South Pacific Coast Railroad
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The South Pacific Coast Railroad was incorporated on March 20 1876.[1] It operated until May 21, 1887[2] when it and it's various leased lines were consolidated into the South Pacific Coast Railway. The SPCRwy stock was sold and transferred to the Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker and Collis Huntington on August 1, 1887[3] . These gentlemen then leased The SPCRwy to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. The information on this page is for the 1876-1887 South Pacific Coast Railroad.
Brief Description
A trip on the three foot narrow gauge South Pacific Coast Railroad began in San Francisco where two ferry slips on the south side of the ferry building at the foot of Market Street served the railroad. One slip was for passenger travel and the other was for freight. Three ferryboats, the Newark, Bay City, and Garden City operated between the San Francisco Ferry building and Alameda. Between 1878 and 1884 the Alameda ferry terminal was at Alameda Point. In March 1884 a new Alameda passenger ferry terminal opened out in the Bay via a 2.75 mile long trestle.[4] Freight continued to be handled at the Alameda Point freight ferry slip.
From Alameda the railroad went down the east side of San Francisco Bay to San Jose passing the communities of Alvarado, Newark, Alviso, and Santa Clara. From San Jose the railroad began its trek over the Santa Cruz Mountains with a gentle grade up Los Gatos Creek passing Campbell's and Los Gatos before traveling through the first tunnel and tackling the steeper grade to Wright's. At Wright's the railroad passed through a 6,157 foot tunnel to Highland (later Laurel) and through a 5,793 foot tunnel to Glenwood. Then traversing a short tunnel came out on Zayante creek where it traveled downgrade passing through another short tunnel before reaching Felton. Crossing the San Lorenzo River at Big Trees it joined the Santa Cruz and Felton Railroad for the trip down the narrow San Lorenzo River canyon to Santa Cruz passing through three more tunnels along the way.
Corporate History
South Pacific Coast Railroad Company
Newark to Big Trees
Bay & Coast Railroad Company
Alameda to Newark
Oakland Township Railroad Company
Alameda to Oakland
Santa Cruz & Felton Railroad Company
Santa Cruz to Felton
San Francisco & Colorado River Railroad
Alameda to Alameda
Alameda & San Joaquin Valley Railroad Company
survey only
Felton & Pescadero Railroad Company
Felton to Boulder Creek
Almaden Branch Railroad Company
Campbell's to New Almaden Station
Consolidation to the South Pacific Coast Railway Company
The Transfer to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company
Stations and Line Side Industry
San Francisco Ferry Building
Alameda Ferry Terminal
Alameda Point
Operation
Passenger
Commuter Service $.015 1880 with inflation $3.77 2020 BART from Lake Merritt $3.70 MacCarther $3.95
Through train Parlor Car service an additional $0.50
Freight
The Tunnels
Locomotives
Rolling Stock
Ferryboats
Newark
Bay City
Garden City
Encinal
Ordered by the South Pacific Coast Railroad and delivered to the South Pacific Coast Railway