This stretch of Union Pacific railroad tracks is part of the historic Surf Line (originally built by Southern Pacific), which bridges the gap between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Because it cuts right through Vandenberg Space Force Base and massive private ranches, the beach at Jalama is one of the only public vantage points where you can watch trains navigate this dramatic coastal edge.
Along cliffs where Pacific waters gleam,
Steel rails follow a coastal dream,
Through misty hills and ocean spray,
Old trains whisper tales along the way,
Past Central California’s shores they roam,
Carrying echoes of journeys home.