Just flew out from New York for several days to railfan Caltrain. I love the old F40 locomotives and loved the railfan windows on those fantastic gallery cars. I had to go there to get the old power and railfan window experience before it’s all lost to what they call progress!!!
Caltrain electrification is part of the HIgh Speed Rail project. Not only is it being electrified, they are adding a third set of rails in many areas to expand the "baby bullet" trains that skip large numbers of stations and will have more spots to pass the trains stopping at every station.
In 1991, I used to take this on Saturdays from SJ to SF and hoof it to USF for a class there, then back in the afternoon. I would get a lot of studying or leisure reading done.
That's one of the great things about taking a train, rather than a car. You can spend the travel time on other productive tasks, and often get there faster.
You skipped three interesting stations. Palo Alto with its streamlined art deco station, Mountain View with its connection to VTA Light Rail, and Santa Clara with its station built in 1863.
Great, thanks for pointing these out. When I'm back to report on the Stadler electrics, I'm going to plan a stop at each of these interesting stations.
Bombardier(Alstom) Bi Levels are a lot better than the gallery cars, more spacious and offer tables and have restrooms in every car, the bombarider bi levels are not going to be retired,they will be kept for the Tamien-Gilroy line and soon Salinas line, not sure if theyre going to use then on the SF-SJ line with the AEM7’s but probably not. Caltrain ordered a Stadler BEMU trainset for the Tamien-Salinas line
Thanks for this clarification. I have a review planned of the Bombardier bi-levels in the near future, although not for the Caltrain fleet. I rode the Utah FrontRunner train from Ogden to Salt Lake City, which uses the same bi-level, and enjoyed it very much.
Thankfully, these widely hated Gallery cars are being replaced by new electric Stadler KISS bi-level EMUs. A large part of the fleet already is made up of Bombardier bi-level cars. After the electric trains are in service all the Gallery cars will finally go away.
I was hoping to try out the Stadler KISS trains on our current trip, but, alas, it won't be possible this time around. I'm really looking forward to the EMUs taking over the peninsula commute services. Are the Bombardier bi-levels going to be sold, or will they continue to operate alongside the KISS EMUs? If they'll continue to be used, will that be with electric locos, or diesels to take them further south than San Jose?
@caltrain920andelevators4 Lol, literally no one agrees with you foamers on this. The riders, you know the people who actually keep the system running with their fares and taxes, loathe these cars. Hence, they need to go.
@caltrain920andelevators4fuck the gallery cars they stink and it feel likes BART but bi-level The bombardier sets are better imo, more comfy and they feel like a commuter train than a shitty cattle car/BART ripoff
It's quite metallic, true, but offers a nice glimpse at the history of American commuter rail. Still, I'm very much looking forward to the Stadler electrics taking over these services.
San Francisco, the city by the bay (and where you have to constantly look down walking on the sidewalk to make sure you avoid stepping on human waste of all kinds, used syringes, and the prerequisite homeless person whose to lazy to work but instead use drugs, alcohol, and who knows what else}.
crazy how this is real, San Francisco is part of the bay, but Oakland is a lil worse than SF, your car steps foot in there you’re going to get robbed, if you end up going there eventually, leave everything open, doors, trunk, EVERYTHING but take your belongings with you, they won’t matter since everyone who lives/visits there usually carry’s there suitcases around bc of that.
Just flew out from New York for several days to railfan Caltrain. I love the old F40 locomotives and loved the railfan windows on those fantastic gallery cars. I had to go there to get the old power and railfan window experience before it’s all lost to what they call progress!!!
Thanks for sharing! I hope you enjoyed your visit and many Caltrain trips.
@@BoardRestaurant I did indeed.
Caltrain electrification is part of the HIgh Speed Rail project. Not only is it being electrified, they are adding a third set of rails in many areas to expand the "baby bullet" trains that skip large numbers of stations and will have more spots to pass the trains stopping at every station.
Thanks for this additional information. I'm really looking forward to riding the Stadler electrics in the near future.
In 1991, I used to take this on Saturdays from SJ to SF and hoof it to USF for a class there, then back in the afternoon. I would get a lot of studying or leisure reading done.
That's one of the great things about taking a train, rather than a car. You can spend the travel time on other productive tasks, and often get there faster.
You skipped three interesting stations.
Palo Alto with its streamlined art deco station, Mountain View with its connection to VTA Light Rail, and Santa Clara with its station built in 1863.
Great, thanks for pointing these out. When I'm back to report on the Stadler electrics, I'm going to plan a stop at each of these interesting stations.
Good video, lots of useful information
Glad it was helpful!
Bombardier(Alstom) Bi Levels are a lot better than the gallery cars, more spacious and offer tables and have restrooms in every car, the bombarider bi levels are not going to be retired,they will be kept for the Tamien-Gilroy line and soon Salinas line, not sure if theyre going to use then on the SF-SJ line with the AEM7’s but probably not. Caltrain ordered a Stadler BEMU trainset for the Tamien-Salinas line
Thanks for this clarification. I have a review planned of the Bombardier bi-levels in the near future, although not for the Caltrain fleet. I rode the Utah FrontRunner train from Ogden to Salt Lake City, which uses the same bi-level, and enjoyed it very much.
How long does it take end to end ride?
@@maho_nishizumi_tigertank Not even close. The trains that stop everywhere are 1 hour and 30 minutes to SJ. Nowhere does it take 4 hours
@@maho_nishizumi_tigertank lmfao it’s an hour and a half if it makes all stops to SJ, and to Gilroy it’s like 2 hours, stop spreading misinformation😂
@@maho_nishizumi_tigertank That's definitely not true, even in the SP days trains took 47 minutes from San Francisco to San Jose.
Thankfully, these widely hated Gallery cars are being replaced by new electric Stadler KISS bi-level EMUs. A large part of the fleet already is made up of Bombardier bi-level cars. After the electric trains are in service all the Gallery cars will finally go away.
I was hoping to try out the Stadler KISS trains on our current trip, but, alas, it won't be possible this time around. I'm really looking forward to the EMUs taking over the peninsula commute services. Are the Bombardier bi-levels going to be sold, or will they continue to operate alongside the KISS EMUs? If they'll continue to be used, will that be with electric locos, or diesels to take them further south than San Jose?
@caltrain920andelevators4 Lol, literally no one agrees with you foamers on this. The riders, you know the people who actually keep the system running with their fares and taxes, loathe these cars. Hence, they need to go.
@caltrain920andelevators4fuck the gallery cars they stink and it feel likes BART but bi-level
The bombardier sets are better imo, more comfy and they feel like a commuter train than a shitty cattle car/BART ripoff
the best and will always be the best, Bombardier Bi Level for life, gallery cars nah, it’s time for them to go
Looks like a prison train lol
It's quite metallic, true, but offers a nice glimpse at the history of American commuter rail. Still, I'm very much looking forward to the Stadler electrics taking over these services.
Borel Estate is diesel😷income tax 😷⭐️
5:57😊
San Francisco, the city by the bay (and where you have to constantly look down walking on the sidewalk to make sure you avoid stepping on human waste of all kinds, used syringes, and the prerequisite homeless person whose to lazy to work but instead use drugs, alcohol, and who knows what else}.
crazy how this is real, San Francisco is part of the bay, but Oakland is a lil worse than SF, your car steps foot in there you’re going to get robbed, if you end up going there eventually, leave everything open, doors, trunk, EVERYTHING but take your belongings with you, they won’t matter since everyone who lives/visits there usually carry’s there suitcases around bc of that.
State Board of Equalization is San Mateo of Pet Smart. Please return the stolen property.
I'm not sure that your comment applies to this video? Please elaborate.