Nostalgia & History > Coalinga

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalinga,_California
 
Picture 2 is from the Calisphere website.
 
Picture 1 is a portion of picture 2 enlarged. 
 

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Picture 2, “Title: 1887 coal discovery.  Creator: [Unknown].  Description: Combination engine, freight-passenger car, on railway leading from Coalinga to coal mine at the back of Standard 250 Leave.  Addison and Mark Fearon children standing by dog in front of car. People sitting and standing in front and back of train, names unknown.  Publisher: Coalinga Huron Library District.  Date: 1887.  Format: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10 in.” 
 

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It's the Flea! It had quite a varied career. See:  http://discussion.cprr.net/2006/01/sp-pay-car-steamcar.html

EO

For everyone's information, Coalinga is a small town west of Fresno in the San Joaquin valley fo California...

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

MojaveBill Wrote:
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> For everyone's information, Coalinga is a small
> town west of Fresno in the San Joaquin valley fo
> California...

Yep, coaling station "A".

Coalinga, CA:

Early days=small[edit]Legendary bandit Joaquin Murrieta was killed in 1853 north of Coalinga. California Historical Landmark 344, near the intersection of what are now State Routes 33 and 198, marks the approximate site of his headquarters, Arroyo de Cantua, where he was slain.https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Caoalinga%22T%27s%22.jpg/220px-Caoalinga%22T%27s%22.jpg Coalinga gets its first load of Model Tcars, about 1914In the early years of railroading, before the extensive development of oil production in California, the steam locomotives were powered by the burning of coal obtained from the northern foothills of Mount Diablo. The Southern Pacific Transportation Company established the site as a coaling station in 1888, and it was called simply Coaling Station A. Local tradition has it that an official of Southern Pacific made the name more sonorous by adding an a to it.[9] However, it is just as likely that the small railside signs of the day, which often abbreviated names, read "COALINGA" to mean "Coaling A." [Another example is Braner's Cut north of Eureka, whose sign said "BRACUT," which has now become the name of that spot along Highway 101.] The resemblance to Nahuatl(where cōātl = "snake") is accidental.The first post office was established in 1899.[8] The city incorporated in 1906.[8]Water=small[edit]Coalinga's water was so mineral-laden that potable water had to be brought in by railroad in tanker cars from Armona, California. For many years, "Armona Water" was the only water residents could drink. Coalinga was one of only a few towns in the United States that had three taps — one for hot water, one for cold water, and one for drinking water. Finally, in the early 1960s, Coalinga held the first practical demonstration for reverse osmosis (RO), and its Armona water was replaced by RO water.[citation needed]1983 earthquake=small[edit]Main article: 1983 Coalinga earthquakehttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/CAtheater1983.jpg/220px-CAtheater1983.jpg State Theater on Elm Avenue, damaged by 1983 earthquake.On May 2, 1983, Coalinga was struck by an earthquake with a moment magnitude of 6.5 that nearly destroyed more than 300 homes and apartment buildings; another 691 buildings saw major damage, and hundreds more had minor damage. Damage was severe in downtown Coalinga, where the eight block commercial district was close to being totally destroyed. The shock was felt as far away as Los Angeles and western Nevada, and was followed by a series of aftershocks that caused additional minor damage and some injuries.[10]Geography=small[edit]Coalinga is located 52 miles (84 km) southwest of Fresno,[8] at an elevation of 673 feet (205 m).[7] The topography is generally level, suitable for a number of field crops which do not require large amounts of water.Geology=small[edit]Underlying rock formations include the occurrence of Vaqueros sandstone. Surrounding the town in a semicircle from the west, around the north, and to the east are several anticlinal formations containing considerable accumulations of petroleum, from which oil has been withdrawn for more than a hundred years.The city is located near a particularly active portion of the San Andreas Fault, and earthquakes are frequent.Climate=small[edit]Coalinga has a desert climate, with hot summers and cool winters. Its hardiness zone is 9a.[11] The average annual precipitation is 8.25 in (210 mm), falling mainly from October to May.[12]Coalinga (1981-2010 Normals)Climate chart (explanation)JFMAMJJASOND  =9px1.9  =9px58=9px36  =9px1.7  =9px65=9px40  =9px1.5  =9px71=9px43  =9px0.4  =9px77=9px47  =9px0.3  =9px87=9px54  =9px0.1  =9px94=9px61  =9px0  =9px100=9px67  =9px0  =9px99=9px65  =9px0.2  =9px93=9px59  =9px0.4  =9px82=9px51  =9px0.5  =9px69=9px41  =9px1.2  =9px59=9px36Average max. and min. temperatures in °FPrecipitation totals in inchesSource: Western Regional Climate Center[12][show]Metric conversionEconomy=small[edit]Today, the city's main industries are agriculture, oil and incarceration. The city is home to the Coalinga Oil Field, operated by Chevron and Aera Energy; the Guijarral Hills Oil Field; Pleasant Valley State Prison; and Coalinga State Hospital.Coalinga is home to California's first new mental health hospital in more than 50 years: a 1,500-bed facility built specifically to house sexually violent predators. Coalinga State Hospital opened in September 2005. Attractions=small[edit]The Harris Ranch, a major cattle ranch which also features a hotel, several restaurants, and a gift shop, is east of Coalinga, near Interstate 5.Coalinga hosts the Horned Toad Derby each year over the Memorial Day weekend in late May.[17] The three-day event is similar to the more famous Jumping Frog Jubilee held in Calaveras County, California, but utilizes locally caught horned toads rather than frogs. This tradition began in 1935.[18]On the November weekend closest to Montgolfiere Day (November 21) each year, Coalinga is host to the annual WHAMOBASS Balloon Rally, the longest consecutively running annual hot air balloon rally in the world, sponsored by the Whiskey Hill Atherton Menlo Oaks Ballooning & Sporting Society. Typically, more than 40 balloons ascend at dawn on Saturday and Sunday morning from the athletic field of West Hills College Coalinga. A small number fly on Friday and occasionally on Thursday.[19]The R.C. Baker Memorial Museum is housed in the former Baker Oil Tools machine shop. The museum continues to accept items from visitors to add to its collection. The museum displays local fossils, models of prehistoric fauna, native American artifacts, and items from pioneer settlers.The Coalinga Rifle Club, whose 25 point, 1000 yard range facility is west of town, is host to various California State Rifle Championships. These include: California State Long Range, Mid Range, Palma Rifle, Fullbore, Service Rifle and High Power Championships. It is also the home of the California Grizzlies, Junior National Champions for the last four years. They have recreational facilities for rifle, pistol, shotgun and a 500-meter Metallic Silhouette Range.The New Coalinga Municipal Airport is host to the annual Northern California Aerobatic contest.[20] Relocated from Paso Robles in 2013, this early June event is typically the largest of five annual California regional aerobatic contests sanctioned by the International Aerobatic Club.[21] Visitors to the airport are welcome to view upwards of 45 pilots flying a wide variety of competitive aircraft in five categories of competition over a two-day period.

Thanks CPRR for the interesting information and pictures.  Flynn.

Another bad local library caption.   The photo of San Joaquin Valley Coal Mining Company #1 couldn't have been taken in 1887 because the railroad line it was used on wasn't built until 1889 (the photo could only have been taken sometime between 1889 and 1893).

I suspect the phrase, "the back of Standard 250 Leave" refers to a later oil lease, with "lease" misspelled. 

SLOCONDR wrote:

> Yep, coaling station "A"

I think it is just a myth that Coalinga's original name was "Coaling Station A," which supposedly evolved into "Coalinga."

To start with, there are no Southern Pacific documents that I am aware of that mention  "Coaling Station A."

The name "Coalinga" came into use almost as soon as the SP branch to its location was built - little time for the name  "Coaling Station A" to be used. The line opened to traffic on July 14, 1888.  The August 22, 1888 Fresno Weeklly Espositor (p. 2) reported:  "The mines are situated, as before stated, not far from the West Side railroad, being 3 1/2 miles from a station called Coalinga, which will be the shipping point of the coal."

The Oct. 5, 1888 Railroad Gazette (p. 661) reported:  "The extension west from Huron in Fresno County, Cal., has been completed for about 21 miles.  A new town called "Coalinga" has been laid out at the end of the track."

In 1889, the San Joaquin Coal Valley Mining Company built a three-mile long spur from Coalinga northwest to its mine in Coalmine Canyon.  Until this spur was built, there was no extensive shipping of coal by the company.  The name "Coalinga," however, had been in use since the previous year.


Update #1:  CPRR's claim (new to me) that "small railside signs of the day''..."often abbreviated names" is mostly not true as far as the SP was concerned.

Update #2:  The Southern Pacific selected the name "Coalinga" even before the extension of the branch from Huron to Alcalde was opened to traffic.  Pertainent newspaper articles:

June 21, 1888 Tulare Advance-Register (Tulare, Calif.) (3:3) -"Below we give the names on the Fresno division of the S.P., from Fresno to Porterville ... Also the Goshen extension from Huron to the terminous.  This schedule will go into effect Sunday next."

"GOSHEN EXTENSION
Huron
Dothal (sic)
Coalinga
Alcolda (sic) " 

June 30, 1888 The Selma Enterprise (4:3), originally in the Fresno Expositor - "On Sunday, July 1, 1888 the Goshen division will be opened for traffic to Alcalde, a distance of 20.6 miles from Huron to Alcalde and 310.34 miles from San Francisco.  Stations, distances and agencies will, until further notice, be as follows: Huron, 7.2; Dathol, 8.4; Coalings (sic), 5.0; Alcalde."  (the Fresno Expositor was incorrect about agencies being at Dathol, Coalinga and Alcalde then)


Update #3: The Tulare Advance-Register and the Selma Enterprise both indicated the extension of the Goshen Division would open to traffic on July 1, 1888 but this was delayed, with the actual opening occuring on July 16, 1888.


 



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/23 00:33 by johnsweetser.

Regardless of all of the above, later day shots are almost non-existent. Went through
there several times as a child with my parents and saw nothing but empty tracks.

Out

Coaling Station A, or Coaling A, is the story that one finds on the Coalinga Chamber of Commerce website as well as just about every other Coalinga history source available.  However, it must be noted that virtually all of the stories begin with some variation of "legend has it that...." .  Apparently, the names of Coalingo, Coaling Station have also been used as names for the community before it was incorporated as Coalinga.  The fact is that coal was discovered in the area and it did become a railroad stop for coal.  Whether it was stop A of an alphabetical series of stops has never really been established as anything beyond a story, but it sounds good.  And, there could it could very well be true, as the word "coalinga" has no other meaning or association.

are there recent photos of the line like from the 1970s?