Passenger Trains > Nearing the End of the Line at the Beginning of the Line

I like going on somewhat random walkabouts or bike rides in San Francisco at least a couple times per quarter. I live on the Peninsula about a 10 minute walk from the local Caltrain Station, so many of my SF trips jump off from the Caltrain Station at 4th and King (Townsend). If I'm pedal powered I just take off and go. If I'm on foot I might catch MUNI to get to a different neighborhood.

I was on one such walkabout on October 30th last year. Given the Caltrain F40PH-2 locomotives are on short time, I stopped to grab a shot of the lineup as seen below.

Cheers,
Sean

---

very nice!

Great shot, BL! My parents' friends living in the suburbs of San Francisco had a hobby of going "hiking" in San Francisco. They had maybe a book, or a website, and would go out and explore neighborhoods and what not. 

I really enjoyed this shot. Thanks for sharing it. I guess this time next year things will look quite different. 

Nice shot. Looks like they're thinking about electrifying the route some day. Wonder where they're going to get the juice from since there's not enough generation/infrastructure for CA now?

PCBill

Very timely quality shot! 

The power is already on for the entire route between SF and San Jose.  The new EMUs are planned to be in service by September.  They are currently going through a run in period of 1000 miles per train set before passengers can ride on them.  The first few have completed that milestone.

The power comes from two substations, one just north of South San Francisco station, and another one at the San Jose end, a bit north of Diridon Station.

Thanks! There are so many neighborhoods, parks, murals, museums, restaurants, bars, cafes, etc., to explore in The City. The Financial District and parts of SOMA that are tech, finance, and legal centers have been slow to recover with many office jobs still providing a work from home option at least part time, but the neighborhoods, Golden Gate Park, and many other areas are popping once again.

phthithu Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great shot, BL! My parents' friends living in the
> suburbs of San Francisco had a hobby of going
> "hiking" in San Francisco. They had maybe a book,
> or a website, and would go out and explore
> neighborhoods and what not. 
>
> I really enjoyed this shot. Thanks for sharing it.
> I guess this time next year things will look quite
> different. 

Speaking with a Caltrain conductor last week, she mentioned that some of the EMU sets might enter service this summer prior to the service change and schedule cut-over. I haven't stayed up for a late night trackside to see these things running yet, but apparently they've been ripping up and down the Peninsula at night.

bobs Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The power is already on for the entire route
> between SF and San Jose.  The new EMUs are
> planned to be in service by September.  They are
> currently going through a run in period of 1000
> miles per train set before passengers can ride on
> them.  The first few have completed that
> milestone.
>
> The power comes from two substations, one just
> north of South San Francisco station, and another
> one at the San Jose end, a bit north of Diridon
> Station.

bmarti7 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice shot. Looks like they're thinking about
> electrifying the route some day. Wonder where
> they're going to get the juice from since there's
> not enough generation/infrastructure for CA now?
>
> PCBill

You're about 20 years out of date. Emron doesn't run things anymore.

Bmarti7 wrote: Looks like they're thinking about electrifying the route some day. Wonder where they're going to get the juice from since there's not enough generation/infrastructure for CA now?
They will probably declare this to be an essential service and other customers will suffer blackouts. Not only will this service require unavailable electricity: what about the electric cars. California is heading for disaster.
 

broken_link Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Speaking with a Caltrain conductor last week, she
> mentioned that some of the EMU sets might enter
> service this summer prior to the service change
> and schedule cut-over. I haven't stayed up for a
> late night trackside to see these things running
> yet, but apparently they've been ripping up and
> down the Peninsula at night.
>
> bobs Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The power is already on for the entire route
> > between SF and San Jose.  The new EMUs are
> > planned to be in service by September.  They
> are
> > currently going through a run in period of 1000
> > miles per train set before passengers can ride
> on
> > them.  The first few have completed that
> > milestone.
> >
> > The power comes from two substations, one just
> > north of South San Francisco station, and
> another
> > one at the San Jose end, a bit north of Diridon
> > Station.

According to this: https://www.caltrain.com/media/33284/download
EMU will start replacing diesel sets starting from 8/3, will full cut-over done by 9/23
 

POW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bmarti7 wrote: Looks like they're thinking about
> electrifying the route some day. Wonder where
> they're going to get the juice from since there's
> not enough generation/infrastructure for CA now?
> They will probably declare this to be an essential
> service and other customers will suffer blackouts.
> Not only will this service require unavailable
> electricity: what about the electric cars.
> California is heading for disaster.
>  

Too much anti-CA stuff 'round here...the energy transition will not be easy, for sure, but we will find a way. B

POW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bmarti7 wrote: Looks like they're thinking about
> electrifying the route some day. Wonder where
> they're going to get the juice from since there's
> not enough generation/infrastructure for CA now?
> They will probably declare this to be an essential
> service and other customers will suffer blackouts.
> Not only will this service require unavailable
> electricity: what about the electric cars.
> California is heading for disaster.
>  


Wat? 

doge_of_pocopson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> POW Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Bmarti7 wrote: Looks like they're thinking
> about
> > electrifying the route some day. Wonder where
> > they're going to get the juice from since
> there's
> > not enough generation/infrastructure for CA
> now?
> > They will probably declare this to be an
> essential
> > service and other customers will suffer
> blackouts.
> > Not only will this service require unavailable
> > electricity: what about the electric cars.
> > California is heading for disaster.
> >  
>
> Too much anti-CA stuff 'round here...the energy
> transition will not be easy, for sure, but we will
> find a way. B

Ya by shutting off the power up north were it gets hotter than hell so the energy sucking bay area can enjoy them selve with their pet projects.

Thats a great shot of the F40s before they sadly are gone.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/24 21:28 by TomG.

Don't you mean "Watt?"

ChrisCampi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> POW Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Bmarti7 wrote: Looks like they're thinking
> about
> > electrifying the route some day. Wonder where
> > they're going to get the juice from since
> there's
> > not enough generation/infrastructure for CA
> now?
> > They will probably declare this to be an
> essential
> > service and other customers will suffer
> blackouts.
> > Not only will this service require unavailable
> > electricity: what about the electric cars.
> > California is heading for disaster.
> >  
>
>
> Wat? 

What is with all the political commentary on this thread.  I came to see and read about trains, not the rants posted here.  Keep on topic folks.

Subhead from a [paywalled] news story dated 4/22: "As electricity prices go negative, the Golden State is struggling to offload a glut of solar power". Maybe CalTrain can help with that.

Nice picture! This view will always look better than what's to come. A nice lineup of F40PH locomotives instead of glorified trolleys.

I was grabbing a coffee at Starbucks around 9 pm and by the corner of my eye, I saw the EMU set running around.  It looks nice IMO. 

westcoastrails Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice picture! . . . . A nice lineup of F40PH locomotives . . .

It sure is.  And what are the odds of getting a photo of that many locomotives of the same class and all of them being even-numbered?

In my two decades of running F40s starting at the commencement of Amtrak Zone 10, I really preferred them for their expansive field of view compared to what is provided by the various newer models in this era.  Of course, the great reduction of in-cab noise following their conversion to NPCUs was appreciated.