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California Interurbans and Streetcar Railroads

The information included here covers a general history of California interurbans and streetcar railroads once operated throughout the state. Interurban systems were once a common form of transportation for many towns both large and small although they began to fall out of favor in the 1930s and 1940s for the common automobile as its technology and better highways became vastly improved and more reliable. While interurbans served a vital transportation purpose prior to reliable autos and highways from a historical perspective they are fascinating because of many small companies that popped up and also disappeared nearly overnight. During the peak of interurban operations in the country there were even several builders of motorcars including J. G. Brill & Company, St. Louis Car Company, Pullman-Standard, American Car Company, Standard Steel and the Jewett Car Company.

The information below includes short paragraph descriptions of most California interurbans and streetcar railroads.

Bakersfield & Kern Electric Railway: The Bakersfield & Kern Electric Railway dates back to 1902 and operated between the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway's depot (located in Bakersfield) and Southern Pacific's station located in East Bakersfield. After its purchase by the San Joaquin Light And Power Company in 1910 the interurban became one of the top-notch operations in the country with double-tracking spanning the entire line. In 1933 the line was sold by San Joaquin Light and Power and nine years later in February of 1942 the operation was shifted entirely to bus service.

Interurban Electric Railway (IER): The Interurban Electric Railway was a Southern Pacific company that served Berkeley, Oakland and San Leandro (the "East Bay" of the San Francisco Bay Area). It began operations in 1911 and used large, heavyweight streetcars. Its routes included the CaliforniaStreet Line, Shattuck Avenue Line, Ninth Street Line, Ellsworth Street Line, Dutton Avenue Line, Alameda Lines, Horseshoe Line and 18th Street Line. The IER operated until 1941 when the remnants of the interurban were taken over by the Pacific Electric Railway.

Pacific Cement & Aggregates: The Pacific Cement & Aggregates Company was actually a cement plant serving Davenport. It operated a short interurban operation as well as a freight system that moved its products to market using electric motors. The railroad remained in service until the 1970s.

Eureka Municipal Railway: The Eureka Municipal Railway was created in 1888 during the city's booming years. It updated to electric operation in 1903 and by 1915 the system was operating five different lines radiating out from the city. It lasted until early 1940 when the interurban system was replaced by buses. For more information on the Eureka Municipal Railway please click here.

Fresno Traction: Fresno Traction has its earliest roots dating back to early 1889 as the Fresno Street Railroad. In 1901 this railroad was taken over by the Fresno City Railway and after the system was electrified in 1902 its name was changed to the Fresno Traction Company. At its peak the system was operating a 50-mile network. The interurban lasted until May 20, 1939 when it was converted to bus service. For more information on Fresno Traction please click here.

Nevada County Traction Company: The Nevada County Traction Company was a short interurban operation serving Grass Valley and Nevada City. It was a shortlived operation lasting only until November 5, 1923.

Los Angeles Interurban Railway: The Los Angeles Interurban Railway or LAIU was one of several interurbans serving the city. It began operations in 1903 and lasted until 1910 when virtually all of L.A.'s interurbans were folded into the "Great Merger" coming under the control of the Pacific Electric Railway, a Southern Pacific Railroad company. Other systems included in the Great Merger included the Los Angeles Railway, Los Angeles Traction Company, California-Pacific Railway and the Los Angeles-Pacific Railway. For more information on the LAIU and other classic Los Angeles interurbans please click here.

Tidewater Southern Railway: The Tidewater Southern Railway served ,Stockton and Modesto, and was originally incorporated in 1910. Later it also connected Turlock and Hilmar. The Tidewater Southern became a Western Pacific Railroad subsidiary in 1917 and while it was initially built as an interurban its passenger services were abandoned in 1932 entirely and became a freight-only operation. The TS remained a mostly independent railroad until the 1960s when the WP mostly absorbed the system. Today, most of the railroad remains in service under Union Pacific, one of the few interurbans to still see most of its original property in service.

,East Bay Transit: East Bay Transit, began serving Oakland in 1886 and is still operating today. The original streetcar service became the Key System in 1893, which ultimately would serve most of the surrounding communities. In 1956 the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) was created to takeover the failing Key System, which began operations in 1960. The service remains an important transportation artery for commuters today. For more information on the ,East Bay Transit's, history please click here.

,San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, Consolidated Railway: The aforementioned Key System originally began as the ,San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, Railway, which was incorporated in 1902. It served downtown ,Berkeley and the nearby ferry pier. It changed its name to the San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, Consolidated Railway in 1908 and again in 1912 to the ,San Francisco-Oakland, Terminal Railway. The operation went bankrupt in 1923 and was then reorganized as the Key System.

Ontario & San Antonio Heights: The Ontario & San Antonio Heights was a predecessor of the Pacific Electric Railway becoming part of the PE's vast Northern District.

Petaluma & ,Santa Rosa, Railroad: The Petaluma & ,Santa Rosa, Railroad was an interurban operation serving Petaluma, Sebastopol, Forestville and ,Santa Rosa,. It began operations in 1903 taking over a horse-powered operation which dated back to 1888. The line was taken over by the Northwestern Pacific Railroad in 1928 and rail service ended in 1933.

Riverside & Arlington Railway: The Riverside & Arlington Railway Company began in 1887 and in 1890 took over the operations of the Riverside Railway Company and then the Hall's Addition Railway in 1895. It eventually became part of the Pacific Electric Railway. For more information on the R&A please click here.

Pacific Gas & Electric Company: The Pacific Gas & Electric is an electric and gas utility still operating today but it got into the interurban and streetcar business in 1906 when it took over the operations of the ,Sacramento, Electric, Gas & Railway Company. The interurban operated as the PG&E until 1943 when it was sold to the ,Sacramento, City Lines and later the National City Lines, which abandoned all rail operations on April 1, 1946.

,San Diego, & Southeastern Railway: The ,San Diego & Southeastern Railway took over the operations of the Coronado Railroad and National City & Otay Railway. The interurban would go on to serve ,San Diego, National City, Chula Vista and Ota. It operated until 1918 when it became part of the Pacific Electric Railway. For more information on the SD&SE please click here.

San Francisco, Napa and Calistoga Railway: The San Francisco, Napa and Calistoga Railway began operations in 1905 and would ultimately serve Calistoga, Napa, Yountville and St. Helena with a system covering 43 miles. It remained in service until 1937 when passenger operations ended and Southern Pacific picked up the line for freight services (which lasted until 1987). The SFN&C itself lasted until 1957 when it was dissolved.

Peninsular Railway: The Peninsular Railway served San Jose and Palo Alto (today's "Silicon Valley"). It began operations in 1906 as a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific. It reached its peak in 1920 covering 68 miles and today much of the railroad is operated by the Caltrain commuter service.

Northwestern Pacific Railroad: The Northwestern Pacific Railroad was a regional freight railroad serving the Redwood Empire of Northern California. However, until 1941 the NWP also operated an electrified interurban operation serving Marin County. The railroad itself lasted on paper until 1992 when it was dissolved into Southern Pacific.

Santa Cruz, Capitola & Watsonville Railway: The Santa Cruz, Capitola & Watsonville Railway was an interurban operation serving its namesake cities. It lasted only until 1905 when it became part of the Union Traction Company.

Central California Traction: The Central California Traction Company remains in operation today as a shortline, Class III freight railroad dating back to 1905 (although it is currently owned by Union Pacific and BNSF Railway). The railroad began operations as the Central California Traction Company but was purchased by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, Southern Pacific and Western Pacific in 1928 becoming Central California Traction. At that time it served as an interurban operation linking Stockton, Lodi and Sacramento. Today it is unused but still owned by UP and BNSF.

Visalia Electric Railroad: The Visalia Electric Railroad was a subsidiary of Southern Pacific serving Tulare County. It began operations on April 22, 1904 and served as an interurban railroad until 1924 when passenger service was discontinued. Its electric operations remained until 1933 when they too were shutdown. The freight services were carried on until 1992 when operations were discontinued altogether.

For a small gallery of photographs highlighting California interurbans and streetcar railroads please click here.

For more reading on California interurbans and streetcar railroads consider picking up a copy of the book The Electric Interurban Railways in America by authors George Hilton and John Due. Many consider their book to be the quintessential resource guide to the interurban and streetcar movement that was once so common in our country during the first half of the 20th century. At nearly 500 pages the book is stuffed full of information on trolley operations and covers virtually every topic on the subject. If you have any interest in trolleys and interurbans and/or would like to learn more about their history I would strongly consider Mr. Hilton and Mr. Due's book first before purchasing any other.

You may also be interested in the book California Trolleys In Color Volume 1: San Diego and Los Angeles from author Allen Copeland. The books gives a pictorial history of streetcar systems that operated in the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego during the latter years of the era, the 1940s and 1950s (all of which are in color). If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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