Pete Baumhefner and Bruce Jones worked in the historic Saugus Train Station in the 1960s and early ’70s as train order operators for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Now, they return more than 50 years later (August 21, 2025) and describe their duties. This video serves as a documentary record of railroad operations as they existed just after the Steam Era and just before the station’s closure in 1980—practices that are now obsolete.

Filmed August 2025

Edited November 2025

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Importantly, these former SP employees share details about the train station that would otherwise be lost to time, and Baumhefner resolves the mystery of the depot’s supposed 1978 closure. He explains: The agency at Saugus was dissolved in November 1978, but the depot was reactivated a couple of times until its final closure in February 1980. Baumhefner also interprets some dispatchers’ records from Saugus showing train operations on December 19, 1970 — a snow day in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys — and train cancellations on February 9, 1971 — the day of the San Fernando/Sylmar earthquake. Hosted by Mike Jarel and Leon Worden, this is a unique historical record for rail enthusiasts, historians, and anyone interested in the operational legacy of the Southern Pacific Railroad and California’s railroad history.

Within the oral history presented in this program, there may be offensive and incorrect portrayals of peoples, cultures, characters and behaviors. SCVTV does not condone these incorrect, outdated and offensive portrayals, but recognizes their existence as part of American and Santa Clarita history. Stereotypes were wrong in the past and are wrong today. We acknowledge their damaging and harmful effects. We hope that the presentation of the content in this program will enhance our understanding of eras before, lead to dialogue and especially a commitment to more inclusive practices going forward as well as a more equitable and representative future.

The goal of Legacy is to present stories that were created in and by people from the Santa Clarita Valley. We welcome community feedback and ideas about the discussions in Legacy to feedback@scvtv.com.