In 1861, bonds were issued for the construction of a railroad between SF & SJ. By 1863 the @SFSJRailroad was running between SF & Palo Alto, a few months later it had made it to SJ. https://twitter.com/SFSJRailroad/status/735917078503297025?s=20

Service was immediately... delayed. https://twitter.com/SFSJRailroad/status/560874506903093248?s=20

In 1870, the little railroad caught the attention of the "Big Four" rail magnates, who bought and incorporated the RR into the Southern Pacific. For over 100 years the privately-run railroad brought suit-clad businessmen into the City from Santa Clara & San Mateo counties.

After some of the best years the railroad had seen, 70s car culture began to eat away at ridership as 280 and 101 had opened, spelling the end of SP's success in passenger rail. SP wanted OUT. https://twitter.com/SFSJRailroad/status/373172481164464129?s=20

Seeing the writing on the wall, @SamTrans established the Southern Pacific Fare Stabilization Program, which bought excess tickets to keep the railway funded. https://twitter.com/SFSJRailroad/status/540572641401126912?s=20

In 1980 the railroad passed to Caltrans for a few years. They bought the familiar F40 locomotives and Gallery cars still used today, upgraded stations and named it "CalTrain."

Caltrans wanted out too, and a formal agreement between the three counties brought us to the modern arrangement. In 1992 the JPB took control of costs/operations.

Today, Caltrain is overseen by a board of nine members, three from each county.