Transit Railroads of California
Transit Railroads.
East Santa Cruz Street Railroad.
38¼in Gauge.
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County.
Ferries & Cliff House Railway.
36in Gauge. Envisioned by Adolf Sutro and built by his cousin Gustav Sutro the Ferries and Cliff House Railway carried visitors from Presidio Avenue west along California street to 33rd Avenue where is turned north to travel along the cliffs of the Golden Gate to a terminus near the Cliff House and later Sutro Baths. A branch onto 7th Avenue carried visitors to Golden Gate Park.
San Francisco County. 1888-1905
First Street Railroad.
36in Gauge.
San Jose, Santa Clara County. 1890 - 1907
Oakland Railroad.
36in Gauge. Originally incorporated in 1865 as a 5 foot gauge horse car line it was purchased in August 1885 by Jame G. Fair and converted to a 3 foot gauge horsercar, cable car, and steam line as part of a hoped for extension of the South Pacific Coast Railroad out of Oakland. It carried SPC freight cars to Temescal using horse power.
Oakland, Alameda County. 1885 - 1891
Salinas Railway.
36in Gauge.
Salinas to Spreckles, Salinas County.
San Jose & Alum Rock Company.
36in Gauge.
San Jose to Alum Rock, Santa Clara County. 1891 - 1918
San Jose & Santa Clara Railroad Company.
36in Gauge.
Santa Clara to and across San Jose, Santa Clara County. 1887 - 1907
Watsonville Transportation Company.
36in Gauge. Constructed by local interests to bypass Claus Spreckles and the Southern Pacific freight monopolies in their region. Initially profitable, the line struggled in the face of competition until the wharf at Port Rogers was destroyed by unforseen circumstances and needed replacement, forcing the line to suspend operations.
Watsonville to Port Rogers, Salinas County. 1903 - 1906
Watsonville Railway & Navigation Company.
36in Gauge. After laying dormant and tied up in court proceedings for several years, the Watsonville Transportation Co. was revived in 1911 and operated until 1913 when the wharf at Port Watsonville was destroyed by a storm.
Watsonville to Port Watsonville, Salinas County. 1911 - 1914