Pacific Coast Railway Field Trip, May 4, 2013
The oil pipeline markers (yellow in this photo) became a staple on this trip as the pipeline and the PCRy right-of-way follow each other for much of the railroad. Here the markers go across the Santa Maria River just west of the current 101 bridge. Note the standard gauge rails still in the pavement. This track lines up perfectly with the SMVRR's North Santa Maria leg running due north from the mid-town diamond. More pipeline markers. And just on the other side of the fence (at Depot Square still) is a no-man's land where the PCRy ran. Note the two lines of weeds spaced three feet apart (PCRy's gauge). The SMVRR's current mid-town diamond. The track pictured horizontally is along old PCRy right-of-way. Pipeline marker, again. This plaque is in Orcutt just off Clark Avenue along the west side of town. The view is to the north and straight down the old right-of-way. Pipeline marker, again. What, more pipeline markers?! The PCRy right-of-way is the "ditch". Just west of Los Alamos is the location of the infamous 1938 collision of PCRy's Engine No. 106 with a gasoline truck whose brakes had failed. Lunch in the Saloon at the 1880 Union Hotel in Los Alamos. The hotel was getting ready for a wedding. This house is just outside the camera's view in many old photos of the Los Alamos Depot. This picture of the Los Alamos Depot was in the very same depot which is today an antique mall. |
Follow the pipeline markers. Follow the high-power lines all the way through Santa Maria to follow the PCRy right-of-way. At Depot Square. How can you tell that's a PCRy tie for a fence post? And note one of our friends, the pipeline markers, in this case blue. This culvert runs under the PCRy grade just north of Orcutt. Note the rail atop the culvert box. The "gulley" is PCRy right-of-way in Orcutt alongside the new center with a Library extension. Buried PCRy track is reflecting up from beneath the road on the way to Los Alamos. The two "cracks" just happen to be three feet apart. Follow the power poles... The Saloon's ceiling was covered with notes written on dollar bills and tacked to the ceiling. Note the asphalt chunks with tie-sized spacing! |