"Caltrain and the Peninsula Commute Service"

[Mark Drury]

Janet McGovern, author of "Caltrain and the Peninsula Commute Service," will be speaking on Saturday, August 11^th at 11am in the Menlo Park City Council Chambers.  Attached are the flyer and news release for the event.  From the news release:

 

Journey Through the History of Caltrain

and the Peninsula Commute Service

New local book features stunning collection of vintage photographs

MENLO PARK, California, July 1, 2012 – In Caltrain and the Peninsula Commute Service, local author Janet McGovern tells the story of the railroad and its impact on communities from San Francisco to the South Bay.  This pictorial history boasts a large collection of vintage photos and provides readers with a unique opportunity to reconnect with the history that shaped their community.

Ms.  McGovern will discuss her new book Caltrain and the Peninsula Commute Service and present a slide show on Saturday, August 11^th at 11 am in the Menlo Park City Council Chambers, 701 Laurel Street, Menlo Park.  The event is free and supported by the Friends of the Menlo Park Library.  Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing after the talk.

The rail line now called Caltrain was started in the 1860s to create a faster alternative to stagecoaches and ships between the key cities of San Francisco and San Jose. Operated by the Southern Pacific for many years, the Peninsula Commute Service is the oldest continuously operating passenger railroad in the West.

Highlights of Caltrain and the Peninsula Commute Service include:

• Dramatic shots of locomotives and equipment as well as images that tell the story of how the railroad has impacted the people and the communities it served.

• More than 200 photos, many contributed by railroad enthusiasts and former Caltrain employees, adding a “behind-the-scenes” dimension to the work.

Free wheelchair accessible van service is available for Menlo Park area seniors and people with disabilities.  Call 330-2512 for reservations.  For event details, email [e-mail].

ABOUT JANET MCGOVERN

Janet McGovern formerly worked in Caltrain’s marketing department and covered the Peninsula Commute Service as a reporter.  She was a news reporter and columnist for the Redwood City Tribune and the Peninsula Times Tribune.