Extra Long Amtrak Trains in and around San Diego - Summer 2016

Happy Labor Day! Not only does today mark the unofficial end of summer, but also the end of the Del Mar Horse Racing season. During the busy summer travel period, Amtrak brought back it's tri-weekly Del Mar block to help alleviate the crowds.

The Del Mar Block's primary purpose was to provide for the crowds headed to the horse races in Del Mar for the day. The block consists of one Amtrak F59PHI or P42DC locomotive on the north, and 3 Surfliner or Superliner coach and dining cars. The set was added onto normally scheduled Amtrak trains in Los Angeles in the morning, usually on trains 768 or 774. Once in Downtown San Diego, the 3 car set would be taken off the normal train set and sit in San Diego for the day. Later that day, the set would then be added to either Amtrak 591 or 595's set, all depending on the day it ran.

I caught the Del Mar Block on several different occasions during the time that it ran here over the past few weekends. This year was definitely different compared to last year, especially with the absence of Amtrak Dash 8 locomotives, which frequented the Block in previous years. This year, Amtrak F59PHI locomotives primarily did the work, with an Amtrak P42DC providing power one weekend in July. Private cars also make appearances on the Block, as seen in the video.

Also included the switching operations in Downtown San Diego, with the block being added to 591's set. Locations include (in order): Downtown San Diego, Noell Street, Morena, Sorrento Valley, Torrey Pines/Del Mar area, and Carlsbad Poinsettia.

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