Showing posts with label trains and railroads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trains and railroads. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Train from Hollister


Yesterday afternoon, we waited for a train to cross Bolsa Road (aka Highway 25) on the track near the county line. Usually I see a train leave or enter Hollister by Burger Factory on San Benito Street. I can't recall the last time I saw a train anywhere else on that track to and from Hollister. What a treat!


Monday, June 8, 2015

San Jose Train Station


The San Jose Diridon Station on Cahill Street is a hub for both Amtrak and Caltrain. One day, BART will reach there. Yesterday morning, the Husband and I were sitting at the station waiting for my godmother to board the train. I was excited just sitting there, wishing I was going off on a train somewhere. Riding a train makes me feel like I'm on a grand adventure, even if it's just up to San Francisco and back.


I've probably ridden the train less than 10 times in my life so far, but I think it's the most civilized way to travel. Get on, find a seat, enjoy the scenery, chat, read, nap, enjoy the scenery, and get off.  No hassle of traffic jams, tailgaters, and aggressive (or timid) drivers. Too bad Hollister no longer has a train station.


Sunday, March 3, 2013

The End of the Line


What better way to end this week's theme of Trains and Railroads with a photo of the end of the Union Pacific line in Hollister.

Curious about the history of railroads in our area?  Check out these links.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

The Railroad in San Juan Bautista



Until the Southern Pacific built the railroad in Hollister in the 1870s, San Juan Bautista was the bustling metropolis in this area. But, that's a story for another time. In 1907, a railroad did eventually come to the mission city. Originally run by the San Juan Pacific Railway, it became part of the California Central Railroad several years later.

An E Clampus Vitus plaque (the photo above) on Mission Vineyard Road (next to San Juan Inn) marks the southeast portion of the railroad. Here's what the marker states:

The San Juan Pacific Railway was incorporated May 4, 1907, becoming the California Central Railroad in 1912. Some of the locals referred to it as the San Juan Terrific. Built to haul the expected large quantities of Portland cement from the old Mission Cement Company Plant nearby, the mainline extended 7.94 miles from Chittenden to San Juan Junction. Ceasing railroad operations in 1930, the track was ripped up after the last locomotive, Ocean Shore No. 5 was steamed up and shipped to Nevada in 1937. A narrow gauge 'road' reached the limestone quarry up the San Juan Canyon.

February 25 to March 3 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Trains and Railroads 

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Railroad in Tres Pinos


What you're looking at is Highway 25 in Tres Pinos. You're looking west from a hitching post at the 19th Hole Booze and Food. Tres Pinos is a quiet little village, but over a 100 years ago, wowza!

Back in 1873, the Southern Pacific ran a line to Tres Pinos. Soon the town became a busy shipping center for hay, cattle, and grain. The railroad also shipped quicksilver for the New Idria Mines. The railroad ran two passenger and two freight trains daily, states the Inn at Tres Pinos Web site.

According to the go.to/tres pinos web page: "Among the businesses in downtown Tres Pinos were seven enormous grain warehouses, a scale house, six saloons (one that was illegal), bullfighting arena, and large hotel (as well as rumored bordellos)."

The story goes that initially the Southern Pacific planned to build the railroad to Paicines, which back then was the original Tres Pinos. What we know as the town of Tres Pinos today was then called Paicines. After laying railroad lines to Paicines, the Southern Pacific no longer wanted to go further. The railroad somehow got the two communities to switch names by 1874 so that it can say it completed its objective: Build a railroad line to Tres Pinos.

The Southern Pacific dismantled the railroad line in 1944.

February 25 to March 3 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Trains and Railroads 

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Freight Train Graffiti


Some say graffiti is art. Others say not. Regardless, it's vandalism unless authorized by the property owner.

February 25 to March 3 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Trains and Railroads


February 25 to March 3 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Trains and Railroads - See more at: http://www.take25tohollister.com/#uds-search-results
February 25 to March 3 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Trains and Railroads - See more at: http://www.take25tohollister.com/#uds-search-results
February 25 to March 3 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Trains and Railroads - See more at: http://www.take25tohollister.com/#uds-search-results
February 25 to March 3 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Trains and Railroads - See more at: http://www.take25tohollister.com/#uds-search-results

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Box Cars


The freight box cars usually sit behind the cannery warehouse on Sally Street.

During the Great Depression, my uncle rode the freight train to get from here to there to find work. Just like in the movies, he hopped onto a box car. He rode all over with hobos. Funny, how he never considered himself one. 

February 25 to March 3 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Trains and Railroads
 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Railroad Crossing


The Union Pacific freight train comes into town almost every day, especially during the cannery season. You don't have to be downtown to know it's here. Toot! Toot! can be heard at least as far as Sunnyslope School.

After watching this 2007 video by Tom Vance, I now understand why the train whistles so much. And, it's not because it's saying "Hello, people!" It's more like "Hey people! Look out! I'm bigger and heavier than you and may crush you if you insist on suddenly getting in my path."

Vance shot a freight train leaving Hollister on an April day.  I was somewhat dumbstruck as I watched the first part of the video as the train left town. Drivers swooshed over the tracks before the railroad gates came down; two teenage girls walked in front of the train; and one driver backed off the tracks. As the video shows the train lumbering out of town, you see country sights you can't see as you're zooming down Highway 25. Take a look. Here's the link again.

February 25 to March 3 theme for Take 25 to Hollister: Trains and Railroads

Monday, February 25, 2013

The Old Train Depot

The theme this week, February 25 to March 3,  is Trains and Railroads. . .


You can find this plaque, which was placed by two chapters of the E Clampus Vitus, in front of the old train depot at the east end of Fifth Street. It states:
Hollister Train Service
The Tres Pinos branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad began train service to Hollister on July 13, 1871. Train service was a main reason the population grew from 300 in 1870 to over 2000 by 1873. Besides passenger service, major commodities shipped have included hay, produce and beer. The final passenger excursion occurred on October 30, 1955. The depot, originally constructed in the late 1860's, was fully restored by the Rodriguez family in 1991. 
Today, the depot is home to a restaurant and a few other establishments. Click here to see a photo of how it looked in 1968. And, here's what it looks like a few years ago.


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