Nostalgia & History > When CalTrain looked different

Was there anything better then a high speed run down the peninsula in a Harriman car with the doors open and the sound of jointed rail? The smell of the brakeshoes after a high speed stop. Heres train 60 powered by SP3207 and one of the last runs of a solid harriman car train at Brisbane. I forgot what year I took this but I believe it was the mid 80's.When did CalTrain take over operations from the SP?

---

I liked the jointed rail, we still had portions of it prior to this last track project. Want smoking brakes? Don't have to encourage me much to make that happen ;-)

No idea on the exact year for Caltrain ops, I know the Amtrak date from the SP was 07/92, nice photo btw.

photobob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Was there anything better then a high speed run
> down the peninsula in a Harriman car with the
> doors open and the sound of jointed rail? The
> smell of the brakeshoes after a high speed stop.
> Heres train 60 powered by SP3207 and one of the
> last runs of a solid harriman car train at
> Brisbane. I forgot what year I took this but I
> believe it was the mid 80's.When did CalTrain take
> over operations from the SP?

The old SP commute equipment was displaced by the new bi-levels in April of 1985. There was a "last Harriman" train one weekend that month, but I happened to be in Philadelphia shooting SEPTA PCC cars.

The thing I remember most about the old Harriman cars was how quiet it was when you came to a stop at a station. The other neat thing I remember was riding the bottom step of the car into the San Bruno station, or riding on the last car of the train in the open air!
I also remember stopping at the Atherton Station in the early eighties, the orange light of a setting sun in October and the IBM advertisement in the front of the car.
I never took any pictures, when you are in your late twenties you never think any thing will change!

Thanks for the picture,
Charlesn

More Harrimans.

---

Maybe with a certain "torpedeo boat" on the point (former and future SP 5623)...


photobob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Was there anything better then a high speed run
> down the peninsula in a Harriman car with the
> doors open and the sound of jointed rail?

---

We called them "Subs". I don't know what kind of paint they used inside the cars but they always smelled like barf.

Unlike the "Galleys", we could bail off at the crossing at 7th St if we wanted to. The galleys took a coach key to open the doors but someone had stay behind to close them so the passengers wouldn't fall out.

Nudge

tomk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "...When did CalTrain take over operations from
> the SP?..."
>
> July 1, 1980
> The new agreement takes effect, with Caltrans
> assuming responsibility for the Peninsula Commute
> Service.
>
> See the Caltrain timeline located at
> http://www.caltrain.com/caltrain_history.html

Actually what Caltrans assumed was managing the financial responsibility for the Peninsula Commute service. The SP continued with the responsibility to operate and manage the actual operation of the trains, maintenance of the trains, operation of the stations until the whole peninsula was sold to the three counties in 1992. The basic operating responsibility belonged to the Western Division Superintendent and his staff.

A five member Policy Advisory Committee was established to set policy and Budget. This was staffed by Caltrans. One board member each from Cal Trans, SF Muni, Sam Trans, VTA, and SP. I was the SP Board member from 1980 until 1984.

mdo

charlesn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I never took any pictures, when you are in your
> late twenties you never think any thing will
> change!


Amen brother, amen.


TCS - unfortunately it do change

Nice shot, Bob. Caltrain renumbered its trains Oct. 25, 1981, so your shot could have been taken any time after that.


photobob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I forgot what year I took this but I
> believe it was the mid 80's.When did CalTrain take
> over operations from the SP?

spnudge Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We called them "Subs". I don't know what kind of
> paint they used inside the cars but they always
> smelled like barf.

How funny, I was thinking the same thing....

And they smelled the same way when I rode them on the Grand Canyon Railway about ten yearsago!!

Commute Time In San Francisco - SP Style

SP Train #148 departs Downtown San Francisco with a solid string of vintage Harriman coaches at the 7th Street Curve at King Street bound for San Jose in 1981. Memorable days indeed!

---

sjh92705 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> spnudge Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > We called them "Subs". I don't know what kind
> of
> > paint they used inside the cars but they always
> > smelled like barf.
>
> How funny, I was thinking the same thing....
>
> And they smelled the same way when I rode them on
> the Grand Canyon Railway about ten years ago!!

Ditto and ditto LOL...I think that "pukey smell" is from the seats...YIKES!

2472Don