Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog number |
2017.8.070 |
Object Name |
Pamphlet |
Description |
The Western Railroader - Page Three NEW ALMADEN BRANCHES South Pacific Coast Railway Southern Pacific Railroad News out of San Jose is that the Southern Pacific has applied to abandon the freight trackage from Lick to Alamitos which is the last remaining portion of the two lines the S.P. once operated to Almaden. Almaden southwest of San Jose is the site of the largest quicksilver mine and the most prolific producer of cinnabar in the State of California that was named the New Almaden Mine after the original mine in Spain. The South Pacific Coast Railway narrow gauge was the first to reach Almaden, or at least close to the mine, with a 9-1/2 mile branch from Campbell southward to the station of Almaden. It was built by James G. Fair as President of the railway and was opened to traffic on June 15, 1866. The Southern Pacific presumably as an answer to this challenge incorporated the San Jose & Almaden Railroad March 2, 1886 to build from Hillsdale (now Lick) 7.7 miles to Almaden and opened to Almaden Crossing on November 16, 1866. As negotiations for purchase of the South Pacific Coast by the Southern Pacific were pending during the latter part of 1886 and the station was on mining company property the trackage from Almaden Crossing to Almaden Station was three-rail and both companies shared the depot. The South Pacific Coast trackage was purchased by the Almaden Branch Railroad April 14, 1887 and consolidated with the South Pacific Coast Railway May 23, 1887. The South Pacific Coast Railway was leased to the Southern Pacific on July 1, 1887. The narrow gauge was used to haul the quick-silver concentrates to Alviso for shipment by boat to the smelter while the standard gauge handled incoming shipments and later in the 1890's was extended to Greystone to provide stone for the construction of Stanford University and at least two Southern Pacific depots (San Carlos and Kenwood). The San Jose & Almaden Railroad was consolidated with the Southern Pacific on May 14, 1888. The narrow gauge was converted to standard in 1899 when third rail was laid from San Jose to Los Gatos on the S.P.C. main line. The Western Railroader - Page Four Photograph - The Southern Pacific 4 and passenger train at the Almaden Depot from the collection of S.C. McGuire. The Western Railroader - Page Five Map including area rail system lines and depot stop locations. An interesting side-light is found in issue 348 on joint trackage in the Campbell area between the Southern Pacific and San Jose & Los Gatos Inerurban Railway, later the Peninsular Railway, over the former South Pacific Coast Almaden branch trackage. A staff system was employed between the trolley cars and the single mixed freight over the line. The portion of the former South Pacific Coast branch between Almaden station and Le Franc was abandoned on April 5, 1934. The portion of the Southern Pacific branch between Almaden station and Alamitos was abandoned in 1934, but was not removed until 1936. The balance of the S.P.C. branch between Le Franc and Campbell was discontinued on December 4, 1937. As indicated above, the Southern Pacific is now seeking to abandon the portion remaining between Alamitos and Lick. The Western Railroader - Page Six South Pacific Coast Railway Co. Narrow Gauge - Schedules between 1887 to 1914. |
Cataloged by |
Wicks, Susan |
Collection |
Individual Donors 8 |