The route of this rail line from San Diego was up 32nd Street to Chollas Valley, bisecting Mount Hope Cemetery, along Imperial Avenue through Encanto, Lemon Grove, La Mesa and then up the 741 foot Alta (now Grossmont) Grade. It skirted El Cajon Valley to Santee. It then went along Woodside Avenue through Riverview to Lakeside, across Moreno Valley to Foster (now part of Lakeside). 

The trains would stop any place along the route if signaled. The fare to Lakeside from San Diego was 85 cents -- $1.50 a round trip -- taking 1 1/2 hours for the twenty-five mile trip. That was quite an improvement over the all-day wagon trip.

Foster Station

Lakeside Train Depot

1889
In Lakeside looking east

1893 - El Cajon Station
Robert C. Palmer standing on dock,
he worked for the railroad.