Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad - Revision history

John Hall at 06:14, 22 January 2023

2023-01-22T06:14:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:14, 21 January 2023
Line 89:		Line 89:
	[[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California\|California]] / [[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California#Common Carrier\|Common Carrier]] / [[Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad]]		[[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California\|California]] / [[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California#Common Carrier\|Common Carrier]] / [[Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad]]

	[[Category:36in Gauge Railroads]] [[Category:Sugar]]		[[Category:36in Gauge Railroads]] [[Category:Carter Brothers]] [[Category:Sugar]]

John Hall at 17:14, 30 July 2021

2021-07-30T17:14:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:14, 30 July 2021
Line 50:		Line 50:
	In April 1901 the crossing of the PVCRR quarry branch was elevated above the recently opened SP main line to Los Angeles. The additional through traffic on the SP main line necessitated the grade separation of the lines. The last major piece of the PVCRR was the branch to Salinas. In 1905 a branch off the quarry branch paralleled the Southern Pacific northwest to the Salinas SP Station. The new branch provided passenger service between Salinas and Spreckels. Except for a few minor spurs the Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad was complete.		In April 1901 the crossing of the PVCRR quarry branch was elevated above the recently opened SP main line to Los Angeles. The additional through traffic on the SP main line necessitated the grade separation of the lines. The last major piece of the PVCRR was the branch to Salinas. In 1905 a branch off the quarry branch paralleled the Southern Pacific northwest to the Salinas SP Station. The new branch provided passenger service between Salinas and Spreckels. Except for a few minor spurs the Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad was complete.

	In 1904 the Watsonville Transportation Company constructed a three foot narrow gauge electric railway between Watsonville and Port Rogers on Monterey Bay. A crossing of the Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad was installed on Third Street. In 1913 the State Railroad Commission gave permission to the PVCRR to lease the WTC line between the PVCRR and Port Rogers. A short curve was constructed connecting the two lines.		In 1904 the [[Watsonville Transportation Company]] constructed a three foot narrow gauge electric railway between Watsonville and Port Rogers on Monterey Bay. A crossing of the Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad was installed on Third Street. In 1913 the State Railroad Commission gave permission to the PVCRR to lease the WTC line between the PVCRR and Port Rogers. A short curve was constructed connecting the two lines.

	With the completion of the Spreckels Mill the Watsonville Mill became a secondary factory. Kept in reserve in case it was needed, it was finally closed by 1908 with the building vacant by 1911. In 1911 the PVCRR turntable was the only engine facility left in Watsonville.		With the completion of the Spreckels Mill the Watsonville Mill became a secondary factory. Kept in reserve in case it was needed, it was finally closed by 1908 with the building vacant by 1911. In 1911 the PVCRR turntable was the only engine facility left in Watsonville.

John Hall at 16:52, 30 July 2021

2021-07-30T16:52:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:52, 30 July 2021
Line 79:		Line 79:

	:The Route of the Pajaro Valley Consolidated for Google Earth by John Hall.		:The Route of the Pajaro Valley Consolidated for Google Earth by John Hall.

			;Rosters
			:[[Locomotives of the Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad]]

	;Photographs.		;Photographs.

John Hall at 18:26, 18 November 2020

2020-11-18T18:26:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:26, 18 November 2020
Line 85:		Line 85:
	[[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California\|California]] / [[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California#Common Carrier\|Common Carrier]] / [[Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad]]		[[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California\|California]] / [[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California#Common Carrier\|Common Carrier]] / [[Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad]]

	[[Category:36in Gauge Railroads]]		[[Category:36in Gauge Railroads]] [[Category:Sugar]]

John Hall at 04:00, 9 October 2020

2020-10-09T04:00:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:00, 8 October 2020
Line 2:		Line 2:
	===History===		===History===
	By [[User:John Hall\|John F. Hall]]<br>		By [[User:John Hall\|John F. Hall]]<br>

	<span class="paracap">W</span>hen Claus Spreckels was making his fortune importing Hawaiian sugar and refining it in California he had to pay a significant import tariff on the sugar. As a good Capitalist he was always looking for ways to reduce the cost of his product. He had his eye on domestic sugar beets but they were proving to be difficult to grow and refine economically in the United States. Since 1853 numerous attempts had been tried across the country. On the West Coast E. H. Dyer, beginning in 1868, had made a couple of unsuccessful attempts. Claus Spreckels decided to try his hand and in 1876 invested in an experimental refinery in Soquel, California. This company was to be a major customer of the Santa Cruz Railroad. By 1878 it was clear the beet refinery was not a success and Spreckels sold his interest in the company. In 1879 E. H. Dyer at Alvarado, California tried again and developed a new, and profitable, method for refining sugar beets. He patented the process in 1885.

	After the success of E. H. Dyer, Claus Spreckels decided to try again. In 1888, he built the Western Beet Sugar Mill in Watsonville, California. The Watsonville mill was constructed just north of the Santa Cruz branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. A short spur ran to the sheds where beets were stored until needed at the mill. The SP also had its mainline running through the fertile Pajaro and Salinas Valleys.

	In January 1889 Claus Spreckels was disappointed with the number of contracts he had with farmers for growing sugar beets in the coming season. Farmers like to make the most money for their efforts and the prime alluvial soil of the Pajaro and Salinas Valleys is perfect for all kinds of high value crops. Growing sugar beets was new and potentially risky. Claus Spreckels needed to pay a good price to attract beet growers or grow them himself.

	<span style="width: 20%; border: 1px solid rgb(50, 39, 33); margin: 4px; padding: 2px; background-color: #E9DFD1; font-size:12px; color:black; float:right; display:block;">		<span style="width: 20%; border: 1px solid rgb(50, 39, 33); margin: 4px; padding: 2px; background-color: #E9DFD1; font-size:12px; color:black; float:right; display:block;">
Line 30:		Line 24:
	Mill 27.7<br />		Mill 27.7<br />
	Buena Vista 33.4<br />		Buena Vista 33.4<br />
	</span>		</span><span class="paracap">W</span>hen Claus Spreckels was making his fortune importing Hawaiian sugar and refining it in California he had to pay a significant import tariff on the sugar. As a good Capitalist he was always looking for ways to reduce the cost of his product. He had his eye on domestic sugar beets but they were proving to be difficult to grow and refine economically in the United States. Since 1853 numerous attempts had been tried across the country. On the West Coast E. H. Dyer, beginning in 1868, had made a couple of unsuccessful attempts. Claus Spreckels decided to try his hand and in 1876 invested in an experimental refinery in Soquel, California. This company was to be a major customer of the Santa Cruz Railroad. By 1878 it was clear the beet refinery was not a success and Spreckels sold his interest in the company. In 1879 E. H. Dyer at Alvarado, California tried again and developed a new, and profitable, method for refining sugar beets. He patented the process in 1885.

			After the success of E. H. Dyer, Claus Spreckels decided to try again. In 1888, he built the Western Beet Sugar Mill in Watsonville, California. The Watsonville mill was constructed just north of the Santa Cruz branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. A short spur ran to the sheds where beets were stored until needed at the mill. The SP also had its mainline running through the fertile Pajaro and Salinas Valleys.

			In January 1889 Claus Spreckels was disappointed with the number of contracts he had with farmers for growing sugar beets in the coming season. Farmers like to make the most money for their efforts and the prime alluvial soil of the Pajaro and Salinas Valleys is perfect for all kinds of high value crops. Growing sugar beets was new and potentially risky. Claus Spreckels needed to pay a good price to attract beet growers or grow them himself.

	Spreckels leased the Moro Cojo Ranch near Castroville where he could plant 1500 acres of sugar beets, as well as raise cattle on the beet pulp left over after refining sugar. The ranch was 14 miles from the Watsonville mill with the Southern Pacific Monterey branch running right through it. The Southern Pacific could be the perfect transportation for sugar beets directly from Moro Cojo to the Watsonville mill. Why then did Spreckels build his own railroad for beet transportation? The Southern Pacific was charging high freight rates that Spreckels did not want to pay.		Spreckels leased the Moro Cojo Ranch near Castroville where he could plant 1500 acres of sugar beets, as well as raise cattle on the beet pulp left over after refining sugar. The ranch was 14 miles from the Watsonville mill with the Southern Pacific Monterey branch running right through it. The Southern Pacific could be the perfect transportation for sugar beets directly from Moro Cojo to the Watsonville mill. Why then did Spreckels build his own railroad for beet transportation? The Southern Pacific was charging high freight rates that Spreckels did not want to pay.

John Hall at 03:59, 9 October 2020

2020-10-09T03:59:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:59, 8 October 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California\|California]] / [[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California#Common Carrier\|Common Carrier]] / [[Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad]]		[[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California\|California]] / [[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California#Common Carrier\|Common Carrier]] / [[Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad]]
	===History===		===History===
	~~'''Contributors:'''~~ [[User:John Hall\|John F. Hall]]<br>		By [[User:John Hall\|John F. Hall]]<br>


	<span class="paracap">W</span>hen Claus Spreckels was making his fortune importing Hawaiian sugar and refining it in California he had to pay a significant import tariff on the sugar. As a good Capitalist he was always looking for ways to reduce the cost of his product. He had his eye on domestic sugar beets but they were proving to be difficult to grow and refine economically in the United States. Since 1853 numerous attempts had been tried across the country. On the West Coast E. H. Dyer, beginning in 1868, had made a couple of unsuccessful attempts. Claus Spreckels decided to try his hand and in 1876 invested in an experimental refinery in Soquel, California. This company was to be a major customer of the Santa Cruz Railroad. By 1878 it was clear the beet refinery was not a success and Spreckels sold his interest in the company. In 1879 E. H. Dyer at Alvarado, California tried again and developed a new, and profitable, method for refining sugar beets. He patented the process in 1885.		<span class="paracap">W</span>hen Claus Spreckels was making his fortune importing Hawaiian sugar and refining it in California he had to pay a significant import tariff on the sugar. As a good Capitalist he was always looking for ways to reduce the cost of his product. He had his eye on domestic sugar beets but they were proving to be difficult to grow and refine economically in the United States. Since 1853 numerous attempts had been tried across the country. On the West Coast E. H. Dyer, beginning in 1868, had made a couple of unsuccessful attempts. Claus Spreckels decided to try his hand and in 1876 invested in an experimental refinery in Soquel, California. This company was to be a major customer of the Santa Cruz Railroad. By 1878 it was clear the beet refinery was not a success and Spreckels sold his interest in the company. In 1879 E. H. Dyer at Alvarado, California tried again and developed a new, and profitable, method for refining sugar beets. He patented the process in 1885.

John Hall at 16:21, 4 October 2020

2020-10-04T16:21:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:21, 4 October 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~<span style~~=~~"float:left;height:0.75em;padding-top:8px;padding-right:8px;font-size:130%;line-height:70%;text-align:center;">~~'''Contributors:''' [[User:John Hall\|John F. Hall]]; <~~!-- Insert Name Here --> </span~~>		[[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California\|California]] / [[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California#Common Carrier\|Common Carrier]] / [[Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad]]
	~~<br><br>~~		===History===
			'''Contributors:''' [[User:John Hall\|John F. Hall]]<br>


	~~===History===~~
	<span class="paracap">W</span>hen Claus Spreckels was making his fortune importing Hawaiian sugar and refining it in California he had to pay a significant import tariff on the sugar. As a good Capitalist he was always looking for ways to reduce the cost of his product. He had his eye on domestic sugar beets but they were proving to be difficult to grow and refine economically in the United States. Since 1853 numerous attempts had been tried across the country. On the West Coast E. H. Dyer, beginning in 1868, had made a couple of unsuccessful attempts. Claus Spreckels decided to try his hand and in 1876 invested in an experimental refinery in Soquel, California. This company was to be a major customer of the Santa Cruz Railroad. By 1878 it was clear the beet refinery was not a success and Spreckels sold his interest in the company. In 1879 E. H. Dyer at Alvarado, California tried again and developed a new, and profitable, method for refining sugar beets. He patented the process in 1885.		<span class="paracap">W</span>hen Claus Spreckels was making his fortune importing Hawaiian sugar and refining it in California he had to pay a significant import tariff on the sugar. As a good Capitalist he was always looking for ways to reduce the cost of his product. He had his eye on domestic sugar beets but they were proving to be difficult to grow and refine economically in the United States. Since 1853 numerous attempts had been tried across the country. On the West Coast E. H. Dyer, beginning in 1868, had made a couple of unsuccessful attempts. Claus Spreckels decided to try his hand and in 1876 invested in an experimental refinery in Soquel, California. This company was to be a major customer of the Santa Cruz Railroad. By 1878 it was clear the beet refinery was not a success and Spreckels sold his interest in the company. In 1879 E. H. Dyer at Alvarado, California tried again and developed a new, and profitable, method for refining sugar beets. He patented the process in 1885.

Line 85:		Line 86:
	:Collected Pajaro Valley Consolidated Photographs. Images collected from private collections, libraries and historical societies.		:Collected Pajaro Valley Consolidated Photographs. Images collected from private collections, libraries and historical societies.

			[[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California\|California]] / [[Narrow_Gauge_Railroads_of_California#Common Carrier\|Common Carrier]] / [[Pajaro Valley Consolidated Railroad]]

	[[Category:36in Gauge Railroads]]		[[Category:36in Gauge Railroads]]

John Hall at 22:50, 2 October 2020

2020-10-02T22:50:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:50, 2 October 2020
Line 3:		Line 3:

	===History===		===History===
	~~When~~ Claus Spreckels was making his fortune importing Hawaiian sugar and refining it in California he had to pay a significant import tariff on the sugar. As a good Capitalist he was always looking for ways to reduce the cost of his product. He had his eye on domestic sugar beets but they were proving to be difficult to grow and refine economically in the United States. Since 1853 numerous attempts had been tried across the country. On the West Coast E. H. Dyer, beginning in 1868, had made a couple of unsuccessful attempts. Claus Spreckels decided to try his hand and in 1876 invested in an experimental refinery in Soquel, California. This company was to be a major customer of the Santa Cruz Railroad. By 1878 it was clear the beet refinery was not a success and Spreckels sold his interest in the company. In 1879 E. H. Dyer at Alvarado, California tried again and developed a new, and profitable, method for refining sugar beets. He patented the process in 1885.		<span class="paracap">W</span>hen Claus Spreckels was making his fortune importing Hawaiian sugar and refining it in California he had to pay a significant import tariff on the sugar. As a good Capitalist he was always looking for ways to reduce the cost of his product. He had his eye on domestic sugar beets but they were proving to be difficult to grow and refine economically in the United States. Since 1853 numerous attempts had been tried across the country. On the West Coast E. H. Dyer, beginning in 1868, had made a couple of unsuccessful attempts. Claus Spreckels decided to try his hand and in 1876 invested in an experimental refinery in Soquel, California. This company was to be a major customer of the Santa Cruz Railroad. By 1878 it was clear the beet refinery was not a success and Spreckels sold his interest in the company. In 1879 E. H. Dyer at Alvarado, California tried again and developed a new, and profitable, method for refining sugar beets. He patented the process in 1885.

	After the success of E. H. Dyer, Claus Spreckels decided to try again. In 1888, he built the Western Beet Sugar Mill in Watsonville, California. The Watsonville mill was constructed just north of the Santa Cruz branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. A short spur ran to the sheds where beets were stored until needed at the mill. The SP also had its mainline running through the fertile Pajaro and Salinas Valleys.		After the success of E. H. Dyer, Claus Spreckels decided to try again. In 1888, he built the Western Beet Sugar Mill in Watsonville, California. The Watsonville mill was constructed just north of the Santa Cruz branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. A short spur ran to the sheds where beets were stored until needed at the mill. The SP also had its mainline running through the fertile Pajaro and Salinas Valleys.

John Hall at 18:41, 27 September 2020

2020-09-27T18:41:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:41, 27 September 2020
Line 84:		Line 84:

	:Collected Pajaro Valley Consolidated Photographs. Images collected from private collections, libraries and historical societies.		:Collected Pajaro Valley Consolidated Photographs. Images collected from private collections, libraries and historical societies.

			[[Category:36in Gauge Railroads]]

John Hall at 17:48, 27 September 2020

2020-09-27T17:48:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:48, 27 September 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	<span style="float:left;height:0.75em;padding-top:8px;padding-right:8px;font-size:130%;line-height:70%;text-align:center;">'''Contributors:''' John F. Hall; <!-- Insert Name Here --> </span>		<span style="float:left;height:0.75em;padding-top:8px;padding-right:8px;font-size:130%;line-height:70%;text-align:center;">'''Contributors:''' [[User:John Hall\|John F. Hall]]; <!-- Insert Name Here --> </span>
	<br><br>		<br><br>