Santa Fe Depot – San Diego Union Station

The scene of a pitched battle between the demons and their controlled humans and the team defending the Governor and Vice President is Union Station in historic downtown San Diego.  In the middle of course is retired Sergeant Chris Carter, doing what he knows best in the middle of a firefight.

The station, also known as the Santa Fe Depot, was first opened in 1915 and is one of the most interesting structures in San Diego – which is why I didn’t blow it up (completely) in the book.  It’s Spanish Colonial Revival style is echoed in other buildings downtown, in particular it’s domed turrets.  The photo here was taken in the mid 1990’s when I lived in San Diego.  The station is only a couple of blocks from the waterfront harbor and is still an active Amtrak station, with the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner running up the coast from San Diego to Los Angeles (which also figures prominently in Swords of Flame).  The local San Diego commuter train, the Coaster, also run from the Santa Fe Depot up the county coastline and back.

It was fun weaving some local San Diego architecture & history into my story.  Will Chris return one day?  Who’s to say!

San Diego Amtrak Union Station – The Santa Fe Depot