CALTRAIN REVIEW! Last round for the diesel train before the electrification
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Date: 2024-01-09
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Comments and reviews: 35
-kastandlee
Many years ago, I commuted on Caltrain regularly between Mountain View and San Mateo, where Caltrain's administrative offices are located. I was one of Santa Clara County's (San Jose area) appointees to the Caltrain Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board's Citizens' Advisory Committee, back when the early versions of the Environmental Impact Statements for the electrification were grinding their way through the process. (Ironically, if I ever wanted to attend a Caltrain PCJPB meeting, I had to drive, as the shuttles that connected my office to the San Mateo station didn't run during the middle of the day when those meetings happened) During my time on the CAC, we got a tour that included looking inside #915 _South San Francisco_ (the engine on the track next to the one from which you departed, and we also had some feedback on the refurbishment of the gallery coaches to the seats in which you rode. They showed us several types of seat, and we as a group agreed that they should get the firmer ones. That surprised the staff who assumed we would want softer seats. I said, -I assume you aren't going to do enough maintenance on these seats, so you need to start with firm ones so that as they age they will still hold up. - They didn't like hearing that kind of cynicism.
Those 40-year-old gallery coaches, as you noted, date back to the days when conductors had to pass through the train punching (and selling) paper tickets, which they would stick into holders above the lower level seats. True double-deck cars would have been much harder to manage, given the short trips. Nowadays, the entire system is -proof of payment- so they don't sell tickets on board and instead have random fare enforcement and a fine for not having a valid proof of payment. The 40-year-old coaches, however, soldier on.
Your stop at Mountain View, where there is a connection to the Valley Transportation Authority light rail system, reminds me that when they were rebuilding that station during the time I lived in Mountain View, they removed an old siding that had been used to maintain maintenance-of-way equipment. My wife and I noted that the roll dates on some of those removed rails were 1896! I wish we had gotten a picture of it.
I have since moved to Northern Nevada, where my home overlooks the tracks on which you traveled on the California Zephyr. I am glad that the Caltrain electrification is finally nearing completion. It's absurdly long overdue. Indeed, as I recall, when Harriman controlled the Southern Pacific in the early 20th century, one of the plans was to electrify the tracks and extend them to a station that would have been located under the Southern Pacific Headquarters building at 1 Market Street in San Francisco. What a wonder that would have been!
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Many years ago, I commuted on Caltrain regularly between Mountain View and San Mateo, where Caltrain's administrative offices are located. I was one of Santa Clara County's (San Jose area) appointees to the Caltrain Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board's Citizens' Advisory Committee, back when the early versions of the Environmental Impact Statements for the electrification were grinding their way through the process. (Ironically, if I ever wanted to attend a Caltrain PCJPB meeting, I had to drive, as the shuttles that connected my office to the San Mateo station didn't run during the middle of the day when those meetings happened) During my time on the CAC, we got a tour that included looking inside #915 _South San Francisco_ (the engine on the track next to the one from which you departed, and we also had some feedback on the refurbishment of the gallery coaches to the seats in which you rode. They showed us several types of seat, and we as a group agreed that they should get the firmer ones. That surprised the staff who assumed we would want softer seats. I said, -I assume you aren't going to do enough maintenance on these seats, so you need to start with firm ones so that as they age they will still hold up. - They didn't like hearing that kind of cynicism.
Those 40-year-old gallery coaches, as you noted, date back to the days when conductors had to pass through the train punching (and selling) paper tickets, which they would stick into holders above the lower level seats. True double-deck cars would have been much harder to manage, given the short trips. Nowadays, the entire system is -proof of payment- so they don't sell tickets on board and instead have random fare enforcement and a fine for not having a valid proof of payment. The 40-year-old coaches, however, soldier on.
Your stop at Mountain View, where there is a connection to the Valley Transportation Authority light rail system, reminds me that when they were rebuilding that station during the time I lived in Mountain View, they removed an old siding that had been used to maintain maintenance-of-way equipment. My wife and I noted that the roll dates on some of those removed rails were 1896! I wish we had gotten a picture of it.
I have since moved to Northern Nevada, where my home overlooks the tracks on which you traveled on the California Zephyr. I am glad that the Caltrain electrification is finally nearing completion. It's absurdly long overdue. Indeed, as I recall, when Harriman controlled the Southern Pacific in the early 20th century, one of the plans was to electrify the tracks and extend them to a station that would have been located under the Southern Pacific Headquarters building at 1 Market Street in San Francisco. What a wonder that would have been!
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-NozomuYume
Aww if I'd known you were in SF I would've given you a tour and shown you the secrets of Muni! Some of the Muni metro lines have reopened now, including all of the underground stations!
Also, regarding the terminus, about half the trains continue on to Tamien, just south of Diridon. It's the only station south of Diridon that sees frequent service. They do this because it's a faster interchange with the VTA light rail system, which if you're coming from the south has to take a bit of a circuitous route to get to Diridon. This way on at least some of the trains, people can make a transfer from the Santa Teresa light rail route that the would otherwise miss if they had to continue on to Diridon. The downtown sections of VTA light rail are slow and windy and really need to be replaced with a dedicated underground section.
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Aww if I'd known you were in SF I would've given you a tour and shown you the secrets of Muni! Some of the Muni metro lines have reopened now, including all of the underground stations!
Also, regarding the terminus, about half the trains continue on to Tamien, just south of Diridon. It's the only station south of Diridon that sees frequent service. They do this because it's a faster interchange with the VTA light rail system, which if you're coming from the south has to take a bit of a circuitous route to get to Diridon. This way on at least some of the trains, people can make a transfer from the Santa Teresa light rail route that the would otherwise miss if they had to continue on to Diridon. The downtown sections of VTA light rail are slow and windy and really need to be replaced with a dedicated underground section.
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-candacelubin3813
Once again Simply Railway is technically and production wise probably the best rail recording on u-tube and i'm sure beyond.
In particular the audio was spot on in sync with the image. When moving from one car to the you only got the change in ambient
Sounds but the sounds made by door ( open, slide, close) perfect some other that I missed. And I was looking.
In every Simply Railway is head head and shoulders anything else. Thank you again for your attention, to detail.
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Once again Simply Railway is technically and production wise probably the best rail recording on u-tube and i'm sure beyond.
In particular the audio was spot on in sync with the image. When moving from one car to the you only got the change in ambient
Sounds but the sounds made by door ( open, slide, close) perfect some other that I missed. And I was looking.
In every Simply Railway is head head and shoulders anything else. Thank you again for your attention, to detail.
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-branchmedo
Living in the Greater Toronto Area, a lot of Caltrain is familiar (the Bilevel cars were first designed and built for GO Transit here, and we have MPI MPXpress locomotives too. It's also cool to see what the electrification in progress looks like - GO (and the provincial body Metrolinx that governs them) are keen to start electrification as soon as they can. I'm sure one day soon I'll be driving on the 401 and finally see the first catenary poles going up.
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Living in the Greater Toronto Area, a lot of Caltrain is familiar (the Bilevel cars were first designed and built for GO Transit here, and we have MPI MPXpress locomotives too. It's also cool to see what the electrification in progress looks like - GO (and the provincial body Metrolinx that governs them) are keen to start electrification as soon as they can. I'm sure one day soon I'll be driving on the 401 and finally see the first catenary poles going up.
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-brooklynelite5428
America is yes intact so far behind to be honest there shouldn't be any diesel trains still running the track in the year 2022 all trains should have been all electric prior to building it doesn't matter how much the bill is efficiency and performance should be first priority the brightline in Florida should have been electrified don't understand why not America start investing into our rail system let have a system people respect not laugh at.
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America is yes intact so far behind to be honest there shouldn't be any diesel trains still running the track in the year 2022 all trains should have been all electric prior to building it doesn't matter how much the bill is efficiency and performance should be first priority the brightline in Florida should have been electrified don't understand why not America start investing into our rail system let have a system people respect not laugh at.
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-amesavis
californians are so liberal, spending on such nonsense as a train with 5 people, while they can't even keep the water running and the electricity on! the gallery trains are unique but I must say I dislike 2 level trains. Neither level seems to get proper space! commuter trains will certainly be going obsolete with all this telework. sadly i had no idea what you said in the beginning
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californians are so liberal, spending on such nonsense as a train with 5 people, while they can't even keep the water running and the electricity on! the gallery trains are unique but I must say I dislike 2 level trains. Neither level seems to get proper space! commuter trains will certainly be going obsolete with all this telework. sadly i had no idea what you said in the beginning
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-Ellary_Rosewood
Ahhh, I used to take Caltrain ALL THE TIME. I wish there were more stops around the Bay Area, but perhaps in the future. This video brings back so many good memories. Also, the newer trains are much nicer and have power outlets, as well as tables so you can get some work done! It was always a treat when I was able to ride one of those instead of the older ones.
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Ahhh, I used to take Caltrain ALL THE TIME. I wish there were more stops around the Bay Area, but perhaps in the future. This video brings back so many good memories. Also, the newer trains are much nicer and have power outlets, as well as tables so you can get some work done! It was always a treat when I was able to ride one of those instead of the older ones.
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-fluffnose3386
I just don-t care for electric trains. They lack soul. I know the same thing was said about diesels, but at least diesels have character. Most electric trains are boxy and ugly. No rhythm to the engine. Just efficiency. That-s the only good thing about electric trains. I really hope the US doesn-t switch to electric in my lifetime at least.
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I just don-t care for electric trains. They lack soul. I know the same thing was said about diesels, but at least diesels have character. Most electric trains are boxy and ugly. No rhythm to the engine. Just efficiency. That-s the only good thing about electric trains. I really hope the US doesn-t switch to electric in my lifetime at least.
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-ShoresRailfan
Great video. I always enjoy your analysis of the rail service you are riding on. I-m old enough to remember the Southern Pacific commuter service in the early 1950-s when they were still running steam locomotives. During the 1970-s I worked in San Francisco and road the SP commute service between SF and San Carlos.
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Great video. I always enjoy your analysis of the rail service you are riding on. I-m old enough to remember the Southern Pacific commuter service in the early 1950-s when they were still running steam locomotives. During the 1970-s I worked in San Francisco and road the SP commute service between SF and San Carlos.
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-gdrriley420
seems like 2025 may finally be the start of decent trains in CA. high speed rail should get you part of the way towards LA
hopefully the old gallery cars move on to start commuter rail somewhere else. they should still have life left given how cars were made in the 50s
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seems like 2025 may finally be the start of decent trains in CA. high speed rail should get you part of the way towards LA
hopefully the old gallery cars move on to start commuter rail somewhere else. they should still have life left given how cars were made in the 50s
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-TheBeagle58
Merci, great video of Caltrain. I haven't been back to San Fran since 2015. They really do take great care of the equipment. Nice to see the progress of electrification, nearing it's final stages. I am an EMU fan largely so this will be nice to come back and try.
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Merci, great video of Caltrain. I haven't been back to San Fran since 2015. They really do take great care of the equipment. Nice to see the progress of electrification, nearing it's final stages. I am an EMU fan largely so this will be nice to come back and try.
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-ZLDSmogless
These engines are amazing! Very sad that they are going! I've driven one in a Simulator before, and everything from the manually-lapped brakes, to the very nice horn, to the nice thrash of the engine when you take full power. I love these locomotives.
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These engines are amazing! Very sad that they are going! I've driven one in a Simulator before, and everything from the manually-lapped brakes, to the very nice horn, to the nice thrash of the engine when you take full power. I love these locomotives.
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-ArtamStudio
I prefer the gallery cars over the newer stock and will miss them when they're gone for good. Those solo seats on the second level are highly prized. Electrification will be only 21 years late - but we'll still have the diesel freighters to deal with.
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I prefer the gallery cars over the newer stock and will miss them when they're gone for good. Those solo seats on the second level are highly prized. Electrification will be only 21 years late - but we'll still have the diesel freighters to deal with.
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-Dog. soldier1950
The fare box recovery ratio is 51% no wonder SP asked to give up the service so the tax payers pour buckets of money into this service in order to have a cheap ride or zero about 2, 500 riders skip paying any fare a month what a boondoggle -
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The fare box recovery ratio is 51% no wonder SP asked to give up the service so the tax payers pour buckets of money into this service in order to have a cheap ride or zero about 2, 500 riders skip paying any fare a month what a boondoggle -
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train
I generally love railway equipment from the 1950s and 1960s, the designs, the fluted stainless steel. but I completely agree with you regarding the gallery cars, I have never found the exterior or the interior to be that appealing.
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I generally love railway equipment from the 1950s and 1960s, the designs, the fluted stainless steel. but I completely agree with you regarding the gallery cars, I have never found the exterior or the interior to be that appealing.
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-taxesv1nce142
I have a suggestion, you should ride on Amtrak's Vermonter and make a video (Once they resume service to Vermont) It's a very nice route past New Haven and it's cool to see the switching of locomotives in New Haven.
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I have a suggestion, you should ride on Amtrak's Vermonter and make a video (Once they resume service to Vermont) It's a very nice route past New Haven and it's cool to see the switching of locomotives in New Haven.
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-alexpaumen3937
Oh my god. The mighty AEM-7s! I already know the soundtrack to expect from them. Those gorgeous 1980s K5LAs they have on them make some of the most beautiful sounds you-ll ever hear when they-re working correctly.
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Oh my god. The mighty AEM-7s! I already know the soundtrack to expect from them. Those gorgeous 1980s K5LAs they have on them make some of the most beautiful sounds you-ll ever hear when they-re working correctly.
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-jblyon2
You would think with all the environmental issues in CA the lines would have been electrified long ago to get rid of more diesel pollution. Then again this is the US where the last priority is always mass transit.
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You would think with all the environmental issues in CA the lines would have been electrified long ago to get rid of more diesel pollution. Then again this is the US where the last priority is always mass transit.
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-DanielsUKT
Great trip report the stainless steel on the inside and the seats look good what was veey bizzare is when you said the train has to be driven from the upstairs how is that possible - it shouldd be downstairs
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Great trip report the stainless steel on the inside and the seats look good what was veey bizzare is when you said the train has to be driven from the upstairs how is that possible - it shouldd be downstairs
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-taxesv1nce142
I enjoy like the old diesel locos that run on some commuter routes, there big, heavy, and have great horns. And no offense, but European trains usually have faint little horns that sound like a car horn.
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I enjoy like the old diesel locos that run on some commuter routes, there big, heavy, and have great horns. And no offense, but European trains usually have faint little horns that sound like a car horn.
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-samtrak1204
Even when CALTRAIN electrification is complete, trains won't reach the recently built Transbay Intermodal Station which sees no trains today. ONLY IN AMERICA! This would never happen in Europe or Japan.
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Even when CALTRAIN electrification is complete, trains won't reach the recently built Transbay Intermodal Station which sees no trains today. ONLY IN AMERICA! This would never happen in Europe or Japan.
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-maciekkra539
What would be really cool, if they painted an AEM7 in black widow paint scheme for the start of electric service. AEM7 car body lends it's self nicely for horizontal stripes like that.
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What would be really cool, if they painted an AEM7 in black widow paint scheme for the start of electric service. AEM7 car body lends it's self nicely for horizontal stripes like that.
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train
The good thing is they are still doing diesel service to gilroy but they recently ordered a battery electric EMU and if it goes successful then the full diesel fleet would be replaced
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The good thing is they are still doing diesel service to gilroy but they recently ordered a battery electric EMU and if it goes successful then the full diesel fleet would be replaced
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-SteamboatWilley
I agree with you on the inefficiency of the gallery cars. So does Alan Fisher. (See his video titled -Metra exemplifies everything wrong with American passenger rail-)
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I agree with you on the inefficiency of the gallery cars. So does Alan Fisher. (See his video titled -Metra exemplifies everything wrong with American passenger rail-)
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-user-bo9qs9ih8z
enjoy the old Gallery wagons. it's like in Germany. eventually the new cars will replace them and the beautiful old ones will disappear forever. appreciates the time
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enjoy the old Gallery wagons. it's like in Germany. eventually the new cars will replace them and the beautiful old ones will disappear forever. appreciates the time
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-iancarisi8342
They really need to 4 track this line to effectively have it be used simultaneously by Cal-Train (Local Commuter Railroad) and CHSR (Express long distance train.
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They really need to 4 track this line to effectively have it be used simultaneously by Cal-Train (Local Commuter Railroad) and CHSR (Express long distance train.
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-joscallinet6260
I don't understand why it is going to take until LATE 2024 before the full electrification is completed (it is only mid-2021. We work VERY slowly in the U. S.
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I don't understand why it is going to take until LATE 2024 before the full electrification is completed (it is only mid-2021. We work VERY slowly in the U. S.
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-Truckdriverplays
In US the proper way to use $ is to use it before the number. It written different than spoken. For instance you say five dollars but it written $5. Not 5$.
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In US the proper way to use $ is to use it before the number. It written different than spoken. For instance you say five dollars but it written $5. Not 5$.
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-tonymento7460
Caltrain now has 2 X -Amtrak AEM - 7 numbers are # 929 and # 938 # 938 has been completed rebuild and is in Caltrain colors it looks great too
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Caltrain now has 2 X -Amtrak AEM - 7 numbers are # 929 and # 938 # 938 has been completed rebuild and is in Caltrain colors it looks great too
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-renegadetenor
I was there on the day they switched from SP to Caltrain equipment. I still prefer the gallery cars, having grown up with them in Chicago.
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I was there on the day they switched from SP to Caltrain equipment. I still prefer the gallery cars, having grown up with them in Chicago.
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-donnlino
I tried this train from. san jose going to san feancisco
There are several trip going there such as non stop and every other station. -
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I tried this train from. san jose going to san feancisco
There are several trip going there such as non stop and every other station. -
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-carru216
That engineer was using the horn every 5 seconds. Like an European I can't understand that. Poor people living near the tracks
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That engineer was using the horn every 5 seconds. Like an European I can't understand that. Poor people living near the tracks
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-gerarddorle7141
A force de fermer les -petites- lignes, il ne restera plus que des lignes TGV. Fin du diesel, mais pas de la bagnole.
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A force de fermer les -petites- lignes, il ne restera plus que des lignes TGV. Fin du diesel, mais pas de la bagnole.
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-lucaizzo6604
If the Circumvesuviana would be 1/10th as well functioning as this it would be a great service lol
Btw great video
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If the Circumvesuviana would be 1/10th as well functioning as this it would be a great service lol
Btw great video
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-GildaLee27
Hey, I love those gallery coaches! I used to take Caltrain regularly. Glad to hear they are electrifying the line.
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Hey, I love those gallery coaches! I used to take Caltrain regularly. Glad to hear they are electrifying the line.
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