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South Bay Train Watching
Railroads
Union Pacific, Caltrain, Altamont Commuter Express (ACE), Amtrak/Amtrak California
Main Lines
Union Pacific ex-Southern Pacific Coast Line (Los Angeles - San Jose)
Union Pacific ex-Southern Pacific Mulford Line (San Jose - Oakland)
Caltrain ex-Southern Pacific Coast Line (San Jose - San Francisco)
Branch Lines
Union Pacific ex-Southern Pacific Permanente Branch (San Jose - Cupertino Foothills, Cement Plant)
Union Pacific ex-Southern Pacific Milpitas Line (San Jose - Milpitas)
Union Pacific ex-Western Pacific San Jose Branch (San Jose - Warm Springs)
Union Pacific ex-Southern Pacific Hollister Branch (South San Jose - Hollister)
Union Pacific ex-Southern Pacific Santa Cruz Branch (Watsonville - Davenport)
Primary Stations/Yards
Diridon Station/Caltrain Yard - San Jose (Caltrain, ACE, Amtrak/Amtrak California)
Santa Clara Station (Caltrain, ACE)
Tamien Station (Caltrain, VTA Light Rail)
Gilroy Station (Caltrain)
Newhall Yard - Santa Clara (Union Pacific)
Passenger Trains
Approximately 70 Caltrains (All day, early morning to late evening; currently no service on weekends)
4 ACE trains (2 in the morning, 2 in the evening)
4 (?) Amtrak California Capitols
2 Amtrak Coast Starlights (Southbound into San Jose Diridon around 10:00AM, northbound into San Jose Diridon around 9:00PM)
Freight Trains
ABEMDX (Autoracks, Benecia - Southern California. Runs infrequently)
AMLMIX (Autoracks, Mira Loma - Milpitas. Runs infrequently)
AMLWSX (Autoracks, Mira Loma - Warm Springs. Runs infrequently)
ARVWF (Autoracks, Roseville - Southern California)
CSVRP (Coal, Colorado - San Jose. Runs infrequently)
ILCOA (Intermodal, Los Angeles Container - Oakland)
IOALB (Intermodal, Oakland - Long Beach)
MRVSJ (Manifest, Roseville - San Jose)
MSJRV (Manifest, San Jose - Roseville)
MWCPD (Manifest, West Colton - Portland, Or.)
QRVDO (Quality Manifest, Roseville - Dolores)
QRVML (Quality Manifest, Roseville - Mira Loma)
RELSJ (Crushed rock, Elsey - San Jose. Friday night)
RSJEL (Crushed rock, San Jose - Elsey. Sunday)
Hollister Local (Manifest, San Jose - Hollister. Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday)
Mission Bay Turn (Manifest, San Jose - South San Francisco. Evenings)
Redwood City Turn (Manifest, San Jose - Redwood City. Evenings)
Salinas Hauler (Manifest, San Jose - Watsonville/Salinas)
Santa Cruz Local (Coal/cement/lumber, Watsonville - Davenport. Monday, Wednesday, Friday. In Santa Cruz around noon)
Permanente Local (Coal/cement/lumber, San Jose - Cupertino. Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Afternoon)
Train Watching Locations
Santa Clara Caltrain Station
College Park Caltrain Station
Santa Clara Caltrain Station | Rating: 10/10
 The Santa Clara Caltrain Station is located at the north end of Union Pacific's Newhall train yard in, as the station's name would imply, Santa Clara, California. This spot sees by far the most train traffic in the South Bay, with quite possibly over 100 trains passing by each weekday (weekends are a little slower, with no Caltrain service). There is also a wide variety of trains here, ranging from Caltrain, ACE, and Amtrak/Amtrak California, to Union Pacific long distance freights, locals, and yard switching movements. The station's surroundings aren't incredibly photogenic, although the train yard makes a nice background for shots and, with the help of a zoom or telephoto lens, Downtown San Jose and the mountains to the east can be worked into shots. Mornings are good to shoot southbound trains, while evenings are better for northbounds. To its credit, this location boasts a beautifully restored Southern Pacific depot, control tower, and freight house, which hosts a model railroad club. Around the station it is not uncommon to see a few people watching trains. To get to this location, turn onto Railroad Avenue from El Camino Real in Santa Clara. Railroad leads directly into the station.
College Park Caltrain Station | Rating: 7/10
 College Park is the equivalent of Santa Clara on the south side of Newhall Yard. Train volume here is just about the same as it is at Santa Clara, only slightly different. There are fewer road trains, as the MRVSJ and MSJRV both terminate in the yard, but there are a handful more locals, most notably the Permanente and Hollister trains. A few Caltrains stop here, though not many. The scenery is industrial yet fairly ugly, and a grade crossing directly north of the station gets in the way when taking pictures of southbound trains. However, the station itself is an antique, open-air passenger shelter, and is neat to work into shots. Also, there are some signal bridges and a cement factory just south of the station, which can also be worked nicely into shots. College Park station is located in San Jose where Stockton Street crosses the Coast Line. To get here from the Alameda, turn onto Taylor from the Alameda and then turn left on Stockton. Follow Stockton to the railroad crossing and the station will be on the right.
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