SAN JOSE'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving San Jose in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving San Jose, during the golden age of passenger trains.

Southern Pacific Station
65 Cahill St.
Opened 1935, after a railroad relocation project

SOUTHERN PACIFIC

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 69  Coaster               San Francisco   7:20   95   4:35
 75  Lark                  San Francisco   7:45        6:13
 73  Oakland Lark          Oakland         7:47        6:20
 98  Morning Daylight      Los Angeles     9:11        8:18       11:16 am
 72                        Los Angeles     9:15   90   2:25 am
 35  Del Monte             San Francisco  10:30   77   8:25  141   9:55 am
 37                        San Francisco   4:20
 99  Morning Daylight      San Francisco   4:47        4:05        5:09 pm
255                        Oakland         4:52        4:10
 36  Del Monte             Pacific Grove   5:10   78   4:06  126   6:10 pm
 70  Coaster               Los Angeles     8:10   94   7:56
 71                        San Francisco   9:30   91   3:20 pm
 76  Lark                  Los Angeles    10:10        9:15
 38                        S. L. Obispo   10:30
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 69  Coaster               Los Angeles     7:03   95   4:22
 75  Lark                  Los Angeles     7:30        5:55
250                        Oakland         8:50        7:50
 72                        San Francisco   8:57   90   1:50 am
 98  Morning Daylight      San Francisco   9:08        8:06       11:11 am
 35  Del Monte             Pacific Grove  10:26   77   8:18  141   9:44 am
 37                        S. L. Obispo    4:15
 99  Morning Daylight      Los Angeles     4:43        3:53        5:05 pm
 36  Del Monte             San Francisco   4:59   78   3:59  126   6:05 pm
 70  Coaster               San Francisco   8:03   94   7:49
 71                        Los Angeles     9:15   91   2:56 pm
 74  Oakland Lark          Oakland         9:50        8:50
 76  Lark                  San Francisco  10:03        9:03
 38                        San Francisco  10:15
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

Not listed are commuter trains, which continue to operate.

In addition, Southern Pacific passenger trains operated via the Milpitas Line until late 1930's, and via the Santa Cruz Branch until early 1940's.

In 1921, Western Pacific opened a line connecting San Jose with its main line in Niles. Until early 1930's, passenger trains served a station at East San Jose.

STATIONS TODAY

The San Jose station continues to be used by Amtrak and commuter trains.

Diridon Station (Wikipedia)

Links to Web sites containing further historical information on the San Jose station.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.

The Southern Pacific Coast Line between San Francisco and Los Angeles was the only railroad serving San Jose. At Santa Clara, 3 miles north of San Jose, SP's Niles Subdivision diverged over a more easterly route towards Oakland.