Rose Garden San Jose

I have been sometimes going a different way to work, getting off the train at Santa Clara Station and taking two buses, one which goes past the Rose Garden in San Jose.  One day I jumped off to walk around and got a few pictures.  The best were of the geese family.

ACE Train Views: Old House and Sunset

A few views from the ACE Train.  We were stopped in Fremont one day, right by this old house.  The house is surrounded by fence, and has been for several years.  However nobody knocks it down.  It is going towards the foothills, after the train station.
The sunset is after getting off the train in Lathrop.

They Kicked Us Off the Train

I was riding ACE on Tuesday in the next train which followed the trains that struck and killed a teenager.  We were stopped at Tray Station, with no word of when we could proceed.  After about 40 minutes, it was announced that we had to vacate the train, and wait for the later train.  The staff then cam through the train making sure we all vacated the train.  The reason they gave, someone decided it was what we were going to do.  A few passengers, I guess they complained, were allowed to stay on.  A mother with a child was one.
This would have been OK I guess, except it was very cold in Tracy.  I checked the weather with the temperature about 60, and the wind blowing created a wind-chill factor of about 55.  I called the rail station to complain, telling them it was darn cold.  Again the answer was that someone decided it was what we should do.  I asked them to talk to whoever it was who decided, so the person left for a while, and then came back and said it was to avoid congestion.  None of this made sense, and while I was there struggling with the cold, and talking to ACE, our train left.  Then we were stuck with waiting for the last train.  I was shivering throughout.  And even after getting home, it took me some time to warm up.  Sheri noticed how cold I was to the touch.
We waiting for over 20 minutes.  While we waited someone kept talking on the microphone telling us the next train was coming.  I never wanted to commit a vandalism so much in my life.  I wanted to hit that microphone with a rock because the ACE company had no regard for us as passengers.  After waiting over 20 minutes, ACE Ten (the last train) finally arrived and we were allowed to board.
However we still waited.  We were waiting for the coroner to arrive, and release the scene so we would be allowed to go through.  In the end, the train we had been on was allowed to go through, and we were allowed to follow.  That train probably arrived home about ten minutes before us.  I finally made it to Lathrop Manteca Station at about 9:40, two hours and twenty minutes after my expected time.
I don't resent being late.  Sometimes things happen.  However I do resent being kicked of the train and being made to wait in the cold, with the wind blowing and no place for relief.  I must admit, I did not wear my jacket.  When I left work the weather was nice.  I will be better prepared.  However this was the first time I have been kicked off the train.

Ace Rail Struck and Killed a Sierra High School Student

Tuesday Ace Rail struck and killed a teenager
This scene just sickens me.  Can you imagine the father performing CPR.  It is unclear if this is the friend's father, or the victims's father, but either way it was tragic.  The train engineer probably could see this coming for some time, with nothing he could do. Trains do not stop quickly.  the article says the train continued for 100 yards before it could stop.   The child was a student at Sierra High School, where my son graduated a few years ago.  It appears to have happened close to victim's residence.  The way I understand the story, they were crossing the San Joaquin River on the train trestle.  Two friends, one made it across, and the other was struck about ten feet short of the end of trestle where he could have gotten off.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The next day I took some pictures of the site when I went past on Wednesday, and there was a spontaneous remembrance taking place.

A Different Way to Work

I have been toying with a different commute.  Currently I take the ACE to Diridon Station, from there catch the light rail to the Fruitdale Station where I catch the 25, or walk depending on if the bus stops.  I have been toying with getting off at Santa Clara Station and taking the 22 or 522 express to taylor.  At Taylor I get off and take the 61 or 62 to valley Medical where I work.  I tried this a few times last week, and it was OK but the wait is a bit long for the 61/62.  However I did get some pictures of the Santa Clara Station to share.
  

Manteca Flooding 2017

This is where the train goes over the San Joaquin River.  First you see the river and the bridge.  then you see a farmer's field where the river has over run the usual dike.  The train track is now serving as the dike.  Then there is a bit more farm land flooded.

ACE Train: WIFI

Some good news form the train, the WIFI is general instead of limited to one car.  And it works for the most part, except through the tunnel in Niles Canyon, the internet coverage is much better.

Ace Train: Sunrise Over Fremont

I think that is Mission Peak to the left

Duck at the Ace Station: Lathrop Manteca

I don't know how this fellow got to the parking lot, by we wasn't flying away.  He seemed a bit disoriented, but he was also wary, staying well away from people.

Sunrise Over San Jose, Strange Vapor Trails

These pictures are sunrise coming into town this morning on the ACE Train.  There are pretty reflections of the salt ponds, and then there are some strange vapor trails.  Through the window might not do them justice, but the trails were going in several different directions.  Anybody know what causes them?