I will be hitting the (San Diego) system today and will report back! The Americans don't celebrate Easter so it looks like business as usual today and hopefully some of the older cars will be out tomorrow Monday.

And I have to go off topic for some diners, drive ins and dives. The men of the MMTB would not approve of dives, drive ins have come and gone but the diners are another story.

Paul in Melbourne in San Diego

--- InTramsDownUnder@..., "Tim" <mmmoop@...> wrote:
>

> Hi Paul, Hope you still have time to ride the expo or gold lines.

> I wonder if you got a pic of the Angels Flight funicular ?

>

> Hope you enjoy the San Diego LR. I'm still spewing that I didn't get the chance to ride them when I was there in 06.

>

> Regards,

>

> Tim, in Sydney.

>

>

>

> --- InTramsDownUnder@..., "Paul Nicholson" <pn1@> wrote:

> >

> > This morning I achieved a lifelong ambition to check out the historic Pacific Electric building in downtown Los Angeles. It was where the famous "big red cars" of the famous Pacific Electric arrived and departed.

> >

> > I stood outside on Main Street at the metal (brass) "danger" signs in the footpath: to warn pedestrians of the "big red cars" leaving the building..

> >

> > Not far away is the Subway Terminal Building of 1925 and close by is the Angels Flight (funicular) railway that was adjacent to my hotel (the Omni).

> >

> > Breakfast was taken at the Nickel Diner and s highly recommended. The area was once described as "skid row" and retains a down at heel element but the signs of gentrification and rejuvenation are very evident. The diner is considered one of LA's best eating establishments.

> >

> > Yesterday, after my delayed (three hours) flight from Australia, I took a ride on the Orange line from North Hollywood to Chatsworth. It is a Brisbane style busway along the right of way of a former Pacific Electric interurban alignment. The Chatsworth terminus is the old railway depot now served by Amtrak and Metrolink. The Orange Line is officially known as bus route 901 and is designed for conversion to light rail.

> >

> > The Red Line is used to get to North Hollywood. The speeds underground are amazing as there is considerable distance between some of the stations. The cars remind me of what Adelaide Red Hens might have been like if they were built as electric trains in the 1990s.

> >

> > My company was Australia's greatest transport historian and his security detachment. Because of his elite status in the transport community I was instructed not to disclose any details. It made be glad to realise I've always considered myself a ,an of simple tastes and pleasures.

> >

> > Time prevented me fom experiencing the Gold And Expo lines, new since my last visit in 2000.

> >

> > Right now I am in Metrolink 662 heading to Oceanside and connection for the Coaster to San Diego where I'll experience the light rail system, considered one of the world's best!

> >

> > My ticket was just inspected by an armed sheriff! It had earlier been inspected by the Metrolink conductor.

> >

> > I am being pulled by loco 856 and in car 283. On the return trip, the train will be pushed.

> >

> > I trust the impressions from a "down under" enthusiast are not entirely off topic. We are fortunate that Australian tram enthusiasts are among the wold's most travelled.

> >

> > Essentially this is a soft cook vacation but there will be some tramway interest.

> >

> > Paul in Melbourne

> >

>