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Those Left Coasters residing at or about the 34th parallel will likely enjoy this newly released video, of which I learned last evening from watching CBS News. My regular NBC was preempted for football.
LA is hardly on my distaste list such as is New Orleans, but I simply have not had reason to travel there since 1991. But who knows, with all the favorable reviews I have read regarding the LA Philharmonic I just might decide to come on out.
To me this video is a magnificient work of filmaking art:
Finally, a second or two of rail footage; possibly someone with sharper eyes and a lay of the land can find LAUS or other prominent rail landmarks.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I think the renaissance of Los Angeles from its "dark age" is truly amazing. I used to say to my friends in LA "the first 2 million people that moved here must have thought they had found heaven, but I can't imagine what the next 10 million people were thinking". Historically, because LA has always accommodated new arrivals by building new freeways and new subdivisions instead of revitalizing old neighborhoods, many of the old neighborhoods, like Los Feliz, parts of Hollywood or much of Glendale have the feeling of being frozen in amber since the days of the Eisenhower administration. But many people are moving back to the downtown and near-downtown neighborhoods that are served by a surprisingly good public transit system to avoid the rat-race freeway commutes that are so famously considered part of the SoCal lifestyle.
The LA Symphony Hall is within walking distance of LAUS (although there is a hill to climb) and I've taken many trips to LA without renting a car. LA has made a few mistakes with its urbanist renaissance: the old Farmer's Market was great; the new Farmer's Market is a disaster. But overall, there's plenty to enjoy in Los Angeles without spending most of your time stuck in traffic or looking for parking.
And today's weather report for Los Angeles is predicting a high of 73 degrees with mostly sunny skies and an AQI of 103 (warm, sunny with some visible smog). What's the forecast for Chicago?
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
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Excellent video! So many iconic scenes of the LA area all the way to Santa Monica. Thank you.
At 2:39, you are looking at the concrete west side of the LA River, with city hall in the background.
The railway you see is ex. Santa Fe. Its lead into Union Station is out of the photo to the right. This same line used to cross the river and lead to Pasadena and beyond, but that right of way out of LA is now light rail.
The shot was taken from the UP side of the river. With the Palmdale cutoff completion I believe in 1967, that area sees much less rail traffic.
The UP line from Riverside, the ex. SP one from AZ via Alhambra, and the ex. SP lines (that converge in Burbank to bring traffic from the ex. SP coast and San Joaquin Valley lines) come together at the rail entrance to Union Station. SP and UP used bridges over the river to access the station. Santa Fe's Pasadena line bridge I believe was further north and the one for Santa Fe/now BNSF trains traveling via Fullerton is at the other end of downtown.
Out of the photo to the right and back is the largest ex. SP yard left in the downtown area, now used last I heard mostly for piggyback traffic.
At 3:14, you see the roof of Union Station and its platforms in the upper left. See, this is an Amtrak-related railway video!
Too dark to make out much at 3:34, but believe shot was taken the UP side of the river. Union Station stays out of the video to the right.
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Enjoyed the video but I was hoping for some reassurance for those of us who write with our left hands!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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Mr. Norman -- That is a beautiful video! Thank you very much for posting the link here. How did you find this great video?
It reminds me of "Koyaanisqatsi ", one of my favorite films, with the fascinating time-lapse scenes.
Yes, LA can be beautiful, especially at night, when there is little or no smog. Glad to hear the downtown is having a rebirth.
Posts: 211 | From: California | Registered: Dec 2004
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Don: I know the exact scene you are referring to in "T-2". Great movie! I know there are cement "rivers" all around LA, but I didn't know that they filmed that right there. I was thinking it was in some out of the way place, but I guess not!
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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That's why I love visiting LA! I go to live TV show tapings, take studio tours, see the celebrity homes, etc. It's a lot of fun. I have also gone to the Starbucks across the street from Zuma Beach in Malibu and have run into TONS of celebrities there on weekends. I wouldn't want to live there, but I do love to visit.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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One week from today, Smitty! Are you packing? It should be an easy pack. Shorts, tee shirts, flip flops. And long pants and a collared shirt if you do decide to try the Main Dining Room.
Frank in clear but cool SBA -- just slightly north of LAX.
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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When I first came to LA (by train, of course) back in the late 1990s I said I'd never come back. Of course, I was a tourist back then, and relying on public transport - which was okay to be fair. Some fifteen years later and I'm now living here - and just about within LA county at that!
Yes, housing/land is expensive, such is the demand for it. Only one set of earthquakes since I've been here where I've actually felt something (3.5, about 3 miles away). But glorious weather with beaches and mountains (including skiing) both within an hour of here. Even traffic isn't that bad, depending where and when you go. Countless theme parks for the littl'uns, and most (except Disney) are great value for annual passes. Plenty of free stuff too. Three major airports 45 minutes away, four Amtrak routes (if you count the Sunset and Eagle as two), and a cruise terminal if you're so inclined. A couple of national parks within a couple of hours.
As for celebs, I wouldn't know one if I saw one, generally speaking. I was taken on a tour of some homes but I didn't even know some of the names!
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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As a youngster, cresting Mulholland Pass on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) and entering the San Fernando Valley at night was always an "ooooh, aaah" moment!
I don't miss it so much anymore, for I want to live in places where I don't need darkening curtains at night!
-------------------- The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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