Nostalgia & History > A little from the San Bruno Branch

SW1500 SP2624 is working the San Bruno Local and is seen here switching cars at Colma. - Tony J.

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On October 4, 1974 SP SW1500 #2603 brings its short train through the many cemeteries at Colma. - Tony J.

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SP2603 passes the camera at Colma. - Tony J.

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And the caboose brings up the rear. - Tony J.

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Where the heck was this train heading, Tony??
It looks like someone laid a couple of rails on an old "garden path"..

"KRK"

KeyRouteKen Wrote:
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> Where the heck was this train heading, Tony??
> It looks like someone laid a couple of rails on an
> old "garden path"..
>
> "KRK"


The train was heading back to its terminal in South San Francisco. Hard to believe but those rails in the "garden path" is the original SP (ex-SF&SJ) mainline into San Francisco. - Tony J.

Nice shots, especially though the cemetaries. I always wondered what industries were on this line. I know the last major industry was the Macy's warehouse above the Kaiser hospital in South City, I believe they went up there once a week or so in the 80's. What industries were located in Colma?

My girlfriend (now wife) lived with her parents about 4 blocks from the line where it crossed Orange Avenue, and I heard them blowing for the corssing several times but never got off my rear end to go shot some photos. Now its too late. Liv and learn I suppose....

SW1200

SW1200 Wrote:
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> Nice shots, especially though the cemetaries. I
> always wondered what industries were on this line.
> I know the last major industry was the Macy's
> warehouse above the Kaiser hospital in South City,
> I believe they went up there once a week or so in
> the 80's. What industries were located in Colma?
>
> My girlfriend (now wife) lived with her parents
> about 4 blocks from the line where it crossed
> Orange Avenue, and I heard them blowing for the
> corssing several times but never got off my rear
> end to go shot some photos. Now its too late. Liv
> and learn I suppose....
>
> SW1200


The Macy's warehouse was the (as far as I know) last shipper on the branch, and it was at the end of track after the line was abandoned from Daly City to Carrol in 1978. Near the end service to the Macy's warehouse was about one day a month and SP kept a caboose at SSF for the long backup move. From memory I recall a lumber yard in Colma and an aggregate business in Daly City. I'm sure there were more. - Tony J.

The Winter 2005 (No. 82) issue of Trainline, the magazine of the Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society, had an twelve-page article about the Colma branch with lots and lots of photos. It should still be available as a back issue; go to the society's website for ordering info.