LONGEST INTERURBAN ELECTRIC RAILROAD IN THE US

Three electric lines in one video. The Sacramento Northern, SP Red Trains and the Peninsular Ry. We bring the SP ferry boats on the San Francisco Bay as well. This 1910 to 1957 history has been a favorite of rail-fans and historians.

Our scenes in Oakland, Berkeley and the Oakland Hills plus Sacramento Northern lines out to Contra Costa County are the essential Eastbay of a by-gone era. See the SN’s ferryboat that linked the south-end to the north-end carrying entire trains, both passenger and freight, from Chips to Mallard. The Sacramento Northern freight trains and the interchange with the electric Oakland terminal line at 40th & Shafter yard may very well be the best ever!

Follow several freights through the Oaklnad Hills, Montclair, the long tunnel and through Redwood Canyon to Moraga. From there we run out to Walnut Creek, Concord and the “subway” crossing under Santa Fe and SP tracks.

To quote a review in Railfan & Railroad magazine, “The 16mm film used in this program was shot by almost 20 photographers and ranges from very-good to excellent. This is another excellent and highly educational program from this producer….”

To quote a review in Model Railroad News, “He takes old 8 and 16mm film and spins it into gold….If you’re not already a traction fan.

Athearn HO Bay Window Caboose SP #1345 ATH90326 HO Rolling Stock

[tcarney]

My grandfather, Robert "Bob" Sant, worked for the SN from 1931 to 1971 as a power electrician and from the late forties as the general power foreman. He started at the Concord sub-station tending rotary power converters, and as general foreman was also responsible for overhead wire, signals, and dispatcher telephones from Oakland to Chico on the far north end of the system.

In 1951 he was required to move to Sacramento where maintenance of the Tower Bridge lift system was added to his responsibilities. He lamented the fact that when he was made general power foreman, his primary task was to eventually dismantle the electric system from Oakland to the last electric holdout in Yuba City (on the old Northern Electric) as the SN dieselized. He saw almost all of the history shown in this video.

[pauldavis]

Always makes me sad to think these electric lines existed and we tore them up

[JawTooth]

This Iowa Traction Railway is a must see for railfans. It still operates a common carrier freight railroad under electric power with locomotives over 100 years old. It still runs to this day and I have filmed it myself.

[michaelodonnell]

How amazing to think Concord was a rural area of farms and orchards late into the 1950's. That countryside has now been replaced with suburbia and traffic jams on the freeways. You cannot stop progress. Like the comment below, there is a certain sadness to the changes. This is an outstanding film, and a job well done. At least someone had the vision to capture the final days.

[fabrizio]

Now i have the urge to build and n scale layout

[jaminova_]

I wouldn't mind having a train that close! I'm always amazed when people move next to the tracks or airport and then complain!

[albertcarello]

Now we miss these RAILROADS and wish they were running today.

[paralyzes]

I could watch these electrified trains all day long. Having them operating on my residential street would have been so C O O L!

[nickmalone]

Now were stuck on the freeway moving at 3 mph

[JessicaKasumi]

If you want to explore this route virtually, G-Trax has made the South End of the SN for Train Simulator Classic 2024 by Dovetail Games. Worth every penny.

[scottyounger]

I've been looking into building an N scale layout based off of the Sacramento Northern for a while now so this video is an absolute God send for me. Thanks so much for uploading it

[yrunaked]

This DVD changed my life and started my love for traction and Interurban. I cannot even tell you how many times I have watched it.

[nathancorcoran]

They do decent operations here, especially with their Steeplecab Electric Locomotives. I have seen all of them at the Western Railway Museum in Suisun City, California very recently over on November 9th 2024. Including all of those that appear in this video.

[charlessmileyvideos]

We love the Sacramento Northern! More at www.cspmovies.com

[seanpacificrailroad]

This is an amazing piece of California history thanks for bringing this back and preserving a great piece of history, in your amazing perfect video. I can only imagine how amazing it was probably to ride this back in the days. I wish there was more footage north of the Bay Area, like where I live Chico Gridley area.

[patricknoveski]

Geez, that looked claustrophobic.
But it's super interesting.
Charles alway knows his details on all facts. Amazing.

[SC]

Love the trains and the cars. In color to boot! Different California experience back then, wish I could time travel and spend a day there.

[davidmihevc]

I know I've said this before, but you guys just keep outdoing yourselves on these videos. This is some really great stuff.

[williamlloyd]

Think a couple of the electric locomotives are now located at Travel Town in Griffith Park, Los Angeles.
PS — Glad that some of these original track right of ways are still in use today.
PS2 — Between BART, various light rail systems, and upcoming California Highway speed rail plus Las Vegas line, electrified trains will see a lot of use in California. Wonder what California Air Resources Board will push on the railroads in the future?

[horrorman]

Wow! Live just minutes from the Mallard slipway and never knew that all that existed. It's so sad to see it all gone.