Dad and son check out old steam locomotive on display at La Mesa Depot Museum.
I’ve driven past the La Mesa Depot Museum many times over the years, but have never stopped to check it out. Today I remedied that very unfortunate situation!
Here’s a ton of cool pics. The small display train and historic railroad depot are found along Spring Street near the center of La Mesa, in San Diego’s sunny East County. I walked from south to north with my camera.
A friendly volunteer told me a little bit about the locomotive, reefer (refrigerator) car and caboose on exhibit, plus facts about the old La Mesa depot and San Diego and Cuyamaca Eastern Railway line. The depot is La Mesa’s oldest building and the only surviving San Diego and Cuyamaca Railway Station. Over the years it has experienced a colorful history, serving as an antique store and a worm farm! Please refer to the interesting signs, and my captions. Hopefully you get an idea of how awesome this place is!
The La Mesa Depot Museum is operated by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, which displays many old trains in Campo, an hour’s drive east of San Diego near Mexico. I went there with my family when I was very young and took a fun train ride. I plan on going again one day!
Locomotive was donated after 43 years of service to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association.Looking up into door of steam locomotive Mojave Northern Railroad #3.Old No. 3 originally hauled lime from a quarry near Victorville, California.Part of the complex machinery and controls in the steam locomotive’s cab.Pacific Fruit Express reefer car on display at old train depot in La Mesa, California.Southern Pacific Railroad caboose can be boarded free by visitors on Saturdays, 1-4 pm.I saw a bunch of people during my short visit. There were many excited kids!Entering the caboose, to check out what life was like working on the railroad.The conductor had high windows to see around the train during operation.A freight train’s conductor or crew could sit up here to see in every direction.That’s quite a climb, even for a tall guy like me!The small La Mesa depot sits near tracks now used by the San Diego Trolley Orange Line.The depot opened in 1894, and this 44-star flag would’ve flown above it.Information sign outlines the early history of La Mesa’s train depot.Historical photograph of a train stopping at La Mesa.In the early 20th century the depot was sold and moved on various occasions.McKeen Car at the La Mesa Depot.This very small building contains lots of cool stuff!City of La Mesa Historic Landmark No. 6 on side of 1894 train depot.Ticket office in depot contains various old telephones and a telegraph.The telegraph key still works!Telegraphic messages were received here!Looking out through ticket window at the tiny train depot waiting room.In one corner of the office is an old-fashioned manual typewriter.This old wood stove still works and provides a lot of heat!Signs bring to life the old train time table and Western Union office.An old railway hand cart for hauling freight or luggage.Sign tells complex story of the San Diego, Cuyamaca and Eastern Railroad.Here comes the San Diego Trolley, approaching the nearby La Mesa Boulevard station.The La Mesa Depot Museum is a fun place to visit on a Saturday afternoon!
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Looking up at the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in Cabrillo National Monument.
Everyone likes to explore the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. You can climb up the winding staircase and peer into several interesting rooms where the lighthouse keeper and his family lived. But the small museum in the nearby assistant keeper’s quarters contains the true marvels of science and art. Come inside and let us have a quick look!
The assistant keeper’s quarters next to the lighthouse today contains a small museum.Sign outside lighthouse shows huge Fresnel lens which guided ships with focused light 400 feet above sea level.Sign at entrance to museum. The heart of a lighthouse is the lens and lamp. 19th century lenses are works of art made of polished brass and glass.
The highly polished Fresnel lenses utilized by lighthouses are beautiful objects. They refract and reflect light, creating prismatic colors when viewed from certain angles. It’s almost a miracle that a small flame in a lamp can be magnified to the extent that ships far out at sea can easily see it and be guided to safety. Light intensified by lenses in this museum could be seen 18 to 24 miles away!
This 3rd Order Fresnel lens was used by the New Point Loma Lighthouse, built in 1891 down by the water.An optical wonder, this huge lens is an amazing, highly polished light bender.Diagram shows how a complex Fresnel lens functions.The base of the heavy Fresnel lens with chariot wheels visible.There are different orders of size, as illustrated in this display.Augustin Jean Fresnel (1788-1827) was an accomplished engineer and scientist. Fresnel lenses are used in many modern applications today.Small museum by Old Point Loma Lighthouse contains various very cool exhibits.This small 5th Order lens lighted the Ballast Point Lighthouse from 1890 to 1960.Log book of daily expenditures for oil, wicks and chimneys.This clockwork of gears slowly turned the light above.The keeper’s service box contained cleaning supplies and delicate tools for maintaining the lamp.The Coast Guard removed this large Fresnel lens from the New Point Loma Lighthouse in 2002.Looking at the iconic Old Point Loma Lighthouse and small museum beside it.
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DecoBike bikeshare station on Broadway between Santa Fe Depot and America Plaza.
During my walks around San Diego in the past few months, I’ve noticed new bike sharing stations popping up at various locations. The green-signed docks still contain no bikes, but according to articles I’ve read the program is supposed to finally begin this month, after many delays.
Bike sharing in San Diego will be facilitated by DecoBike, a company based in Miami, where a similar system has been installed. They plan to eventually have around 180 electronic rental stations and 1,800 standardized bicycles.
San Diegans and city visitors will be able to rent bicycles for one-time use, or purchase a monthly or annual membership. The number of bikes available at any station will be visible in real time on DecoBike’s online station map.
According to signs at each bikeshare station, renting a bike will cost $5 per half hour, $7 per hour, or $12 for two hours. Memberships will cost $15 for one day, $35 for one week, or $50 for one month.
Looks interesting. Perhaps I’ll do a little more bicycling!
More locking bicycle docks in East Village, just north of Petco Park.DecoBike bikeshare stations feature a touchscreen, instructions and a row of bike docks.Sign shows rental and membership rates.Another bike sharing station on El Prado near the west end of Balboa Park.
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