The Route (a brief history)

11 competitive rail route across the Southern Pacific (formerly Central Sierras was the dream of Pacific) after C. P. Huntington died in a young Scotch surveyor, Arthur W. 1900. In 1901 Georgy' Gould added the Keddie, in the late 1860s. While ex­ Denver and Rio Grande to the other ploring for a new mountain wagon rail properties inherited from his road through the valley of the Feather father, financier Jay Gould. The Gould River- so named because of the system now stretched from Buffalo, floating feathers from wild pigeons­ New York, to Ogden, , and south­ Keddie found a potential rail route of west from Chicago to EI Paso and low grade which crossed the moun­ New Orleans. Harriman closed the tains via , a crossing Utah Gateway to his rival and the more than 2000 feet lower than Donner Denver and Rio Grande had no west­ Pass to the south. Efforts to utilize this ern connection to the Pacific Coast. favorable route failed until the begin­ Gould was thus forced to seek a way ning of the twentieth century, largely to extend his own line. because of the opposition of the Keddie found financial support for Central Pacific. E. H. Harriman, who controlled the Union Pacific, gained control of the the early days his rail route from Walter J. Bartnett, wages. The ethnic conglomeration of and late in 1902 they incorporated a the work forces represented all types railroad company which basically fol­ from all places. The Western Pacific lowed Keddie's original line of survey. became known as "the Wobbly Pa­ Finding George Gould interested in cific" (a reference to the I.W.W. mem­ such a western line, the Keddie group bers in the construction gangs) by made a profitable capitulation to the locals along the route. larger financial interests, and on The Southern Pacific made every March 3, 1903, a new transcontinental effort to block the Western Pacific line, the Western Pacific Railway Com­ from obtaining a waterfront terminal pany, was organized in on the San Francisco Bay at Oakland. with Bartnett as president. Bartnett Since the older road had, for years, later sold the Alameda & San Joaquin held a tight legal grip and control over Railroad, a coal line that started oper­ all the Oakland waterfront, they felt ations in 1896 from Stockton west to quite secure against the newcomer. Tesla. The section between Carbona The SP forces were caught off guard and Ortega was later relaid with early in January 1906 when, under the heavier rail and is part of the present leadership of Bartnett, 200 Western main line. Pacific workers, supported by thirty Gould was the dominant figure in guards carrying shotguns and car­ the new line, but managed to avoid bines, quickly built a crude mile of any public connection with the ven­ track on top of a rock quay or retain­ ture until the spring .of 1905. Surveyors ing wall earlier constructed by the and engineers, working in secrecy, government to keep silt out of the completed surveys and profiles for the inner harbor at Oakland. Despite tl;e new road. At the direction of Gould, legal efforts of Harriman and the $50 million in Western Pacific bonds Southern Pacific, the Western Pacific were underwritten by the Rio Grande coup prevailed. with the stipulation that a 1 % com­ The 1906 earthquake didn't help pensated grade and curves of 10 de­ matters, creating faults and causing grees be the maximum throughout the slides at cuts on the new line in line. Edward T. Jeffery, president of the area. By late 1907 the Denver and Rio Grande, became nine thousand men were building the president of the Western Pacific in railroad. early summer 1905 with Bartnett be- The last spike was driven by Leo-

coming vice president. Construction nardo diTomasso, a track foreman, on 1. George Gould began in the fall of the same year. November 1, 1909, as track gangs The mountainous terrain in Cali­ from east and west met on a steel 2. The Edward T. Jeffery, named for WP's fornia and the desert conditions in bridge across Spanish Creek high in second president, was launched at Oakland compounded the problems of the mountains. There were no cere­ harbor on July 19, 1913, and ran between San Francisco and WP 's mole at Oakland locating and constructing a line in a monies for this engineering triumph. during World War 1. Returned from the region already remote and inacces­ A new transcontinental rail route, with Railroad Administration after the war, she sible. But at the same time much of a low-level line through the Sierras, was painted white and renamed the the line was constructed with equip­ had been achieved. The finished road Feather River and ran until 1932. ment and machines far more efficient crossed the Sierras at an elevation of than used by the earlier transconti­ 5,000 feet, had few sharp curves, and 3. Track Foreman Leonardo di Tomasso (right) pounded in the last spike at Spanish Creek nentals. Large steam shovels made boasted a maximum grade of not over bridge on November 1, 1909 to complete the the cuts and fills and track was laid one per cent. Throughout the line jOining of Western Pacific's main line track. with the newest equipment. Virgil C. there was 41 steel bridges and 44 Bogue, chief engineer of the Gould tunnels built to the best contemporary 4. The Feather River flood of March 1907 railroads, became vice-president and standards. delayed completion of Bridge No. 212.36 chief engineer of the Western Pacific Through freight service was inaugu­ crossing the Middle Fork 7'12 miles east of Oroville until the end of that year. This and headed up the project. rated on December 1, 1909, although bridge is now under water due to Labor was scarce in the remote local freight service began in 1908 construction of the . areas, even when top wages were of­ between and a Nevada fered, but after the depression of 1907, Northern Railroad connection at 5. Never before had the arrival of a first more workers were available at lower Shafter, Nevada. passenger received the tumultous welcome as did Western Pacific's first passenger train as it arrived in Oakland, Calif. on August 22, 1910.

1. Tidewater Southern's "747" hauls a 40-car train on Modesto's 9th Street.

2. Tidewater Southern Electric Interurban in front of Stockton Hotel on Weber St.

3. A Sacramento Northern Railway F-7 diesel engine. ac uisition and expansion

In August of 1910 passenger service On June 18, 1916, the property was was also acquired in 1917. An electric of the Sacramento Northern began was begun on the line, much to the sold at foreclosure. Assuming opera­ interurban, the TS commenced opera­ in October of 1905 from Chico to joy of the 68-year-old Arthur Keddie, tion of the line was The Western tions between Stockton and Modesto Oroville (originally named Northern as he and many others at towns along Pacific Railroad Company, formed a in 1912 and expanded into Turlock in Electric). Early in 1907, freight service the line welcomed the first train. few weeks earlier by the bond holders. 1916. After the WP purchase, branch began between Marysville and Sacra­ Traffic agreements were signed with The president of the new Western lines were constructed to Hilmar in mento. The Northern Electric was re­ the Pacific Steamship Company, the Pacific was Charles M. Levey, who 1917 and into Manteca in 1918. Inter­ named the Sacramento Northern in Santa Fe , and a Japanese navigation had been second vice president of the urban passenger service ended in 1918. The portion of the system be­ company which immediately gave original company. 1932 and electrical operations ended tween Oakland and Sacramento was access to all coastal cities and the Freight and passenger service in 1948. It is a significant feeder for built by the Oakland and Antioch Orient. started to climb. Branch lines were the WP, serving an important manu­ (Eastern was later added to the name). Gould furnished the Western Pacific bought or built. In 1916 the company facturing, farming and wine-producing The OA&E went into receivership and a staff of excellent officers to begin purchased the Boca and Loyalton area. was reorganized in 1920 as the San its career, but the high cost of build­ Railroad, a Sierra shortline which be­ The company obtained the southern Francisco-Sacramento Railroad (Sac­ ing the road - double the $39 million came the Loyalton Branch. A sub­ section of the Nevada-California­ ramento Short Line). It was purchased estimated - nearly ruined the Rio sidiary line, the Deep Creek Railroad, Oregon Railway, a narrow gauge line, in February 1927 by the Western Grande's credit and prevented the opened in March 1917, running from running from Reno to the Western Pa­ Pacific. On January 1, 1929, the construction of feeder lines and many Wendover south to Gold Hill, Utah, to cific main line. This line was standard­ two electric roads' operations were spur tracks. Freight and passenger serve the gold mining country (closed gauged and partly relocated to open merged. Passenger service ended in traffic did not meet expectations. The in July 1939). The Indian Valley Rail­ the Reno Branch on February 3,1918. June of 1941 and the last electric construction costs of the new road ro ad was opened in June 1917. This Construction also began on the San service ran on April 10, 1965. Now had been extremely high and the lack road was controlled jointly by the WP Jose Branch which, due to wartime dieselized, the Sacramento Northern of traffic brought financial hardship to and the Engles Copper Mining Com­ delays, did not open until September owns or operates on approximately the D&RG and the rest of the Gould pany and ran from Paxton to Engles 1,1921 . 336 miles of track between Concord rail empire. (closed October 1938). The Sacramento Northern Railway and Chico, California. The Tidewater was purchased in 1921. Construction

3 th . Twenties and A.C. James ...

On July 1, 1918, all American rail­ returned to private ownership. After ern, Northern Pacific, Burlington and roads passed into the hands of the the war most railroads, including the other western railroads. James be­ U.S. Railroad Administration. William Western Pacific, were in poor physical came WP's chairman of the board R. Scott, vice president of Southern shape. After a year of negotiations, $9 and called from retirement Harry M. Pacific, was appointed to manage the million was received from the govern- Adams - one-time Western Pacific SP, the Western Pacific and the Santa _ment in damages. freight agent who joined the Union Fe Coast Lines. Under his administra­ The Calpine Branch in the Feather Pacific and became a vice president tion paired track operations began in River Canyon was opened to traffic - to serve as president. A com­ Nevada, the WP's ferry and barge May 14, 1923, to serve a lumber mill plete renovation of the entire line was service on the San Francisco Bay was (abandoned May, 1940). started. abolished, WP passenger were In 1924 the paired track arrange­ Also in 1926, the diverted to the SP Oakland Mole ment between Weso and Alazon in was purchased by the Western Pacific and San Francisco freight moved via Nevada with the Southern Pacific, and Santa Fe from the City of Alameda. Dumbarton Bridge. He was succeeded originally initiated during World War I, On January 1, 1928, the Western on August 31, 1919, by Colonel was reinstated together with agree­ Pacific purchased a one-third interest Edward W. Mason, a former WP ment on joint rates and routes. Large in the Central California Traction employee, who later became the com­ additions to the rolling stock were Company whose 53-mile main line pany's general manager and sub­ also made during this period. connects Sacramento with Stockton. sequently a vice president until his In 1926 Arthur Curtiss James, one The Terminous Branch, with a wharf retirement in 1946. of the last railroad financial giants, warehouse, also opened in January of On March 1, 1920, railroads were acquired control of the property. The 1928 to serve the California " Delta" son of a railroad builder, James also area growers and shippers (closed in had large holdings in the Great North- 1964). 2

1,000,000 ACRES I Awaiting Settlers! Sec Lisl or Londs For Sale Herein . Round-Trip Homeseekers' Fares TO Nevada and California For Settlers

The

First and Third Tuesdays November, 1912 to December, 1913 Inclusive E. L. I.OMAX J. G. LOWE P""rnlol r r Trnlfi , M III11'HU Ills l r lfl " aSS('"Krr AI:.-nl SllIl Frllndscu

1. Film star Monte Blue in a silent film melodrama at Quincy Junction.

2. WP No. 1, first engine at Salt Lake City, December 1906.

3. Arthur Curtiss James speaking a( Bieber on November 10, 1931 during the Gold Spike ceremonies which opened WP 's north-south route.

4 . An earlystereoscopic view looking towards Goat Island (now Tre asure Island) and San Francisco beyond along tracks leading to the Western Pacific Mole at Oakland. 3 BURLINGTON

Western Pac.li

SACRAMENTO - UNION PACIFIC

INTERCHANGE POINTS WITH FOR 1. BIEBER ...... B. N. PACIFIC NORTHWEST 2. STOCKTON ...... AT & SF &SP SOUTHWEST 3. SALT LAKE CITY ...... UP & DRGW CHICAGO / MAIN LINE EAST COAST 4. SAN BRANCH LINES FRANCISCO/ ..... SP&AT & SF BAY AREA OAKLAND MAJOR CONNECTION the thirties and the war

During this period plans for the purchase of ten mountain-type en­ 1. This articulated engine operated by WP Inside Gateway were put into opera­ gines from the Florida East Coast before the days of the diesel was among the tion. Western Pacific built 112 miles Railroad, eliminating the use of helper most powerful steam power in the world. north out of Keddie connecting with engines. Faster through-schedules to the Great Northern's 88-mile extension the east were established. 2. Great Northern's No. 3351 and WP's No. 204 met at Bieber on a freezing November 10, south from Klamath Falls, Oregon, at The outbreak of the Second World 1931 to dedicate completion of the north-south Bieber, California. This was a most War found the Western Pacific in ex­ Inside Gateway. WP President Harry Adams important project, making Western cellent shape to handle the vastly and Great Northern President Pacific a north and south carrier increased freight and passenger busi­ shook hands from the engines' pilots. through its connection with the Santa ness. More than 700 miles of new rail Fe at Stockton. On November 1 0,1931, had been laid on the main line. The 3. A track gang fays rail during construction of the Bieber line north of Crescent Arthur Curtiss James drove the final first freight diesel operations started Mills in September 1931 . spike of Oroville gold at Bieber to in 1939. Among the 150 locomotives open the line. were seventeen heavy mallets cap­ 4. Western Pacific ran many grain As the Great Depression advanced, able of 5400 horsepower. Shops and specials in the depression years much traffic fell off. One after another of terminal facilities were in first-class like this "Prosperity Special" at the Nation's railroads went into bank­ condition. Carlin, Nevada in 1933. ruptcy. The Western Pacific defaulted In December 1942 Western Pacific on its bond interest in 1935 and the and the Santa Fe purchased The Oak­ Reconstruction Finance Corporation land Terminal Railway from the Key requested a plan for reorganization. System. This line added various indus­ RFC funds were provided to help carry trial tracks in Oakland and Emeryville. out a three-year rehabilitation pro­ At the end of 1944 the reorganiza­ gram. The program included replacing tion plan was finally approved and the 85-pound rail in the Feather River company emerged from receivership. Canyon with 112-pound rail and the t keover attempt fails

The , jointly owned train operations. Modern freight cars "Northwest Rate Case" on April 1, and operated by Western Pacific, were purchased and maintenance-of­ 1967. New tariffs guaranteed rate Denver & Rio Grande Western, and way equipment was fully mechanized. equality on the Bieber route between Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail­ The railroad took delivery in July 1957 California and Pacific Northwest roads, went into service on March of a 375-foot, 27-car capacity, self­ points. 20, 1949. The diesel-powered, ultra­ propelled diesel car ferry, the MIV On July 1, 1967, WP became a modern streamliner with its vista­ "Las Plumas" for operation on San member-owner of the Fruit Growers dome cars provided excellent food , Francisco Bay, replacing three tugs Express Company, enabling the Com­ accommodations and service. Its and barges. pany to provide a dependable supply schedules were designed for scenic On October 12, 1960, the Southern of refrigeration equipment, particu­ viewing on its transcontinental run Pacific announced the purchase of larly "piggyback" type equipment and between Oakland and Chicago. The 10% of WP's stock and its intention mechanical refrigerator cars. Western Pacific was forced to follow to seek control of the property. A long A new locomotive maintenance the national trend toward passenger legal battle began that would not fin­ shop was built at Stockton and began train reduction. On March 22, 1970, ish until a decision was issued by the operations during the summer of 1969. the final run of No. 18 eastbound and Interstate Commerce Commission on No. 17 westbound brought a nostalgic February 3, 1965, in favor of Western ending to the Railroad 's passenger Pacific remaining an independently­ service. owned, competitive railroad. o"uring this ·period of industrial In 1962, the State of Cal ifornia be­ growth in the west, Western Pacific gan construction of the Oroville dam launched a program of modernization as a part of its Feather River Water and plant improvement. In the Feather Project. This required the relocation River Canyon, a new Tunnel 15, 3,000 of WP's main line. The new 23-mile feet long with a reinforced concrete long track shortened the original main lining, was opened in the spring of line by four miles. 1957. Heavier rail was laid, new bal­ As a result of successful litigation last placed, and a traffic controlled by the Company's legal department, a signal system installed to improve favorable ruling was received in the

1. The " Ruby Jubilee" on November 1,1949 celebrated the 40th anniversary of the driving of the last spike on Spanish Creek Bridge. En gines of four decades met for the occasion.

2. Since August 1957 freight cars have been carried across San Francisco Bay between Oakland and San Francisco aboard Western Pacific's self propelled diesel MIV "Las Plumas."

3. Four F-7 "workhorses" pull tonnage freight past west switch at Two Rivers on a winter day.

4. Screen star Eleanor Parker christens the famed California Zephyr the day before it went into service on March 20, 1949. The actress was assisted by Harry A. Mitchell, president, and Goodwin Knight, California's lieutenant governor. Southern Pacific 4 Seeking Control Of Western Pacific

Official Says Subsidiary' Ac­ quired Nearly 10% of Western Road's Common

Application Filed With ICC

A ,y ALL S1'R>OE'r JOURNAL News Roundup Southern Pacific Co. moved to acquire con­ trol of the and form a massive affiliated rail network in the West. D. J. Russell, Southern Pacific president, disclosed. in San Francisco that a Southern Pacific subsidiary already has acquired nearly 10% of Western Pacific stock. He said Southern Pacific also has applied to the Interstate Com­ merce Commission in Washington for permis­ sion to acquire control of Western Pacific through purchase of additional shares.

2 3 a odern railroad

Alfred E. Perlman became president Denver & Rio Grande Western and 1. We stern Pacific Railroad chairman on December 1, 1970. He was presi­ Union Pacific railroads at Salt Lake of the board. Alfred E. Perlman. dent of the New York Central Railroad City, forming through transcontinental 2. An eastbound freight swings across lower from 1954 until its merger with the freight service by connection with deck of the West Branch bridge over the Feather River's west branch. U.S. Highway Pennsylvania in 1968, becoming presi­ other carriers. The line between 40-A crosses on upper deck. dent of the merged companies. Prior Bieber and Stockton forms the middle to that time he was responsible for segment of a three-carrier, through­ 3. WP's LeTourneau side porter is used for transfer of containers and trailers to and from successfully rebuilding the Denver freight service by connecting South­ rail flat cars in the Oakfand yard. and Rio Grande Western. Under his ern California and the Southwest with leadership, the Western Pacific was the Pacific Northwest. The company returned to a profitable position in a owns choice industrial parks and land period of four months, and turned in in California, Nevada and Utah which a net profit for 1971 of $3.9 million fol­ are utilized to encourage industries to lowing two successive years of losses. locate near Western Pacific tracks. Western Pacific today is an impor­ Today, Western Pacific's 3,200 em­ tant rail carrier operating 1,246 miles ployees, with all types of skills, crafts of main line and 472 miles of branch and professions, are working together line tracks. The main line extends for the future growth of the West's eastward from Oakland and joins the independent, competitive railroad.

1. Western Pacific Transport Company a truck line subsidiE!ry began operations In the spllng of 1973

2 Robert G. FlannelY was elected president of The Western Pacific Railroad Company on January 1. 1973

TEXT - John K. Kelly RESEARCH - Lee Sherwood DESIGN - John R. Signor PHOTOS - Western Pacific

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