Vincent Hill Station's Wonderful Caboose Collection - Acton, California


 Photos & Story by Ken Hulsey

It’s fitting that a restaurant housed in an old train station would boast the finest collection of vintage railroad cabooses in Southern California. Located just off the Sierra Highway (California Highway 14) in Acton, Vincent Hill Station is a fine dining establishment that features live music and dancing. Interestingly, my main reason for stopping off the desert highway was not the food, but rather the impressive collection of cabooses visible from the road.


The restaurant displays cabooses from various regional railroads, including Southern Pacific bay window models, as well as examples from both the Santa Fe and Union Pacific. These railroads once ran throughout the Antelope Valley. The Southern Pacific's route between San Francisco and Los Angeles had to divert away from the coast to navigate around the mountains. Similarly, both the Santa Fe and Union Pacific traversed this area to reach California's central farmlands. It’s a region rich in railroad history.

To confess a secret, I did notice Vincent Hill Station on the property, but I initially stopped just to see the cabooses. After looking up the restaurant online, I now wish I had taken my wife there for dinner, as it appears to be a wonderful place to eat.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Embracing the Rain: Reflections on Faith, Solitude, and Cherished Memories

Image
 Written By Ken Hulsey This weekend brought some wonderful fall showers to Central Louisiana, along with much-welcomed cooler temperatures. For the first time in a long while, I was able to enjoy some quality time outside. I’m a sentimental person who loves rain; I enjoy watching it fall, and when it’s not thundering, I like to take long walks in the rain. There’s something magical about experiencing the soothing calmness of a gentle or steady rain shower. The sounds change, the air feels different, and the overall vibe transforms. Rain also provides an opportunity for solitude—a chance to think, reflect, and connect with God.
Read More »

Relaxing Morning at Explore Louisiana Welcome Center | Beautiful Louisiana

Image
 Story and Photos by Ken Hulsey Last month, while driving from Beaumont, Texas to Lafayette, I stopped at the Explore Louisiana Welcome Center – a familiar pit stop where I had previously stretched my legs and used the facilities. However, this time, a co-worker's recommendation of a nearby nature trail piqued my interest. Though I had been to the center before, I had never ventured out to explore the spectacular swamp trail winding around the adjacent lake.
Read More »

A Battle for Survival in the Amazon: The Gill-Man Rises from the Depths in 'Creature From The Black Lagoon'!

Image
Written By: Ken Hulsey The classic movie monster Creature from the Black Lagoon, developed by Universal Pictures, was the last in a long line of iconic horror characters. By the 1950s, most studios had shifted their focus from horror to science fiction films. Universal followed this trend, with Creature from the Black Lagoon arriving soon after the popular It Came from Outer Space, both starring Richard Carlson in his signature role as the heroic scientist. This was a departure from the typical portrayal of scientists as villainous or misguided. It was a logical move for Universal to blend their established horror brand with the emerging science fiction genre, resulting in the creation of Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Read More »

The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966) - An Iconic Halloween Special | Retro TV Memories

Image
The story opens with Linus and Lucy venturing into a nearby pumpkin patch in search of the perfect pumpkin. After Linus rejects a few smaller options, Lucy spots the largest pumpkin in the patch. Linus then clumsily rolls the massive pumpkin back home. Once there, Lucy grabs a large knife and starts slicing into the pumpkin, gutting it. At this point, a horrified Linus cries out, "Ohhhh, you didn't tell me you were going to kill it!" and begins wailing.
Read More »

Crossing Bridges: A Journey of Gratitude and Divine Connection

Image
Photo and Story by Ken Hulsey The title of this devotional is simply "Bridges," a topic I initially wanted to write about a couple of weeks ago. It seems that everywhere I have traveled over the past few weeks has involved crossing a bridge. To provide some geographical context, I have been living here in Louisiana for the past several years, and my wife and I were in awe of the number of rivers, bayous, and lakes in this state when we first arrived. Coming from the California desert, we were not prepared for the abundance of water we would encounter here. Honestly, there is more water alongside the highways in the ditches after a good rain than in a typical lake in California .
Read More »

Returning to the Lair of the Fouke Monster - The Legend of Boggy Creek and Beyond | Ken Hulsey

Image
I, like many others, first became fascinated with the infamous "Fouke Monster" in the 1970s when the film "The Legend of Boggy Creek" was released in theaters and drive-ins across the country. Although I didn't see the movie until it aired as a Saturday afternoon feature on a local TV station in the 1980s, the original trailer had a lasting impact on my young and impressionable mind—it scared the crap out of me. A big, hairy creature reaching through windows to grab young girls (the Fouke Monster doesn't hold a candle to King Kong), girls screaming, guns firing, people chasing the monster, the monster chasing people-all set in what looked like the creepiest place on Earth: Boggy Creek. I hid under my bed until I was ten!  
Read More »

The World's Most Famous Monster Returns To Its Terrifying Roots In Godzilla Minus One

Image
Written by Ken Kulsey. Godzilla Minus One is arguably the best monster movie ever! Heck, it is honestly one of the best movies that I have seen in years. This is nothing like the campy Godzilla films you know. The human drama will make you cry, and the monster action is filled with 'OH MY GOD!" moments. Great script, great acting, and visuals that will blow your mind. Even if you are not a monster movie fan, this is a must-see movie event!
Read More »

Toys By Roy - Winrock Center Mall - Albuquerque, New Mexico - A Trip Down Memory Lane

Image
If you grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico , during the 60s, 70s, or 80s, you likely have fond memories of Toys By Roy. The store was easily recognizable thanks to the large rocking horse logo on its front. In 1961, Roy Ater opened his first Toys By Roy in the brand-new Winrock Center Mall, which was marketed as ‘the largest in the Southwest.’ Ater’s toy store quickly became one of the mall's first and most successful retailers. Over the following years, Toys By Roy expanded into a successful franchise with 34 locations across 9 states.
Read More »