Комментарии к фотографиям из города Сан-Хосе

Between me and Focus1965 we now have this unique car covered from 3 sides out of 4 :) See other recent publications via the link:
https://transphoto.org/vehicle/204565/#n218906

The following photo from 2016 illustrates that this car in fact is operable:
https://cs.trains.com/trn/hotspots/m/san...66.aspx

The oldest existing tram cars in the world are known to be located in Copiapó, Chile:
https://transphoto.org/photo/1366336/
However, these 1858-built cars are placed on static display, and are not operated.

I am publishing this photo in addition to a recent other publication at the similar angle, as the new photo displays the side of this unique multi-compartment car a bit better.

Car 124 is fully operational. It so happened that it was operated a day before my visit, on July 2nd. It is usually operated on the outer line via Senter Road to the parking lots. That line, however, is only run when there are two volunteers on duty at the museum. Only the inner historic town line via Main Street is operated when one volunteer is available.

• • •

Публикую эту фотографию в дополнение к другой недавней публикации в том же ракурсе, так как новая фотография немного лучше показывает бок этого уникального многокупейного вагона.

Вагон 124 полностью на ходу. Так получилось, что вагон был на линии за день до моего приезда, 2 июля. Обычно вагон курсирует по внешней линии по Senter Rd до автомобильных парковок при парке. Однако, внешняя линия эксплуатируется только тогда, когда в музее работает два волонтера. При наличии только одного волонтера, работает только внутренняя линия по истрическому городку по Main Street.

These 2 parallel streets lend themselves quite well to photographing either in the morning (after sunrise) or in the evening (before sunset).
I have also taken photos in the morning, and have even been able to photograph coupled trams at another location with favourable light. This was a bit later than you... Coincidentally, I again photographed the same tram as above (952), although it's the other side and the photo can technically be put on the site...

Quote (Ymtram (Yury LRTA), 17.07.2022):
> Who in a world came up with this schedule?

That was also my thought when I just missed a tram on the north branch and expected the next tram to arrive 10 minutes later. I was deceived...
For some large and complex tram networks, I understand that such a thing is not always possible, or even completely impossible. In San Jose, this does not seem to be difficult at all.

Quote (Gamerdgl, 17.07.2022):
> Other than that your best bet is just to look at the architecture

I won't make my wife happy with that... We have seen many beautiful architecture, of all kinds, and also many (historical) cities. But I am not going to send my wife off for an afternoon to admire architecture in San Jose while I am photographing trams.


Quote (Gamerdgl, 17.07.2022):
> I cannot offer much more other than say that as a local you experience things very different

Keep in mind that visitors have a keener eye for imperfections than residents, who have been familiar with them for so many years that they no longer notice them.

Quote (Ymtram (Yury LRTA), 17.07.2022):
> In both cases San Jose noticeably went 'an extra mile' in terms of preventing photography

You can see the beginning of the troublesome fences on the far right. This is also the reason why I had to use a telelens (from my position).
The prevention of taking photographs with real cameras is not just there. In Turkey, obscure guards chase you when you take pictures with a real camera. With a smartphone, this is not a problem...
I also know that there are smartphones with very good image quality, but the price is far too high in relation to the time that such a device should last.
Places where I as a photographer (and tourist) am hardly or not at all welcome, I will not visit easily and if it has happened already: will not come back soon.

Quote (Gamerdgl, 17.07.2022):
> Wow!! Excellent photo.

Thanks!

Lucky, a small opening of light just long enough for a single car on a narrow leafy one-way street in Downtown.

The wide San Carlos Street is perhaps the only open space location for photos in the Downtown area, and you have the most photos from that street. Due to the light the narrow and leafy one-way segments pictured above could only be photographed between 6 am - 7 am when you are shooting shade-to-shade. Which I did 20 years ago, and now in 2022. This year at this hour of the morning it was only me out in the street, the trams, the homeless, and the transit security guys watching me )

With those headways? Lucky shot!

The use of single cars-only on the Green Line on weekdays completely blew my mind away. Almost the entire northern segment of the system is served by both the Blue and the Green Lines. Nowadays 2-car trains are operated on the former, while only 1-car trains are operated on the latter. But here comes the best part...

In the southbound direction the combined weekday headway between the two lines is 16-4-16-4, with 2-car trains arriving after 16, single cars after 4, which is more-or-less fine, but the headway should have been 12-8 or 13-7, which is commonly accepted elsewhere. In the northbound direction, however, the combined headway is 15-5-15-5 and a single car arrives after 15, while a 2-car train arrives after 5! Who in a world came up with this schedule?

Well, perhaps this is an indication that ridership (or passengers all together) do not matter for this system...

Wow!! Excellent photo.

Citer (focus1965, 17.07.2022):
> In this regard, the light rail in San Jose is more appealing than Sacramento, with its mix of all kinds of colours, unmaintained vehicles, etc.

I agree, they use the older fleet of VTA trams as well, and no level boarding. I cannot offer much more other than say that as a local you experience things very differently

Citer (Gamerdgl, 16.07.2022):
> I must admit, however, that I looked for cosy places in the city centre

San Pedro Market Square is the place for this. But it's true that the downtown suffers: the paseo de san antonio became basically abandoned a few years ago and the average street has some cool restaurants but not much life. In the hotel lobbies and convention center it is usually empty except for special events a few times a year, and then it can be very lively (the plaza de cesar chavez as well). Other than that your best bet is just to look at the architecture, I believe I read somewhere that San José has the 75th largest downtown in the country despite the 10th largest city population (or something like that)

Knowing this location you were definitely in luck.

Taking photos of segments along the highways in San Jose is mostly possible from stations or bridges. In both cases San Jose noticeably went 'an extra mile' in terms of preventing photography (believe it or not). Various obstructions were installed in many stations and stairwells that don't seem to serve any purpose. The netting used on bridges purposely has very little holes. The idea that this is done on purpose is further reinforced by special fencing cover they have recently installed around the depot, which wasn't a case before. A very strange carrier and a very strange policy. Too bad, since open spaces around the highways sometimes provide for good mountainous background, especially on the Blue Line in the South. But the progress is catching up with the VTA's outdated policies. Perhaps they don't realize that camera on phones (say, iPhone) is small enough to fit through the fencing on bridges, anyway ))

Quote (Ymtram (Yury LRTA), 16.07.2022):
> My overall impression of the San Jose operation is perhaps the most unfavorable in the US. The light rail cars are the most unsightly and unwelcoming, I usually compare them to fridge-boxes on wheels.

Appearance is a matter of taste. I fully agree that they do not deserve a prize for aesthetics, but at least they are clean and have a fresh colour. In this regard, the light rail in San Jose is more appealing than Sacramento, with its mix of all kinds of colours, unmaintained vehicles, etc.


> Downtown San Jose is void of people and seems semi-abandoned. The light rail operation lacks ridership, cars run empty.

I had that feeling too, but I give it the benefit of the doubt: it was holiday season and this was true in almost all the big cities I visited. This will be illustrated by photos. I must admit, however, that I looked for cosy places in the city centre... The only aspect of the city that has succeeded is the creation of a footpath along a small river...

> They've even abandoned one line in 2019 (before COVID!). There are talks within the industry about viability of the entire operation, and even whether the system should be shutdown.

I have also read this somewhere. The whole concept in San Jose was wrongly planned and executed from the start.
The connections to quasi uninhabited areas are questionable anyway. The many IT companies that can be found there will usually only generate passengers during peak hours, provided that one has a stop at the starting point as well as at the arrival point. The stopping distances can be extremely long, and if you work or live between two stops, the light rail is just no good. I had missed a stop somewhere: it was better to wait 18 minutes for the tram than to walk back.
The most evident connection is missing: with the airport. The light rail recommends a transfer to a bus line (60?) but absolutely do not expect that you get off the tram and at the same place you can transfer to a connecting bus that will leave immediately...
I do not expect public transport to be profitable. Everywhere there is an authority that subsidises it and it is no different for San Jose.

> And to top this all I was harassed for taking photos and I had transit security follow me (in 2022!).

Maybe security was happy to do something for the first time... I've encountered others like that, but not during this trip...


Quote (Gamerdgl, 17.07.2022):
> I must say, I even never went to this museum (only the park) since the hours are so limited and I never scheduled a visit.

For you, the distance is somewhat shorter than for Yury or myself. Now that you know the operating hours, you can plan accordingly. I was surprised by the beautiful line and the interesting, representative collection. Here, quality counts for quantity!
By the way: if I lived in San Jose, as a tram enthusiast I would not hesitate and immediately become a member of this association. Apart from the fact that there are few alternatives in San Jose, it seems to me that they have clear objectives and are doing their best to realise them.
And yes: I am also a member of local Belgian associations.

Quote (Ymtram (Yury LRTA), 16.07.2022):
> Let me know the next time you visit

Thank you! This has certainly been noted, although a revisit to San Jose is not immediately planned. If I ever come back to the region, it will probably be with my wife, and I don't think San Jose is really suitable as a tourist destination... Fortunately, the park is nice and who knows, I might come back one day...

Citer (focus1965, 16.07.2022):
> I was also in San Jose in 1999 and photographed a museum tram in the city.

The historic trams used to operate basically all the time in the city center before being relegated to seasonal service (which got skipped at least one year)

Lol. I live here and it is fascinating reading all these comments. I must say, I even never went to this museum (only the park) since the hours are so limited and I never scheduled a visit.

Цитата (focus1965, 16.07.2022):
> I do not know if this really helps. They did not respond via social media and the phone was not answered, although this happened during normal local American hours.

I have a direct contact with a well-known local transit historian, who is also a volunteer at the park (he was an attendant at the museum on July 3rd). He also publishes a newsletter. Let me know the next time you visit, or if you have any questions on the San Jose collection )

Цитата (focus1965, 16.07.2022):
> I was also in San Jose in 1999 and photographed a museum tram in the city. Maybe I will post this photo one day. First the most recent...

Waiting for the photo ) I didn't get lucky with that historic operation... twice. In 2002 the historic car has gotten into a minor accident. I photographed the accident, but then the car was taken to the yard with a minor scratch they needed to conduct a complex investigation on... In 2008 the cars simply didn't run even though they were supposed to.

My overall impression of the San Jose operation is perhaps the most unfavorable in the US. The light rail cars are the most unsightly and unwelcoming, I usually compare them to fridge-boxes on wheels. Downtown San Jose is void of people and seems semi-abandoned. The light rail operation lacks ridership, cars run empty. They've even abandoned one line in 2019 (before COVID!). There are talks within the industry about viability of the entire operation, and even whether the system should be shutdown. The historic cars operation is shutdown long time ago, and cars are inaccessible. And to top this all I was harassed for taking photos and I had transit security follow me (in 2022!). It all ended well, as people respect each other's rights in this parts of the US, but it left a negative aftertaste. Oh, and did I mention that in 2002 (a year after 9/11) they thought I was a terrorist because I called in asking for access to the yard to see historic equipment )) I didn't get in...

If I can indeed easily combine this with other destinations, then this will certainly happen. Latin America is virgin territory for me. The fact that the only photos date from 2010 probably confirms that this is a remote place. Like many matters: it is under consideration...

Unfortunately, the availability of volunteers is a problem everywhere.

I was also in San Jose in 1999 and photographed a museum tram in the city. Maybe I will post this photo one day. First the most recent...

The photo was taken at 15h24 (see Exif) and this was indeed the last journey.