All Over NorCal Railfanning 12/2/23 | UP | BNSF | Amtrak | Foreign Power | Caltrain Holiday Train

On Saturday 12/2/23, a group of 3 of us set out for the Peninsula to catch the evening run of the Caltrain Holiday Train to Santa Clara. However, the day quickly turned to one of the biggest railfanning blitzes all of us have had in a really long time!
The day started out at Siemens in Sacramento, where we checked out the next VIA set recently completed, and had a southbound show up on the Fresno Subdivision. From there we went over to Stockton where a lashup with a CP SD70ACu in the consist was taking their manifest out of BNSF's Mormon Yard, and swinging onto the UP Fresno Subdivision.
A Northbay Z was on the heels of the manifest but we were not able to get up to it in time, but also had a M-RICBAR coming out of Richmond. The Z and the manifest were closing in on Pittsburg at about the same time, but the Z got there first, so we were able to get ahead of it as the manifest took the siding. After getting the Z in Pittsburg, we headed out to Oakley for 2 San Joaquins. We then headed to Knightsen where we caught another San Joaquin, and the M-RICBAR finally makes its appearance after working the yard in Pittsburg.
Once the RICBAR was through we booked it through the East Bay and across the San Mateo Bridge, getting to San Mateo just in time to start the chase south of the Caltrain Holiday Train. The festive consist is seen rolling down the Peninsula at Santa Clara, Menlo Park, Sunnyvale, Lawrence, and College Park, along with some of the regular weekend Caltrain locals. After College Park we headed back over to Santa Clara to watch one of Caltrain's MP15DCs pulls the Holiday Train back north, while waiting, an hour late Amtrak 14 is seen rolling through with an ALC42 leader, along with some more of the regular Caltrain Locals.
We did not get back home until well after midnight, and had covered 4 different railroads, some foreign power, and a special train, from Sacramento to San Jose and back via Stockton.
Enjoy this video of a very fun variety filled day of chasing trains!

[@chuckgilly]

Thank you for the Christmas spirit train adventure. Happy Holidays, Hunter

[@railyardfilms6491]

Happy holidays

[@gailyncookMilwRR]

Great catches I liked the Christmas Train 🎄with a Caboose!💯

[@caltrain_acefoamer907]

Nice I was also at Santa Clara too