While staying at the Econolodge just off route 101 in Arroyo Grande, about 15 miles south of San Luis Obispo, I noticed that I was able to clearly receive transmissions by the UP Dispatcher on Channel 96 (161.550) even while he was communicating with Amtrak trains all the way down in Santa Barbara, more than 100 miles away! I listened while he was communicating with Trains 11 and 14 (Amtrak Coast Starlight) and Trains 779 and 786 (Pacific Surfliner). However, I was not able to hear the communication from the crew on the trains themselves until the trains were much closer to San Luis Obispo.