Passenger Trains > AMTK Lifesaver 203 on #11

On Thursday 8/29 Amtrak #11, the Coast Starlight ran with P42 203, the Lifesaver Unit, on the point with a  P42 and ALC-42 in different schemes trailing, 203 may have been added to the two hour late train in Oakland.

The first two photos are just after departing San Jose at Auzerais Ave. The wires run slightly farther south to the Tamien station.

The third shot is while stopped at San Jose with a soon to be retired F40 on adjacent. The track closest to the depot, track 1, is not wired.

Jim B



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/24 19:12 by jimB.

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The third unit is a  ALC 42.

Great photos. Does UP still own track 1 through the San Jose station? Guessing that’s why it wasn’t wired, but maybe there’s another reason.

Nathan

Posted from iPhone

Nice move to get the Diridon shot, then the Auzerais shot, Jim. Worthy target!

atsf121 Wrote:
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> Great photos. Does UP still own track 1 through
> the San Jose station? Guessing that’s why it
> wasn’t wired, but maybe there’s another
> reason.
>
> Nathan
>
> Posted from iPhone

Because it's used by Amtrak California for the Capitol Corridor trains.
Caltrain only hung wire over the tracks they own and use.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/24 17:00 by PHall.

PHall Wrote:
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> atsf121 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Great photos. Does UP still own track 1 through
> > the San Jose station? Guessing that’s why it
> > wasn’t wired, but maybe there’s another
> > reason.
> >
> > Nathan
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> Because it's used by Amtrak California for the
> Capitol Corridor trains.
> Caltrain only hung wire over the tracks they own
> and use.

Didn't realize Amtrak California was limited to Track 1.  When I rode it north from San Jose (years ago), I boarded on one of the other platforms.  I know the Startlight generally uses Track 1, is ACE limited to that as well?

Nathan

>The third unit is a  ALC 42.

Of course. Thanks, I changed toe original post. Thx.

Jim B

>Didn't realize Amtrak California was limited to Track 1

Amtrak CA, The Capitals, use other tracks at Diridon. ACE and 11/14 usually use trak 1. I'm pretty sure they can use either track south of the station to Tamien but they may only be using the one shown due to bridge work near Tamien, but I'm not sure.

Track 1 north of the station is UP owned and I understood they didn't want wires over their track. Not sure of the ownership south of there to Lick, but Caltrain dispatches all the tracks from CP Coast to Lick. Not having wires above UP track 1 through Santa Clara reduces their flexibility a little because they occasionally run a north Caltrain on UP 1 to CP Coast.

Jim B

jimB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >Didn't realize Amtrak California was limited to
> Track 1
>
> Amtrak CA, The Capitals, use other tracks at
> Diridon. ACE and 11/14 usually use trak 1. I'm
> pretty sure they can use either track south of the
> station to Tamien but they may only be using the
> one shown due to bridge work near Tamien, but I'm
> not sure.
>
> Track 1 north of the station is UP owned and I
> understood they didn't want wires over their
> track. Not sure of the ownership south of there to
> Lick, but Caltrain dispatches all the tracks from
> CP Coast to Lick. Not having wires above UP track
> 1 through Santa Clara reduces their flexibility a
> little because they occasionally run a north
> Caltrain on UP 1 to CP Coast.
>
> Jim B

I know SP had and now UP has ownership south of San Jose to Gilroy, I got that detail wrong once.  But I don't remember the details now of which entity ones what stuff.  Last time I flew in to San Jose, the little yard around Tamien had both CalTrain and ACE sets parked waiting for the return home.  I also remember listening to the dispatcher one time while I was chasing trains in the area, but I've forgotten if it was a CalTrain or UP dispatcher for the stretech between San Jose and Gilroy.  I should have taken notes - and kept them!

Nathan

Glad you posted, Jim.
Norm O.