STREETCAR MIKE'S MYSTERY TRIPS
WOODLAND, WESTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM
AND STOCKTON
on SEPTEMBER 28, 2025

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Page created September 28, 2025. Last updated September 28, 2025.
Š2025 Michael Strauch. All rights reserved.

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Started the morning, after checking out of the motel, in tracking Yolobus Orion VII OG buses. 736 was showing on the map running on the 42B counterclockwise at Sacramento Airport. I headed up the 80 and 5, catching up with the coach at County Fair Fashion Center in Woodland. The website said it was not serving any further 42B stops, suggesting a pullin at the nearby Yolobus facility, but it changed into a 42A clockwise going back through the airport to downtown Sacramento. Also at the transit center was Orion 730 on local route 211. I waited 10-15 minutes, and both coaches departed for their routes. Orion VII NG 741 preceded them on the 212. I stood by the exit south of the transit center and snapped all three buses.

Next I drove down to Western Railway Museum, having bought a ticket (free for us members) for the 11:30 am interurban trip to Pantano and back. East Bay Street Railways 352 was in use, and I took the ride. There was discussion, and the crew made this happen. Cedar Rapids and Iowa City (CRANDIC) single end car 111 was put into service for the last two round trips. When you buy a ticket (or get the free ride like I did), it's good for all trips that day. So I got to ride on this adventure. Veteran motorman Ted got live training from big boss Alex on the operation of the 111. Because it's single ended, it was originally intended to operate forward, using the reversing controls only for wye and barn movements. But the crew turned the trolley pole, and Alex gained experience in the use of the awkwardly placed controller. The seats are not reversible, so we had to watch from whence we came. The 111 backed up all the way to the loading platform. (Three bells are rung or spoken for reversing movements.) This trip had someone available at Loring Jensen car house (no. 3), so almost all the passengers alighted to take a tour of the barn. I've had the tour at least twice, so I continued back to the loading platform and got off, then the crew looped around the picnic area to the switch near the yard limit at South Park. When they came back to the loading platform, the car was pointed forward again for the last interurban trip. After completing photos as the visitors loaded the 111, I got my car and drove out to Little Honker Bay Rd. where the interurban crosses at Garfield. The southbound trip came by, and I got shots of the door side. Waited a while for the car to return, and I got the shots of the rear as it reversed back to the museum.

Went on to Stockton. There is no live tracking of vehicle numbers; Pantograph has never detected any of San Joaquin RTD's bus fleet. How I track is to drive by the Downtown Transit Center to see what's on layover, making note of the route for which it's signed, and then use the Transit app to track the coach. I followed route 715 out for Gillig battery electric 22406, then drove to Pacific Avenue to find two more Gillig electrics, 22401 and 22045, operating the 40 Local on the Miracle Mile. Lastly, I went to N. Lower Sacramento Rd., Pacific Ave., and Rivara Rd. to get more shots of Gillig 22401.

Nikon D5600 camera yielded 174 photos, including four cropped versions.