Nostalgia & History > "California Railway"

Most of you have probably never heard of the "California Railway" which started out as a STEAM operated line and was later electrified and operated by the KEY SYSTEM...

To quote a brief historical piece:
California Railway (excerpt) bef. 1960
from Key Note issue Four, probably in Oakland History Room archives, bef 1960:
East Bay Transportation
By W. E. Gardiner, Article No. VII
California Railway

The only steam railway in our family of lines is the old California Railway, or the present Leona Line. The California Railway was built in 1887 from Fruitvale Station to Park Place, near the present Buehla Station, by W. W. Woodward.

It was a standard gauge line, and service was started with a small eight-wheel locomotive borrowed from the Southern Pacific Company, the "J. G. Kellogg" or number 2. This locomotive was built at West Alameda in 1864 for the San Francisco & Alameda Railroad by a Mr. Stevens.

Locomotives were named in those days and numbered later as the roads became larger. This number was retained later, after the Central Pacific Railroad had absorbed the small lines around the East Bay, in 1869. There were three coaches for passenger service.

There was some opposition on the part of Mrs. Mills to the road crossing her property, but in 1888 Col. Meyers bought the road and made arrangements with Mrs. Mills to cross the north end of the property.
The track was then extended to a point near the present Mills College Station where a tunnel was started through the hill, but before the work was completed the tunnel caved in and was never finished.

The track was then extended around the hill to a point opposite the north end of the tunnel where the car station was built.

Leona was the site of the old Contra Costa Laundry which was located just across the creek from the car station. At that time the road was popularly known as the "Laundry Farm Railroad."

A tug from San Francisco came by way of Bay Farm Island to a point at the foot of 51st Avenue from where the laundry was carted to Leona where there was an abundance of clear spring water to be had which made this an ideal location for a laundry, the clothes being dried and bleached on the grass.
--------------------------------------------------------

Essentially, the line ran from FRUITVALE JUNCTION on the Southern Pacific mainline, via 42nd Avenue, Courtland Avenue, basically following the banks of Courtland Creek and running parallel to HIGH STREET, about one block EAST of that thoroughfare..
When it got to the area of High Street and MacArthur Blvd., it swung EAST and journeyed up into the Oakland Hills via "Laundry Farm Canyon" ...
Rock Quarries and Sulphur Mines were served.. The LEONA HOTEL was at the end of the line...

The road lasted from about 1887 to 1937...
What is interesting to note is that the California Railway operated a DRILL TRACK parallel to the WP mainline along San Leandro Street and this was also electrified. However, I have never seen photos of THAT particular operation.

Stash, myself, Vic Neves and several others HIKED the right of way from Courtland & High Street up to the I-580 location during the famous "GRAND KEY TOUR" of June 1, 2-2002...

The railroad also had a branch that started near the High Street Bridge and joined in with the mainline from Fruitvale after crossing the SP mainline.
The CARS were manufactured by the famous CARTER BROTHERS in Newark, California.

The LINE itself was in Oakland, California..

I myself would like to see more photos of this amazing operation..

Cheers.

"Key Route Ken"...

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Here is a rough map, courtesy of the Steven Mix Family...
which shows the general area of Leona Heights, Mills College and Laundry Farm Canyon in the East OAKLAND hills.. The railroad is indicated by a cross-hatched line..

Enjoy!

KRK

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

A modern day view of the COURTLAND AVE right-of-way of the "California Railway"..

Photo courtesy of STASH...

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

A 1935 view of the "California Railway".. Note the unusual "NACHOD SIGNAL" on the pole to the left.

Photo courtesy of STASH..

John Harder Collection...

It is amazing how much of the original right of way can be walked, parallel to the creek, that has not been paved and cut thru as a street..

KRK

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Interesting stuff, Ken.

Post some more, if you've got it.