CalTrain - San Francisco's Commuter Railroad

Caltrain is a commuter rail service in the San Francisco bay area. Trains travel in between San Francisco and San Jose with some continuing as far south as Gilroy. Constructed in 1863 by the San Fransisco and San Jose Railway Company, the line was purchased by the Southern Pacific Railroad just 7 years later. In the 1980s, the California Department of Transportation stepped in to take on some of the financial burden and keep the commuter trains running. A brand new fleet of 20 EMD F40PH locomotives and more than 60 Bilevel “Gallery” cars, built by Nippon Sharyo was purchased by the state in 1984 and in 1985, the service was officially rebranded as “CalTrain”. Today, CalTrain is one of the busiest commuter operations in the nation, averaging about 65,000 riders each weekday as of 2019. On a normal weekday, nearly 50 trains a day in each direction make stops at the line’s 29 stations. CalTrain has changed and grown a lot over the years, but the railroad is currently undergoing its biggest transformation thus far. The diesel hauled passenger trains are in the process of being replaced by a brand new fleet of self propelled Electrical Multiple Unit cars, built by the company Stadler. In order to power the new equipment, the entire corridor between San Jose’s Tamien Station and the San Francisco 4th and King Street Station is being electrified with brand new 25 kilovolt overhead electrical wire. The Caltrain Modernization Program, or CalMod for short, is expected to be completed some time in the first half of 2022. While some of the diesel fleet will be retained for service to Gilroy, the original 20 F40 locomotives dating back to 1984 will all be retired along with the Gallery Cars. Let’s take a trip to the San Francisco Bay Area for a look at the venerable F40 locomotives in action as they dutifully haul their trains up and down the peninsula. At the time this was filmed, the electrification project was well underway. You will see several scenes of completed overhead catenary and electrical poles as well as others where construction of the new electrical infrastructure had not yet been completed.
CoasterFan2105 is the home of all sorts of train and railroad related video content. Stop by every Friday at 9 AM Pacific time for an all new railroading adventure and be sure to check out all of my social media pages @coasterfan2105 for even more great railroad content. Thanks, and I'll see you down the line!

[@davidnissim589]

My childhood home was only two blocks west of the Caltrain line, and I remember growing up listening to the trains passing by. I think that's what sparked my interest in trains from a young age.

[@thealmightydoge5653]

CalTrain has always been unique to me! Their rolling stock, horns, and routes! It's been my dream to railfan it some day, I hope it's worth it, Mike!

[@Sheesh903]

It really is unique...

[@ismaellopez652]

W

[@theaustinleeytchanneltalytc]

Caltrain has been one of my first railroads that sparked my railfan experience.

[@northerncalirails2008]

Me too

[@Caty_DaCuteCaltrain]

@@northerncalirails2008Me three.

[@alpharailroadproductions]

Great video Mike! Caltrain has always been interesting especially with the Electrification going on

[@norcalrailphotographer]

Yes

[@SuperDave30]

CalTrain and Chicago’s Metra commuter trains are my favorites, I even play CalTrain on “TSW Train Sim World”

[@stephanieeberly0424]

Neil Vodden started out in 1944 for the Roundhouse in San Jose, CA. He's an Engineer who droves SP 4-6-2 No. #2472 until the early 1990's between San Francisco, CA & San Jose, CA commuter service.

[@wheeling827]

Great video Mike! CalTrain is one of my favorite commuter railroads, so I'm glad you did a video on it! Thanks!

[@ericfung5279]

Nice one. I even got a N scale CalTrain 925 along with 2 bombardier bi level cars. My favorite CalTrain set is the MP36 and the bombardier bi level cars.

[@danielgarepisholland]

I'm so happy that TSW has Caltrain - it's so cool having your hometown and a train you ride everyday be in a game lmao

[@evanstonbalce9588]

I don’t ride Caltrain very often but I play mostly this on TSW

[@killerbees177]

It's cool to see this route after playing it alot on TSW. Looks like Dovetail did a really good job on recreating the route.

[@dhruvdiscoanimationsfilms6752]

When I was little in Redwood City, we would watch trains every day.

[@nathanaelrios7075]

That sounds fun I always liked trains

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

I grew up in The Bay Area and used to hang out at the Southern Pacific Roundhouse. I remember SP SDP45s, GP40-Ps and GP9s pulling the old Harrimans and Gallery coaches. Man, the area has changed!

[@BnuuyBoi2005]

Fun Fact: Canadian Pacific 2860 came to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1977

[@CoasterFan2105]

Yes, it did! They've had a number of unusual visitors over the years!

[@kevp9601]

+CoasterFan2105, You're New KZbin Video is the Best! And I Love It a Lot!! :-D

[@doctordothraki4378]

I have a DVD called "Southern Pacific By The Bay", released 1997 just after UP bought SP. It focuses on 1967-1997 mainly

[@DexterTheFox2865]

@@CoasterFan2105 Keep up the good work

[@caitlinkay97]

Jj

[@rtagao]

I can still remember taking Caltrain to work from the Townsend Station to South San Francisco from 1990 to about 1994. I will always cherish those years when I lived my dream of seeing America by rail. I really miss the sounds of the train bells and horns.

[@ternie6515]

From 1992-2012 Amtrak California was the operator and some gallery cab cars were built in 2000.

[@brianh8320]

Looking at how things weren't being modernized back then makes me wish I got into this hobby much earlier, but sadly, I was too young to care back then.

[@TrainGuru]

Watching this made me realize how far you’ve grown. In your older videos about specific locations, you’d cut straight to the case. Now you have a fantastic selection of music and great knowledge about these rail lines. I’m so glad to have watched this channel grow from 2016 to now!

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

I went on the Caltrain a few weeks ago. It was something I had always wanted to do since my Dad showed me a video of a few Caltrain trains entering and departing Redwood City. Great video Mike!

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@derrickwong5337]

Wonderful 😊! Caltrain Commuter from San Francisco to San Jose for daily service and Tamien and Gilroy weekdays services.

[@superbaddy4]

5:45 12:06 13:51 22:04 One of my definitive Favorite JPBX Units, 119! That Cab Car has an awesome Leslie 2-Chime and a great Roof-Mounted E-Bell! It'll be sad that I can't see that unit in the main area anymore, along with its even greater brother, 120, once the Electrification kicks in.

[@doctordothraki4378]

I think that Caltrain will keep its MP36PH locomotives and Bombardier cars for service to Gilroy, until it's electrified

[@ThePeninsulaRailfan]

Hey Mike, thanks for the visit

[@ClearTrackSpeed]

Vibing music and great historical shots, thanks for sharing Mike

[@CoasterFan2105]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@AmtrakCSXFan457]

I like how the Bombardier cab cars have ditch lights like the Siemens locomotives.

[@sixfifty_sebb]

yeah, the gallery cars also have them as well with the F40PH-2C and the MP36PH-3C

[@lawrencehudson9939]

Great photography, like the high angle shots. Well done.

[@e.mnz1280]

My favorite railroad company!

[@lindsayhengehold5341]

Love Cal Train!

[@ishnickeous4863]

Love these trains, grown up with them my entire life. Great videos, keep going!

[@railwaysfan92]

Good job Mike interresting video! I did not know that electric trains will be coming soon! Stadler trains are great quality; i know very well their first works in north Switzerland.

[@officialnewyork_railfan6822]

TSW 2 has this route to from San Fransisco-San Jose and its pretty accurate

[@brianh8320]

Other than the equipment for electrification.

[@officialnewyork_railfan6822]

@@brianh8320 Yea they rlly need to remake the route soon

[@sixfifty_sebb]

yea and they need to add the new hillsdale station along with an accurate gallery car horn and accurate f40 horn since they reused the mp36 horn

[@curtisdaniel9294]

Always good to get some history of a line as well as its future going forward! 😊 Thanks 👍!

[@AirchimeLTDproductions174]

Another great video Mike!!!! I have grown to really appreciate the Nathan P2s now.

[@theswiller85]

Great shots of some of my old stomping grounds. Rode Caltrain many a time when I lived there. Now all I have is SacRT.

[@allyouluckypeople]

I like how your drop shadow colors match the color scheme of the trains!

[@SJSharkMaster]

The video I have been waiting for so long. Thank you Mike, you always deliver the best! I hope there will be more of CalTrain in the future! Also glad you got a shot of the Shark Tank as well.

[@lime3107]

I waited so long for this video

[@paulwarner5395]

Thanx for the great videos. A great memento of the system before it goes full electric. You'll be surprized how fast your memory will fade one they start.

[@Metal9040]

Great video as always Mike! Ahh that intro brings me back so much nostalgia from when I watched you back in the day

[@norcalrailphotographer]

now this, ive been waiting for this for quite a while! finally! nice video! i railfan the railine and its nice to still see em f40s still in service!

[@tzadik36]

Great video photograpny and a few scenic spots in the concrete jungle.

[@waynesimpson4081]

Well, there's far more than "a few" scenic spots along the route.

[@JustarailfannerTrains]

When u was about 4-5 years old my dad would take me down to Redwood City station to watch trains and I still railfan The peninsula to this day!

[@teddyguerrero1235]

Thank you for making this video. Caltrain is one of my favorite train lines in the San Francisco Bay Area.

[@GamingRailfanner]

Meanwhile me in Canada: Yup these F40PH’s and P42DC’s are legit

[@doctordothraki4378]

*Siemens Charger:* I'm about to end this stock's whole career. Eventually

[@GamingRailfanner]

@@doctordothraki4378 yup

[@darkwoodmovies]

There's something about the sun in California. IDK how to describe it, but it just shines warmer.

[@PapyrusCUT]

16:29 memories of Caltrain 919

[@Deyortsedxp]

7:42 that reminds me of the metro link video that was 12 years ago

[@sixfifty_sebb]

Caltrain bought metrolink cars back in 2015 due to overcrowding

[@ILoveTrains]

Amazing videos of Caltrains! Very detailed and beautiful!

[@Austin-uj4re]

Great video Mike Armstrong! When the time comes, I would love it if you can try and film Caltrain after the modernization program because then it will have the new Stadler trains. It is also important to note that last year, Caltrain had passed a dedicated funding source measure so that it can continue operations without the dependability of other agencies.

[@lanochelanochedelcuervo3895]

Nice video Mike. Hope to see you and meet you next time you come in SF

[@GraniteRockRailfan]

Ive seen Caltrain running when I was spending one night in San Francisco and also one day when I was in Gilroy. It was Back in 2017

[@catvoncrimson666]

YAAY! My home train!

[@BenceSnurikTrainspotting]

Very good video as always! I will miss the F40 locomotives! :(

[@caltrain_acefoamer907]

Nice job Mike!! When you go over to see the Caltrain route again. I recommend you to either catch the 255 or the 240. That enginner is really good with shave and a haircuts and hornshows. He might give you a quick chat when he is boarding passengers.

[@northerncalirails2008]

Ong

[@moniquebousseau966]

Magnifiques vidéos avec le rêve en plus... Thank you 😍

[@testpattern701]

You found some great vantage points, Mike. Congratulations! It could use some audio limiting for the loud train horns. Caltrain is special to me. I grew up near the California Avenue station.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Quite like these commuter trains mike and great commentary from you mate

[@coastergreg]

Very cool crew! 5:16

[@MJstudioversion2024]

Gorgeous and cool footage Mike! 👏👌👍🔥

[@dzymslizzy3641]

This was interesting. I grew up literally a stone's throw from the San Francisco/Bayshore area. Our backyard faced east across Bayshore Blvd., and had it not been for the Schlage Lock buildings, we would have been able to see the train tracks from the bedroom windows! Never had occasion to ride the train, sad to say...

[@TrainsDirectVictoria]

Caltrain F40 ❤️

[@CoasterFan2105]

Hard to believe they're nearly 40 years old!

[@anthonypinkerton1809]

I hope to see more about the CalTrain modernization, as well as another Cab ride from Gilroy to San Francisco

[@westernpacificrr]

Caltrain has always been my number one favorite commuter service (mostly because of the sp owning it before)

[@ROTE]

Great video Mike! I drive CalTrain a lot in TSW 2! I hope I can visit this railroad in real life someday.

[@Asimo-sq3wt]

You should do MBTA

[@CoasterFan2105]

I did an MBBTA video a while ago, but I might do more in the future!

[@johnclements8549]

Awesome!

[@jtrail]

Awesome video, sad that I won't be able to catch the diesels for much longer.

[@kennyt1674]

Amazing job Mike Keep up the absolute amazing work

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you, Kenny! Will do!

[@kennyt1674]

@@CoasterFan2105 no prob Mike

[@SpotterCrazyperson]

Interesting information. Great videos of various trains!

[@doctordothraki4378]

I haven't been on Caltrain in so long, yet I still live in the area 😐

[@opwave79]

I miss commuting on Caltrain. That crossing chime is so familiar to me! Sigh. I take a ferry boat to work now, lol.

[@waynesimpson4081]

How I envy you for having to "settle" for a ferry commute!

[@opwave79]

@@waynesimpson4081 it’s pretty rough in the winter though, lol

[@BoogeyManHuants]

I bet metra will try to get those f40s and mp36s.

[@BayAreaTrackside]

Nice video!! Yay my home railroad.

[@youngspotter4451]

I love CalTrain! and also great video cf2105

[@JasonB748]

cool footage!

[@mikelowery5741]

Love how it’s all F40ph’s

[@BayAreaTrackside]

I want to see more of these Caltrain vids

[@leffnaedroblox529]

Cool!

[@glenpower1677]

Nice!

[@kevp9601]

Awesome. :-D

[@silentambling]

A question, please - what do the small, two-digit numbers on the cab's engineer-side rear-view mirrors mean (time stamp 12:51, 19:47 etc) ? I rode the line for years but never noticed those before. Great video. Thank you for posting.

[@westernpacificrr]

Train numbers. All services are assigned a certain number for the train they’re running.

[@rhettrossalbert]

Nice Video Mike! :) ❤️👍

[@omar80901]

hello, nice to meet all you!

[@CiaranAnything]

7:50 literal earcandy

[@amtrakboy4155]

Nice video

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thanks!

[@jaronkinser5151]

I don't care what kind of video it is I just like every single video from CoasterFan2105 lol.

[@felixthetrainfan4819]

Nice Caltrain video

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you!

[@southshorerailvideos1122]

3:03 Killa volt? ⚡💀 Seems accurate

[@zionthepoliticalcomedian5880]

I’ve heard of Caltrain, but I have never rode on Caltrain before.

[@scr2392]

are those some Metrolink cars from when a few years ago when Metrolink got the new wavy line bi-level cars there old ones went to cal train

[@willberestartingthischanne9984]

Nice Video Mike

[@SitesandSounds]

Great Video

[@HenryLikesTrainss]

I heard that they were making new Caltrains I have seen the the over Head wires not only that don’t know when I will catch one and they use 2 of Amtrak’s AEM-7’s to test run it.

[@Trainlover1995]

The information about train numbering is now outdated. On August 30, 2021, they adopted a new, more confusing train numbering scheme: * 1xx is still weekday local * 2xx is now weekend local * 3xx, 4xx, and 5xx are three different patterns of limited stop services * 6xx is special/holiday * 7xx is the new Baby Bullet number series

[@kalenc515]

I lived in the San Francisco Bay my entire life and have actually never been on any mass transit system here like BART, CalTrans, MUNI, and even the street cars.

[@kimifan06]

You should take advantage of sf's unique public transportation, it can be much easier than driving depending on where you're going

[@PrincessAmtrakMinamoto]

Awesome video. (:

[@CoasterFan2105]

Thank you :)

[@cameronmorrow4698]

caltrain is awesome

[@jasongunther1929]

Do a video on the expansion of rail service to Salinas and Monterey bay

[@edisonz2006]

Hey Mike! Will you ever do another streetcar/light rail galore video?

[@pdrumz534]

Wow coasterfan you've impressed me with so many train even the p42 Heritage uni You should make an engine's of Caltrain series or coaster

[@TonyThePlaneTrainFan]

I never knew they ran steam trains before Caltrain

[@kyleholbrook1288]

Nice! When Will CalTrain Use The AEM7’s?