Passenger Trains > Caltrain GP9 500 Leading the Virginia City Limited

The queen of Caltrain's fleet--GP9 #500--got a chance on some real varnish early this afternoon leading a two car passenger train north from San Jose, CA to Redwood Jct. running on the blocks of train #147. The 500 led MP15 JPBX503, PV "Virginia City", and a Caltrain gallery cab car on a quick run up to the junction where the two cars were set out. The VC is headed to its home base out at the Port of Redwood City with the gallery car also headed there to be decorated for service on this seasons' Caltrain Christmas train. The pair should move to the port on tonight's UP Broadway Local making for some mixed train action this evening on Chestnut St. in Redwood City.

The JPBX500 North is seen splitting the signals at CP Franklin in Santa Clara in the first shot and, just 40 minutes later, crossing Middlefield Rd. in Redwood City on the south leg of the wye and on to the Dumbarton main. They wind up(temporarily) pointed toward the bridge and Newark and Niles but won't dare risk that journey today. The whole consist was wyed to make for a quick setout and return to San Jose.

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Today's Caltrain extra begins its backup move onto the north leg of the wye at Redwood Jct. prior to setting out its pair of cars. In the final shot less than 30 minutes later the 500 and 503 head light engines back to San Jose bisecting the mean streets of Atherton, CA along the way.

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The Virginia City will also be part of Caltrain's Holiday Train this year, as it was last year, so those two may remain hooked together once they get to the port.

Holiday train lineup PV Yosemite Falls, Cab car, Stage car, Power car, Virginia City for Santa to wave from upon departure from stops

The #500 appears to be an ex- SP GP-9. Was it a commuter unit or just a freight unit?

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

mojaveflyer Wrote:
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> The #500 appears to be an ex- SP GP-9. Was it a
> commuter unit or just a freight unit?

The roster info I have is conflicting--it's either the former SP3833 or 3842. A late build(1959) freight GP9.

You sure do have a nack for catching some of these "rare" and cool moves around the Bay Area. Any chance I could get a tip off next the 900 makes a daylight run or that little daylight engine at the Redwood City Port makes a daylight run?