Nostalgia & History > S.F. Peninsula: That 70's Issue

In the spirit of the current issue of Trains Magazine a few shots of SP's San Francisco Peninsula in 1979(the only year in the decade I had a camera worthy of any attempts at photography). Was a time of "real" freight trains and steam heated commute train variety.....

On November 17th the SP3195 and another GP9 lead an eleven car Big Game Special en route to Stanford past the old pedestrian xing west of Millbrae. No, "The Play" was in '82.

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SP3765 leads another GP9 and a tunnel motor past the old center siding between Broadway and Millbrae while Bayshore Yard bound in February '79. There really was a time when honest-to-goodness full sized freights were a common sight on the Peninsula.

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It's three years after the big event but SP3197 remains in its bicentennial dress in May '79. Eastbound east of San Bruno with a seven car Harriman consist.

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Boiler-equipped 3193 and two other GP9's rip through Millbrae in February'79 with a long eastbound freight. The cement plant, grade crossing and industry tracks are long gone and the depot has moved 100 yards south.

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Leased Amtrak P30CH #718 is eastbound with a two car gallery consist at Millbrae's Center St. grade crossing in January '79.

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Your pictures brought back memories of a time long gone.
Thanks for posting them,
Charlesn

Very nice. Thanks for the memories.
JB

Nice shots of the Peninsula.

The westbound freight at Milbrae is interesting, for the large auto parts boxcar first out behind the locomotives. Does anyone know who was taking 80 foot auto parts cars in SF? Or perhaps going to Bayshore for storage?

Thanks

SW1200

SW1200 Wrote:
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> Nice shots of the Peninsula.
>
> The westbound freight at Milbrae is interesting,
> for the large auto parts boxcar first out behind
> the locomotives. Does anyone know who was taking
> 80 foot auto parts cars in SF? Or perhaps going to
> Bayshore for storage?
>

Might have been loaded with tissue, they started using the hi-cubes for that and still do.

Regards,

Rob L.

The good old days, thanks for sharing Bob, I recall riding an late morning plug and always passing a westbound freight on it's way to Bayshore, glad I got to ride the old SP equipment before it was all new Caltrain stuff.

The "real freights" on the Peninsula ended in Feb, 1979 when Bayshore closed. Only freights after that were the SFRVY or SFOAY eastbound and OASFY or UPSFT and they were mostly at night. Permamente Local, East Pleasanton Turn along with the Milbrae Local still worked out of the yard.

Good stuff! Thanks for "dredging" this one back up!