Santa Fe Railway "The Chief" F7 Diesel Cab Ride circa 1962 Part I

[digi162]

This is an incredible video. For those who don't know, this video follows the old Santa Fe line before it became the now LACMTA Gold Line. If you rode the Gold Line today you'd see the same sights up to about the 9 minute mark around the Del Mar station stop. When it turns right, it goes on an old segment that ran through Pasadena before the line was rerouted between the freeway in the 70s. The last stop Lamanda Park Station, is supposedly the one used in "It’s A Wonderful Life."

[kurtarmbruster]

Amazing how hemmed in that right of way was--the mother of backyard railroads, for sure! Thanks for sharing this superb and priceless footage of a great train and a great railroader.

[sclm046]

Really a great video. Waiting on Part II!

[9919run8]

When I think of the Chief, I think of a train highballing through the desert. It sure was fun to see it going slowly through some tight places. Thanks for posting

[3houses3]

Thanks so much for posting this! I road The Chief from L.A. to Galesburg, IL Christmas of 1963. I was a 7 year old train "nut" and loved the Santa Fe and this trip back to the mid-west was a dream come true. I distinctly remember sitting up in the dome car late at night while my fellow travelers (who I believe might have been a bit on the intoxicated side) sang Christmas carols. Memories I'll charish for the rest of my life!

Can this be purchased on DVD?

[airamericaman]

Awesome footage! Thank you for posting it.

[robjen1901]

Thank you indeed for posting this. I'm a "Santa Fe-aholic" and this video is full of eye candy. Look forward to your posting of the rest.

[SouthwestChief]

Great footage, thanks for posting.

But this is not the Super Chief. It departed Los Angeles at night.

Looks like the Chief to me.

[JeffOrnstein01]

@SouthwestChief Yes, you are correct! I have made the changes to the video title. The video's written description does, in fact, say it's The Chief. Glad you enjoyed it. Gotta get around to posting the rest, with the 100-mph sequences.