Amtrak Coast Starlight/dimview (# 0760)

What should be an awe-inspiring stretch of railroading. Between Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo, the railroad has to climb 600 feet and then drop 1000 feet to cover 25 miles (straight distance, not route distance). While the track parallels US 101 for much of the Salinas Valley, the contortions for getting out of the Salinas Valley and down to the coast require quite a bit of twist and turns, long tunnels, and interesting trestles. This was the part of the route I most wanted to see – but couldn’t.

The picture here is looking from one of the higher stretches of track, over towards US 101.