Peninsular Railway (California)

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Peninsular Railway
Peninsular Railway 52 2006.jpg
Peninsular Railway 52 at the Western Railway Museum
Overview
Headquarters San Jose, California
Locale Santa Clara County, California
Dates of operation19061934
PredecessorSan Jose & Los Gatos Interurban Railroad
Successor Southern Pacific RailroadSan Jose Railroads
Technical
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification Overhead line,  600 V DC
Length91 mi (146 km)
Peninsular Railway
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Palo Alto
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University Junction
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Mayfield
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Mayfield Junction
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Alta Mesa
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Los Altos
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Springer Road
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Loyola
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Grant Road
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Simla
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Monta Vista
Sunny Brae
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Cupertino
Fremont
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Meridian
Azule
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Cyprus Avenue
McDonald
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Winchester
Moreland
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Evergreen
Sorosis
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Bascome Avenue
Congress Junction
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O’Connor Sanitarium
Saratoga
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Bird and San Carlos
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San Jose (Peninsular Station)
Bonnie Brae
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San Jose–Market Street
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Palm Haven
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Cherry Avenue
Glen Una
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Fairfield
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Hamilton Junction
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Campbell
Nippon Mura
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Cambrian
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National Avenue
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Rinconada
Los Gatos
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The Peninsular Railway (known to locals as the Pin) was an interurban electrified railway in the U.S. State of California in the United States of America. It served the area between San Jose, Los Gatos, and Palo Alto, comprising much of what is today known as "Silicon Valley". For much of its existence it was a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Contents

History

San Jose, Saratoga & Los Gatos Electric Railway (1900–1909)

Before the Peninsular Railway had built any track or started running interurban operations, F.S. Granger and J.W. Rea, who owned the San Jose Los Gatos Interurban Company, sold their tracks to the Pin to avoid competing with a company backed by the Southern Pacific. [1] The original Pin tracks were from several other already existing interurban companies, such as the Alum Rock Railway Company, the Peninsular Railroad, and the Santa Clara Interurban Railroad. Some of the Peninsular Railroad and Alum Rock Railway trackage in San Jose became owned by the San Jose Railroads and were never a part of the Peninsular Railway.

Southern Pacific operations (1905–1934)

The Peninsular Railroad was incorporated on December 21, 1905 as a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific in response to calls for an interurban line from San Francisco to San Jose. [2] In addition to the line to Los Gatos, branches were also planned to extend to Alviso, Oakland and Lick Observatory. However, due to the Colorado River flood of 1905 (which created the Salton Sea), many of the rails to be used for this construction had to be rushed to the Imperial Valley to rebuild the Southern Pacific line between Los Angeles and Yuma, Arizona. Therefore, only the lines connecting San Jose, Palo Alto and Los Gatos were constructed, and interurban service did not exist between Palo Alto and San Mateo. [3]

The Peninsular Railway was incorporated in 1909 as the successor to the Peninsular Railroad, San Jose & Los Gatos Interurban Railway, and the Santa Clara Interurban Railway. [4]

Another attempt to complete this line to San Francisco came in the next decade, with the Peninsular coming to an agreement with the United Railroads of San Francisco to run via their San Mateo interurban. Eight new cars were ordered for the planned service, [5] but construction was again delayed by a scarcity of steel rails, this time due to World War I. [6]

The trackage that the Peninsular Railway built itself was the line to Los Gatos through Campbell, the line along Stevens Creek Road to Cupertino, the two lines along the Mayfield cutoff from Cupertino to Mayfield, and Cupertino to Los Gatos, the spur to Congress Springs from Saratoga, and part of the line to Alum Rock Park.

By 1931, the system was operating 34 streetcars on 91.1 miles (146.6 km) of track. [7]

Electric passenger service between San Jose and Palo Alto began on March 5, 1910, [8] and ended on October 1, 1934. All of the lines were replaced by bus service by the late 1930s. [9] [10]

Physical infrastructure

The properties of the Peninsular Railway included everything owned by the companies it acquired as well as necessary tracks, substations, and an interurban car barn in San Jose. The carbarn faced San Carlos street at the southwest corner of San Carlos and Sunol streets. By 1920, the 68-mile (109 km) system had several main tracks originating in San Jose.

San José

Interurban services

The primary route for all interurban trains began at a loop around Julian, Old Market, and Bassett Streets in front of the original Southern Pacific Railroad depot in San Jose. The Peninsular Railway had its own double track line down Market Street, which split into an eastbound and westbound pair of tracks going west on San Carlos Street and Park Avenue respectively. [11] Trains west to Palo Alto or Saratoga would turn onto Meridian Street and follow the dedicated right of way along San Carlos Street, while trains south to Campbell and Los Gatos would turn onto Josefa and San Carlos Streets until the double track route on Bird Avenue.

Local services

Alum Rock line

The Peninsular Interurban owned a line from North 10th Street and Madera Avenue to Alum Rock Park on which it would run freight service and run passenger trains along with the San Jose Railroads.

Rural county

Palo Alto local lines

The Peninsular Railroad operated several local streetcar lines in and near Palo Alto. Service there began on November 15, 1906 under the name Santa Clara Interurban Railroad Company. [12] These operations were acquired by the Peninsular Railway on June 30, 1909. [13] Operations mostly comprised two lines:

  • University Avenue–Ravenswood [8] — Ran east from the Southern Pacific depot, initially to Pope Street. Tracks were extended past San Francisquito Creek, but service was cut back to the creek after disputes about bridge maintenance. [14]
  • Waverly Street–Stanford [8] — Initially ran from Embarcadero and Waverly on Waverly to University, then to Stanford. It was later extended from Embarcadero to Oregon Avenue. [14] Service began in 1909. [13] Track on the south side of Galvez Street were leased from Stanford University, and continued past the Stanford Stadium until Lasuen Street, where it continued until turning west along Serra Mall ending at the Palm Drive Oval.[ citation needed ]

Local service ended on September 27, 1925, [15] though service to Stanford continued until October 21, 1929. [16] [17]

Other towns

Postcard view of the Rinconada stop in Los Gatos Rinconada station postcard.jpg
Postcard view of the Rinconada stop in Los Gatos

The Peninsular Railway tracks serviced many other towns with regional hourly service including Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos, and Campbell. The main tracks operating electric service were on Stevens Creek Road (now Stevens Creek Boulevard), Saratoga Road from Meridian corners (today Saratoga and Stevens Creek) to downtown Saratoga, the Mayfield cut-off from Mayfield to Congress Junction (along today's Foothill Expressway and California State Route 85), and a route looping through Willow Glen, Campbell, Los Gatos, and Saratoga with a winding path on various county roads. [18] Stops typically had a shelter, as indicated by various historical photos.

Congress Springs branch

The Peninsular Railway also operated a branch line from downtown Saratoga going southwest along Big Basin Road, terminating at the Congress Hotel.

List of interurban services

Regional services
Line nameStart date [19] [6] End date [19] [6] OriginDestinationApprox. headwayDetailed routeNotes
San Jose–Saratoga–Los GatosMarch 19, 1904March 12, 1933 [20] Market Street Depot Los Gatos Main street Southern Pacific stationEvery 60 minutes until midnightMarket street, pair of tracks on Park and San Carlos, Stevens Creek Road, Saratoga Road, Saratoga Los Gatos Road
San Jose–Campbell–Los Gatos1907March 31, 1932 Market Street Depot Los Gatos Main street Southern Pacific stationEvery 60 minutes until midnightMarket street, pair of tracks on Park and San Carlos, Bird Avenue, Willow street, Meridian street, Hamilton avenue, Bascom avenue, Campbell avenue, Railway Avenue, shared segment with SP, Los Gatos Boulevard
San Jose–Los Altos–Palo AltoMarch 5, 1910September 30, 1934 Market Street Depot Palo Alto station Every 60 minutesMarket street, pair of tracks on Park and San Carlos, Stevens Creek Road, Mayfield cut-off, El CaminoStub service along the Mayfield cut-off operated in 1909, while the line was under construction. Cut back to Mayfield in 1929.
Palo Alto–Los Altos–Los Gatos1910October 1, 1934 [10] Palo Alto station Los GatosEvery 60 minutesEl Camino, Mayfield cut-off to Congress Junction, Saratoga avenue, Saratoga Los Gatos Road, Main StreetCut back to Mayfield in 1929
Alum Rock line[ data missing ]June 11, 1932Berryessa Alum Rock Park Every 60 minutesDedicated right of way from 10th/Madera to Alum Rock ParkPassenger service often operated by the San Jose Railroads. Through-service changed from 17th street to King Road in July 1923. Freight service continued until mid 1934 then transferred to the Visalia Electric Railroad which operated freight service until 1938
Short-turn services
Line nameStart date [9] [21] [19] End date [9] [21] [19] OriginDestinationApprox. Train Frequency/SpanDetailed routeNotes
Bascom local[ data missing ]c.1938 Market Street Depot Stevens Creek Road and BascomEvery 30 minutesMarket street, pair of tracks on Park and San Carlos, Stevens Creek RoadTransferred to San Jose Railroads.
Naglee Park local[ data missing ]c.1938 Market Street Depot Naglee Park Every 15 minutesMarket street, loop around San Fernando, 15th, and San Carlos streets.Originally intended to be the route to Lick Observatory. Transferred to San Jose Railroads.
Congress Springs branchJuly 10, 1904c.1933Saratoga stationCongress HotelIrregularBig Basin Road
Stanford "Toonerville" Campus lineOctober 6, 1909October 20, 1929 Palo Alto station Stanford University El Camino, Leased track south of Galvez, Lasuen
University avenue line[ data missing ]July 19, 1925 Palo Alto station City border at San Francisquito Creek Every 15–20 minutesUniversity AvenueFrequency varied depending on the year
Waverly Street line[ data missing ]September 27, 1925 Palo Alto station Waverly / OregonEvery 15–20 minutesUniversity avenue, Waverly streetFrequency varied depending on the year

Surviving equipment

Peninsular Railway 52 and 61 are both preserved at the Western Railway Museum. Both cars were built in 1903 by the American Car Company for the Los Gatos Interurban Railway Company. After the discontinuation of service in 1934, 52 was stripped of all electrical and mechanical equipment and its wooden car body spent 35 years as a sewing room adjacent to a private residence in San Jose. Since its restoration in the 1970s, 52 has been operated for tourist excursions. [22] Trailer car 61 had a similar post-service history and has been awaiting restoration since being donated to the Bay Area Electric Railway Association in 1980. [22]

The wooden car body of Peninsular Railway 102 is speculated to have been built into a roadside diner south of Shafter, CA. 102 was built by the St. Louis Car Company for the Peninsular Railway in 1909 as part of a combined order of similar cars with the Pacific Electric. Following a brief service on the Fresno Traction Company, 102 was sold to the Pacific Electric in 1918 and renumbered 466. Pacific Electric sold the car in 1935 and by 1943 the car body had been moved to its current location. [23]

See also

References

  1. McCaleb 1981, p. 35.
  2. McCaleb 1981, p. 44.
  3. McCaleb 1981, pp. 51–52.
  4. "New Incorporations". Electrical World. Vol. LIV, no. 4. July 22, 1909. p. 230.
  5. Scott 1985, p. 169.
  6. 1 2 3 "Streetcars: San Jose and Los Gatos Interurban Railway Company". Santa Cruz Trains. Zayante Publishing. July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  7. Demoro 1986 , pp. 201–202
  8. 1 2 3 Hilton & Due 2000 , p. 404
  9. 1 2 3 McCaleb 1981, p. 57.
  10. 1 2 McCaleb 1981, p. 97.
  11. McCaleb 1981, p. 54.
  12. "The Day the Streetcars Came to Palo Alto". The Western Railroader. Vol. 14, no. 10, no. 142. August 1951. p. 5. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Important Dates". The Western Railroader. Vol. 14, no. 10, no. 142. August 1951. p. 7. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Street Cars in Palo Alto". The Western Railroader. Vol. 14, no. 10, no. 142. August 1951. p. 3. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  15. "Old Red Trolleys Pass Into History Here Next Monday". Palo Alto Times. Palo Alto, California. September 24, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved July 3, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Premature Demise of Trolley Foils Plot for "Rites;" Bus Line Starts". Palo Alto Times. Palo Alto, California. October 21, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved July 3, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Football Speeds Palo Alto's Work on City Entrance". The Oakland Post-Enquirer. Oakland, California. October 11, 1929. p. 21. Retrieved July 3, 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  18. McCaleb 1981, p. 52.
  19. 1 2 3 4 McCaleb 1981, pp. 94–97.
  20. "Trolley Cars Stop Service Here Tonight". The Peninsula Times Tribune. Palo Alto, California. March 11, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved August 27, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  21. 1 2 McCaleb 1981, p. 89.
  22. 1 2 Western Railway Museum (June 4, 2011). "Peninsular Railway 61". Western Railway Museum. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  23. Southern California Traction Club (July 2003). "Points of Trolley History - 2: Former PE Car 466 IN Shafter, CA". The Trolleyville Times. Retrieved August 14, 2024.

Bibliography