The Birth of California's Narrow Gauge Railroads

"Promoting the Discussion of the History, Development, and Preservation of Narrow Gauge Railroads in California"

The name of this page comes from the proposed title of a new book by Bruce MacGregor. The book will cover the beginnings of California's narrow gauge movement, tracing the first six lines built - the Monterey and Salinas Valley, the Santa Cruz Railroad, the Santa Cruz and Felton, the Santa Clara Valley, the North Pacific Coast, and the Nevada County Narrow Gauge. A common thread found tying together all these efforts is the presence of Thomas and Martin Carter and their company, the Carter Brothers. Publication is expected in the next two years.

California's narrow gauge era started in 1874 with the opening of the Monterey and Salinas Valley Railroad. It ended in 1960 with the abandonment of the Southern Pacific's Keeler Branch. This page will concentrate on discussions of history of these railroads before 1906, but all rules are meant to be broken. As this page grows I intend to include articles on the history of these lines and their equipment, as well as a series of databases.

What was so special about narrow gauge? In California narrow gauge was used by those in opposition to the Southern Pacific, locally known as the "Octopus". The Southern Pacific had a strangle hold on much of Northern California and used their power to hold freight rates up and control the flow of goods.

Other communities were frustrated by lack of rail service. No rail line meant economic death.

Narrow gauge was seen as an affordable railroad system. Local communities felt that they now had on option in their battles with the SP. California's first operating narrow gauge, the Monterey and Salinas Valley, was built with money from farmers in the Salinas area (they sold stock at Grange meetings). The railroad was intended to carry wheat from Salinas, to Monterey where it could be put on ships for shipment to Europe. At the time it cost $5.25 a ton to ship wheat from Salinas to Oakland, more than from Oakland to Europe. By building their own narrow gauge line the farmers were able to half the cost of shipping their wheat to the ships which would carry it "around the horn."

This page intends to provide a forum for the discussion of the history of these lines as well as their impact on the comunities they served.

I am planning to include:

• Discussion Groups:
• Databases:
  • "California Car Builders"
• Bibliographies:
  • SPC The South Pacific Coast
  • NPC The North Pacific Coast (added September 15)
• Rosters:
  • SPC Passenger Equipment
    
    • Cabooses
    • Parlor Cars
    • Baggage Cars (added September 28)
  • Remnants:
    • Preserved Equipment:
    • Walks & Tours
      • Along the NPC (added September 22)
  • Links:
    • Museums & Preservation Projects
    • Historical Societies
    • Libraries
    • Other Links

  ---

This is a new page, undergoing both construction and revision. Please pardon the wood chips and debris. Remember not to step on the rails.

This page is maintained by "Randy Hees". Comments and additions are welcomed.

Copyright Randy Hees, 1996

Page created by: hees@ix.netcom.com

---

This page accessed times.
Changes last made on: Saturday Sept 28 4:05:40 1996