STREETCAR MIKE'S MYSTERY TRIPS
SANTA CLARA VTA MILAN 2001
on NOVEMBER 21, 2024

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Page created November 21, 2024. Last updated November 21, 2024.
Š2024 Michael Strauch. All rights reserved.

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My day started with more pictures of the VTA Happy Holidays bus Gillig 6420, this time on route 57. I also went for Gillig 3401 on the 57. After breakfast at Black Bear Diner (pictured), I went to N. First Street to track Kinki Sharyo 900, first of the series for which I don't remember having photographed her. Since I was near VTA headquarters, I stopped in to ask about the possibility of a holiday trolley this year. The last run was in 2019, before the pandemic. A young gentleman whose name I didn't get told me about a special schedule this very day for Milan 2001, running about hourly between Civic Center and Diridon Stations. The car had finished her first round trip and came out from Guadalupe Division to make its second trip, so I began getting my shots on Younger Ave. My next set of pictures came northbound on the second trip at N. First and Devine Sts. The third set was at Second and Santa Clara Sts. While downtown I did photos of buses, VTA as well as Santa Cruz Metro 0523 on Highway 17 Express. The next 2001 photos were from its fourth round trip, southbound on N. First south of Taylor St. Drove over to Almaden Blvd. and happened upon a VTA Access RAM Promaster van, then 2001 was on its northbound run back to Civic Center. I needed food, so I enjoyed a full size chicken and sausage gumbo at Poor House Bistro (pictured). Got back to Almaden Blvd. and decided to board the 2001 for a round trip from Convention Center Civic Center and back. This was its sixth round trip, for which I got photos southbound at Almaden Blvd. and then at the station northbound. Alighted at Civic Center and awaited its seventh and final trip to Diridon. Rode the car back and waited on the curb of San Carlos St. for its return to Guadalupe Division. Got the photos and also some quickies as she turned off North First onto Younger. There are daytime and nighttime shots.

While waiting for my trolley ride, I discovered that the California Transit Association was holding its annual conference right there at the convention center. No wonder I saw a short Sonoma County Transit (missed getting pictures) and a National Transit sales bus (got it), and that explains part of why 2001 was out running. The service was also a test for possible Holly Trolley runs this season. Had I known the CTA was meeting, I could have registered under my web domain. As it was, I'm so happy VTA told me about the Milan car running. It turned out to be a great day.

Nikon D5600 and Samsung Galaxy A54 5G cameras yielded 512 photos including two cropped versions. This was continued practice with my new acquisition of a reconditioned Nikon 35mm f/1.8 G lens. The lens is versatile enough to get fairly wide shots versus my 50mm f/1.8, and to use it both daytime (in P mode at ISO 2500-3200 depending on time of day) and nighttime (in A mode set to f/1.8 with ISO 5000).