Ocean Shore Railroad
Encyclopedia
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, via a route along the Pacific coastline.
History
Incorporated in May of 1881, with construction beginning in 1905 at both ends, but the line was never completed. The April 18, 1906, earthquake1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
caused major damage and delayed completion of the railroad. A major tunnel was built at Devil's Slide; another tunnel was built near Davenport
Davenport, California
Davenport is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California. Davenport sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Davenport's population was 408.-Situation:...
. There were numerous bridges and trestles along the route. The tracks from San Francisco were completed as far south as Tunitas Creek
Tunitas Creek
Tunitas Creek is a stream in San Mateo County, California. Tunitas is Spanish for "Little Prickly Pears". Historically the creek was also known as Arroyo de Las Tunitas....
, south of Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay, California
Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, USA. Its population was 11,324 as of the 2010 census. Immediately at the north of Half Moon Bay is the Pillar Point Harbor and the unincorporated community of Princeton-by-the-Sea....
. The tracks north from Santa Cruz were completed as far north as Swanton
Swanton, California
Swanton, California, is a small community in an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County on the Pacific Ocean, situated about north of the town of Davenport, on Swanton Road ....
, north of Davenport
Davenport, California
Davenport is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California. Davenport sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Davenport's population was 408.-Situation:...
. Trackage within the city of San Francisco was electrified, while the rest of the line was operated with steam locomotives, and later, with self-propelled railcars. Despite significant passenger patronage, especially on weekends, the railroad never recovered from losses in the 1906 earthquake and failed to attract enough freight traffic to cover increasing deficits.
Completion of the Pedro Mountain Road
Pedro Mountain Road
Pedro Mountain Road describes a series of historical road crossings of Pedro Mountain, a promontory ridge located between Montara Mountain and the coastal cliffs of Devil's Slide in San Mateo County, California. This Pedro Mountain headland blocks the easy passage of coastal travelers between the...
in 1913 provided additional competition to the railroad, particularly since many farmers began using trucks to transport their produce to San Francisco, instead of paying expensive freight charges.
Mainline service was abandoned in 1921. The line north from Santa Cruz was operated for several more years by the Santa Cruz Lumber Company; electrified trackage within the city of San Francisco, which served major industries, was operated for many years, in part by the San Francisco Muni.
A segment of the railroad in the southeast section of San Francisco was taken over and operated by the Western Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
. This section was in use until the mid-1980s and was the last part of the Ocean Shore in operation.
Remnants
Montara, California
Montara is a census-designated place in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 2,909 at the 2010 census. Nearby communities include Moss Beach and Princeton-by-the-Sea.-Geography and environment:...
, has been greatly remodeled and remains in business as a bed and breakfast inn..
The Montara Station stills exists as a residence at the corner of Second Street and Main Street. The name "Montara" can still be seen in the pavement near the front door.
The Moss Beach Station may still exist as a residence.
The North Granada Station, heavily remodeled, is now a restaurant at the corner of Capistrano Road and Avenida Alhambra. The Granada Station was moved a block from its original location and is now a residence at the corner of the Alameda and Avenida Portola.
Another is the Arleta Station, at Railroad Avenue and Poplar Street in Half Moon Bay, which exists relatively unaltered as a residence. Also in Half Moon Bay, the old Kelly Street Station was relocated to a site near the Johnston House at Highway One and Higgins Canyon Road and serves as a daycare facility.
Further reading
- Chris Hunter: Ocean Shore Railroad (Images of Rail). Arcadia Publishing, 2006, ISBN 9780738529387