Caltrans unearths old line in Santa Maria

Tom Gears · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2003 11:54 pm

I found this story while surfing the web. I thought it might be of interest.

Tom

Rail history: Caltrans unearths old line

Bill Burns · **Posted:** Sun Jul 13, 2003 2:50 am

Love how they have "completed by 1908" and "Light Railway" in the same paragraph! Do they redeem themselves by adding it was "the only one of its kind in the world"? Good story, though. I wish they gave the name of the railroad. Easier to search for more info on it that way.

bilburns1313@tds.net

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Sun Jul 13, 2003 10:42 am

> Love how they have "completed by
> 1908" and "Light Railway" in
> the same paragraph! Do they redeem
> themselves by adding it was "the only
> one of its kind in the world"? Good
> story, though. I wish they gave the name of
> the railroad. Easier to search for more info
> on it that way.

It was the Pacific Coast Railway. Part of the 3-foot steam line that operated from San Luis Obispo to 1) a wharf near Avila Beach and 2) Santa Maria and on to Los Olivos.

Electric operation from San Maria to Guadalupe. The line was constructed and electrified in stages between 1906 and 1909. In 1912 a steel, center-entrance car came from Cincinnati Car Co. Passenger service quit in 1928.

See the book "The Pacific Coast Railway."

Brian Norden

bnorden49@earthlink.net

Bill Burns · **Posted:** Sun Jul 13, 2003 3:22 pm

I found the Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum site (link below), but their updates ended the day before the newspater article date, and didn't include reference to the story. I guessed from dates and locations in the SMVRHM site history page that it was likely Pacific Coast Railway, but it's always much better to know than to guess!

I wonder if the newspaper story writer has any idea that "Light Rail" is such a new term that it seems funny to apply it to a railroad that was built in early in the 20th century - especially to a line that originally had steam on at least certain sections? It's actually nice to see a gaff like that that makes one laugh instead of cringe!

Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum
bilburns1313@tds.net

JimBoylan · **Posted:** Mon Jul 14, 2003 4:06 pm

>"Light Rail" is such
> a new term that it seems funny to apply it
> to a railroad that was built in early in the
> 20th century
Would it qualify in the Brittish sense? Even
though most of those were narrow gage steam, the
4-wheel, double-deck, open-top interurban car
that runs in downtown Detroit (Michigan) said
"Light Railways" on its sides before it was put
out to pasture in 1928!

104577.651@compuserve.com