Cambridge H. Lutèce
@camlutece.bsky.social
Your friendly neighborhood Bay Area trolley guy! Amateur transit historian, freelance journalist, and Western Railway Museum docent & social media manager.
Photo Credits: digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/20928...
[Engine No. 3504. Southern Pacific Railroad.]
digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu
December 3, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Photo Credits: digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/20928...
Facebook Marketplace has never failed me for finding obscure eccentric stuff.
December 2, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Facebook Marketplace has never failed me for finding obscure eccentric stuff.
True. Vallejo also had a proposed local streetcar system that never got built.
December 2, 2025 at 6:53 PM
True. Vallejo also had a proposed local streetcar system that never got built.
Interesting. I wonder how popular the branch was compared to the Red Electric's direct route to Portland.
A part of me would say that's why the thru-train was abandoned in 1924. But knowing the state of interurbans at the time, it was probably auto/bus competition.
A part of me would say that's why the thru-train was abandoned in 1924. But knowing the state of interurbans at the time, it was probably auto/bus competition.
December 2, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Interesting. I wonder how popular the branch was compared to the Red Electric's direct route to Portland.
A part of me would say that's why the thru-train was abandoned in 1924. But knowing the state of interurbans at the time, it was probably auto/bus competition.
A part of me would say that's why the thru-train was abandoned in 1924. But knowing the state of interurbans at the time, it was probably auto/bus competition.
Surely there is an alternate universe where the Transcontinental Street Railway Co. really did go transcontinental... 😔 A better world, surely.
December 2, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Surely there is an alternate universe where the Transcontinental Street Railway Co. really did go transcontinental... 😔 A better world, surely.
Photo Credits: hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
"Napa Valley Route" by Ira Swett & Harry C. Aitken
hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
"Napa Valley Route" by Ira Swett & Harry C. Aitken
Napa County Historical Society - Depot Station
Black and white photograph of train approaching the Napa Valley Railroad Depot Station. Some passengers at the station wait to board the train. Back of photograph states: "No. 13N V.B + N.V.R.R Depo...
hub.catalogit.app
December 2, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Photo Credits: hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
"Napa Valley Route" by Ira Swett & Harry C. Aitken
hub.catalogit.app/napa-county-...
"Napa Valley Route" by Ira Swett & Harry C. Aitken
It is, of course, my duty to inform the public that the Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR never actually went Benicia.
The name comes from its eccentric promoter: Captain John Cross. Captain Cross believed broad destinations attracted investment... to dubious results.
The name comes from its eccentric promoter: Captain John Cross. Captain Cross believed broad destinations attracted investment... to dubious results.
December 2, 2025 at 4:55 AM
It is, of course, my duty to inform the public that the Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR never actually went Benicia.
The name comes from its eccentric promoter: Captain John Cross. Captain Cross believed broad destinations attracted investment... to dubious results.
The name comes from its eccentric promoter: Captain John Cross. Captain Cross believed broad destinations attracted investment... to dubious results.
Although preliminary work began earlier, construction of Napa's interurban station started around April 24th, 1905.
Built by Napa local E.W. Doughty and firm, the station was finished by July 4th, 1905, just in time for the opening of the electric Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR!
c. 10/9/1906
Built by Napa local E.W. Doughty and firm, the station was finished by July 4th, 1905, just in time for the opening of the electric Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR!
c. 10/9/1906
December 2, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Although preliminary work began earlier, construction of Napa's interurban station started around April 24th, 1905.
Built by Napa local E.W. Doughty and firm, the station was finished by July 4th, 1905, just in time for the opening of the electric Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR!
c. 10/9/1906
Built by Napa local E.W. Doughty and firm, the station was finished by July 4th, 1905, just in time for the opening of the electric Vallejo, Benicia, & Napa Valley RR!
c. 10/9/1906
When was the Corvallis Branch abandoned? How was it operated (shuttle connecting to the regular trains)?
December 2, 2025 at 4:32 AM
When was the Corvallis Branch abandoned? How was it operated (shuttle connecting to the regular trains)?
GO's success, rebranding, and rider-oriented philosophy is the complete antithesis to everything my local commuter rail (ACE) is.
If only more agencies *cough ACE cough* followed GO's model.
If only more agencies *cough ACE cough* followed GO's model.
December 1, 2025 at 9:15 PM
GO's success, rebranding, and rider-oriented philosophy is the complete antithesis to everything my local commuter rail (ACE) is.
If only more agencies *cough ACE cough* followed GO's model.
If only more agencies *cough ACE cough* followed GO's model.
Would be nice to see the original San Jose Railroads cars brought out, but I remember hearing their trolley poles aren't kind to the catenary.
Splendid to see the Holiday Trolley ressurected again though!
Splendid to see the Holiday Trolley ressurected again though!
December 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Would be nice to see the original San Jose Railroads cars brought out, but I remember hearing their trolley poles aren't kind to the catenary.
Splendid to see the Holiday Trolley ressurected again though!
Splendid to see the Holiday Trolley ressurected again though!
Photo Credits: eastbayhillsproject.org/gallery/piec...
Piecing Together Colusa in the Sacramento Northern Electric Era - East Bay Hills Project
eastbayhillsproject.org
December 1, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Photo Credits: eastbayhillsproject.org/gallery/piec...
I'll search our archives at WRM next weekends for photos. One of my first tasks ever at the museum was organising the OERY drawer... I'm sure there's a photo of it somewhere in there.
Maybe you could reach out to OERM for their archives? I'm sure Richard Thompson would know.
Maybe you could reach out to OERM for their archives? I'm sure Richard Thompson would know.
November 22, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I'll search our archives at WRM next weekends for photos. One of my first tasks ever at the museum was organising the OERY drawer... I'm sure there's a photo of it somewhere in there.
Maybe you could reach out to OERM for their archives? I'm sure Richard Thompson would know.
Maybe you could reach out to OERM for their archives? I'm sure Richard Thompson would know.
Is there a photo of this fabled Eastern Sacajawea
November 21, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Is there a photo of this fabled Eastern Sacajawea
I mean. It's not like the rest of County Connection's fleet look like they're particularly "modern..."
Except for the Bishop Ranch buses.
Except for the Bishop Ranch buses.
November 21, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I mean. It's not like the rest of County Connection's fleet look like they're particularly "modern..."
Except for the Bishop Ranch buses.
Except for the Bishop Ranch buses.
Photo Credits: www.altamontpress.com/discussion/r...
Altamont Press Discussion Board :: Discussion :: Baby Zephyr on the Sacramento Northern
www.altamontpress.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Photo Credits: www.altamontpress.com/discussion/r...
Coming together nicely!
November 18, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Coming together nicely!