Jim Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> "The other possibility is that the Espee was known
> to use the subs on freights when they had a
> shortage of cabeese."
>
> Really? I grew up on the Peninsula and I've never
> heard or seen, or seen photos of this.
>
> Two other theories why the subs were in the yard
> track in Santa Clara:
>
> 1) They were recently retired. SP retired the
> first 20 subs when that order of new galleries was
> delievered in 1969 (the ones with the green tinted
> windows and no restrooms). (The fleet of 75 subs
> remained intact from 1927 to about 1969).
>
> 2) They were being deadheaded in a freight train
> to West Oakland for maintenance. I have seen
> photos of this.
>
> I'll bet on #2.

Interesting question.

I vividly recall seeing subs there from time to time, but don't know the reason. I'll submit that if it's Reason #2 above, they're actually returning to San Jose from Oakland, as the cars would've been handled ahead of the caboose, and are awaiting transfer to the depot.