Exploring LA by train from Santa Clarita
Vol 2 Santa Monica
By Loco & Motive (being two friends embracing retirement with open arms -- and bad knees)
October 9, 2017
Back at Newhall Station, must be honest, though, I was flying solo on this second trip as my partner in crime was unavailable and I had a good reason to get to Santa Monica. My bride of 42 years and I had gone to a movie in Santa Monica the previous evening at the Laemmle theatre and she had left her glasses behind in error. So being the dutiful husband that I am I volunteered to ride the train down to pick them up.
The movie we went to was called School Life, an Irish documentary about a pre high school boarding school. I didn’t know such a thing existed. They are a funny bunch these 1%’ers. Locking their kids away in boarding school at age 8 or 9. My parents didn’t lock me away in boarding school until I was 11. But then we were not 1%’ers.
I attended St Macartan’s College in my native Ireland. It’s all co-ed and cozy these days with no boarder’s. But when I took my kids to see it in the ‘90’s they both commented on how like a prison you’d see in a movie it looked. Shure it’s grande, didn’t it make a man out of me.
I digress, apologies.
To get to Santa Monica using METRO Trains from Union Station you need two METRO lines, The Red Line to 7th Street then change to the Expo LIne to Santa Monica.
Metrolink / Metro TAP link
Mystery solved. Notice the letters “tap” in the top right hand side of the ticket. Well this signifies that the rider (me) can transfer one time from Metrolink to Metro using this ticket. Ta daaaa.
Now to get to Santa Monica one needs two Metro trains. So you should invest in a TAP card in any case. I still have mine loaded with $20 from our maiden voyage.
Still puzzled by which track to use at Newhall, I found a security guard who advised that all Southbound trains through Newhall always use Track 1. I don’t believe him but today he was right.
The first freight train to pass through almost deafened me and the next one caused our departure to be delayed. Delays on METROLINK do appear to be a common occurrence. And seating at Newhall is not comfortable, I may bring along my camping chair next trip.
Surfboard Storage
The following sign over the train door lets you know you are in Southern California, doesn’t it?
Oak Groves outside Newhall
Before you enter the San Fernando Tunnel look around you outside. There are some old growth original oak groves just on the edge of town. Really beautiful California Oak trees.
Now the ride from Newhall to Union Station is not high speed rail. But since we are retired and not in a rush that is OK.
I recently visited Barnes and Noble and bought a Rand McNally Road Atlas, when checking out the attendant asked why I’d bought it, my response was “Because Google gets me there too fast!”.
Union Station
It’s worth taking a few moments to wander around this small, knee radius friendly but beautiful station. It’s LA so you know it’s going to be cool and funky.
And entertaining
This guy was really talented on the piano. I couldn’t figure out if he was a well nourished hobo or an underpaid musician. But he was very very good.
To get to Santa Monica from Union Station using METRO Trains you need two METRO lines, The Red Line to 7th Street then change to the Expo LIne to Santa Monica.
Finding your way around Union Station is easy.
I was looking for the RED line - see spot above.
Once I walked downstairs this is the view.
A little dark and intimidating at first but it’s ok.
A lot of signs on the train and on walls tell you to go to METRO website for information. But down here there is no signal. A bit Pennywise-ish if you ask me.
On my first train (Union to 7th Street) there were good on train announcements. So getting off at correct station was not an issue.
However once in 7th. Street station it was unclear how to get to the Expo Line. Signs were all over the place but I had to ask one of the many attendants that were hanging around.
It was up and over a stairs to get to the Expo Line platform.
Metro Train Photos
The Expo Line
The line is named "Expo" after Exposition Boulevard, which it runs alongside for most of it’s route. Exposition Blvd. gets its name from Exposition Park which was re-opened in 1913.
I got onboard the train that said it was destined for Santa Monica, just got settled in and was told over the announcement system to please exit this train as it was going out of service and another would be along promptly.
We did, it left and along came another within 15 minutes.
I am beginning to suspect that METRO may just be playing at trains at this time. Perhaps in a few months or years they will understand that public transport only works if you don’t have to think about it. It’s just always there and reliable.
There are 19 stops along this line. A lot of them run through USC campus area. I will pay more attention to these stops on another trip as I am sure some of them offer things of interest in their locale.
The Expo Line is not a subway, so it shares intersections with cars. This makes the journey a little slow.
The station at Santa Monica is located very nicely on Colorado by 4th. Street.
The pedestrian Mall in Santa Monica is on 3rd.
And in case you doubted that you are now in what we affectionately call The People’s Republic of Santa Monica the following photo will remind you.
As my brother likes to say “The “Land of the Free” as long as you have a permit.”
We love Santa Monica anyway.
I had lunch at Uovo. Food was fantastic. The no tipping was awkward. The ambience was a wee bit arrogant. But I would go back because of the food and it’s so close to the Laemmle movie theatre.
A further comment on these no tipping restaurants - there was a 15% service charge auto added to my bill at Uovo. I enquired if this was a gratuity type thing and shared amongst the staff. The cashier I spoke to had no idea. 60 Minutes did a thing on this emerging trend at restaurants, on last night’s show actually. We will see I guess.
The journey down to Santa Monica took 2 hours. Google told me I could drive it in 45 minutes. But hey who trusts Google.
Return took 2 hours also and was uneventful.
Perhaps I could have speeded up the return by timing my trip to the return train from Union to Newhall. But see previous note about public transport.
A Beautiful Flower in Newhall
Spotted outside library on way back from Santa Monica.
Next Outing : The LA County Fair
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