

[@bigd510]

On the passing siding at Surf the north end has a spring switch similar to the one at 22:13 , just before going over the Santa Ynez river bridge. I did just what you said and stayed in Lompoc over night and photographed a lot around Surf, catching an Amtrak meet at Surf. I wasn't there on the right day to catch them street running. I think they now do it once a week on Thursdays. Thanks for the great videos.

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Thanks bigd510 sounds like you had a great trip to Surf! Yeah the local runs usually on Thursdays around 9-11 at the junction and street running as well. If you get a chance again it is worth the trip.

[@dinopulizzi8481]

I Like !

[@TigerDominic-uh1dv]

Great Video 😊

[@charlessmileyvideos]

Thanks for supporting our channel Tiger we appreciate it!