Pacific Coast Railway
Encyclopedia
The Pacific Coast Railway is a defunct narrow gauge railway in the Central Coast of California
. Not to be confused with the Pacific Coast Railroad Company
, a tourist operation in nearby Santa Margarita
, California
, near Atascadero which has operated since 2000.
Originally a 10 mile (16 km) link from San Luis Obispo
to Avila Beach
and Port Harford, it later built southward to Santa Maria
and Los Olivos
, with branches
to Sisquoc
and Guadalupe
.
Although much of the line's traffic was agricultural freight, the development of oilfields in the Santa Maria valley gave it much business, and probably extended its life considerably.
An interesting feature, unusual for a narrow gauge railway, was that the Santa Maria to Guadalupe branch was electrified
.
Central Coast of California
The Central Coast is an area of California, United States, roughly spanning the area between the Monterey Bay and Point Conception. It extends through Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, and Santa Barbara County...
. Not to be confused with the Pacific Coast Railroad Company
Pacific Coast Railroad (tourist)
The Pacific Coast Railroad is a narrow-gauge tourist railroad located at the Santa Margarita Ranch in Santa Margarita, California.Established in 2000 by San Luis Obispo entrepreneur Rob Rossi, it sees only limited public operation. Phase 1 consisted of a loop around the most historic part of the...
, a tourist operation in nearby Santa Margarita
Santa Margarita
Santa Margarita may refer to:*Santa Margarita , a shipwreck off the coast of Florida near Key WestPlaces*Santa Margarita, Mosta, Malta*Santa Margarita Island, Mexico*Santa Margarita, Samar, Philippines...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, near Atascadero which has operated since 2000.
Originally a 10 mile (16 km) link from San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
to Avila Beach
Avila Beach, California
Avila Beach , pronounced AH-vuh-luh, is a census-designated place in San Luis Obispo County, California, USA and located about 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles, and about 200 miles south of San Francisco. The ZIP Code is 93424. The community is inside area code 805...
and Port Harford, it later built southward to Santa Maria
Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County, on the Central Coast of California. The 2010 census population was 100,062, putting it ahead of Santa Barbara for the first time and making it the largest city in the county...
and Los Olivos
Los Olivos, California
Los Olivos is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California. The ZIP Code is 93441, and the community is inside area code 805...
, with branches
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
to Sisquoc
Sisquoc, California
Sisquoc is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California located east of U.S. Route 101 about southeast of Santa Maria and south of Garey. The ZIP Code is 93454, and the community is inside area code 805. Sisquoc has a fire station, a church, a Preschool-8 school and a store. It...
and Guadalupe
Guadalupe, California
Guadalupe is a small city located in Santa Barbara County, California. According to the U.S. Census of 2010, the city has a population of 7,080. It was incorporated as a city on May 19, 1946...
.
Although much of the line's traffic was agricultural freight, the development of oilfields in the Santa Maria valley gave it much business, and probably extended its life considerably.
An interesting feature, unusual for a narrow gauge railway, was that the Santa Maria to Guadalupe branch was electrified
Electrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...
.
Timeline
- 1873 Horse-powered, gauge tramway opened between Port Harford and Avila Beach.
- 1876 Line extended to San Luis Obispo, as gauge steam-powered San Luis Obispo & Santa Maria Valley Railroad, with the backing of the Pacific Coast Steamship CompanyPacific Coast Steamship CompanyThe Pacific Coast Steamship Company was an important early shipping company that operated steamships on the west coast of North America.-Organization and operations:...
. - 1881 SLO&SMV and Pacific Coast Steamship Company absorbed into Oregon Improvement Company.
- 1881 Line extended from San Luis Obispo to Arroyo Grande.
- 1882 Line extended to Santa Maria and Los Alamos.
- 1882 SLO&SMV reorganized as Pacific Coast Railway.
- 1887 Mainline reaches Los Olivos, furthest extent.
- 1901 Oil drilling begins east of Santa Maria.
- 1906 Electrified branch built west from Santa Maria to serve sugar beet industry, to plant at BetteraviaBetteravia, CaliforniaBetteravia, named for the French word for sugar beet roots, was a community in northern Santa Barbara County, California on Betteravia Road, six miles west of Santa Maria...
. - 1909 Electrified branch extended to Guadalupe.
- 1910 Branch built east from Santa Maria to Sisquoc, to serve growing oilfields.
- 1928 End of electric operations.
- 1936 Mainline abandoned south of Los Alamos.
- 1937 Branchlines from Santa Maria abandoned.
- 1941 All service abandoned.
External links
- http://www.smvrhm.org - Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum
- http://www.slorrm.com - San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
- http://www.csrmf.org - California State Railroad Museum, which has restored PCRy caboose No. 2.