Riding a Different Train

New Train Buddies on the 270

Work has had a big impact on my commute habits. In the previous post, I talked about leaving behind my shuttle buddies and the end of my career waving at the Northbound 221. Even before that, though, work pushed me into some new situations: I have been taking a later train home. 3 or 4 nights a week, I get on the 270 instead of my old reliable 158.

We’ve got some major efforts with short deadlines in progress at work. (Who doesn’t?) This time it’s bad enough that I felt like I could be more productive staying later and catching the 2nd train to Gilroy, the 270.

That sounds rather trivial to most people. Most people who are not regular CalTrain riders, that is. Those of you who are in the same car every afternoon, seeing the same faces, know that it is something of a shock when you get on a different train.

Where are all your buddies? Why are there so many strangers on the train?

I’m missing all my afternoon buddies: Which station did R— park at today? I don’t get to play with T— (we’re working in a haunted hotel, T— is a wizard [a secret I just found out] and there is a bad guy trying to kidnap her and steal her wizard powers. I have a dead uncle, Eddy, and aunt, Sara, who have come back as ghosts and are helping us. The bad guy got T—, and I’m supposed to save her.) And I nearly missed turning in the money for my cookie dough order.

I also went from a slightly crowded train to a REALLY crowded train. Finding “my” seat just wasn’t in the picture. Finding a seat on the shady side of the train was rare. Finding a seat downstairs was a challenge. So, the first few trips on the later train were in seats with the sun shining on me, and I didn’t know any of the other passengers.

It took a little while, but I met a group on the train. Very fun-loving, wine when they feel like it and all topics covered in the conversation. I was lucky, in that my Gilroy friend, A—, was a semi-regular member of the group, and she introduced me. This cut short the recognition, introductions, and acceptance process that typically happens on the train.

They are a great group of people (you can tell from the picture at the top of the post), laughing, joking, sharing, and, whenever possible, celebrating. The train is usually so crowded that the group has a difficult time getting seats all together. A— (the dashing young man with the beard in the picture), is usually standing in the aisle when I board at Mountain View. Some of the others may be in 4-seaters, and a couple more are usually sharing a 2-seater nearby.

I usually start out somewhere towards the back of the train, and I work my way forward as the crowd thins out. Sadly, the crowd doesn’t usually thin out until Diridon, and some of the group is already gone at Lawrence and Santa Clara. To make up for this, I’ll try to come up and chat for a few minutes between stops. (I get chased back to my seat by the boarding passengers at the stops.) I really think that the crews should rope of sections of the car for the “good guys” (just ask, we know who we are), so we can get seats together.

One interesting new friend that I met on the train, besides the group pictured above, is a woman who used to own a business in Gilroy. I had just met the new owner of the business, when a bus bridge put me beside a cheerful woman, also struggling to get to her station. We got talking, and I realized that was the person who had just sold this business to the guy I met. Small world! We have sat and talked a few time since then, and I count her as a new train friend with a Gilroy connection.

Aside from the passengers, one big positive with this change was that I got to see some of my old crew friends who I had not seen in quite some time. R—, S—, D—, and others that were on the Gilroy run years ago are working the second train to Gilroy these days. That has led to a lot of catching up on the news, meeting their partners, and some very enjoyable rides (once we get south of Tamien, and I can get a decent seat).

Old friends and new friends, riding the 2nd Gilroy train home has been, over all, a pretty positive experience. I think it just shows that anyone open to meeting people on the train will meet people on the train. All it takes is a friendly smile and saying ‘Hello’. After that, it’s a piece of cake.

Say hello to a stranger. It’ll make them wonder what you want. Take care.